An Introduction

First and foremost, this is a place of play. It's a way to air one's own thoughts and experiences and to exchange insights with others. But before writing anything here, an introduction to who I am seems in order.

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My special interest is in the powerful contributions of mystical wisdom to discovering a new epistemology of wholeness. I have studied this issue for more than 10 years both theoretically and experientially.

I'm most familiar with Sufism, Islamic science, and some of the writings of Traditionalists. Of course a mystical worldview is not exclusive to Sufism, but is found (with varied interpretations) in many other spiritual traditions. Having said that, I propose that Sufism might have some unique and very useful insights toward discovering a new, more holistic epistemology.

Relative to this topic, my range of interests include:

• perennial philosophy
• integral philosophy
• traditionalism
• trans-rational ways of knowing
• inner epistemology
• symbolism, including the role of the Divine Sophia
• Sufism and its practical implications
• Islamic science (especially the principle of tawhid and its potential value to Western research practice)
• new, more encompassing research methods for Western science. In particular, I'm interested in methods that finally correlate with the findings of quantum physics...that take one beyond the ordinary epistemological confines of self, time and space
• further investigations into the new research paradigm and method proposed in my dissertation...what I currently call "Receptive Inquiry"
• contributing to discussions about reuniting science and spirituality

In this blog I will submit articles, anecdotal stories, and other miscellaneous ruminations.

If you also feel a passion for any of the topics I've outlined here, you are cordially invited into the discussion!

Debra Mater, PhD