A comparative study of the key philosophical concepts in sufism and taoism

by Toshihiko Izutsu

In this deeply learned work, Toshihiko Izutsu compares the metaphysical and mystical thought-systems of Sufism and Taoism and discovers that, although historically unrelated, the two share features and patterns which prove fruitful for a transhistorical dialogue. His original and suggestive approach opens new doors in the study of comparative philosophy and mysticism.
Izutsu begins with Ibn 'Arabi, analyzing and isolating the major ontological concepts of this most challenging of Islamic thinkers. Then, in the second part of the book, Izutsu turns his attention to an analysis of parallel concepts of two great Taoist thinkers, Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu. Only after laying bare the fundamental structure of each world view does Izutsu embark, in the final section of the book, upon a comparative analysis. Only thus, he argues, can he be sure to avoid easy and superficial comparisons. Izutsu maintains that both the Sufi and Taoist world views are based on two pivots--the Absolute Man and the Perfect Man--with a whole system of oncological thought being developed between these two pivots. Izutsu discusses similarities in these ontological systems and advances the hypothesis that certain patterns of mystical and metaphysical thought may be shared even by systems with no apparent historical connection.
This second edition of Sufism and Taoism is the first published in the United States. The original edition, published in English and in Japan, was prized by the few English-speaking scholars who knew of it as a model in the field of comparative philosophy. Making available in English much new material on both sides of its comparison, Sufism and Taoism richly fulfills Izutsu's motivating desire "to open a new vista in the domain of comparative philosophy."

Genres: Philosophy, Islam, Religion, Spirituality, Taoism, Nonfiction, China

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Toshihiko Izutsu was a university professor and author of many books on Islam and other religions. He taught at the Institute of Cultural and Linguistic studies at Keio University in Tokyo, the Imperial Iranian Academy of Philosophy in Tehran, and McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Reviews

[Rego Hemia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is metaphysical ontology porn. I am loving it. The sections on the Absolute under Sufism are relentlessly challenging and difficult, and I'm just now starting the Taoism section, which is proving to be equally so.
I can't wait to finish so that I can begin letting the information percolate down through the strata of my mind.

[Yasin Ramazan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only read the first part, which is already designed to be a separate book by the author. The first part, which is an investigation about Ibn Arabi's key concepts in the Bezels of Wisdom (Fusus al-Hikam), is really resourceful and academically satisfying. It is one book that expresses Ibn Arabi's supercomplicated philosophy in the clearest possible way. I particularly like the re-arrangement of the concept according to the modern forms of thinking.

[Dina Kaidir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such a wonderful reference book, especially for all of my classes this semester. Izutsu's expression is crisp and crystal clear. I love it! (even if it is a text book) :)

Definitely one that I will be returning to throughout the semester.

[Abbas Mehrabian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This books is on Islamic philosophy of Ibn Arabi and its connection with Daoism. A bit too technical for me.

[Nāfiʿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fascinating read. Would highly recommend to those who have basic exposure to Akbarian Metaphysics if they wish to gain further insights in English. Similarly intriguing are the similarities b/w the Akbarian and Taoist/Confucian strands of thought.

[Tarek Naga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece of research and innerstanding of two of the world greatest metaphysical traditions ...

[Yazdanpanah Askari · Rating 1 out of 5]

تِ ( فضیلت ) نیروی حیات
ص 357 و ص 372
نیز نک به دِه
https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AF%...

[Alfredo J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتابی بسیار غنی. توضیح و تفسیر عرفان ابن عربی و تائوئیسم (دائو). کتابی که آدم رو عمیقاً به فکر فرو میبره.

[Mohammad · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a book.

apart from colorful flow of creativity in ibn arabi's philosophy, and mystical foreign tongue in that of lao tzu, you get a nice thematic explanation of core ideas of sufism and taoism.

this could be called major themes of bezels of wisdom and tao te ching.

[Nobody · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishing book for sure, I recommend this book to everyone who like me don't know a lot of technical words concerning philosophy. it explains everything beautifully.

[S.M.Y Kayseri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of Isutzu's cornerstone: an epic expanding on the works of Ibnu Arabi, especially in his magnum opus Fusus al-Hikam.

Ibnu Arabi is one of the great physical that expounds the teaching of the Unity of Existence (wahdah al-wujud) into Islamic orthodoxy. While, of course, to say that that the orthodoxy fully accepted the idea is stretching too far. The ontological model would always be an uncomfortable fringe to many orthodox figures, for it is not that far from al-Asharite idea of "eternalness of substance" (in comparison to attributes), but the idea of Unity of Existence have too much of fringe of bombastic metaphors and also the cases of (misunderstood?) extremists such as al-Hallaj and other succumbed mystics. It took al-Attas to reformulate the idea in a more sober exposition, pulling it from the high heaven of similes to a robust digestible fact.

The model, in my opinion, is the only robust ontological model that bypasses the jettison between two indubitable facts; of the Absoluteness of God and the existence of the world. Spinoza has answered the first in a more chimerical way in his monism; by concluding God is so Absolute that He also includes within Himself the attributes of extension. The latter part has been answered in its most extreme form by the heretical mystic sects that affirms gross materialism, or perhaps the Asharites and the philosophers, who in their sincere way to retain the transcendence of God, affirm the theory of eternalness of substance.

This model has been expounded again and again somewhere in my reviews here, especially under al-Attas' "Degrees of Existence", al-Ghazzali's "Niche of Light" and Toshihko Isutzu's "Concept and Meaning of Existence".

[Bimo Pratama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ibnu arabi sang anak plato....

Menurut saya ini buku yg berat bgd..
Banyak makna filosofisnya, dan banyak pemikirannya yang sejalan dengan plato dan plotinus, bahkan bisa dibilang menyempurnakan pemikirannya..

Disini ibn arabi menjelaskan tentang hakikat tuhan sebagai sang mutlak yang mutlak untuk diketahui

Toshihiko ijutsu cukup berhasil meringkas pemikiran ibn arabi dari fusus al hikam dan futuhat al makiyyanya, yang sangat kompleks sekali..

Menurut saya sebelum membaca buku ibn arabi yg lain, buku ini cocok sebagai pengantarnya

[Sherwin]

Lao Tse vs. Ibne Arabi! A really deep survey on comparative philosophy of Islamic Sufism/ chinese traditional Taoism.

[Varan · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is the best book I have read about Ibn-e- Arabi.

[Imdad Robbani · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love from this book is its methodological clarity and in that it makes you annihilated in reading it.

[Taimur · Rating 5 out of 5]

you do not find this book. this book finds you.
a mind fuck that will last a lifetime or more

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philosophy at its Best!

This is a remarkable book by a remarkable author. I was so excited to see it was even written/published, and then really blown away with the contents. Toshihiko Izutsu’s writing (very much that of a careful professor) is both perceptive and clarifying, and especially on the Sufi part, easier to read than Henry Corbin (the 20th century Sufi scholar who is also wonderful, but less grounded seeming, but perhaps that is just a reflection of the French it was written in, or the translator’s touch, or both), who is the only other Sufi source I’ve studied. However, overall I wouldn’t say it’s an easy read, due to the demanding nature of the subjects; demanding but equally rewarding.

Izutsu organizes his extended lesson by separately explaining, first Sufism, then Taoism, concluding with a brief comparison. Part 1 (from pages 7-283) presents the Sufism of Ibn ‘Arabi (the great 12th-13th century Islamic mystic-philosopher), Part 2 (pgs. 287-466) explains the Taoism of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu (5th and 4th century BCE Chinese sages), then the concluding Part 3 (pgs. 469-493) is Izutsu’s brief (24 page) summary of what these two seemingly disconnected systems (one inherently dualistic and monotheistic, the other simply nondual and non-theistic) have in common (through the lens of the Perennial/Traditionalist Philosophy).

The basic view of such Traditionalist's is that mystical truth (as experienced directly by the individual) is acultural (ie. universal), and so once you get down beneath the cultural differences (those particulars of time and place) it’s pretty easy to see the sages, mystics and prophets are speaking of the same experience (which we all share and may have from time to time, although perhaps without recognizing the significance), which in essence is ineffable (made even more difficult to discuss productively when the views and vocabularies are so different as Islam and Taoism’s!), and so, easy to misinterpret within our cultural and intellectually territorial world-views - the literal exoteric vs. figurative esoteric views (and this misinterpretation of course applies to the mystics and prophets themselves when they put their own intellect into action to try and explain and/or understand what they’ve experienced!).

In this regard the extensive presentation of the first two parts needs little more elaboration, but what is unique is the comparison of these two systems in the first place. And in the comparison (ie the back/ground work) the fascinating details of each (and the shared ineffability of Life – the One before the many and the one consisting of many – expressed most succinctly by Lao Tzu in his very first line, “The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao”) are revealed – leaving us with a (refreshed) opened space to do our own experiencing within…. And perhaps, come to understand and appreciate each other a little more.

[Melbourne Bitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.
There was an amusing faint printing of the letter r in discordance on page 421. My copy reads, 'And he (Man) thereby brings disco dance into the universal harmony of Being.
The footnote should read 'Get down on it by Kool and the gang'

[Kamas Wahyu · Rating 5 out of 5]

bagus

[Jimmy Ele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

[Karen Carlson]

h/t jaycel - Attar's use of 'strive not to strive' (davis) vs wu-wei

[Blaze-Pascal]

Such an interesting topic... I've only been able to give the first chapter a read and I loved it and need to come back to it.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Years ago, in my youth, I stole this book from a library, thinking that it might give me some great insight into the Way. Fortunately, like many other books I will one day burn, it was a stepping stone, and is a great investigation of a variety of principles concerning the Way in both Daoist and Sufist thought. Though I strayed over some areas, as I am now concerned primarily with finding inaccuracies within mystic traditions that promote the idea of separation or annihilation as positive, optimal or unattainable states (though I agree that such states are in a sense unattainable), in terms of analyzing and explaining the works of these three existentialist thinkers Izutsu does a good, albeit dry job. He really lacks a spark of life and this academic work reflects his sense of purpose, rather than a sense of awe and grandeur. So, if you are interested in starting to grasp the fundamentals of some of the aspects of eastern thought, this is a good place to start. He dissection is good, though very focused and repetitive, and as always it is not good to accept what is fed to you. I'd use this book to get a good sense of things and then go back to the primary texts themselves to interpret as you will. More or less this is a book for hardcore studiers and is full of things like being, non-being, no-non-being, absolute Absolute, and so on. Don't get bogged down. Be light like a feather on the back of the great bird DaPeng.

[Josh]

A tour de force: a very dense and deep ontological analysis of two traditions — the Sufi system developed by 'Ibn Arabi, and the Taoist tradition as exemplified by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu —which have extraordinarily similar approaches to an understanding of existence despite their complete lack of historical overlap. As Izutsu argues, both are ultimately existentialist rather than essentialist (contrasting them most prominently with Confucian and Platonic/Aristotelian thought). Izutsu unpacks and analyzes each system in profound depth and with utmost clarity, and he has done a very commendable job in describing these systems in full independence, but at the same time in a methodologically-sound parallelism which naturally elucidates the considerable similarities between the two systems. Highly recommended if you can and wish to devote yourself to understanding the ontological foundation of these two traditions.

My Notes

[Ashkan Vajed · Rating 5 out of 5]

should be re read