Points of Convergence

It was interesting to see the convergence of some aspects of Eastern religions in Sells' examination of Ibn 'Arabi's ideas regarding Islam.  The metaphor of the polished mirror presents a scenario in which a "compete human" is able to bridge the gap between the real and the divine and to become enlightened to the fact that those two are actually the same, that the mirror and the reflection are both manifestations of the real.  This seems very similar to the Hindu belief of the interplay between atman and brahman, where an individual strives for a level of self-knowledge that allows for the realization that their "self" is the same as the "essence" of everything that exists in the universe.  Ibn 'Arabi's exploration of this metaphor of the polished mirror seems to follow fairly closely a certain cyclical pattern of hermeneutic analysis; the feat of enlightenment is achieved through questioning and revision of preconceptions to arrive at the conclusion that the tangible and the transcendental are one and the same.

In addition, the concept of the "complete human" being the polisher of the mirror arguably reflects the Buddhist viewpoint of the Two Truths.  The real exists and has always existed, but did not always have a name associated with it.  The naming of the real implies a connection between the real and the divine, since the existence of the real is only because of the cosmos but can still be described in accessible terms. The "complete human" is the only medium through which this connection can be made, and thus is the only being that can understand the connection at all.  This reflects a distinction akin to the Buddhist division of absolute and conventional truth.

While it is unknown whether or not the Eastern religions had a direct influence on Islam, I continue to see compelling connections between seemingly unrelated traditions and philosophies around the world. In fact, it would be even more powerful if these similarities arose independently of each other than if they were adopted and shared throughout different faiths.