A few days ago, upon learning that I am reading Henry Corbin’s “Avicenna and the Visionary Recital,” an acquaintance suggested that I provide a book report. Here is my summary of TWO (page 299-300) pages of the 423 page book.
In our journey as humans, we are accompanied by three companions: the babbler, the smasher, and the slurper (my terms). The babbler walks in front of us commenting on everything and bringing news from afar. Part of what the babbler says is true, much is false. The smasher walks on our right and wishes to strike down anyone and anything that goes contrary to its wishes. The slurper walks to our left and wishes to slurp forever all that gives pleasure.
These three companions are with us our entire lives. At times they take over. Our journey is to learn how to live with them as their master. As we do so, we are able to glimpse, then walk in, other realms.
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There are other roles at play - the inquirer, the creator, the enabler, and so forth. The goal or task is to just observe as totally and objectively as possible so that the other roles diminish.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. Now I don't need to read 400 + pages to obtain this important observational information. I think that's the slurper talking.
ReplyDeleteThe other 400 plus pages contain different and even more valuable information than this. You just won't have to read 2 pages.
ReplyDeleteCorbin has my number, for sure. I've got those three buddies and I feel like d'Artagnon. Thanks for posting your "review," George. By the way, hang onto that book ~ I checked on Amazon and the cheapest volume of it is used, for about $60.
ReplyDeleteEach of carries within ourselves an Image of our own world which we project into the universe. If not conscious of it, we think it is imposed on us, when in fact we are imposing it on ourselves. (Paraphrase of one portion of one paragraph on page 8 of Henry Corbin's "Avicenna and the Visionary Recital")
ReplyDeleteThe greater the number of theological, atheological, physical, metaphysical, psychological, and philosophical consciousness systems with which we are familiar and integrate into the Image of our world we carry within ourselves, the richer this Image we project into the universe.
ReplyDeleteI'm unquestionably witness to this companion triad, but know its members as Moe, Larry and Curly...
ReplyDelete"I'm trying to think, but nothing happens." --Curly
--Gary