The Common Heritage of Sufism, Buddhism and Taoism

First Thursday Lecture Series
The Buddha Amitayus. Asian Art Museum

The Common Heritage of Sufism, Buddhism and Taoism

Instructor: 
Robert Abdul Hayy Darr
When: 
September 6, 2012
Time: 
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Place: 
Education Studios
Fee: 
$10 (after Museum admission). Online sales are closed for this program. You may purchase tickets at the door.

Despite doctrinal differences among Muslim Sufis, Buddhists, and Taoists, followers of these traditions have a great deal in common when it comes to spiritual practice. This is not surprising since each of these traditions was founded upon spiritual insight rather than speculation or belief. This talk explores how each of these traditions grew by establishing fundamental teachings about human insight and spiritual practices. The balance between doctrine and spiritual practice was often lost over time as doctrine devolved into mere belief. By cultivating the awareness of innate spirituality the real value of each of these religious traditions can be appreciated and genuine interfaith understanding can occur. Objects from the Asian Art Museum's collection will illustrate this discussion.

Robert Abdul Hayy Darr is the author of The Spy of the Heart and translator of Mahmud Shabistari's Garden of Mystery. He has studied Islamic spirituality for nearly 40 years.

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