Tahir Shah Released
I post the following link without analysis but it will be of interest to those readers familiar with the work of Idries Shah - it is an article in the London Times detailing the recent harrowing ordeal in a Pakistan jail of Shah’s son, the writer and film-maker Tahir.
Thank God, he has been released safely. Here is the link to the Times Article.
August 09 2005 in Literature | Read More | Comments [0]
Life of Pi
A while back, some guy on AppleInsider (there’s really nowhere better if you’re looking for a good old-fashioned bar-room brawl) recommended in a thread there that had (de)evolved into the usual religious rant/bashfest that people read Yann Martell’s Life of Pi
I didn’t take it too seriously at first because I have been a bit disillusioned with modern fiction for some time but recently I was in a bookshop here in Barcelona and I saw it so I picked it up for the beach. All I can say is Wow! A life changing book (for me) and so I feel duty bound to credit Midwinter and AI as the source of my revelation.
I don’t really intend to post a review here (there’s plenty at the Amazon link above) but rather explore what I see as the esoteric themes of Martell’s book. I will focus on the Islamic/Sufi/Fortean aspects as this is what I am most familiar with but I’m sure those knowledgeable about Hinduism and Buddhism could find equally interesting parallels.
August 08 2005 in Reviews | Read More | Comments [10]
New Links
Just a quick not the say I have updated with some new links. Bad Christian is a great blog about liberal Christianity and it place in relation to the more often encountered right-wing version. Also added is Guruphiliac which is a real find as I have long been lamenting the demise of David Lane’s essential Scumbag Gurus.
Finally, I’ve made a great discovery in Andrew Magergut’s Almanac: New Middle Ages which is an excellent resource for Byzantine Christianity, mysticism and philosophy as well as touching on Islamic Art and related topics. There is a great article Islamic Asceticism up there as of now and it is an essential read for anyone interested in the early development of Sufi practice. It has inspired me to post a few things on early Islamic asceticism and its relation to Eastern Christian practices and the teachings of Saint Isaac of Nineveh - hopefully these will appear at some point next week if I get the time.
August 06 2005 in General Stuff | Read More | Comments [2]
Unreliable Memoirs #1
A blog is essentially quite a narcissistic entity and as I have writer’s block and can’t come up with anything to fill up the ‘writing’ category with I’ve decided to embrace this aspect of the phenomena and write a pseudo-biography - probably on an ongoing basis. Or if you’re lucky maybe just when I’m bored.
The first thing to bear in mind is that it will be a complete and utter fiction from beginning to end and contain barely a scintilla of truth, so any coincidence with events in the ‘real world’ is illusory. If anyone recognizes themselves, others or situations described anywhere here - don’t worry: it’s not real....
August 06 2005 in Literature | Read More | Comments [6]
Donkey
A neighbour came to Nasrudin, asking to borrow his donkey. “It is out on loan,” the teacher replied. At that moment, the donkey brayed loudly inside the stable. “But I can hear it bray, over there.” “Whom do you believe,” asked Nasrudin, “me or a donkey?”
August 05 2005 in Mulla Nasrudin | Read More | Comments [1]
Nasrudin Site
Just discovered this new site on the esteemed Mulla Nasrudin.
The site features the Nasrudin stories as told in the framework of marionette theatre by puppeteer Richard Merrill of Brooksville, Maine. There are some great stories - including some Zen Mulla-ized ones - and there is even a discussion forum. Check it out!
August 04 2005 in Mulla Nasrudin | Read More | Comments [1]
Sufi and Hasidic Wisdom
I’m currently doing some research for an article on the convivencia (the period of Jewish/Muslim/Christianity co-existence in Islamic Spain) which I will publish on this blog in due course, and have come across a fascinating article on Sufi - Hasidic links.
August 02 2005 in Sufism/Islam | Read More | Comments [0]
MusicMobs
Ok, I’ve got to do it - this is the link to my MusicMobs Playlist.
No sniggering at the back.
August 01 2005 in Music | Read More | Comments [3]
The Hidden Conversation
There is a fascinating post on Mary Magdalene and the ‘Is Sufism Islamic’ debate (July 22nd) on Mushtaq Ali’s blog Traceless Warrior.
The Mary Magdalene aspect is fascinating but I will focus on the wider debate because I have a great interest in this question as I am working on topics which impinge on this area with my dissertation which is concerned with the antecedents of the Sufi Malamati tradition and its possible evolution from Syriac Christianity as well as earlier parallels in the Greek school of the Cynics. Clearly, in an academic sense, it is beyond doubt (as Ali concedes) that these parallels exist and that something very similar to Sufism existed before Islam - albeit not recognized by that name. Indeed, Classical Sufi Masters are frequently on record as stating as much.
July 31 2005 in Sufism/Islam | Read More | Comments [2]
Downloads
The following are a collection of links to writings and publications by authors I admire and who have important things to say in the areas of interest covered by Anulios. Ie: Islam, philosophy, mysticism, Gnosticism and history of religions.
Some are collections and comments from current bloggers, some are the work of traditional writers and thinkers and some are rare articles from historical thinkers and philosophers. Where possible I have endeavoured to provide these free of charge but in certain cases the author (ie not me) will administer a small charge to cover administration (in some cases these charges are donated to causes of the author’s choosing) but in all cases I think the cost is well worth it and urge you all to support the writers of these articles who publish this material purely as a labour of love - if you are interested in the subject matter of this blog you will definitely appreciate these publications.
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1. Lost Bearings in Philosophy
Lost Bearings is a short monograph based on several years of groundbreaking research by Max Gorman that explores the idea that Western philosophy has reached an impasse from which the only escape is the recognition of the necessity of a completely different mode of thought.
Running Towards the Bomb is a collection of Essays on Gnosticism and the End of Civilisation as well as other assorted weirdness by Jeremy Puma of Fantastic Planet fame. The link will take you to Jeremy’s site and there are full details of the book there.
To those unfamiliar with Mr Puma’s writings I urge you to check them out - Jeremy’s writings are the essential distillation of the zeitgeist - buy this book and save a dog!
July 31 2005 in General Stuff | Read More | Comments [0]
Beelzebub’s Tales
I’ve decided to do some book reviews as a lame attempt to fill up post-space while waiting during the Muse’s increasingly prolonged absences and, of course, to feebly try to drum up some Amazon affiliate action so I can start making inroads into my languishing Wish List.
With that in mind I thought I’d start with a suitably obscure ‘review’ of Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson
July 29 2005 in Reviews | Read More | Comments [2]
Magic
I intended to write something about magic in a little while but I have been inspired to pre-empt myself as it were by a post by Zac on his blog Alchemical Braindamage.
July 27 2005 in Fortean | Read More | Comments [6]
Donations
As I mentioned in the previous post, I am currently trying to finish my Phd in Islamic Studies (specifically the Malamatiyya with particular reference to Syriac Christianity and the Cynics) at Edinburgh University.
The problem is I am running out of money and it is an expensive undertaking. Hence in order to fund my doctorate I am reduced to working as a web designer and buying and selling antique tribal rugs and, as a supplement to all that: soliciting donations through this site.
Sooooooo..... if you feel like supporting me in this valiant attempt (in however small a fashion) you can choose from one of the following four options to help:
1. Buy me an academic textbook.
2. Purchase an antique tribal rug from my collection.
3. Hire me as a web designer to set-up your blog or design your site.
4. Donate to my Paypal Account via the foregoing link or the button at the bottom of the menu on the right.
Many thanks!
July 26 2005 in General Stuff | Read More | Comments [0]
About Me
Here follows a wee bit about what is going on here.....
About me...
Ok, my name is Tarquin Rees and I am a postgraduate student at Edinburgh University writing a Phd thesis on the Sufi movement the Malamatiyya and their relationship to Eastern Christianity and the Greek school of the Cynics.
July 26 2005 in General Stuff | Read More | Comments [0]
Water
I think one of the points of Sufi stories used as teaching tools is to establish a framework whereby one can recognize similar frameworks in the ‘real world’.
I heard a story today which may well fall into this category. According to this BBC Article, artist Mark McGowan has created a ‘work of art’ which purportedly aims to raise awareness of water wastage. The installation consisted of a tap which was to be left running for the period of a year.
Unfortunately, the area where the gallery is situated has been experiencing a prolonged dry spell and consequent water shortages. Now it seems that the local water authority has been forced to resort to legal action to close the exhibit down citing a gratuitous waste of its water resources.
July 25 2005 in Sufism/Islam | Read More | Comments [0]
