Subject and Object

Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (peace be upon him) - the Aga Khan III wrote at the conclusion of his Memoirs that, “Life in the ultimate analysis has taught me one enduring lesson. The subject should always disappear in the object.” This short statement requires a careful analysis.

Subject is defined in many ways. Philosophically speaking it is defined as, "a thinking or feeling entity; the conscious mind; the ego, as opposed to anything external to the mind." This word comes from Latin - subjectus meaning 'brought under' and its roots are sub - 'under' and jacere - 'throw'.

Object is likewise defined in multiple ways. Once again, philosophically thinking it is defined as, "a thing external to the thinking mind or subject." This word comes from Latin - objectum meaning, 'thing presented to the mind' and its roots are ob - 'in the way of' and jacere - 'throw.'

What does this tell us? The self, the inner individual in each of us is the subject. This comes from a root which implies being controlled or being dominated. We are in control of ourselves and when we control ourselves we become the subject. That is, when we realize our individuality, when we think and act, we exist as an individual. This creation of the individual self, the creation of the subject creates a duality of existence.

The object is all that exists outside of the self. The object is the rest of creation. When there is a subject, the object is divided into two. The concept of "monoreality" becomes a "duo-reality."

What we are told in this simple quote is that when the self is sublimated in the other, the self expands into the other and ceases to be. When "I" becomes "We," whether it be in our daily affections for each other or our work. As he continues in the following sentences, "any lasting satisfaction, any contentment that we can achieve, is the result of forgetting self, or merging subject with object in a harmony that is of body, mind and spirit. And in the highest realms of consciousness all who believe in a Higher Being are liberated from all the clogging and hampering bonds of the subjective self in prayer, in rapt meditation upon and in the face of the glorious radiance of Eternity, in which all temporal and earthly consciousness is swallowed up and itself becomes the eternal."

I can think of no way to phrase it any better than that myself. When we lose ourselves in creation around us, creation becomes us and the separation that is created by us evaporates and our consciousness breaks free of the self and becomes greater, it becomes eternal. The nature of the intellect of the individual is such. Its destiny is to become greater than the self and this requires the subject to disappear in the object.

Spiritual Vanity

There are many ways to be proud.

One of the most devious ways we can face is spiritual vanity... When a person works hard towards their spiritual selves, eventually there comes a time when they may feel they no longer need support in their journey, or that support is no longer helpful.

This is a fallacy. Looking back, even the greatest spiritual masters of the past need others. Some people grow spiritually by speaking of their spiritual journeys or by teaching others. Some grow by listening or by absorbing the spiritual teachings of others, and still others grow by feeding their spiritual energy into others. However we look at it, we are born of a single soul, and that soul binds each of us together.

One can never continue their journey without engaging others, even if it seems there is nothing to be gained, asking the difficult questions, the ones that have no answers is important - if only to gain perspective.

Of course, this differs from having a guide. I believe that as Rumi once said - without a guide, the journey is impossible. Each person has their own guide, their own belief system, and none of these are wrong. However, a guide is needed to even fully participate in the spiritual journey.

The journey of the spirit is a strange one indeed when looked at through the lens of the material. The spiritual journey benefits from companionship and requires guidance. The spiritual journey also relies on trial and error. The material world frowns on this approach, but it is the only way to take the journey of the spirit. This journey is a personal, deep trip with many obstacles and detours. As such, the only way to progress is to try different techniques within the realm of your individual guidance and see what works, what helps you to progress... Of course, the technique that works best that eventually gets ignored by most seekers is to ask... Ask God for help, ask others around you for their advice, ask learned individuals for their knowledge.

When we refuse to or fail to ask, we are engaging in spiritual vanity. Each person has been put on this Earth for some reasons, it is for us to find those purposes within ourselves and within others.

Speaking about the spiritual is important and it is sadly fading in many circles. Keep talking, keep asking and stay foolish.

Being Wrong!

What's wrong in religion?

Now it's best to be careful and qualify that. I didn't ask what's wrong WITH religion... I asked what's wrong IN religion? Throughout the world today we see conflict everywhere... with many people saying the root of the conflict is within their individual religious pathway, or their faith. This seems to be ridiculous...

Take for example the conflict between Shi'a and Sunni branches of Islam throughout the world. What's the difference between the two?

It comes down to authority. Who has the authority to speak about religion? The answer varies depending on whom you ask. Sunni's would say that after the holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family), authority lies within the individual, and each individual's own personal search using the word of God and the example of the Prophet. Shi'a would argue that the authority to lead the community in spiritual and temporal matters was passed on to the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, 'Ali (peace be upon him).

Besides this there are differences in interpretation of verses of the holy book and specific practices that vary... but what else? That's the issue... there isn't much else. In fact, if you look across the board at most faith traditions around the world - there are more similarities than differences. The principle messages, the inner meanings, they're all very similar.

There's a story told of the Prophet where once there were 2 men who would write down the verses of the Qur'an as they were revealed through the Prophet. These men would always argue about who had written it more correctly. One day when the 2 compared what they had heard the Prophet say, they had differing, contradictory statements. There was an uproar between them until finally it was decided that they would ask the Prophet himself which one was correct. The following day they both presented what they had written based on the revelation that the Prophet had delivered. After reading both versions, the Prophet said, "they are both correct."

What does this story tell us?

It tells us that there is no WRONG in faith. It's not possible for faith to be wrong. Faith is belief. Someone can criticize your faith, someone can point to what they see as flaws in it or in the reasoning behind it, but it is not possible for true faith to be wrong. The concepts of right and wrong do not apply to faith. Rather the concepts of sincerity and falsehood are far more important. Is your faith important to you because you are sincere in your interpretations of it and your belief? Or, is it because you wish to impress others with your perceived piety? Does a person truly believe in this, or is the belief based on a lack of other viable options?

The pathway one takes in life is hard enough without each of us disparaging what another chooses to believe or not believe in. One person can believe in just the power of their intellect and that's okay as well. It isn't for me to judge another person's belief system. Rather my belief system is predicated on not judging another's faith. What's right for me is not right for another, what's right for another is not right for me. In the end if you believe that the Almighty chose to talk to mankind, in whatever manner, there must have been and continue to be something here that is worth talking to.

Keep believing!