> Henry CORBIN
L’homme de lumière dans le soufisme iranien,
Ed. Présence, 1971.
Ce livre admirable, l’un des plus beaux qu’ait écrits H. Corbin, est tout entier axé sur des réflexions qui touchent à la question du maître intérieur : pour commencer, le symbolisme de « l’orientation » intérieure est longuement évoqué, puis celui du « Guide » qui culmine chez deux grands soufis, Sohrawardî et Rûzbehân de Shirâz. Des thèmes comme celui du « Témoin dans le Ciel » ou de l’Ange, apparaissent comme fondamentaux chez beaucoup de mystiques en Islam iranien : « Sache que le mystique a un Témoin. C’est lui que l’on appelle le Maître personnel au monde suprasensible. Il enlève le mystique vers le Ciel ; aussi est-ce dans le Ciel qu’il apparaît ». (Najm Kobrâ, cité p.96).
—Revue Française de Yoga, (1), Janv. 1990

The author presents some thought-provoking ideas about Iranian Sufism. Like many French authors, however, Corbin is rambling, repeats the same ideas endlessly, and has a very high syllable-to-content ratio. ( )

This book was a demanding but worthwhile read. Corbin analyzes the Sufi mystical experience in academic terms, but he also does his best to describe something that transcends words and to nourish the reader's intuitive understanding. He has his own political and religious agenda, but instead of steering him into a blinkered mindset, his beliefs serve as a creative springboard. He does tend to be repetitive, but this is probably necessary in order to maintain the reader's concentration. This is a quirky and brilliant book, and it falls into the same general milieu as work by Louis Massignon and Gershom Scholem. I highly recommend it! ( )

This account of gnostic themes in Iranian traditions of mystical Islam discusses the theory of the personal genius under the rubric of the 'Perfect Nature.' It also usefully treats various themes of esoteric color symbolism, subtle anatomy, and spiritual orientation. Although the prose style is dense and academic, the contents are rich for anyone involved in genuine religious contemplation and able to discern truths through the veil of sectarian doctrine.