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We
are continuously bombarded by different thoughts and images. It all happens
without our will or intention. Moreover, without our discretion, thoughts
gradually enter our consciousness. The thoughts, imaginations, feelings, and
needs that are essential to human life consist of three stages.
One kind of thoughts and feelings lets
human be aware of their own existence and to see themselves as human, which
suggests that it is an individual feeling. This kind of consciousness exists in
all creatures of this Universe. A goat is also aware of its existence and so is
a pigeon.
The second consciousness lets the Self
be aware of its own kind. For example, when this consciousness works inside a
human being, humans beget other humans, just as from a cat spring other cats.
The feelings of a human child are the same as its parents and the kitten has
all those feelings that exist in a cat.
The collection of all these thoughts and
awareness is a consciousness that exists in all creatures collectively, and
the manifestation of that consciousness is "vision." This
consciousness wherever it manifests, has it similar
style. For example, a man sees water as water and so does a goat, which also
drinks it to quench its thirst. The nature of this vision or consciousness has
not changed from eternity to the modern day. Change of space also does not
affect its role either.
Because of this consciousness all
creatures are joined in an invisible bond. That is why the fundamentals of this
Universe are the same. The forces of thirst, hunger, sadness, vision, hearing,
and touch exist in all creatures. When these forces activate in species then
each species applies that force in its own way. For example, hunger exists in
both the lion and the goat. However, how they meet their needs is different.
Each species' mind works on its own. In other words, the mind of that species
becomes the individual consciousness of that individual.
The cosmic mind is like a seed of a
tree. The stem of the tree, its branches, flower, fruits, everything has its
foundation in that tiny seed.
That one seed manifests itself in
thousands of ways. If there were no seed then there would not be any tree. In
the same fashion, all species and individuals of those species come into motion
from the cosmic mind (consciousness). Species and all the thoughts,
imaginations, and feelings that work in species are the extension of that one
unit.
The analogy of an electrical power
station can help us understand this even further. If for instance the mind of
the species is considered as an electrical current and all the species as
bulbs, then just as the electrical current goes to millions and trillions of
electric bulbs from the power station; in the same manner the information from
the cosmic mind (consciousness) reaches the species and its individuals. Since
this information system works like the electrical system, the mind of all the
species are interconnected with each other.
When
we look into life itself, it becomes evident that one side of our mind
functions in the physical life while the other side is the source of the
information of life, in which all the information and actions are stored. That
side influences our conscious life. In our physical body, numerous bodily
functions are carried out without the conscious will or intention. For example
in order to breathe, or to blink, or for the heart to beat, we do not need our
will power. These functions are performed on their own in an orderly fashion.
During the reproductive process the
features of species, its ideas, and information are transferred from the
individual to their offspring. In reproduction, the role of individual
consciousness is marginal; the main role is played by the species and cosmic
consciousness.
With
the advancement of genetics, it is not difficult to comprehend that the
features of the newborn are always similar to that of his or her parents or
relatives. The offspring always carry the features that belong to their own
species. Not only does it inherit physical features but habits and behavior are
transferred as well. In other words, the images of species and the attributes
of cosmic consciousness are transferred like a record from parent to the child.
Both of these records are stored in every newborn child. As the child grows,
his consciousness broadens.
These
facts point out that inside all of us there is an intelligent and authoritative
system that works without will or intention. In Sufism, this intelligent
consciousness is known as the consciousness of species. When this consciousness
controls the collective values of all species, it is referred as the collective
consciousness of the Cosmos. These two consciousnesses are the foundation of
the entire Universe and are collectively "Spirits" (ruh).
Every
person possesses along with an individual consciousness, species and cosmic
consciousness. By species, we meant all the individuals from the first day of
creation to the current moment. The collection of the feelings of species does
not exist in the individual consciousness; instead, it exists in species mind
and from there it is transferred to the consciousness.
Example
A
person wants to learn to drive. When he pays attention to it and learns the
necessary skills and traffic law to operate a vehicle then after a given period
he or she is able to operate a vehicle and obtain a license to drive.
This
means that that person activated the skill that already existed inside him or
her and made it part of his or her consciousness. In the sane way that person
can learn any skill or trade of his or her own Species. This skill is stored in
their species-consciousness and from there it transferred into the
consciousness and becomes part of it. In the same way when a person wants to
awaken the species-mind or cosmic-mind, then he or she can more or less succeed
in the effort the way they are successful in activating the species-mind.
When
all the feeling of individual consciousness is absorbed into the consciousness
of the species then the individual consciousness is dissolved into the
consciousness of the species and it makes contact with the collective
consciousness of the human species. They can send their thoughts to any person
without the help of any outside medium; no matter how far away the other
person lives. They can receive thoughts as well. This skill of transfer of
thoughts could be used in many aspects of charisma and improvement of the
personality. This discipline is commonly referred as telepathy. When the
individual consciousness progresses to a point where it is in harmony with the
cosmic consciousness, then they are able to become aware of the collective
consciousness of all creatures. Actions and attributes of animals, plants, and
angels can be accessed. Planets and star systems can be observed as well.
When the individual consciousness of any
person enters the species-consciousness and after that, the cosmic
consciousness, then they can study the entire Universe. Since the Universe is
dominated by a single consciousness, every wave is aware of the other though
they may be at the opposite ends of the Universe. Therefore, if we, through our
focus, let the consciousness be immersed into these two consciousnesses then we
can understand them just as we are aware of our own conscious feelings and
states.
Through
higher mental concentration, we can observe the planets and stars of our
Universe. Humans, animals, jinns, angels, actions, lifestyles, and the inner
realm of plants can be studied and observed as well. The continuing practice of
Muraqaba improves the concentration and the individual consciousness, and after
being dissolved into the cosinic consciousness sees and hears everything and
records it in the memory.
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.