Suhrawardi - Three Treatises on Mysticism.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

which have remained unnoticed and almost -unknown upto
the present day.
These treatises are as follows:
I. Mu'nis ul-'Ushshaq
"The Lovers' Friend" is
perhaps the most characteristic
of these rasa'il. It is an allegory on the Quranic story of Joseph
and contains also an original tract on microcosm in which the
metropolis of spirit; guarded by an Old-Youth the Eternal
(i.e.
Reason) is described at length It has been edited on the basis
of MSS. in Constantinople by O. Spies with a Persian commentary
and translated into French
; by Henry Corbin. 5
Another MS. of the same is
preserved in Bankipore No. 2205,
fol, 17a-25a in a manuscript, of mixed contents, dated 1238/39
A,H. Cf. Supplement to the Catalogue of the Pers. Mauuscr.,
Vol IL, Calcutta 1933, p. 137.
II.
Lughat-i Miiran
u The Language of the Ants" is also an allegorical composition
consisting of 12 chapters
explained delicate mystico-philosophical
wherein the author has
theories in common-
are in the form
place appealing terms. The first nine chapters
of stories and the characters employed are birds and animals
which are made to speak and think. The last three chapters
are written rather in the form of aphorisms and the treatment
here is brief but bold.
The subject-matter of the 12 chapters
is as follows:
1. Man is from divine origin and union with God is
his ultimate goal.
2. Man should detach himself from the world and seek
union with God
3. Union is possible.
5. Pour 1'
Anfchropologie Philosophique: Un traits Persan in&lit de
Suhmwerdi d'Alep (+119J), Eecherchea Philosophiques 1932-33, p. 371-423.