Ibn Arabi and the Contemporary West : Beshara and the Ibn Arabi Society

Examines 'Arabi's teachings through the work of the Beshara Trust and the Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi Society. This title investigates how the Beshara School has used Ibn 'Arabi's teachings in assisting a range of students from the world towards personal, spiritual development.

The teachings of the twelfth-century Andalusian mystic philosopher, Muhyiddin Ibn `Arabi, reached throughout the Muslim world from Spain through China and Indonesia, providing inspiration for a diverse range of intellectual, creative and artistic forms throughout these regions. His ideas are centred on a common spiritual Reality and metaphysical Unity underlying religious and cultural diversity, and they became widely influential following his death in 1240 CE.

In the past century, these same universal spiritual aspects of his thought have increasingly inspired Western scholars, artists, creative thinkers and other interested parties from a range of religious and cultural standpoints. This work outlines one key aspect of his influence, through the study of a representative group of people who have been active in promoting his ideas in the English speaking world in the past thirty years by means of the educational activities of the Beshara Trust and the more academic Muhyiddin Ibn `Arabi Society.

Closely paralleling their earlier historical influences, the works of Ibn `Arabi are having a rapidly expanding global influence at the present time in many different domains. The powerful cross-cultural, inter-religious appeal of his teachings provides a crucial positive contribution to the growing dialogue between adherents of the world''s diverse religious faiths.