Ep272: Mystical Path of Sufism - Professor William Rory Dickson

Sep 20, 2024

Dr. William Rory Dickson, an associate professor of Islamic Religion and Culture at The University of Winnipeg, shares his fascinating spiritual journey from a Christian upbringing to exploring Tibetan Buddhism and ultimately embracing Sufism. He discusses the role of psychedelics in his awakening and debunks common misconceptions about Sufism and Islam. Additionally, he highlights the importance of language in understanding spirituality and reflects on the rich philosophical roots of Sufism, drawing from influences like Ancient Egyptian and Neo-Platonic thought.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

From Atheism to Spirituality

William Rory Dickson was a precocious atheist in his adolescence, dismissing religions as outdated mythologies.
However, powerful psychedelic experiences in university shifted his perspective and sparked a religious search.

ANECDOTE

Teenage Years and Career Exploration

As a teenager, Dickson was rebellious, enjoyed partying, and explored other cultures like Japan.
He worked various jobs, including social work in child protection, before pursuing academia.

ANECDOTE

Spiritual Doorways

Dickson's spiritual experiences were partly due to psychedelics, which he viewed as doorways to deeper consciousness.
Processing trauma with friends and recognizing a deeper meaning in life also played a role.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

In this episode I am joined by Dr. William Rory Dickson an associate professor of Islamic Religion and Culture at The University of Winnipeg and author of “Dissolving into Being: The Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy”. Professor Dickson recalls his Christian upbringing, teenage atheism, and how powerful psychedelic experiences saw him embark on a religious search. Professor Dickson recounts his initial explorations of Tibetan Buddhism, his conversion to Islam, and how his dissatisfaction with conservative and Salafi revivalist trends saw him embrace the Sufi path. Professor Dickson also explains the history of Sufism; considers the influence of Ancient Egyptian, Persian, and Neo-Platonic thought; reflects on the role of language proficiency in the study of religions; and addresses common misconceptions about Sufism and Islam. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep272-mystical-path-of-sufism-professor-william-rory-dickson Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:59 - Upcoming book 01:42 - Religious upbringing 03:39 - Becoming a precocious atheist 04:36 - Late teen mystical experiences 05:29 - Rebellious teen years and interest in Japan 06:29 - Working as a social worker in child protection 07:57 - Drawn to academia 08:29 - Returning to graduate school in late 20s 09:58 - Becoming a professor 11:02 - Psychedelics as spiritual doorways 13:10 - Lessons from trauma 14:24 - Spiritual reading and engaging with Tibetan Buddhism 17:42 - Passion for reading 18:42 - From Tibetan Buddhism to Islam 20:44 - Dissatisfaction with local mosque Islam 22:50 - Friends and family reactions to conversion to Islam 23:52 - Involvement with Salafi Muslim revivalist movements 24:53 - First flush of fundamentalism 26:26 - Burning out, renewed spiritual exploration, and seeking a teacher 28:37 - Meeting Ngak’chang Rinpoche of the Aro gTer 31:32 - Gradual or sudden conversion to Islam? 32:23 - The role of Arabic language study 35:05 - Is source language study necessary to really understand and practice religions? 37:08 - Three idiots on an island 38:04 - Language skills and scholarship 40:21 - Decay of language skills in academia 41:59 - Shift from textual study to lived religion 44:56 - Elite vs popular Sufism 47:44 - Common misconceptions about Sufism and Islam 49:53 - Rich mystical philosophy and the post-colonial dilemma 51:17 - Meeting Sufi teachers and the question of Islamic identity 53:26 - Origin story of Sufism 57:515 - Historical perspective of Sufism and connections to Ancient Egypt, Neo-Platonism, and Persia 58:35 - Enoch as a progenitor of the mystical tradition 59:51 - Inner circle perspective 01:00:52 - Evolution and methods of Sufism 01:03:43 - Diversity of Sufi forms through cultural adaptation 01:06:28 - Ibn ‘Arabi 01:07:58 - Methods and metaphors 01:09:11 - Overwhelmed by the visceral presence of love  … To find our more about Professor William Rory Dickson, visit: - https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/experts-guide/william-rory-dickson.html … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James