Cheap Alone with the Alone (Book) (Henry Corbin, Ralph Manheim) Price

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Customer Reviews of Alone with the Alone

An excellent book
After reading "The seal of saints" by Mr. Chodkiewickz, I got curious about Mr. Corbin's books in general and this one, Alone with the Alone" in particular. In the book " The seal of saints" Chodkiewickz is highly critical of Corbin in assesing a "Shia" core for Suif's in general and great Shiekh in particular. I am no expert in these matters but from my studies of suffism and Shiism, I see about a 80% overlap between the two. Suffism has much more in common with Shia beliefs than it has with our Sunni beliefs. I always wondered why Shiism has added " I bear witness that Ali is Wali of God" to the call for prayer, I didn't get the significance of this addition until I read Mr.Chodkiewickz's fine book on Ibne' Ul-Arabi's doctorine of Sainthood. Not that I agree with the Sufi or Shia assertion in this regard, it violates my Sunni beliefs, but at least I have an appreciation for the concept. I respect Sufis, though I am not an advocate , well at leats not yet. I tend to agree with Corbin that Shiism and Suffism seem to be twins, or at least distant causins. Reading some of Sheikh's work in Arabic, I came across passages that had strong Shia tone, one wonders if these passages were added to the book or was written by Sheikh himself. If written by Shiekh himself, then knowingly or unknowngly, Sheikh must have been influneced by Shii thoughts. Whatever the case maybe, this is an excellent book, I recommend Mr.Chodkiewickz's book as well. I think everyone should read about all point of views and arrive at their own conclusion.

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A true Scholarly work
If anyone wants to read a great book and learn how a true scholar approaches and analyses a theme, this book by Henry Corbin is a good guide. He penetrates deep into the subject and never looses his objectivity and is not, unlike most of the so called scholars, a voice for a particular politics or religion. He takes us where ever the facts may lead. As for Mr. Ibn' Arabi's personal taste for religion ( shia or Sunni), it seems to me that Corbin is going beyond the tabloids. If he considers Arabi, or any other Sufi for that matter, a "Shia" he is referring to the " spirit" of the religion and is not, like many others, too worried about nominalism.

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Fantastic analysis of Arabi
The only thing which might be better than reading this book, is reading Arabi himself. This is a useful introduction to a vast field, that gives a careful analysis to his ideas and therefore it is a must. I will have to re-read it, to get everything out of it and at that time I may change my rating.