Topics
Our mind is a screen on which the movie
of life is being displayed. The screen consists of two layers. On one of its
lavers the movie of physical senses is displayed. Any wishes and needs that
enter the mind in the form of thought fall on the outer layer of the conscious
mind, and through those needs, the different systems of the physical body work.
The second layer of the screen exists in the depths of the mind. It can also be
called the inner layer. At this layer, the photographic reflection of the
information is displayed in the form of light. Under normal condition, this
screen does not come in front of our eves.
Example
In the
movie theater, the movie projector is placed on the opposite side, facing the
screen. Once the film is loaded inside the projector, it is turned on with the
light switch. As the film rolls, the images in the film fall on the screen with
the help of the light in which they travel. Those images on the screen become
'alive'right where they strike it. However, when we look at the space between
the projector and the screen all we see is a stream of light coming out of the
area where projector is working. Those rays of light carry all the images
visible on the screen. Hence, this process could be divided into three parts.
First, the images of the film; second, the light on which those images travel
and eventually fall on the screen; and third, the screen itself on which those
images are displayed. When physical senses move inside us then we see the film
on our physical screen.
When we are under the influence of
physical senses then we see the film on our physical screen. At that moment,
the reflection of the film falls on the outer surface (layer) of consciousness.
Innately our memory makes us dependent on gravity. We, under the restrictions
of time and space, can only observe the 'present moment'.
Our mind also carries a screen of light
in which the cosmic film is displayed. On that screen, we can even see those
objects that are otherwise hidden from our physical eye. Under this method of
observation, the restriction of time and space plays no part. In the present
moment, we can see any moment, whether it is past or future, near or far.
20
Whatever
that we see is traveling on those factors that are apparent-Iv invisible to our
eyes. Nevertheless, without their presence, no action can manifest. Every
action of the existing being is inter-linked with one another and creation of
every moment depends on the previous one. The first moment leads to the second
one and the second one leads to the third. We simply cannot but recognize the
existence of the activities in life, which we refer as 'past' and those which
are called 'future' in the 'present moment.
All
the attributes and information of life are attached to the physical being. Our
eyes could not normally see them. However, whenever we need them they come
forward. Physical (outward) senses are unable to see them, but we simply cannot
deny their existence. The level of this attribute exists in its proper form in
the realm of lights (Non-physical world). This system acts through waves or
through the chemical properties of the cell.
When
we see someone, for example John Doe, our eyes could only see the body made out
of flesh and bones. The personal attributes of John Doe remain hidden from our
sight. For example, whether John Doe is kind hearted, well-behaved, is or is
not sensitive and so on. His brain contains unlimited information of scientific
knowledge. his memory has registered millions of images. There are numerous
activities going on inside John's body and mind which remain hidden.
His
life is a collection of various activities from the time of his birth to the
present. Every mental and physical activity is a motion. John's whole life is
like a movie in which every action (motion) is an image. However, even a single
image can never be removed from the life of John Doe. The man that exists
before our very eyes only as a statue of bones and flesh but his past, his
future, and all of his abilities and attributes are hidden from the eyes. That
means that real .John Doe is the name of the attributes and the body is merely
an outward display of those attributes.
The
hidden life of John Doe and all of his qualities exist in the form of a film or
record. The material manifestation of this film is his physical being itself,
which could also be called consciousness. Our eyes could only see the John Doe
of limited qualities. However, the unlimited qualities and attributes remain
hidden from our sight. Nevertheless, no one can deny the existence of those
qualities.
The hidden record or the film always
coexists with the mind. For example, when we see someone whom we had not seen
in twenty five years then we do not have to memorize the events of the past
twenty five years nor do we physically enter
the time zone of twenty five years ago, instead we instantly recognize that
person. This means that the subconscious has the record of those twenty five
years. When the record came into motion then the interim period simply is
deleted in order to bring back the twenty five year-old personality. And our
mind was able to see that 'moment' which exists in the record in which the twenty
five year-old personality is stored.
The
seed of any tree is considered to be the earliest form of its existence. This
same seed, when conjoined with soil and water and under a specific temperature,
comes into motion. It seems illogical to believe that tiny seed holds all the
information regarding the whole life of that tree, its branches, leaves, fruits
and its future generation. Nevertheless, it is an undeniable truth. As this
seeds grows, it completes various stages of growth. In other words, the physical
being of the tree (i.e. seed) holds the entire record of its life. The same
record through stages and fixed term manifests as a whole tree.
According
to Sufism all the records of attributes exist at a level that is called the
world of lights (luminous world). This record could be accessed in the form of
watching a film. The basic element of watching the 'inner movie' is to move the
sight (or vision) away from the physical screen. In this practice all those
methods are used upon which the sight shifts its interest from watching the
outer screen to the inner screen. During this attempt, the consciousness become
subdued and the sight rejects that screen that usually comes in front of the
vision during the conscious state of mind. Through consistent practice, the
focus of the sight shifts to the screen which exists in the inner layer of the
mind and on which the film or movie of the hidden reality of the universe is
displayed.
To
focus our sight on the inner film is definitely not a part of our daily routine.
Hence our lower-self tries to end that quest. Different thoughts cross our mind
and we tend to get bored with it. In order to keep our focus on the inner
screen we have to repeat the process often to get used to it.
The
'Point of Essence' (nuqta dhat) that lies inside the Man, can observe the
wonders of the Universe on both screens. The reason why we are unaware of the
inner screen is that all of our interests lie with the outer screen. We simply
do not get interested in watching the inner screen.
KHWAJA SHAMS-UD-DEEN AZEEMI
In the current information age, the very question of what Man
is, and to what extent his abilities
go, has gained prominence. Metaphysical knowledge tells us
that Man is not just a mass of muscles and bones but in fact is a living
universe or microcosm (a'lam asghar) itself. His life is primarily relying on
information. As a matter of fact his life is nothing but a collection of
thoughts and imagination. His every movement is influenced by information and
thoughts. Every human achievement is circled around the unseen world of
cognition, imagination and creative thoughts. By giving new meaning to this
idea, Man creates and invents new things out of nothing.