Spiritual Meritocracy

Religion has played an important role in the human experience, arguably since humans have had experiences. This is interesting, because religion ties into the human experience... With the key word being experience.

Human beings can and according to many interpretations of differing faiths, do seek out religious knowledge, but this is very distinct from religious experience. Religious experience is an interesting term, I would argue that this term encompasses the true beauty of religion. Religious knowledge is something that can be learnt, that can be passed on to others, and it is an important part of faith for many. However, it only makes up a small piece of a true religious experience. Religious experience cannot be transmitted to others, it cannot be taught, or learnt, it does not depend on the amount of training that a person has, or the environment in which one lives. So since, it can be argued that religious experience is the primary goal of religion, and that every person has their own religious experience, it leads us to another interesting point. If the earlier presumptions are correct, it means that religion and religious practices at their ultimate base form a meritocracy.

Now meritocracy may be a misnomer of sorts, as the "cracy" in it implies a system of government, but the key point remains the same. A meritocracy is a society wherein an individual who is meritorious, or worthy, is the one who benefits - that is those who deserve accolades are the same people who receive the accolades. The principle is the same in religious matters. A religious experience does not depend on how much money a person has, how much education they have, how powerful their families are, or even how much religious information a person knows. A poor individual has the same likelihood of having a positive religious experience as a rich one. The most learned individual may never have this experience, while one who is ignorant may surpass the learned.

Now, I do not know what creates a positive religious experience, I only know that it is subjective. One person may have an enlightened moment while engaging in formal religious practice, another may find these experiences while informally meditating, and yet another may encounter this during a busy working day. This subjectiveness is necessary for this, as there is no way to measure a religious experience externally. We create our own positive religious experiences... they exist within us and because of us. Whether we create them through prayer, meditation, sheer belief, incisive questioning, generosity, or a host of actions, the key point is that we create these experiences for ourselves.

So, what is the reason for all of this? ... I believe the proper answer to this question is "Why." Our search for a "why" is the reason behind the importance of the religious experience. Why are we here? To have an experience that surpasses the capabilities of the human intellect, to grow beyond ourselves. The path to this experience differs from person to person, the road differs, but something deep inside tells me that the destination may be more similar than any of us would believe.

Pluralism

Pluralism is an interesting concept. It's been spoken about in so many ways and by so many people - and defined as well, but what truly is it?

The way that I look at pluralism, is as a way of thinking. To me pluralism represents the ability to think about diversity in a positive way. It is the ability to celebrate diversity while recognizing that it comes with challenges, but being willing to work to overcome these challenges... but is this it?

This definition is a very broad one, but I don't know if it's broad enough to capture a concept that is as pervasive as pluralism. Here's an example of the problem I have with the above definition... if you were an individual who lived by pluralistic values and you were placed in a very restrictive society where homogeneity was encouraged and all those around you refused to accept diversity... would you still be a "pluralistic individual"?

It's an odd question, but if you really think about it, it makes some sense... by the definition pluralism is something that can be accomplished on an individual level - I can personally celebrate diversity, recognize it's challenges and work to overcome these challenges - without involving anyone else. But this isn't right!

The more I think about it, the more I believe that pluralism depends on one's environment to truly flourish. It is a thought - a way of thinking, a way of communicating. So, pluralism cannot exist on a purely individual level... We can individually enact pluralistic values, however the true form of pluralism can only be found on a societal level. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't each work to live by pluralistic values, but it does mean that a primary goal of anyone who wishes to encourage the growth of this value system is to help others achieve the values that you wish to espouse. So really... it isn't possible to be "pluralistic individual," but it is possible to build a pluralistic society. So... wanna help me try?!

relationships

Relationships are an essential aspect to human life. Now when I say this, I don't mean to limit it to only intimate relationships, I mean the whole gamut of different social interactions we can have with each other. There are 2 major types, or forms of relationships. One that God makes for you, and the other which you choose for yourself. Now, when God makes a relationship, such as that formed between siblings, or between relatives (yes, I would include husbands / wives here) - these relationships are an essential part of life, and regardless of how negative these relationships may feel they cannot be changed. For me, this carries several layers of meaning. Firstly, I must believe that these are the best possible relationships we can have. I don't mean that everyone's home / family life will be perfect. Far from it... I mean that these bonds play an irreplaceable role in shaping our individual psyche. If it weren't for our families, we wouldn't be the people we are... and for better or for worse, these specific bonds are God's way of shaping us in some way.

Looking at relationships that we form ourselves, these include friends, acquaintances, rivals and our interactions with all other people whom we are not related to. These bonds are formed by us and they require us to consciously choose to create and fulfill them. I believe these formed relationships are God's way of giving us a choice in who we become. These represent our free will. These relationships are the ones that act as a mirror. They let us see ourselves, because by looking at those whom we surround ourselves, we have a great view into our own respective persona.

A relationship between any disparate individuals is the basis of being human. These bonds can be driven by fate, or by intent. Both are necessary for true knowledge of the self, for the first step towards knowing the self, is to know others, and how you appear to them. I firmly believe that free will and pre-destination act in many aspects of our lives, however, I feel that this is most apparent in the context of a relationship. The interesting thing in all of this though, is the fact that these bonds are essential to the human experience... why would this be? Because a relationship is a spiritual experience. It isn't something that happens to you only on a material, social and physical level. A relationship, an interaction, a word between yourself and another changes you spiritually. This change can manifest in many ways, but at the end of the day, we should stay conscious of the power we have over others, and they have over us.

Make another person happy, in fact, make everyone as happy as you can, for in this positive bond lies a form of spiritual salvation.

The Nature of Beauty

What is the nature of beauty? We all see things that can touch us, can move our spirits, can motivate our souls, can make our hearts dance - but is there a common theme in what is beautiful?

I ask this while listening to a melody that I would describe as being one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard... and I wonder... how would you feel if you heard it? For that matter, how will I feel in 5, 10, 15, 20 or more years? Will I still see the same beauty that I see today?

This is also something that I see in people - I hear people say how, so and so was such a beautiful girl that they would have dozens of boys running after them. I look at the same weathered face that once captured the hearts of so many like me, and I wonder. In this chain of thoughts, my selfishness becomes so apparent. Why do I wonder why a person was beautiful when they were young? Why do I wonder if music I find beautiful will always be so? Because I fear change. I fear time. I fear death. These things are not feared (or so I want myself to believe) because they are inherently scary. I fear these things, because I am afraid of doing the 'wrong' thing. I am afraid that in this change, in this process I will lose something incredibly precious. Like the irreversible loss of innocence, losing the ability to appreciate something beautiful is terrible. This is the true crux of the question. Do our tastes change or over time do we simply lose our appreciation for beauty? Does something beautiful become commonplace over the course of our life experiences or does the inherent aesthetic quality I refer to as beauty pass away to nevermore be seen again?

If it goes, if the ability to see things with the same set of eyes is truly forever gone... then I am scared. Because this means that over time, we lose something that is fundamental to being human... this means that we become less human as we grow older. I do see something similar in some ways. I can feel more detached today than I did when I was younger, I can see situations rationally that at one point would elicit a strong emotional response from me. This may be maturity, or it may be the loss of attachment to something in the material world. If this same detachment occurs with our sense of the aesthetic, would we lose our ability to 'see' beauty in this world?

It's something that does bother me... ... until I think of the nature of beauty. Beauty to me is seeing God. Nothing is more beautiful than God... and in the creation it may be possible to participate in the creator. It's a hope, a dream, a prayer... but it's also all I feel we really have. For I do see the fading nature of beauty, whether it fades as a result of time, taste, belief or experiences. Whether beauty becomes diluted or blends - over time, it seems to decrease... but if the true nature of beauty is God, then that means... that means that all we need to do is search - for true beauty, true majesty is in all of creation. It lies in the lifeless object, in the young, vibrancy of youth, in the sweep of colours, in the mournful cry of the flute and in the wrinkles of a grandmother who has seen more smiles and tears than I can imagine.

Humility???

Something I have wondered about for a long time regards the importance of pride.

We have been taught time and again, that humility is one of the greatest of traits for any human being to have, and I can see this being true. Humility is an amazing characteristic, and those who exhibit it are truly great human beings... however, where does this put pride?

Granted those who boast, brag and show off their abilities are not always regarded highly, (the negative images that are brought to mind by simply using the above words are a clear indication of the way these terms are socialized in our respective societies) however, these same characteristics bring a lot of good to the table as well.

No matter how much any person tries, when we succeed in accomplishing a challenging task, we feel good about ourselves. Now here is where I begin to be confused... Isn't this feeling of accomplishment, this positive expression of success... isn't it a form of pride? Wouldn't a humble person know that this success was not theirs at all?

We all feel this positive energy when we have done something noteworthy or when we give to those who need it. We all feel good about ourselves, whether we express this or not, and to be honest, if it weren't for this good feeling, I don't know how much progress our societies would have made. I believe sincerely that the positive 'rush' that accompanies success has served as a primary catalyst for human development. It is the reason many of us love a challenge, it is the reason many of us enjoy solving puzzles, thinking about difficult problems and finding solutions.

So, really, in the final analysis - is pride so bad?

My thoughts on this are mixed. I believe it is necessary to have and exhibit some level or type of pride, being human. Having said this, I also believe that the goal of life is to transcend beyond the limitations of being human. I believe that we are truly noble, with far more nobility than is evinced by our base interactions on this Earth. The goal of giving of yourself, is so that eventually, the act of giving, is no longer a conscious action. It becomes an inherent part of your existence.

So, what I'm trying to say is that good feeling we get when we give, when we work to solve problems, when we help others... That feeling is a part of what prevents us from realizing our true destinies - to be greater than we are, to be creatures of and from God. The holy Qur'an tells us, "From Allah we have come and to Him we will return." Let us try to return to Him with nobility and grandeur - both of which, ironically can only be found through humility.

Time

One of the few things we really can't receive, only give, is time. It's interesting in that way... On a daily basis we are given only so much time. Some of us have very little time on any given day, as every day people die.

So, would I say that the importance of time is tied to our ultimate mortality, and with a deep underlying fear / fascination with the concept of death? No, I feel that the importance of time is separate from the importance of death and life.

I see time as a gift given to us by God. Now we can do whatever we want to with this gift, it's like being given money by a loved one. Both money and time are limited - in that there is a finite amount of it that anyone can have at any given point in time. Additionally, there is only so much you can do with your time - you are limited by your mortal constraints (this would be similar to the age old adage, money can't buy everything). Your time is also extremely easy to waste, and does get wasted, just like money. The major difference here though, is that only God can give time. It is a precious commodity, it isn't something that can or should be spent without careful thought. Before making any major purchase, most people would think on whether it is important to buy, whether they are getting a good price, and whether or not the value is there for whatever they are buying. I don't feel enough of us do this with our time. How many hours do I waste on trivial things that do not matter? How many hours do I lose, that I could truly be doing something else with.

Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying that having fun is a waste of a precious resource, far from it - I feel that we need to set aside time for fun, games, laughter, work, prayer... all of these things need our energies and our time. However, I do feel that when I look on a typical day, I don't seem to care what I do with my time... this is truly sad...

In our Isma'ili Ginanic tradition, there exist several examples where our Pirs (The Isma'ili equivalent of a Saint) say that (and I paraphrase) there will come a day, when your days will be like water running through your hands.

When I look back on my life, another interesting observation I have made. Time seems to have sped up for me. This is probably an illusion caused by many possible factors, but when I look back on my childhood, I remember days dragging on, and I remember wishing so often that they would end. I haven't made a wish like that in a while... even the toughest days at work, don't seem as long as those endless days of my younger years.

I don't know if this is true or not but... it is something that has made me think, and that's always a good thing. Maybe I don't want to waste my time, maybe I don't want my days to pass like water through my hands, maybe... just maybe... I am actually scared of what happens next?

No Answers?

I used to have answers... I would be asked so many questions, about spirituality, about God, about existence, meta-physics, and philosophy... and I would always have some answer. Whether it was satisfactory or not... well that was another matter, but questions were meant to be answered... at least that's what I thought.

A few months ago, I was asked a question to which I didn't have an answer - in fact, I still don't despite extensive research and questioning. So, I've re-evaluated everything.

We don't need answers to everything, creation, life, existence, these are all things that may not have a definite answer (or as some believe, there may be an infinite number of answers to each question). Looking at it logically, I believe a person eventually will see that logic can't work (love the oxymoron there). Allow me to explain. If (and this is the big assumption here) we assume that there is a God, then we have to take a host of other assumptions as well tied to the concept of God... All-Knowing, Infinite, Absolute, Powerful, Omniscient, etc... Having made the assumption that there is a God, we know that the concept of God must lie beyond the concept of man. The very existence of God would be a hypothesis impossible to prove, because God by definition would be beyond proof and beyond comprehension. This is where logic (our friend and trusted companion up to this point) must leave us. Since God is beyond comprehension and logic, the only way to truly understand the deepest questions of life, the deepest questions of spirituality would be to experience them. Yes, our minds and bodies are limited... however, our ability to experience and our potential? That is limitless. This region of experience, this ability innate in each of us, surpasses all the knowledge that rote memory can ever bring. Through this grace, a pauper can exceed a king, for the pauper will understand what the king cannot... God.

But this explanation falls short, for even this limits God to the realm of human experience. This is why it's so difficult to articulate what God is... and why it is so important to us to keep trying. We are bound to fail, however, the attempt to articulate the infinite is an experience in itself... one that I propose is essential on the path to truly experience God or at least that which we are given leave to experience.

Restful Greetings

A common Muslim greeting is Asalaam Wa'alaikum - this means (loosely translated), May God's Peace be upon you. In this greeting we ask for peace for the person we greet. In my life, peace sometimes finds itself being synonymous with rest, because for me, being rested is being at peace (I'm very lucky in that way, because of where I live).

However, I find that relaxing sometimes is hard. Let me put that statement into context. I am finishing off the fourth and final year of Dental school. This means that my last final exam was in early April, which has resulted in me doing almost nothing for the past 2 months (at least in the evenings), so what have I done with my time??? ... nothing! I have sat around, doing very little, playing video games, watching anime, watching the occasional movie / TV show (gasp), hanging out with friends, and generally catching up on sleep and rest. So why didn't I feel rested???

This week I was given the fantastic opportunity to sing at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto Ontario. During this week from Monday to Friday I spent roughly 6 or 7 hours a day singing and a few more hours practicing... daily. Yet, right now I feel more rested, more satisfied and fulfilled than I have felt in almost a year. Why?

A fellow chorister stated it very well during one of our discussion sessions when she said that the feeling of peace sometimes comes not from doing nothing... but from doing what you love. It's perfect, and it's true. When I write about God, I feel at peace, when I use my mind, I feel at peace, when I exercise my body and am active, I feel at peace. Peace abounds in so many things we can do, but choose not to. Why? From my personal experience at least, it's because I felt that I was due for a break, for rest. I didn't realize that the best way for me to rest, was to work harder doing things that I love. Now here comes the tricky part, I'm inherently lazy as well, this means that I have to actually push myself to do things, even things that I love. If I let my mind go on auto-pilot I'll find myself lying in bed instead of reading that novel I really want to finish or writing that blog I want to get around to. This means (for me at least) that searching for peace must be an active process. Though we all want peace, though we all want only the best for ourselves and others - it is something we must work towards. Peace cannot generate itself, because human nature (again, generalizing my own personal experience) will not automatically result in the positive result we would all like to believe it brings about.

Peace is a blessing that we all wish for, but true, inner peace can only come about through effort, love and ... well, there is an element of luck in there as well.

It is 4 am, I am extremely tired... but right now, I, Rahim Shivji, am very well rested.

Khuda Hafiz

Love

Love - it's one of the most abused words in the English language, but maybe not in the same way you'd think... I often hear people saying that the word love is tossed around today and that people often say it when they don't really mean it. Okay, maybe that is true, maybe many times when I hear someone say "I love you" to someone else, it doesn't hold the same weight that it may have meant in another time or another era, but think of it this way... what if we're not saying it enough?

To love is to be human, it's a pure emotion, but what truly is it? You can love people in different ways, depending on who it is and what they have done for you. :) However, where does love come from, and is there an underlying similarity between differing expressions of love? I would argue that there is, and if I may indulge in a moment of condensed storytelling...

The poet Hafiz was an ordinary young man once, who worked in a bakery. One day he was delivering bread to the wealthy district and saw the woman whom he would love for the rest of his life. Hafiz was unable to get her out of his head, and thought of her constantly and even tried composing poetry in her name, although her station in life was far above his, and she was slated to marry a prince. Hafiz heard a legend that a wise master had once decreed that whoever stayed awake near his graveside for 40 nights would be granted 3 gifts, immortality, poetry and his heart's desire. Hafiz chose to attempt this feat. Somehow, he was able to complete it, and on the 39th night near dawn, Hafiz was approached by the angel Gabriel. Gabriel gave Hafiz a cup to drink from, and declared that Hafiz had now been granted immortality and the gift of poetry. Hafiz was then asked what his heart's desire was. Upon seeing the face of Gabriel, all thoughts of Hafiz's beloved were gone, Hafiz realized that everything he loved in the world, was but a reflection of God's beauty. So what did Hafiz say???

He told the Angel Gabriel, "I want God."

I feel this is how we are. Every one of us, loves everyone else... because in each of us we see a minor "reflection" if you will, of God. So, why is it wrong to tell everyone that you love them? I feel that this is a way to increase enlightenment. Loving another is the greatest of acts, for in loving we are recognizing God. We remember God. We love God. By loving others; truly loving them - and ourselves - we bring ourselves up to a higher spiritual level.

So, I say to you,

I love you

Cosmopolitanism

I recently had a great opportunity to hear Rizwan Mawani speak on what cosmopolitanism is. I began to think about it, assimilate it and now think I'm ready to write a little bit on what it is and how it affects all of us.

Firstly, cosmopolitanism in this context does not refer to the magazine, not does it refer to being "worldly" or "urban," I refer to it here in the ideological form. Before discussing this, we must set a few premises. Diversity must be recognized as being a fact (which it is for all intents and purposes), our lives, our world, our communities, no matter how homogeneous all express diversity. Having recognized diversity as being a fact of life, we must climb the conceptual ladder to the concept of pluralism. Pluralism is a concept that refers to acceptance of diversity. It is something that is spoken about in the writings and speeches of many renowned figures, including the Aga Khan (IV) and the Dalai Lama. So, diversity is a fact, pluralism is a thought... where does that leave cosmopolitanism (and what is it anyways)?

Cosmopolitanism is an action (and as wikipedia says, an ideology, however, it can be argued that the two are the same here). Cosmopolitanism is putting into action in your everyday life the belief that all human beings are equal. All of us are from the same community and race (the human race - I love cliché’s). So, it is often argued that a person who believes in the ideals behind cosmopolitanism may want a form of world government or have wish for inclusive moral, economic or political relationships between people and nations. This may be true, but I would argue that cosmopolitanism doesn't involve only broad over-arching thoughts such as these. The way in which I see cosmopolitanism is through the lens of daily life. I see a cosmopolitan individual working in their community to actively encourage diversity and its strengths and working to overcome its inherent problems, (diversity is a strength, but it's at times a difficult one to utilize effectively). I see cosmopolitanism as the implementation of pluralism, and thus, in the concept of cosmopolitanism, I see our future.

Our world is wracked with problems, oil spills, energy crises, environmental crises, wars, ideological battles, intolerance, poverty, ignorance and many others, are constant challenges. To face these challenges, all we have is the indomitable human spirit and hope. In cosmopolitanism, I see hope for a brighter future, where ignorance exists, but it doesn't affect how we treat each other. I can be ignorant of your faith, beliefs and values, yet still respect you for being a fellow human being with your own intellect and your own rights. With respect for others and for creation, I see each of us doing our own part to clean up our world and act as vicegerents of God on this Earth, as we were truly meant to be. With a cosmopolitan ethic, I see ideological differences being insignificant, for acceptance of difference would be the norm.

It is my sincerest prayer and hope that this ideology, this action is adopted by all, for in it, I see love.

Utopia

Utopia, the perfect society. It's been a goal of humankind for... well as long as we've had societies. Of course the practical realization of a utopia will likely never truly come about, but trying for it has driven the improvement of human society for a long time. One of the most important aspects of a society - specifically an ideal one - is a system of governance. Think about it, an effective government is like a framework. It gives you everything you need to build something great. Countries today that do not have effective governments suffer. Look at a great, industrialized nation like Great Britain. There exists so much controversy due to the election of a minority government, a situation that isn't as much of a problem in many other countries. So, what does an effective governmental system entail, and why talk about this on a blog that seems to generally focus on the spiritual?

The first question is a difficult one, for the answer varies with the needs of the time and location. The answer to the second question is easier! Islam as a faith teaches that the spiritual and material are not to be separate. Your religion and faith is a part of everything you do... it doesn't get left outside the doors of parliament, (now this does NOT mean that those religious fanatics who claim to hurt others in the name of Islam are right in laying the blame on the faith, those people don't truly understand the relationship between faith and life).

I would argue that government systems in general are not set up to be successful in most of the world today. Looking at a country like Canada or the US, we have democratic processes in place to elect our leadership... but how many people actually take the time to educate themselves on the facts? Contrast this to a communist country like China where for all intents and purposes, a few individuals make decisions for the country. Now, don't get me wrong here, democracy is effective, however would you rather have 30 million ignorant people choose the leader of your country, or a few motivated, well-educated people? I would take this a step further and argue that in many cases, the most effective form of government would be one in which there is a single ruler - a monarchy so to speak. Of course, this is only valid if you have a benevolent monarch, one with a large, intelligent and perceptive group of advisors. Some of the most successful periods in history have been times when a country or empire has been ruled by a single individual who is able to create change. These dynasties often fall within a few generations as different individuals may not be as suited for rule as their ancestors may have been. So where does that leave us?

In the footsteps of Plato's Republic, I would propose that an effective government system would be one that combines a benevolent monarch, with the wisdom inherent in consensus and the checks and balances found in democracies (the judicial system, the senate and parliament balancing each other out). Government is an important aspect of life, both from a spiritual perspective and from a material one. Until the perfect society forms (or something close to it at least), let us all do our part and learn more about the issues facing our world and governments, and make informed decisions when we vote. Democracy is flawed, but it is effective in many contexts today. Better Democracy than Bureaucracy right?

God Bless

Good Deeds

What is a good deed? I ask this because I was recently stumped by a good question. If a person tells the truth, are they performing a good deed? It's an interesting proposition... if you lie, you are doing something bad (usually), or committing a sin so to speak. However, what about the truth? We are beholden to tell the truth, but is there benefit to be gained from telling it? I would argue yes, but not in the way that one would expect.

The term good deed implies that one is doing something out of the ordinary (almost like saying one is going out of their way to do good). Like rescuing a cat from a tree, or helping an elderly person who is having difficulty to cross the road. Doing something trivial that one should be doing anyways does not merit the status of being a "good deed," in common parlance. I think this is where we as a society become beholden to flaws in our language. In English, there is no appropriate way to combine the concepts of responsibility and the common good with daily actions an individual takes (or in the likely even that there is such a way, it is beyond my current grasp of the language). The problem really comes in when we combine Good with Deed. Either term is fine by itself, but the combination opens up the proverbial "can of worms." Good is a subjective principle to an extent. Everyone is good by their own terms - however a deed is an action. So the term good deed combines the subjective - that which can be perceived as good, with the objective - that which can be done / performed. In a society full of liars, telling the truth could be perceived as the greatest of good deeds with a lie being considered normal (not a bad deed), however in our modern society where being truthful is expected of another, a lie can have a shocking effect. Knowing someone has lied to you can bring you anger, can embarrass you or cause you to feel distant from that individual. Once again this is societal... without the subconscious effect our "good society" has on us, we wouldn't view the world with this perspective.

So telling the truth is not really a "good deed," from my Canadian context because the term good deed is defined by the society around me, through my own interpretation (and for me at least it doesn't). However, I would argue that the avoidance of sin or a bad deed is also a good deed. Either way, it's a moot point. At the end it must be remembered that good and bad are not measured in a quantifiable manner... I do not believe that I will be judged based on a point system that will say - 131 good, 129 bad... ok, better than not. If this was the case, the measurement of good vs bad would truly have meaning. Lying may even prove to be the only good action that can be performed in a certain situation. In reality, all one can do is behave in the most ethical manner that one knows how to. Live, love, laugh and sing - know that whatever you do, at least to thyself be true.

Searching for the True Self

What are you searching for?

Everyone looks for something in their lives. Whether we go on a perpetual quest for love (the REAL kind, you know in the movies?!), for money, for spiritual satisfaction. Whether we are looking to find ourselves, a purpose, a job, a meal, a life. Everyone's always looking, searching and occasionally, if we're lucky - finding. What do we look for, and why?

A Persian Poet named Hafiz speaks of search in his poetry. Throughout his life he was searching for his beloved - God. In his poetry, Hafiz refers to the world and things in the world as reflections of God, kind of like how the moon reflects the light of the Sun. The Moon is incredibly beautiful, but the reason we see beauty in the moon is because of the Sun. In this way, things in the world are a reflection of the divine.

Looking at it from this perspective, we are searching in the material world, but we search for reflections of the spiritual. When we look at beauty in another human being, we are seeing a reflection of the beauty that is God. When we feel love for another, we are feeling a shadow of the love that is God. When we search for happiness, we often find only a reflection of true happiness. That's a bit sad to think of. The reason we will only find reflections and shadows is because our mind and sense of consciousness work together to enable us to interact with the world. This means that the mind uses consciousness as a medium with which to interact - it acts as the intermediary between the exoteric and the esoteric. So the flaw is in the medium... the mind is an esoteric entity, but the conscious mind is one that is forever trapped in the exoteric. Finding the truth is a true challenge, but hey, as I've said for many years, "How can you ever find yourself if you don't get lost?"

Best of luck in the search

Miracle Messenger

I was asked an interesting question by a student of mine. He asked, "Where have the messengers, prophets, miracle workers gone? I always hear stories told from the past of all these magical occurrences, but nothing today. Why?"

Taking into account the mythopoetic aspect of any historical story, it really makes you think. We can always assume that Adam (A.S.) didn't eat the apple, or that Noah (A.S.) didn't REALLY have an Ark. We can always assume that Abraham (A.S.) didn't even try to sacrifice his child, that Moses (A.S.) didn't actually part the Red Sea, that Jesus (A.S.) didn't walk on water, that Prophet Muhammed (A.S.) didn't actually meet with God. Where would that leave faith and belief? That's the point actually... if in today's world I saw a person who was able to perform miracles, who was able to heal others with a touch, walk on water, part oceans with a prayer, what would I say? I would ask, "Wow... so what's the trick?"

We look for tricks and techniques in today's world, because if another can do it... so can we! This cynicism means that faith can be overshadowed. It is in my life at least and that's quite a sad proposition. If we let go of our cynicism for a minute and assume that a Saint from the past was here, alive among us today... would they necessarily reveal what they can do? I don't believe that they would. The stories of the past, the miracles of the past are never about self-promotion, they aren't about selfish actions. Miracles of the past would have been a way to express devotion, a way to express humility, and to act as a memorable example for generations and civilizations to come.

Today we still speak of actions that may or may not have been performed by those of millennia past. That says something about what was achieved. If I was to part the red sea today, I would make the media headlines and be remembered... for a week? A month or a year maybe? Look at the tremendous destruction wrought in Haiti in January. How many of us still think of and pray for those people?

Maybe miracles do exist, maybe they don't, maybe they did exist, maybe they didn't. I for one, choose to believe. It is my sincere hope and prayer that all of you will always pick faith over cynicism.

The Gift to Choose

Choice is a gift...

The human mind is a powerful tool that has been granted to us, that lets us make choices. In our everyday lives we can make good and bad choices, and we can assign a value of good or bad to each of our choices as these qualifiers are very subjective. However, at the end, it's all our choice. Other created beings such as animals and plants don't have the same degree of choice that we do - now it may be argued that some animals can definitely distinguish between good and bad, right and wrong, I would agree to an extent, but I do not believe that animals can make a choice between following a path in life to the same extent you or I can. This means that we can choose to do good, and this choice is what places us at a higher spiritual level than other entities.

Choice is important indeed, however the holiest of people, throughout history have invariably chosen "good" over "evil". So, to be a holy or spiritually high human being, do you really have a choice? If you want to be good, then you do not really have a choice in whether you do good things or bad things. So doesn't this lack of choice reduce your spiritual status?

There are many possible answers, I would propose that the truly spiritually high and uplifted individuals of our world still do have a choice. They choose to give up their right to choose. They choose to leave their decisions in the hands of the higher power that they serve. They choose to serve. They choose to overlook temptation and always do what is "good".

As a human being, whenever I do anything that benefits another, whenever I perform a "good" deed I almost invariably feel a small rush of pleasure and happiness that I have done the right thing. This happiness acts as a small reward for doing what is right, and it also acts as incentive to continually do what is right. If attaining spiritual heights is the goal, I believe it will be essential to do good, not because it has any personal benefit at all... but simply because doing good things, is the only way that you can possibly conceive of doing anything. Sublimation of one's own sense of self is one way that I feel we can eventually become closer to God. Not an easy thing... and not one that many people will agree with - but that's the purpose of faith and belief in an intellectual tradition like Islam. To argue and disagree until a workable answer has been reached.

What do you think?

-Rahim

Light of God

What is light?

Is it a real entity? Is it something that you can touch, feel, experience, interact with?

Why ask this question?

Well, light is seen in many contexts, in the Qu'ran, there are many references to light, whether it be referring to guidance (Imamat), or to deeper matters (Surah Nur - where it says Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth). When people die, a common saying is that you see a "bright light." Science tells us that all matter is made up of Energy, and we all know the famous equation - E = mc^2
Energy = mass times the speed of light squared

So all matter is made up of energy, and energy is light... and Allah or God is the light of the heavens and the earth... it's enough to make you really think about where one can really find God.

Many holy individuals throughout the ages have recommended meditation as the way to "find God"... What is meditation? It usually entails - sitting, eyes closed, mind focused / unfocused... so it's essentially closing off the rest of the world and taking a moment to really think about who and what you are. Each of us is a precious part of creation, everything that exists is - look inside for the light... whatever "the light" may be to you. All I can tell you is that it's worth searching for and I sincerely believe it will be worth finding.

-Rahim