We continue our exploration of Pythagoreanism by diving into the music of the spheres, and how this idea has influenced thinkers across history. Sources/Recomended Reading: Cooper, John M. (ed.) (1997). "Plato: Complete Works". Hackett Publishing Company. Huffman, Carl A. (2008). "Philolaus of Croton: A Commentary on the Fragments and Testimonia with Interprative Essays". Cambridge University Press. Huffman, Carl A. (ed.) (2017). "A History of Pythagoreanism". Cambridge University Press. Kirk, G.S., J.E. Raven & M. Schofield (1983). "The Presocratic Philosophers". Second Edition. Cambridge University Press. Klavan, Spencer A. (2020). "Music in Ancient Greece: Melody, Rhythm and Life". Bloomsbury Academic. Zhmud, Leonid (2012). "Pythagoras and the Early Pythagoreans". Translated by Kevin Windle & Rosh Ireland. OUP Oxford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time to talk about a few ways that Neoplatonic ideas have shown up in the history of Islamic thought. Sources/Recomended Reading: Adamson, Peter (ed.) (2005). "The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy". Cambridge University Press. al-Ghazali - "The Niche of Lights". Translated by David Buchman. Islamic Translations Series. University of Chicago Press. Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their history and doctrines". Cambridge University Press. Chittick, William (2005). "Ibn Arabi: Heir to the Prophets". OneWorld Publications. Chittick, William (1989). "The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn 'Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination". Chittick, William (1998). "The Self-Disclosure of God: Principles of Ibn al-'Arabi's Cosmology". State University of New York Press. Chittick, William (2005). "The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi". World Wisdom, inc. Dillon, John (1996). "The Middle Platonists". Bristol Classical Press. Gerson, Loyd P. (ed.) (2019). "Plotinus: The Enneads". Cambridge University Press. (This is the translation of the Enneads I have been using in this episode). Gerson, Loyd P (2008). "Cambridge Companion to Plotinus". Cambridge University Press. Ibn Sina - "A Treatise on Love". Translated by Emil L. Fackenheim. Medieval Studies. Ibn 'Arabi - "The Ringstones of Wisdom (Fusus al-Hikam)". Translation by Caner K. Dagli. Great Books of the Islamic World. Ibn Arabi - "The Universal Tree and the Four Birds (al-ittihad al-kawni). Translated by Angela Jaffray. Oxford: Anqa Publishing. Ibn 'Arabi - "The Openings Revealed in Makkah: al-futuhat al-makkiyya". Translated by Eric Winkel. Volumes 1-4. Pir Press. Morewedge, Parviz (1992). "Neoplatonism and Islamic Thought". State University of New York Press. Ormsby, Eric (Translated by) (2012). "Between Reason and Revelation: Twin wisdoms reconciled". An annotated English translation of Nasir-i Khusraw's Kitab-i Jami al-hikmatayn. The Institute of Isma'ili Studies. I.B. Tauris. Proclus "The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary". Translated by E.R. Dodds. Second Edition. Oxford University Press. O'Meara, Dominic J. (1999). "Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads". Oxford University Press. Wallis, R.T. (1998). "Neoplatonism". Second Edition. Bristol Classical Paperbacks. Hackett Publishing Company. #neoplatonism #islam #philosophy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sources/Recomended Reading: Cooper, John M. (ed.) (1997). "Plato: Complete Works". Hackett Publishing Company. Dillon, John (1996). "The Middle Platonists". Bristol Classical Press. Gerson, Loyd P. (ed.) (2019). "Plotinus: The Enneads". Cambridge University Press. (This is the translation of the Enneads I have been using in this episode). Gerson, Loyd P (2008). "Cambridge Companion to Plotinus". Cambridge University Press. Gregory, John (ed.) (1998). "The Neoplatonists: a reader". Routledge. Iamblichus "On the Mysteries". Tranlsated by Emma C. Clarke, John M. Dillon & Jackson P. Hershell. Writings from the Graeco-Roman World. Society of Biblical Literature. Proclus "The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary". Translated by E.R. Dodds. Second Edition. Oxford University Press. O'Meara, Dominic J. (1999). "Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads". Oxford University Press. Shaw, Gregory (2014). "Theurgy and the Soul: The Neoplatonism of Iamblichus". Angelico Press/Sophia Perennis. Wallis, R.T. (1998). "Neoplatonism". Second Edition. Bristol Classical Paperbacks. Hackett Publishing Company. Also check out the excellent episodes about Plotinus on the "Secret History of Western Esotericism" pocast: https://shwep.net/ #neoplatonism #philosophy #plotinus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sources/Recomended Reading: Asgeirsson, Jon (2005). "Thomasine Traditions in Antiquity The Social and Cultural World of the Gospel of Thomas". Brill. Brakke, David (2012). "Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity". Harvard University Press. Carlson, Stephen C. (2014). "Origen's use of the Gospel of Thomas". Uppsala University. King, Karen (2003). "What is Gnosticism?". Harvard University Press. Van den Broek, Roelof (2013). "Gnostic Religion in Antiquity". Cambridge University Press. Meyer, Marvin (ed.) (2009). "The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume ". HarperOne. Meyer, Marvin & Harold Bloom (1993). "The Gospel of St Thomas: The hidden sayings of Jesus". Bravo Ltd. #gospelofjudas #gnosticism #christianity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second part in our series about Shia Islam, we explore the esoteric Isma'ilis, their history and Neoplatonist-influenced theology. Thanks to Dr. Khalil Andani for the help. Check out his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@KhalilAndani Sources/Recomended Reading: Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (1994). "The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism: The Sources of Esotericism in Islam". Translated by David Streight. State University of New York Press. Amir-Moezzi, Mohammad Ali (2011). "The Spirituality of Shi'i Islam: Beliefs and Practices". I.B. Tauris. Andani, Khalil (Forthcoming). "The Moden Resurrection of Nizari Ismaili Islam: The Reforms of the Aga Khans". In "The Oxford Handbook of Islamic Reform" (ed. Emad Hamdeh & Natana Delong-Bas). Forthcoming. Badakhchani, S. Jalal (Edited and Translated by) (2005). "The Paradise of Submission: A Medieval Treatise on Ismaili Thought". A New Persian Edition and English Translation of Tusi's Rawda-yi Taslim". The Institute of Isma'ili Studies. I.B. Tauris. Daftary, Farhad (2007). "The Isma'ilis: Their history and doctrines". Cambridge University Press. Haider, Najam (2014). "Shi'i Islam: An Introduction". Cambridge University Press. Ormsby, Eric (Translated by) (2012). "Between Reason and Revelation: Twin wisdoms reconciled". An annotated English translation of Nasir-i Khusraw's Kitab-i Jami al-hikmatayn. The Institute of Isma'ili Studies. I.B. Tauris. Virani, Shafique N. (2020). "Hierohistory in Qadi l-Nu'man's Foundation of Symbolic Interpretation (Asas al-Taw'il): the Birth of Jesus". In "Studies in Islamic Historiography (Edited by Sami G. Massoud). Brill. A good source for Isma'ilism is also Isma'ili Gnosis: https://ismailignosis.com/ #Islam #ismaili #esoteric Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sources/Recomended Reading: Asgeirsson, Jon (2005). "Thomasine Traditions in Antiquity The Social and Cultural World of the Gospel of Thomas". Brill. Brakke, David (2012). "Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity". Harvard University Press. Carlson, Stephen C. (2014). "Origen's use of the Gospel of Thomas". Uppsala University. King, Karen (2003). "What is Gnosticism?". Harvard University Press. Van den Broek, Roelof (2013). "Gnostic Religion in Antiquity". Cambridge University Press. Meyer, Marvin (ed.) (2009). "The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume ". HarperOne. Meyer, Marvin & Harold Bloom (1993). "The Gospel of St Thomas: The hidden sayings of Jesus". Bravo Ltd. #gospelofthomas #gnosticism #christianity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Qumran community and ask the question whether or not this group can be identified as the Essenes. Sources/Recomended Reading: Klawans, Jonathan (2016). "The Essene Hypothesis: Insights from Religion 101". Brill. Magness, Jodi (2021). "The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls". Second Edition. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Vermes, Geza (Trans.) (2004). "The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English". Revised Edition. Penguin Books. #essenes #archeology #deadseascrolls Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the fascinating life of Apollonius of Tyana, a Neopythagorean philosopher whose life in many ways mirror that of Jesus. Sources/Suggested Reading: Dzielska, Maria (1986). "Apollonius of Tyana in Legend and History". L'Erma Di Bretschneider. Kirk, G.S., J.E. Raven & M. Schofield (1983). "The Presocratic Philosophers". Second Edition. Cambridge University Press. Huffman, Carl A. (ed.) (2017). "A History of Pythagoreanism". Cambridge University Press. #Apollonius #jesus #ancient Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This has been one of the most requested subjects, it is finally time to talk about Mulla Sadra. Sources/Recommended Reading: Adamson, Peter (ed.) (2005). “The Cambridge Companion to Arabic Philosophy”. Cambridge University Press. Chittick, William (1998). "The Self-Disclosure of God: Principles of Ibn al-'Arabi's Cosmology". State University of New York Press. Kalin, Ibrahim (2005). “Knowledge in later Islamic Philosophy: Mulla Sadra on Existence, Intellect and Intuition”. Oxford University Press. Meisami, Sayeh (2013). “Mulla Sadra”. Makers of the Muslim World Series. OneWorld Academic. Sadr al-din al-Shirazi (2014). “Metaphysical Penetrations: A Parallel English-Arabic text”. Translated by Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Edited by Ibrahim Kalin. Islamic Translation Series. University of Chicago Press. Sadr al-din al-Shirazi (Mulla Sadra) (2003). “The Elixir of the Gnostics: A Parallel English-Arabic text”. Translated by William Chittick. Islamic Translation Series. University of Chicago Press. Sadr al-din al-Shirazi (Mulla Sadra) (1981). “The Wisdom of the Throne: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mulla Sadra”. Translated by James W. Morris. Princeton University Press. Rizvi, Sajjad H. (2009). “Mulla Sadra and Metaphysics: Modulation of Being”. Routledge. Rustom, Mohammed (2013). “The Triumph of Mercy: Philosophy and Scripture in Mulla Sadra”. State University of New York Press. #Philosophy #Islam #Mysicism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We continue our exploration of Sufi poetry by looking at one of the greatest poets to write in the Turkish language. Sources/Suggested Reading: Smith, Grace Martin (1993). "The Poetry of Yunus Emre: A Turkish Sufi Poet". University of California Press. Soileau, Mark (2018). "Humanist Mystics: Nationalism and the Commemoration of Saints in Turkey". The University of Utah Press. #yunusemre #sufism #poetry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The translation of this sermon is taken from: Walshe, Maurice O'C (ed.) (2009). "The Complete Mystical Works of Meister Eckhart". The Crossroad Publishing Company. For more information about Eckhart, suggested reading includes the following: McGinn, Bernard (2003). "The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart: The Man from Whom God Hid Nothing". Independent Publishers Group. McGinn, Bernard (1992). "Meister Eckhart: Teacher and Preacher". Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press International, U.S. McGinn, Bernard (1981). "Meister Eckhart: The Essential Sermons, Commentaries, Treatises and Defense". Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press International, U.S. You can also watch my previous video on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg0c32KbA-g&t=1330s #Christmas #Mysticism #Christianity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we finally explore the vast and important religious tradition of ancient Mesopotamia! Sources/Suggested Reading: Bottéro, Jean (2004). "Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia". Translated by Teresa Lavender Fagan. University of Chicago Press. Michalowski, Piotr (2012). "The Mortal Kings of Ur: Short Century of Divine Rule in Ancient Mesopotamia". In Religion and Power: Divine Kingship in the Ancient World and Beyond (ed. Nicole Brisch). Chicago: The Oriental Institute. Tzvi Abusch, I. (2020). "Mesopotamian Religion". In Essays on Babylonian and Biblical Literature and Religion, Vol. 65: 5-23. Brill. Van De Mieroop, Marc (2015). A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000-323 BC. Wiley-Blackwell. #Sumeria #Mesopotamia #Religion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the history of music in Jewish mysticism, from the ancient prophets to the Hasidim of today. Sources/Suggested Reading: Idel, Moshe (1987). "The Mystical Experience in Abraham Abulafia". State University of New York Press. Idel, Moshe (1988). "Studies in Ecstatic Kabbalah". State University of New York Press. Idel, Moshe (1988). "Kabbalah: New Perspectives". Yale University Press. Idel, Moshe (1997). "Conceptualizations of Music in Jewish Mysticism". In "Enchanting Powers: Music in the World's Religions" (ed. Lawrence E. Sullivan). Harvard University Press. Idel, Moshe (2002). "Music in Sixteenth-Century Kabbalah in Northern Africa". In "Yuval: Studies of the Jewish Music Research Centre", Vol. 2. The Hebrew University Magnes Press, Jerusalem. Kraemer, Joel L. (2010). "Maimonides: The Life and World of one of Civilization's Greatest Minds". Doubleday & Co Inc. Russ-Fishbane, Elisha (2015). "Judaism, Sufism, and the Pietists of Medieval Egypt: A study of Abraham Maimonides and his times". Oxford University Press Scholem, Gershom (1995). "Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism". Schocken Books. Internet Sources: http://www.nigun.info/chassidic.html #Judaism #Kabbalah #Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the life and teachings of the Senegalese Sufi saint and social reformer Ahmadou Bamba (d. 1927), who led a movement of resistence against French colonialism through nonviolence. Thank you to Brahdamon for kindly allowing me to use his footage. Check out his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/Brahdamon Videos used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ovb44sbHR8&t=221s Sources/Suggested Reading: Babou, Cheikh Anta (2007). "Fighting the Greater Jihad: Amadu Bamba and the founding of the Mouridiyya of Senegal, 1853-1913". Ohio University Press. Clark, Andrew Francis (1999). "Imperialism, Independence, and Islam in Senegal and Mali". Africa Today, Volume 46, Number 3/4, Summer/Autumn. Indiana University Press. Creevey, Lucy E. (1985). "Muslim Brotherhoods and Politics in Senegal in 1985". The Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 23, No. 4. Cambridge University Press. Holm, Filip (2018). "The Architecture of Pilgrimage: a study on the Ziyara Bogal and charismatic authority in the Tijaniyya". Master's Thesis. Södertörn University. Kimball, Michelle R. (2018). "Shaykh Ahmadou Bamba: A Peacemaker for Our Time". The Other Press Sdn. Bhd. Mbacké, Khadim (2005). "Sufism and Religious Brotherhoods in Senegal". Markus Weiner Publishers. McLaughlin, Fiona (1997). "Islam and popular music in Senegal: The emergence of a new tradition". Africa: Journal of the international African Institute. Van Hoven, Ed (2000). "The nation turbaned? The construction of nationalist identities in Senegal. Journal of Religion in Africa, Vol. 30, Fasc. 2. Brill. #Senegal #Sufism #Islam Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A healthy level of speculation is required this time as we dive into the fascinating Eleusinian mysteries and its transformative rituals of consciousness-alteration. Sources/Suggested reading. Bowden, Hugh (2010). "Mystery cults in the Ancient World". Thames and Hudson Ltd. Burkert, William (1982). "Greek Religion". Harvard University Press. Burkert, William (1988). "Ancient Mystery Cults". Harvard University Press. Evans, Nancy A. “Sanctuaries, Sacrifices, and the Eleusinian Mysteries.” Numen, Vol. 49, No. 3 (2002): 227-254. Mylonas, George E. “Eleusis and the Eleusinian Mysteries.” The Classical Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3 (1947): 130-146. Ustinova, Yulia (2017). "Divine Mania: Alterations of Consciousness in Ancient Greece". Routledge. #Eleusinianmysteries #Greece #Mythology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're finally doing Buddhism! In this episode, we explore the teachings of the Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna and his school, known as Madhyamika, or "The Middle Way". Sources/Suggested Reading: Siderits, Mark & Shoryu Katsura (Translated by) (2013). "Nagarjuna's Middle Way: The Mulamadhyamakakarika". Classics of Indian Buddhism. Wisdom Publications. Westerhoff, Jan (2009). "Nagarjuna's Madhyamaka: A Philosophical Introduction". Oxford University Press. Ziporyn, Brook (2016). "Emptiness and Omnipresence: An essential introduction to Tiantai Buddhism". Indiana University Press. #Nagarjuna #Buddhism #Emptiness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the famous persian sufi poem "Mantiq al-Tayr" or The Conference of the Birds, written by Fariduddin Attar. Sources/Suggested Reading: 'Attar, Fariduddin. "The Conference of the Birds". Translated by Afkham Darbandi & Dick Davis. Penguin Classics. 1984. "Farid ad-Din 'Attar's Memorial of God's Friends: Lives and sayings of Sufis". Translated by Paul Losensky. Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press. #attar #sufism #mysticism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore what little we know of the mysterious group of Jewish Christians known as the Ebionites. Sources/Suggested Reading: Brakke, David (2012). "Gnostics: Myth, Ritual, and Diversity in Early Christianity". Harvard University Press. Chilton, Bruce & Craig A. Evans (ed.) (1998). Studying the historical Jesus: Evaluations of the state of Current Research. Brill. Ehrman, Bart (2005). "Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew". OUP USA. Holmén, Tom & Stanley E. Porter (ed.) (2011). Handbook for the study of the historical Jesus. Volume 1. Brill. Levine, Amy-Jill; Dale C. Allison Jr. & John Dominic Crossan (2006). The Historical Jesus in Context. Princeton University Press. #Ebionites #Jesus #Christianity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the history and key features of the movement known as Salafism, which has become a significant force in modern Islam. Sources/Suggested Reading: Crawford, Michael (2014). "Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab". Oneworld Academic. Hamid, Sadek (2016). "Sufis, Salafism and Islamists: The Contested Ground of British Islamic Activism". I.B. Tauris. Hoover, Jon (2019). "Ibn Taymiyya". Oneworld Academic. Meijer, Roel (ed.) (2009). "Global Salafism: Islam's New Religious Movement". C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd Winter, Tim (ed.) (2008). "The Cambridge Companion to Islamic Theology". Cambridge University Press. #Salafism #Islam #Religion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore whether or not we can find the conception of a single, absolute god in ancient Egyptian theology. Sources/Suggested Reading: Assmann, Jan (2001). "The Seach for God in Ancient Egypt". Translated by David Lorton. Cornell University Press. Copenhaver, Brian P. (ed.) (1995). "Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius in a New English Translation, with Notes and Introduction". Cambridge University Press. Hornung, Erik (1982). "Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and the Many". Translated by John Baines. Cornell University Press. Hornung, Erik (2001). "Akhenaten and the Religion of Light". Translated by David Lorton. Cornell University Press. Simpson, William Kelley (ed.) (2003). "The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry". Yale University Press. Teeter Emily (2011). "Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt". Cambridge University Press. #Egypt #Antiquity #Religion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.