Transcendental Strings

This issue has been the cause of much debate in the history of Sufism ['Islamic mysticism'] that when spiritual powers stir and operate within a person, how is one to discern whether these conditions are based on reality or whether they are the work of Satan. This issue has a great deal of importance in religion as well. If spiritual occurrences and perceptions are not based on reality, the fear that satanic revelation would throw man into abyssal depths, becomes a certainty. As far as the teachings between a spiritual mentor and his disciples are concerned, the point of objection has been as to how a spiritual mentor is able to train his disciples hundreds or thousands of miles away. Even if he is able to train spiritually, what is the element of certainty that would guarantee that the mentor's spirit is free from satanic revelation? A spiritual mentor is after all a human being like us.

The analysis of the intellectuals regarding human life is that life, in reality, is like a movie composed of thoughts, and this movie continues to be projected upon the screen of the mind with an uninterrupted continuity. When we reflect upon thoughts, we become aware that giving different meanings to the same thought constitutes fulfilment. When we become attentive towards hunger, we declare a particular act of filling our belly as good, while [at another time] we associate the same act of Wimp, the belly with evil. Marriage is an act upon which depends the existence of the human species. If this same act is fulfilled according to the rules and regulations set up by man, this act is good; while the same act, if conducted against the predetermined rules and regulations, is evil. This is despite the fact that both aspects of this act bear the same result.

The way to recognize the nature of an action is that performing one kind of action pleases the conscience and waves of peace-and contentment flow through the person, whereas, the identity of the other [kind of] action is that it displeases the conscience and the person feels shameful having conducted that act.

Man, in reality, is [like] a tree and the morals and actions of his life are the fruits of this tree. Another thing that is clear to us is that a tree is not recognized by its roots, but by its fruit. The same applies to human actions. Truth is not determined by the source, but rather by its consequences. No conclusive judgment can be made regarding the good or bad thoughts within a person. It is the actions of the person that can assure whether he is truthful or untruthful. To judge an action it is necessary to ascertain how that action impacts society. If the action possesses truth, depth, and accord with nature, then it is a correct and truthful action.

The manner of speech and the style of teaching of human beings, whose physical needs are connected to their spiritual states, points to the fact that human beings contain within them an awareness of the relationship between the body and the soul. When the system connecting the body and the spirit is activated, one feels immersed in feelings of joy and selflessness, and looks upon one's brothers and sisters, and indeed upon all of God's creation, with the eyes of a mother gazing lovingly upon her very own children. The thought i that is ingrained upon his nature that, 'my relationship is established with each individual of the universe, and just as the universe resides within me, in the same way, each individual of the universe is casting his image upon the mirror of my heart.' Whenever he desires, he can communicate with this image inside of him.

The one, who personifies evil and embodies the satanic way of thinking, perceives himself to be better than everyone else. His neck muscles suffer spasms due to his constant display of arrogance and contempt. Instead of beauty, charm and innocence, his face is taken over by rigidity, cynicism and unsightliness.

Sitting in the company of a person like one's self can be a source of joy and pleasure, whereas, sitting in the company of a person different from oneself can be emotionally draining and distressing. Each person, from birth until old age, is a document of experiences. If goodness has permeated this document, the document is valuable and beneficial; if it is evil that reigns over [its pages], the document is monstrous and unsightly. The best document is one that is a means of self-awareness. Self-awareness is an unending path such that walking upon it a person can become a tree whose fruit is sweet and ripe; a world benefits from him; his cool shade provides tranquility. An unsightly document produces insensitivity, selfishness and greed within man. This person is such a thorny bush, under whose shade no one desires to stay even for a few moments.

If there is peace within the person himself, he will be a means of peace and tranquility for others; his shade will be cool and fragrant, and his spiritual states will be real. On the other hand, if the person himself is removed from peace, overshadowed by clouds of sorrow, and suffering in the dry and barren valley of fear and grief, his state is that of a satanic revelation, and his entire life is a deception.

The person who bears the document of a good life has a close relationship with God, He enjoys the nearness of God. He experiences attachment to God without asking and without expectation. He experiences closeness to God with every breath of life. He experiences God

manifested within his own self. He listens to whatever God says; God accepts whatever he says. When conversing with God, the months and the years of life, the imaginary senses, and his habits and ways temporarily disappear. Then upon him are revealed such secrets of which the worlds possess no knowledge. Due to this awareness, man is able to recognize his true self, and he realizes the secret that lies behind his life and death and I his transition from the life of one world to the next. Such a person experiences the presence of God within him, every moment and at every instant. Physically this person is like an average person, but the singular point within him is illumined and charged with divine light. This is the point at which the entire universe is tied together with transcendental strings, [maavaraa'ee doniyaann’].