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Every
moment in life is a test and no individual can progress to the next stage
without passing through them. A child grows up to be an adult and an adult
steps into old age. If an individual does not learn to adapt to the adverse
situations while they pass through the various stages in life — childhood,
adulthood, and old age— they continue to remain as students of first grade in
the school of life. Let alone the major issues, these individuals are not able
to sort out minor problems too. They become so closed-minded that they view
things through the entangled web of narrow-mindedness.
People complain about being humiliated by a certain
person. And if one asks what was said to them, they reply that the person
referred to them as a fool. When they are asked if they consider themselves a
fool, they immediately shake their head to say no. If one is not a fool, why
then are they stressed when they are referred to as fools?
The fact is that one does not have the patience to
listen to the views that are in conflict with their temperament.
If one’s intellectual
development is not nurtured as per one’s age, then their ability to sort
matters gets overpowered and their life remains confined to the trends that are
passed down from generation to generation. They begin to weigh the pros and
cons and view everything from the point of material gain. They say, “If I had
money no one would have dared to be disrespectful towards me. My daughter would
have been happy in her home. My son would not have to move hither tither in
search of a job. Everyone in the house would have lived in agreement with each
other. The children would be educated in good schools. We would have a large
mansion as home and I would walk in the spacious garden that would be adjacent
to it. In the evenings we would set the tables for tea. Each of our problems
would have been sorted and we would all live smiling and happy. If only we had
wealth!”
Passing through the oscillations between “If I had
this” and “If I had that”, man climbs the stairs of the “Hidden and Manifest”
and one day exits this world. The resources that they connected with wealth,
were they not available for their expenditures even without money?
If one would have taken a morning walk in the nearby
parks and spent time with their families smiling and being happy, they would
never miss a garden. If one’s son had only given importance to finding a job
without placing the criteria of the desired standard, he would have eventually
experienced prosperity through it. And so, what if one’s children could not be
educated in well-known schools? If one would have educated and trained their
children well to think, understand, write, and express themselves; if they
would have read out books to them, and led their life as per the guidance of
the last Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), their children would have been more distinct
than other children. Education is not limited to the flow of money nor is it
limited to well-known schools. Even with limited money, one can lead a very
good life and all of their troubles get hidden under a fistful of soil.
If the daughter of the poor is not in peace at her
in-laws, neither is the daughter of the rich even after being given millions in
dowry. It is a common complaint that one’s son is not assisting in operating
the business, however, the son surely worries about his share of inheritance as
soon as he gets married. Even those who have properties are stressed due to
financial and societal issues. These issues are of various kinds, however, they
are not related to wealth; rather they are related to one’s attitude.
When
one reads these examples, their mind turns towards those with whom they are not
in good terms. This is the very reason for failure and intellectual
incompetence. As one does not introspect and look inwards, they do not develop
the tolerance to realise that the individual is one, however, their status
differs everywhere. A son, brother, father, husband, and son-in-law are the
roles of a man. A woman, on the other hand, plays the role of a daughter,
sister, mother, wife, and daughter-in-law, all at the same time. Every
individual is in unity internally, and experiences multiplicity externally.
When we introspect and look inwards, we can see our attitude with clarity. On
the other hand, when we look outwards, the multiplicity of the roles that we
play takes us further away from being retrospective.
***
Exams
are conducted to assess one’s intellect. The annual test held in the college
and universities is to gauge the extent of our excellence achieved over the 364 days that were allotted
to us.
In the
current system of education, the duration of three hours is considered
equivalent to 364 days. If the results are not as expected, then the student
repeats the first grade for one more year. Until one does not present their
understanding of what they learned in 364 days by answering the questionnaire
in three hours, they do not progress.
Though
the nature of the test differs everywhere, the procedure is the same. Life
tests our ability of endurance, and spirituality offers the strength that is
needed for it. The mind of a disciple becomes stronger when it is aligned with
their spiritual master. Otherwise, the disciple remains in doubt. One attains the warp and wefts of
spirituality through focus, in other words, the first lesson of spirituality is
concentration. Through focus one can attain the knowledge of the creation.
“This is the Book whereof there is no doubt, a guidance
unto those who are pious. Who believe in the unseen, and establish
worship, and spend of that We have bestowed upon them.” (Quran, 2:2-3)
Apart
from the resources that one needs for the nourishment of the body, the
resources of knowledge are also included in the provisions. Just as nutrition
is a requirement for the nurturing of the body, the soul also wants to absorb
the waves of the resources.
One of the meanings assigned to the spending of the
resources provided by God is, “Acquiring the knowledge of creation, and
disseminating it amongst the creatures.” This knowledge is acquired only by
those whose thinking pattern is free from doubt. The knowledge of creation
activates clarity and the ability to comprehend; it strengthens the person and
lifts the veil of the limited thinking pattern which blocks the path of
witnessing the universe. An individual thinks that they are seeing the
universe, while in reality, what one witnesses is according to how one sees
things.
***
The
spectacle of limited vision sees impermanence in every creature, while the
world of faith reveals that there are no changes or pauses in “the knowledge of
the proportion of things”. By impermanence it does not mean that the creature
has changed, it means that the same shape and form of a creature presents
itself over and over again in different ways. When one is introduced to someone
that they are seeing after a decade, though the memories open up, they have no
idea where the 10 years have passed.
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It is the right of the readers to ask questions. |
The process of growing and diminishing occurs
involuntarily, therefore, being in the conscious state of mind, one remains
unaware of the mechanism behind it.
If one has grown up to be 10 years old, then for sure the
10 years have also diminished and gone back to the stage from where they are
arriving.
Through the
process of nurturing, as one does not pay attention to the mechanism of growth
and diminish, nor to the hidden and manifested, space gets created between
spiritual nurturing and physical growth. Hence, at the age of 10 years, the
understanding of the inner conscious is not equal to the external conscious.
If one
would pay attention to nurturing one’s inner while nurturing the body, an
individual would have crossed the various stages of the conscious and witnessed
the system of the subconscious.
Respected
readers! You have read the formula for a successful and unsuccessful life. Read
the article once more and use at least five keys to open the lock.
May God
protect you.
KHWAJA SHAMS-UD-DIN AZEEMI
Articles of 'MESSAGE OF THE DAY' from Qalandar Shaoor Monthly
