Topics
Life
makes itself apparent through a garment, and we assume that this garment is
life*. Childhood, adulthood, and old age are all various names of the garment.
All through the night and day, we fulfill the needs of the garment, and
assuming it to be our identity, we ignore the reality. The garment is formed
and goes through change each day and night, transforming from childhood into
adulthood, adulthood to old age, and finally disappears; however, life
continues to exist. If life disappeared along with the garment, the connection
between the occupants of the innumerable worlds would cease to exist. Most
often, parents receive the good news of the birth of a blessed child, and see
glimpses of their traits through dreams. That is, they witness a star falling from
the sky into their lap, or streams of milky rays dispersing from the full moon,
while some others hear voices from the unseen. Ponder – what does it mean to
receive news of the traits and attributes of an infant that is yet to be born,
and has not been seen by its parents?
***
The garment continues to change from the point of birth
to death. Though the garment of old age is different from that of childhood and
adulthood, the entity that wears the garment is the same. It is pertinent to
note that creatures with a large body (garment) live longer on earth, while
those with smaller bodies complete their lifecycle earlier. Life is not
affected by the difference in time and space allocated to different creatures.
In this case, what do we mean by a large space or a small space?
|
* Read this line over and over again until you
understand the hidden meanings within it. |
A
bubble is a creation that has a very short lifespan of a few seconds, however
every category of knowledge, be it on the colours of life, physics, or
metaphysics, is embedded within it. A bubble is born, passes through its
childhood, after which adulthood sweeps in, and then it goes on to hide inside
old age. Upon completing its physical life, there comes a time when it bids
farewell to this material world; at this point, the thin membrane of a bubble
made of water opens up and —? The status of the membrane is that of a garment.
This is the veil between the two worlds. One world is inside the membrane, and
the other world is an environment in which the bubble floats. When the veil is
lifted, the life that is inside meets the life that is on the other side of the
veil.
When
the size of the space, be it small or large, does not affect the span of life,
why are the lifespans of certain creatures short, whilst others are long on our
earth?
Earth
is dominated by space, this is why the creatures that occupy larger space live
longer on earth, and those that occupy lesser space exit it earlier. In terms
of their physical weight and volume, both the mountain and the ocean are the
largest creatures on earth. There is no machine invented to date that can gauge
their weight. Their term on earth is long due to their volume; and their volume
is entrenched in the earth in a way that, when the lifespan of either one of
them comes to an end, the earth will contract. It is stated in the Holy Quran,
“And He
it is Who spread out the earth and placed therein firm hills and flowing
streams.” (Quran, 13:3)
All the
particles that have been mentioned, and those that have not been mentioned, are
all demonstrations of life as per the abilities of their garment. A garment is
formed, it undergoes change, and then disperses; however, life is worship and
worship is life.
***
This
world is an illusion, and this illusion is such that every creature manifests
in the veil of dust; but no one says that they see the dust, nor does the
thought hit them that they are in fact dust themselves.
The
birth of a child is equivalent to a garment that is classified for a being that
is sent to this world. Who we refer to as a child, was already born before it
arrived into this world, and after having passed through various zones, it has
come to stay awhile in this world of dust. Even though at the point of birth
the mind of a child is empty of fictional knowledge, it is not ignorant of the
knowledge of the universe. However, when the child drapes the veil of fictional
knowledge, the knowledge of the universe moves into obliviousness.
We eat,
drink, walk, sit, think, assign meanings, and attribute the credit of these
movements to the body. Even at the point when we watch people like us being
motionless, even then, our mind does not realise that we consider the garment
as our life. Just as a car does not run on its own, rather, it is the petrol
that gives the car a push; in this same way, life gives movement to the
garment. The purpose of coming into this world is to become aware of the life
that is hidden behind the veil.
***
What is
life? Life is a continuity of information, which makes itself apparent in the
form of needs in various shapes and forms.
1. A
creature receives information and begins to see, hear, think, understand,
speak, eat, sleep, wake up, and gain knowledge. Life is unworthy of mention
without information. What is this information, and where does it come from? God
Almighty states, “I am The Knower of all.”
2. The ability to see and hear has been operative
consistently in the individuals of the universe. What are hearing and sight,
where do they come from? God Almighty states, “I am All-Hearing, All-seeing.”
3. When one evaluates life, their understanding of life becomes
profound. What is the source of
understanding? God Almighty states, “I am The First, The Last, The Apparent,
The Hidden, and The Wise.”
God
Almighty wanted to manifest the program that was in His will and the universe
came into existence. The senses were not activated in the creatures. God
Almighty called out, “Am I not your Lord?” With this call, the needs of life
were activated, and the centre upon which the creatures focused their needs,
were the attributes of God.
In
short, mankind thinks that the body is reality when it is only a garment. God
has breathed life into this garment and has given the knowledge of His
attributes to the soul. When mankind focuses inwards and cognises their soul,
they realise that the attributes of God Almighty encompass all creation.
KHWAJA SHAMS-UD-DIN AZEEMI
Articles of 'MESSAGE OF THE DAY' from Qalandar Shaoor Monthly
