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Many life experiences and events point
to the fact that there are perceptual resources available besides the physical
senses in humans whose capability and attributes are much higher and greater
than normal senses. Based on the way with which these perceptual resources are
exposed to us, different terms have been assigned to them, for example sixth
sense, Extra Sensory Perception or ESP, intuition, conscience, inner voice and
spiritual flight among others.
We
all go through a certain phase of our life when the ability to think becomes
clogged. We cannot make up our mind in the face of turmoil or a crisis. In the
midst of that confusion, a thought suddenly crosses our mind like a flash and
we become aware of something that could not be explained, nor does it have any
apparent relationship to the state of affairs. This thought is sometimes so
strong that we simply cannot avoid being influenced by it. The more compelling
fact is that when we act on that very thought, the problem that we were facing,
goes away. Often we hear people saying that their sixth sense was telling them
something or that they were receiving a thought repeatedly and then it all
happened the way it was in their mind.
Example I:
You suddenly start thinking about a
relative whom you have not seen in years. From time to time, his or her picture
appears in your mind though there is no apparent reason for it. You began
questioning yourself why it was happening. Sometimes it may also be
accompanied by feelings of happiness or of worry. Shortly thereafter, you learn
that same person either is sick or was involved in an accident. In the same way
sometimes a thought of a friend starts coming into your mind for no reason and
moments later same person is knocking at your door. Often when a group of people
is talking about something and the topic of discussion imperceptibly moves to
an absent specific person and a short while later, that same person shows up unexpectedly.
Example II:
A scientist spends time researching
something and analyzing the results and during that process of deep thinking,
he or she is able to form a new idea. This new discovery would then become the
basis for a new formula or a branch of science. This discovery process unfolds
in a step-by-step way or in some occasions bypasses all the trial and error
stages and forms in an instant. In a step-by-step process, this discovery does
not feel to be out of ordinary. However if it happened in an instant then it
cannot be termed as the working of the normal senses.
In organic chemistry Benzene is a
compound. The discovery of its molecular structure is in many ways similar to
what we have just discussed. Chemist Friedrich August Kekule (1829-1896) was
busy finding out the molecular structure of Benzene, since based on earlier
assumptions it was not what he thought it should have been. However, even
after spending day after day he was not able to come to any conclusion. One
night he saw in his dream that there were six serpents who were grabbing each
other's tail in such a way that it formed a specific figure. Simply by looking
at that figure he got the idea of the molecular structure of Benzene. After he
woke up, he worked on that figure for a while and proved that the molecular
structure of Benzene is the same as what he had seen in his dream.
In the same way, many advances in the
field of medicine are a result of intuitive guidance. Because of mental work of
the doctors and or researchers, the mind focuses on any chemical, compound, or
drug and through experiments and research the intuitive signal is transformed
into the material form and figure and the belief of its success.
Creative art as well as any other
conscious performance is also influenced by the delicate perception. Many
subjects, writings, poems, and thoughts cannot be viewed as cognitive efforts.
This is also noted by authors, painters, poets, or philosophers and often
referred to as 'inspiration' or its absence as `writers block'.
By
looking at the different stages of life, it is evident that we are influenced
by cognition and intuition. In order to live a meaningful life, the things we
need are provided to us from a source. In our mind, thoughts are formed in an
order on their own and because of that order, we lead an orderly life. From
early childhood to late years the experiences our consciousness gathers and
the awareness of its organized and powerful use is also provided by that
source.
This internal working can be seen in the
different types of personalities and interests. Consciousness gets its signal
of centrality and aptitude from the unconscious. For instance, two children of
same parents usually have different aptitudes and abilities. Even though
socially they belong to the same economic
strata and receive equal attention from the parents. They go to the same school
but with age their conscious interests become different. One takes interest in
arts while the other aspires to become a lawyer. One excels in academics and
gets good grades while the other does not. We would not be able to find any
clues if we were going to look into the outward circumstances. Similarly, if
these children were asked why they take certain interest in one subject but not
the other, they would not be able to answer that as well. The truth is that the
impressed mark of the unconscious determines the course of interest for the
consciousness and the individual's ability, interest, and performance gets
distinguished.
This
can also be seen in the Animal Kingdom. In the lower animals as well as among
insects there exists an individualized as well as collective cohesive
consciousness. Moreover, we know that in the workings of that consciousness,
cognition, or education plays no part. For example the making of the spider's
web or the ability to fly among birds or the ability of honey-bee to make honey
from the flowers are all the behavior we usually call innate behavior. None of
these skills is taught in any way. What we are trying to point out is that
behind the mechanism of the consciousness, there is a source. The
consciousness is influenced by that source. Human life in all its different
stages is influenced by that same source, but since we are so used to
our daily routine, we hardly pay any attention to it. However, there are
different aspects, which could not be termed
as routine or ordinary. Therefore based on experiences and observations
human cognition is forced to classify these into different layers. Psychology
talks about subconsciousness and unconsciousness while Parapsychology deals with the sixth sense, inner voice, or Extra
Sensory Perception (ESP) Religious
figures introduce us to conscience, intuition and the spirit. Hence, all
branches of knowledge recognize the existence of a source or entity besides the
brain. More interestingly, even non-religious people (e.g., Karl Marx) are forced
to recognize a unit, which is beyond the scope of human intelligence or
consciousness Nature.
In
other words, there are two brains in humans. One of them is the outward one
while the other is hidden. The more this outward brain is connected to the hidden
brain the more peaceful a life we lead. Our angle of perception gets wider and
the capability of the brain to receive and comprehend the intuitive information
it receives from the hidden brain is enhanced. All Spiritual branches of
knowledge (including Sufism) are based on the notion that a person be able to
use the spiritual brain as much as possible. The transferring of thoughts
without material medium (Telepathy); receiving information without the help of
any material medium (kashaf ; making
changes in things and thoughts with the spiritual power (tasarraf);
knowledge of spiritual formulas; visiting other worlds; observing angels
and jinns, Heaven, Hell, the Divine Throne and glimpses of the Divine
Attributes, all these are possible only when the spiritual brain of the
individual is activated and functional.
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.