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Journeys in Islamic Countries
- GenresTravel
244 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2001
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24 people want to read
About the author
J.G. Bennett
130 books67 followersJohn Godolphin Bennett (8 June 1897 – 13 December 1974) was a British mathematician, scientist, technologist, industrial research director and author. He is perhaps best known for his many books on psychology and spirituality, particularly on the teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff. Bennett met Gurdjieff in Istanbul in October 1920 and later helped to co-ordinate the work of Gurdjieff in England after Gurdjieff's arrival in Paris. He also was active in starting the British section of the Subud movement, and co-founded its British headquarters.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 2, 2021
One of those rare books (are we not always looking for them?) that you get into because it gets into you. The magic takes place, the world goes away. Mr Bennett undertakes a spiritual investigation ("search" would possibly be the wrong word) and gives us a travel book that is based upon a purpose rather than an extended holiday. The tales of his meetings with some remarkable persons in Islamic countries all bear the stamp of utter authenticity. There is no fiction here. I found myself becoming somehow quieter in my mind when reading - somehow transported to a different state of awareness. The curious part is that although the author does talk a great deal about the (inner) Work, it is the everyday life he records on his travels through which I personally found "immersion". Recommended.
December 12, 2019
I loved it. So vivid, well written and full of fascinating insights. I travelled a lot with his writing and I learned a lot.
November 17, 2023
This is essentially Bennett's travel journal, posthumously edited by Elizabeth Bennett. It covers his travels in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Bennett visited and described a number of historical sites, including both Greco-Roman and Islamic. He visited many tekkes and sought out Sufi teachers, who mostly kept a very low profile. A significant part of the first volume covers his discussions with Emin Chikhou, a Kurdish Sufi teacher in Damascus. The second volume includes visits to Baghdad, Mosul, and more of Turkey. Bennett makes numerous connections with Gurdjieff and his writings throughout the trip.
This is a pretty superficial summary, which does not reflect the many detailed notes and extracts which I made. A much better review of the book can be found on Joseph Azize's website, Under the Sun.
This is a pretty superficial summary, which does not reflect the many detailed notes and extracts which I made. A much better review of the book can be found on Joseph Azize's website, Under the Sun.
January 4, 2021
two good amazon reviews
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Bill Howard
Literary portmanteau
Reading this book, it is a source of astonishment that it was literally written as a travel diary, kept up in all manner of unlikely places, even the steel floor of a railroad goods truck in the Iraqi desert. Unlike some of Bennett's other diaries, this was written to be read by others, including his ailing wife, Polly, and other members of his group back in England.
The book is a combination of extraordinary insights, research field notes, dialogues with unusually gifted Sufis, and observations on the social and political affairs of the Middle East in 1953.
His comments on the history of what is now Iraq, including the statement that "all will give way to greed, cruelty and arrogance" are uncannily prophetic.
It is interesting that Bennett truncates this detailed narrative into a few short pages in his autobiography "Witness - The Story of a Search" and also noteworthy in the different way that he reveals himself to the retrospective account published first seven years later and again twenty-one years later.
In 1953, the world still reeled from the aftermath of the Holocaust, the massive economic depradation of WWII and the nuclear attacks on Japan, and Bennett's discussion with the Naqshbandi sheikh Emin Chikhou reveal that both men already accepted the certainty of a coming new world order.
The difference was that while Chikhou saw this in traditionally Koranic and apocalyptic terms, Bennett's view was Gurdjieffian and essentially practical, constructive and optimistic.
Lastly - sadly - like all of Bennett Books publications, the proof-reading is deficient. I counted maybe 50 printing errors in the first reading of this book, but I guess this goes hand-in-hand with shoestring publishing.
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A middle eastern tour
Taken from the diaries of John Godolphin Bennett, a former student of Gurdjieff's. Documenting his travels through the middle east in the 50s. Visiting holy sites and searching for genuine dervish teachers.
Bennett doesn't reach the quality and depth of writing evident in his autobiography 'Witness'. However there are some interesting comments on Islam and it's role in 50s society.
Bennett does find a genuine dervish, in the form of Emin Chikhou; who evidences undoubted spiritual qualities, fixed within an orthodox islamic worldview. The way in which Bennett comes to terms with the dichotomy of Chikhou's sometimes inflexible religious beliefs eg. his belief that Islam, Christianity and Judaism are the only true religions, with Islam the superior of the three and his genuine selflessness form the core of the book.
The descriptions of the people and places of the middle east are competently described and hold the readers interest. Also Chikhou's teaching stories, which he relates to Bennett are interesting, reminiscent of Idries shah's storytelling.
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Bill Howard
Literary portmanteau
Reading this book, it is a source of astonishment that it was literally written as a travel diary, kept up in all manner of unlikely places, even the steel floor of a railroad goods truck in the Iraqi desert. Unlike some of Bennett's other diaries, this was written to be read by others, including his ailing wife, Polly, and other members of his group back in England.
The book is a combination of extraordinary insights, research field notes, dialogues with unusually gifted Sufis, and observations on the social and political affairs of the Middle East in 1953.
His comments on the history of what is now Iraq, including the statement that "all will give way to greed, cruelty and arrogance" are uncannily prophetic.
It is interesting that Bennett truncates this detailed narrative into a few short pages in his autobiography "Witness - The Story of a Search" and also noteworthy in the different way that he reveals himself to the retrospective account published first seven years later and again twenty-one years later.
In 1953, the world still reeled from the aftermath of the Holocaust, the massive economic depradation of WWII and the nuclear attacks on Japan, and Bennett's discussion with the Naqshbandi sheikh Emin Chikhou reveal that both men already accepted the certainty of a coming new world order.
The difference was that while Chikhou saw this in traditionally Koranic and apocalyptic terms, Bennett's view was Gurdjieffian and essentially practical, constructive and optimistic.
Lastly - sadly - like all of Bennett Books publications, the proof-reading is deficient. I counted maybe 50 printing errors in the first reading of this book, but I guess this goes hand-in-hand with shoestring publishing.
---
A middle eastern tour
Taken from the diaries of John Godolphin Bennett, a former student of Gurdjieff's. Documenting his travels through the middle east in the 50s. Visiting holy sites and searching for genuine dervish teachers.
Bennett doesn't reach the quality and depth of writing evident in his autobiography 'Witness'. However there are some interesting comments on Islam and it's role in 50s society.
Bennett does find a genuine dervish, in the form of Emin Chikhou; who evidences undoubted spiritual qualities, fixed within an orthodox islamic worldview. The way in which Bennett comes to terms with the dichotomy of Chikhou's sometimes inflexible religious beliefs eg. his belief that Islam, Christianity and Judaism are the only true religions, with Islam the superior of the three and his genuine selflessness form the core of the book.
The descriptions of the people and places of the middle east are competently described and hold the readers interest. Also Chikhou's teaching stories, which he relates to Bennett are interesting, reminiscent of Idries shah's storytelling.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews