Ibn Arabi's Tawhid

THERE IS NOTHING EXCEPT THE SUPREME ABSOLUTE. ALL ELSE IS NOTHING. THE ONLY EXISTENCE IS THE EXISTENCE OF THE ABSOLUTE. IF YOU KNOW THIS AND DO NOT CONSIDER YOURSELF TO BE THE SAME AS , OR OTHER THAN, OR TOGETHER WITH THE SUPREME ABSOLUTE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO “YOU” TO BE THESE THINGS, THEN TRULY YOU KNOW YOURSELF- AND YOU KNOW THE ABSOLUTE. WITHOUT BEING AND WITHOUT NOT-BEING, YOUR EXISTENCE AND YOUR NON-EXISTENCE IS THE BEING OF THE SUPREME ABSOLUTE. WHAT IS AROUND YOU IS NOT OTHER THAN YOU BECAUSE THERE IS NO “YOU” TO BE OTHER THAN, AND EVERYTHING IS THE EXISTENCE OF AHAD, THE ONE. YOU ARE NOTHING BUT THAT ONE. YOU ARE THAT ONE WITHOUT YOURSELF. NOW YOU KNOW THE ABSOLUTE BY THE ABSOLUTE, NOT BY YOURSELF. THIS IS TRUE INDIVIDUALITY IN THE SENSE OF THE TRADITION OF THE SUFIS. THIS IS THE APPROACH TO TAWHID (SKT. ADVAITA).

(Adapted from Harris, R. trans. Journey to the Lord of Power. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions, 1981)