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How Cheetham First Found Henry Corbin
- Tom Cheetham discovered Henry Corbin via James Hillman after finding Helman's essay that praised Corbin, which sparked a 20-year engagement with Corbin's work.
- He first read Corbin's Creative Imagination and the Sufism of Ibn Arabi and felt both enchanted and repelled, especially by Corbin's focus on angels and religious texts.
Scholar Mysticism Explains Corbin's Authority
- Corbin combined broad scholarly mastery (languages, theology, philosophy) with a mystical sensibility that lets him 'see' imaginal realities behind texts.
- Cheetham emphasizes Corbin's polyglot scholarship and mystic orientation as key to understanding his authority and vision.
Who Cheetham Would Put In A Conversation
- Cheetham would put Corbin, Ivan Illich, and Henry Corbin (listening) in a room, but admits he'd mostly sit and listen rather than debate them.
- He recounts never meeting Hillman, Corbin, or Illich and prefers preserving his personal versions of them.