Topics
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.