I was recently thinking about my earliest confirmed memory.
It's an odd one. I now know that I was about 3.5 years old. Prior to this moment I had three small, short scenes I recall, however whether those were a dream, false memories or real ones I don't know. This memory is different, from this time onwards I have a steady, unbroken stream of memories.
I was standing in front of the mirror in my parents room looking at myself... That's it.
That's my first memory, while looking at a mirror and seeing myself, I suddenly realized that I was looking at "me."
It's an odd thing to really think about, at that specific moment, I believe I was first able to truly comprehend what an "identity" was, at least in my simplistic way. I realized that there were discrete pieces of existence in the universe and that I represented one of these discrete bits.
Looking back at it, it may also have been one of the saddest moments of my existence...
Some mystics have claimed that God is separated from the human soul by an infinite number of veils. They go on to say that God has allowed the veils to come up, but He has not created them - we have.
Through our sense of self, through our ability to discern that there is a difference between "I" and "we" we find a double edged sword. On the one had, this ability lets us fulfill an important role, as the Qur'an says, we are all "vicegerents of God on Earth" which means we are here to represent God and care for all creation. On the other hand, this role we have taken on grants both intellect and separation.
As Rumi says, we are like reeds separated from the reed bed - we long for the source. If we are separated for long enough, we continue to feel incomplete, but we no longer truly know what to do to feel complete. We lose that connection to the reed bed until eventually, our mournful cry becomes less mournful, we begin to forget what we have lost and look to the world around us to fill the separation within our souls... unsuccessfully.
Coming back to my first memory, this moment was my moment of personal attainment. I began to become a person, I became an individual, but my longing for my reed bed continued and continues to this day... This was the moment (as close as I can tell), when I was looking into that mirror, when I realized who I was, that I forgot who God was.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Pushing the rocks!
There is an old story about a man who is asked by God to push a rock.
The rock is large in size, but the man tries. He pushes and strains... no movement.
The man puts his back into it. Bears his might... no movement.
The man puts every ounce of strength he has and pushes. Then when he can push no more, he takes a minute to rest and tries once again... still, no movement.
Finally God returns, and the man apologizes. "I'm so sorry, I just could not move the rock."
God smiles at the man and tells him, "I didn't ask you to move the rock. I asked you to push it."
This short story contains a great deal of wisdom... Many times in our spiritual journeys, we find tasks that are exceedingly difficult. For me, one of these difficult tasks is finding the time and will to wake up early in the morning to pray on a daily basis. Extremely difficult for someone who is a self-professed night owl. Considering that some nights I fall asleep when I'm supposed to be waking up to pray, it's a hard task, and one that I'm still working towards doing. However, I know many others who are similar of temperament who have completely given up. They see the size of the rock and say that, "since it's way too big to move, there's no point in trying at all."
I would venture to say that at times, we aren't trying to change our surroundings. At times, we are supposed to change ourselves. If a person strains and pushes at that large rock for enough time, they'll notice a change within themselves. The muscles that they are using will grow stronger, their sense of patience and time will change. They may never move that rock, but maybe they're not supposed to... Maybe there's another, smaller but more important rock that they are supposed to move, and this big rock is just preparation for that task...
We struggle in aspects of our lives because it is necessary. Not everything can be, or should be easy. At times, things must be difficult because we are meant to grow with the experience... There may never be anything we can do about the large rocks in our lives, maybe the obstacles we face are not meant to be overcome, however, the attempt to try... That's where our humanity comes in. Throughout our history, we have never failed to at least attempt the most challenging of tasks.
Back to pushing the rock I go, are you coming?
The rock is large in size, but the man tries. He pushes and strains... no movement.
The man puts his back into it. Bears his might... no movement.
The man puts every ounce of strength he has and pushes. Then when he can push no more, he takes a minute to rest and tries once again... still, no movement.
Finally God returns, and the man apologizes. "I'm so sorry, I just could not move the rock."
God smiles at the man and tells him, "I didn't ask you to move the rock. I asked you to push it."
This short story contains a great deal of wisdom... Many times in our spiritual journeys, we find tasks that are exceedingly difficult. For me, one of these difficult tasks is finding the time and will to wake up early in the morning to pray on a daily basis. Extremely difficult for someone who is a self-professed night owl. Considering that some nights I fall asleep when I'm supposed to be waking up to pray, it's a hard task, and one that I'm still working towards doing. However, I know many others who are similar of temperament who have completely given up. They see the size of the rock and say that, "since it's way too big to move, there's no point in trying at all."
I would venture to say that at times, we aren't trying to change our surroundings. At times, we are supposed to change ourselves. If a person strains and pushes at that large rock for enough time, they'll notice a change within themselves. The muscles that they are using will grow stronger, their sense of patience and time will change. They may never move that rock, but maybe they're not supposed to... Maybe there's another, smaller but more important rock that they are supposed to move, and this big rock is just preparation for that task...
We struggle in aspects of our lives because it is necessary. Not everything can be, or should be easy. At times, things must be difficult because we are meant to grow with the experience... There may never be anything we can do about the large rocks in our lives, maybe the obstacles we face are not meant to be overcome, however, the attempt to try... That's where our humanity comes in. Throughout our history, we have never failed to at least attempt the most challenging of tasks.
Back to pushing the rock I go, are you coming?
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Thankfulness
I wonder on the nature of being thankful...
One of the most important prayers that I urge others to recite is one dealing with thanking God for all that we have. Nothing that we have in our lives would exist if not for the mercy and kindness of the Big Guy. There are many reasons that thankfulness is encouraged, it emphasizes humility, spiritual growth, understanding of the self and a host of other positives. Through being thankful for what one has, one truly appreciates what one does have and can look past what one does not have. In this way, being thankful is a way in which the trap of the material world can be overcome.
So, for all of these reasons, I personally give thanks and encourage others to give thanks. There are many things that we can appreciate in our lives, our health, wealth, bodies, homes, families, friends, communities, the fact that we are alive in a beautiful vibrant world. That new toy or material object that brings us so much joy.
But one aspect of thankfulness that exists in my own life is one I seem to constantly overlook. Thankfulness towards those around me, my family, friends and loved ones.
By saying this, I do not mean to say that being thankful to God for all that He has given is lessened in any way, however, over the course of our everyday lives, there are so many people that give so much to help us out. Be it intentionally or unintentionally, the impact of others around us is immense. We are social beings, so social contact moulds who we are. Be it a brother who sacrifices time, money and energy in small or large ways, be it another sibling who acts simply as an example of what we can be or wish to be. Be it a father or a mother who give so much time and energy towards raising us and keeping us fed and entertained. Be it a friend or significant other who gives of their time to help you. People around us deserve to be thanked. Even for those who do not appreciate significantly what others around them do, there are lessons to be learned from what others have done or have not done, and for these lessons, if not anything else, we should give our thanks.
Giving thanks to others in our lives can take many forms, the obvious way to thank another person would be to tell them, however, if that individual has given you something intangible, it is difficult to thank them. As logical beings, we need to have reasons for events, we do not appreciate intangibles and coincidences. So, another way to thank those around you would be to include them in your prayers.
When giving a prayer of thanks to the Almighty, add a word of thanks for those who have touched you. They may never hear it, but when you say those words of thanks, you gain so much benefit. This ritual of thanking others will also result in truly realizing and appreciating some of the things that are done for you without you even realizing.
Words have great power, God taught mankind with words, we pass on knowledge using them, but we can also use these same words to strengthen our own faith and our relationships with others around us. For by growing as physical creatures, we also grow spiritually.
Thank you.
One of the most important prayers that I urge others to recite is one dealing with thanking God for all that we have. Nothing that we have in our lives would exist if not for the mercy and kindness of the Big Guy. There are many reasons that thankfulness is encouraged, it emphasizes humility, spiritual growth, understanding of the self and a host of other positives. Through being thankful for what one has, one truly appreciates what one does have and can look past what one does not have. In this way, being thankful is a way in which the trap of the material world can be overcome.
So, for all of these reasons, I personally give thanks and encourage others to give thanks. There are many things that we can appreciate in our lives, our health, wealth, bodies, homes, families, friends, communities, the fact that we are alive in a beautiful vibrant world. That new toy or material object that brings us so much joy.
But one aspect of thankfulness that exists in my own life is one I seem to constantly overlook. Thankfulness towards those around me, my family, friends and loved ones.
By saying this, I do not mean to say that being thankful to God for all that He has given is lessened in any way, however, over the course of our everyday lives, there are so many people that give so much to help us out. Be it intentionally or unintentionally, the impact of others around us is immense. We are social beings, so social contact moulds who we are. Be it a brother who sacrifices time, money and energy in small or large ways, be it another sibling who acts simply as an example of what we can be or wish to be. Be it a father or a mother who give so much time and energy towards raising us and keeping us fed and entertained. Be it a friend or significant other who gives of their time to help you. People around us deserve to be thanked. Even for those who do not appreciate significantly what others around them do, there are lessons to be learned from what others have done or have not done, and for these lessons, if not anything else, we should give our thanks.
Giving thanks to others in our lives can take many forms, the obvious way to thank another person would be to tell them, however, if that individual has given you something intangible, it is difficult to thank them. As logical beings, we need to have reasons for events, we do not appreciate intangibles and coincidences. So, another way to thank those around you would be to include them in your prayers.
When giving a prayer of thanks to the Almighty, add a word of thanks for those who have touched you. They may never hear it, but when you say those words of thanks, you gain so much benefit. This ritual of thanking others will also result in truly realizing and appreciating some of the things that are done for you without you even realizing.
Words have great power, God taught mankind with words, we pass on knowledge using them, but we can also use these same words to strengthen our own faith and our relationships with others around us. For by growing as physical creatures, we also grow spiritually.
Thank you.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Beauty
I saw one of the most wondrous sights of my life today.
As I drove along a road, near my home, I saw a small pond. This "pond" was made of rain water and snow that had melted by the road (actually, highway) and a small body of water had formed. So truly, it was a small body of pretty dirty, probably muddy water. Yet, it captivated me.
The slow moving ripples along the surface. The small wind-stirred waves that made the entire pool look as though it were made up of thousands of tiny mountains and valleys. But mostly, the reflection of the sky in the water. The many shades of blue were spectacular. Cerulean, azure, sky blue, a royal shade. Every type of blue I have ever seen or imagined was captured in that water.
And then I realized, that the water was not beautiful, rather, the sky was.
The sky had incredible colours and variety today, mostly in anticipation of a coming summer storm. The vast magnitude of the sky, the many colours and beauties it contained were fortuitously reflected back at a perfect angle for me to have a perfect moment of beauty.
This happens often in our lives as well. We often see someone who is beautiful, or something that captures our imaginations, our hearts and we see that object or individual and we know that it is special. However, what we see as beauty, be it internal or external, is often simply a reflection of something greater.
I am sure if I return to that pool tomorrow and take a very close look at the water, I will see many imperfections and possibly I will not see the same beauty I saw today. In fact, if it is a rainy day, I may even think the sky that was the source of the beauty looks quite drab. However, what has been seen cannot be unseen. The moment I had, that moment of pure beauty remains.
Maybe this is how God is? Maybe God shows us glimpses of His beauty in our daily lives, but never enough beauty to fully satisfy us. Maybe, even if we look at what we believe to be the source of beauty, we still may not continually see what we wish to see... because true beauty is not meant to last forever. True beauty is a concept which we can only experience for a short moment, for it serves as a small taste, a reminder that we are in the end meant to keep searching.
As I drove along a road, near my home, I saw a small pond. This "pond" was made of rain water and snow that had melted by the road (actually, highway) and a small body of water had formed. So truly, it was a small body of pretty dirty, probably muddy water. Yet, it captivated me.
The slow moving ripples along the surface. The small wind-stirred waves that made the entire pool look as though it were made up of thousands of tiny mountains and valleys. But mostly, the reflection of the sky in the water. The many shades of blue were spectacular. Cerulean, azure, sky blue, a royal shade. Every type of blue I have ever seen or imagined was captured in that water.
And then I realized, that the water was not beautiful, rather, the sky was.
The sky had incredible colours and variety today, mostly in anticipation of a coming summer storm. The vast magnitude of the sky, the many colours and beauties it contained were fortuitously reflected back at a perfect angle for me to have a perfect moment of beauty.
This happens often in our lives as well. We often see someone who is beautiful, or something that captures our imaginations, our hearts and we see that object or individual and we know that it is special. However, what we see as beauty, be it internal or external, is often simply a reflection of something greater.
I am sure if I return to that pool tomorrow and take a very close look at the water, I will see many imperfections and possibly I will not see the same beauty I saw today. In fact, if it is a rainy day, I may even think the sky that was the source of the beauty looks quite drab. However, what has been seen cannot be unseen. The moment I had, that moment of pure beauty remains.
Maybe this is how God is? Maybe God shows us glimpses of His beauty in our daily lives, but never enough beauty to fully satisfy us. Maybe, even if we look at what we believe to be the source of beauty, we still may not continually see what we wish to see... because true beauty is not meant to last forever. True beauty is a concept which we can only experience for a short moment, for it serves as a small taste, a reminder that we are in the end meant to keep searching.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Ways to prostrate
The famous poet Rumi once wrote (and I am paraphrasing... it's translated from Persian anyways, so I'm sure I won't botch it too badly), that there are hundreds of ways to prostrate, hundreds of ways to bow in prayer...
I was thinking about that, and I realized that it's true in a very devious way.
Every individual has their own conception of what the Divine is... even those who choose not to recognize any form of a Divine presence at all, still choose to conceive of Divinity as non-existent.
So, even a complete atheist recognizes that there could be a Divine presence, but they are choosing to follow a set of facts, evidence and beliefs that imply that there is no Divinity.
In this recognition of the possibility of Divinity, we see a deep seated expression of humility.
Even the most staunch believer or disbeliever in God will have to acknowledge that at the end of the day, we do not know. One who does not believe in God would have to say that nothing is completely certain, and they cannot disprove God's existence (the null hypothesis cannot be fulfilled), even if hundreds of pieces of anecdotal evidence point towards their set of beliefs. Conversely, a believer, even one who is completely staunch in their beliefs would have to agree that they can never comprehend God. God is far beyond the human psyche, God extends past what any individual mind can conceive, therefore, one can believe in God, but one cannot rule out the possibility of God not existing, simply because God cannot be conceived of by the human mind... therefore, anything pertaining to the existence of God, would also be beyond the comprehension of the human mind.
with me so far?
Thinkers from the era of the Fatimids (a Muslim Dynasty that ruled Egypt and area extending from North Africa to Sindh about a thousand years ago) worried about this contradiction as to the human definition of God. How could the human mind think on God without a definition? How could God be defined with the limits of language? Could God be proven?
Ultimately they settled on a simple definition called the Theory of Double Negation. It states that, God is Not a thing (i.e. does not exist), and (that's the inclusive and for my logic speaking friends) God is Not Not a thing.
That was the best that the brightest minds of the world could come up with.
Looking at this and going back to the beginning we see that humility abounds in this.
If we cannot prove or disprove God's existence, then the existence of the concept of God serves it's own purpose. It shows us that we are NOT infallible, that we are not perfect, that with some things we will never have all the answers.
If we don't have all the answers, then isn't that the perfect expression of humility? The simple concept of God, acts as a shield against our own pride. We cannot prove or disprove God, we can never truly know. Just as we can know the position of an electron but not it's speed (and vice versa), similarly, we won't know about God.
So, what if we're wrong? What if there is no God and we believe? ... well, as long as each faith tradition is lived fully and truly and one recognizes the importance and sacredness of human life and ethical living... it doesn't hurt to bow down in any way that we see fit.
And the other way? What if there is a God and we don't believe? ... well, if God is truly as merciful as He claims to be, I'm sure He won't mind us using the gift He gave us, our intellect in a way that we see fit.
Just as long as we think about it.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Optimism
I feel a need to write something to differentiate two very different things.
I often hear of individuals who choose to believe the best of others, who choose to believe that whatever happens, does for a good reason and in the end the eventual outcome of all events will be positive. I also usually hear these same people referred to as "naive" or as "innocent." I don't believe it.
A naive individual is one who is ignorant. Naivete implies that one does not know, does not understand the truth of the world. An innocent person, likewise remains enclosed within a bubble where all is good.
I do not believe the majority of people who believe firmly in their positive overview of the world are like this at all... Rather, I would argue that most people know that believing in the good over the bad results many times in disappointment.
Having an idealized perspective of the world is one that is difficult to hold, it requires a truly thinking and intelligent person to willingly forgo their own instincts, overlook that voice of cynicism and believe. Really, truly believe in another person.
I believe that this perspective of the world is not naivete, rather it is optimism. When one is optimistic, one knows that there is a 70% chance that they will get ripped off or that a negative outcome will occur. However, there is also that 30% chance that humanity is worth believing in, that people are trustworthy. This form of optimism seems foolish when looked at in this light, but it runs deeper.
When one truly believes in humanity, when one has faith in their fellow creatures, that person is treating us as an all-merciful God would. Through faith in mankind, faith in God is strengthened... and that "optimism" becomes something more, it becomes prayer.
I often hear of individuals who choose to believe the best of others, who choose to believe that whatever happens, does for a good reason and in the end the eventual outcome of all events will be positive. I also usually hear these same people referred to as "naive" or as "innocent." I don't believe it.
A naive individual is one who is ignorant. Naivete implies that one does not know, does not understand the truth of the world. An innocent person, likewise remains enclosed within a bubble where all is good.
I do not believe the majority of people who believe firmly in their positive overview of the world are like this at all... Rather, I would argue that most people know that believing in the good over the bad results many times in disappointment.
Having an idealized perspective of the world is one that is difficult to hold, it requires a truly thinking and intelligent person to willingly forgo their own instincts, overlook that voice of cynicism and believe. Really, truly believe in another person.
I believe that this perspective of the world is not naivete, rather it is optimism. When one is optimistic, one knows that there is a 70% chance that they will get ripped off or that a negative outcome will occur. However, there is also that 30% chance that humanity is worth believing in, that people are trustworthy. This form of optimism seems foolish when looked at in this light, but it runs deeper.
When one truly believes in humanity, when one has faith in their fellow creatures, that person is treating us as an all-merciful God would. Through faith in mankind, faith in God is strengthened... and that "optimism" becomes something more, it becomes prayer.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Service
Service to mankind is something that many of us are encouraged to do. I would argue that at times, we are driven by ourselves to work for the benefit of others... but what is true service?
When I think of service, I think of selflessness. I think of working for the benefit of others, regardless of the net benefit or gain that you receive.
This, however also means that the principle of service supercedes the audience receiving that service... what does this mean? It means that even when one hates the individuals one is expected to help, even if the crowd one is serving is bigger or smaller than expected, even if it means that you have to deal with a situation that is unpleasant or unwanted... the true principles behind serving others needs to be foremost in the mind of the individual who wishes to serve.
The principles behind service lie in the root of being a human being. As a human, we are all gifted with the ability to be altruistic. We can work purely for the benefit of others, not for any personal gain at all. I believe that this principle plays an important role in what we view as service. Other entities in creation do not often work for the benefit of others if it is detrimental to them... however, as human beings, as creatures that have a spark of intellect, we are able to work for others, even when that hurts us.
Service also brings with it the basic principle of humility. When we serve others, we serve God... we serve God as He appears in that other individual... what do I mean by this? Service to mankind, is truly service to God. When we see an individual who is struggling, when we see someone that needs help, most people want to help that needy person. I would propose that the desire to help another, particularly in their time of need, may derive it's impetus from evolutionary grounds (working in a joint social environment does drive that sort of behavior), however, the lengths to which we can go to help another in need can be astounding. People can sell all of their belongings, give away everything - simply to help strangers.
What could this be, but humility? Knowledge that we live as simple creatures, and we will die as simple creatures. The only thing that we can put on this Earth that will last, are our actions and deeds.
Service, in this way, is the truest expression of humility there is, for when we serve, we are bowing ourselves to God, because we see God in everything and everyone we serve.
When I think of service, I think of selflessness. I think of working for the benefit of others, regardless of the net benefit or gain that you receive.
This, however also means that the principle of service supercedes the audience receiving that service... what does this mean? It means that even when one hates the individuals one is expected to help, even if the crowd one is serving is bigger or smaller than expected, even if it means that you have to deal with a situation that is unpleasant or unwanted... the true principles behind serving others needs to be foremost in the mind of the individual who wishes to serve.
The principles behind service lie in the root of being a human being. As a human, we are all gifted with the ability to be altruistic. We can work purely for the benefit of others, not for any personal gain at all. I believe that this principle plays an important role in what we view as service. Other entities in creation do not often work for the benefit of others if it is detrimental to them... however, as human beings, as creatures that have a spark of intellect, we are able to work for others, even when that hurts us.
Service also brings with it the basic principle of humility. When we serve others, we serve God... we serve God as He appears in that other individual... what do I mean by this? Service to mankind, is truly service to God. When we see an individual who is struggling, when we see someone that needs help, most people want to help that needy person. I would propose that the desire to help another, particularly in their time of need, may derive it's impetus from evolutionary grounds (working in a joint social environment does drive that sort of behavior), however, the lengths to which we can go to help another in need can be astounding. People can sell all of their belongings, give away everything - simply to help strangers.
What could this be, but humility? Knowledge that we live as simple creatures, and we will die as simple creatures. The only thing that we can put on this Earth that will last, are our actions and deeds.
Service, in this way, is the truest expression of humility there is, for when we serve, we are bowing ourselves to God, because we see God in everything and everyone we serve.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
By the Book
There was once a man who was chosen by God. Chosen to receive a message, and given the mission to transmit this message. The first word that Allah revealed to the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) was IQRA. A word that carries multiple meanings. However, the 2 commonly cited meanings are to "read" or to "recite". God states further that He has taught man, using words/books, taught man what he knew not...
So, books, language and speech come from God.
These words that you are reading, originate from God. Now, a discerning person will of course state that everything does come from God, everything has it's origins in God. I wonder though... if these words come from God, if everything comes from God, and everything will return to God and in fact, nothing is ever separate from God...
Then did I play any part in writing this?
Of course I did, that's the true paradox here and it is a paradox that has been created by us. If I did not play a role in writing this page, then I am exempt from blame for any errors made on it. That is a tempting thought isn't it? Whatever you do, you are truly blameless. You cannot be held accountable for doing anything
That's also incredibly dangerous, but isn't it true?
No, it isn't. It cannot be.
I was playing a video game, where everything is made as realistically as possible, an entire world, created so that one can live within it. The only thing was that characters are driven to make unethical choices in order to progress quickly. If you live within your current ethical guidelines, you'll be stuck and won't truly get to enjoy the many pleasures of the world... and your reward? Absolutely none.
If our world played the same way, I may agree that we truly are not accountable.
However, it doesn't. Those who cheat do wind up ahead many times, those who make unethical choices do gain more toys it seems at times. However, the opposite is also true. Living a good, ethical life carries so many rewards. Living a life filled with goodness, doing good for others, living for others and serving others brings so much joy and happiness.
If there was truly no accountability for our actions, there would also be no rewards for them. Being good to others would not bring joy. Service for the weak would not elevate some deep, innate part of the self. Waking up at 3 in the morning to meditate would not benefit the self and would only steal precious hours of sleep.
We are given rewards while we live on this world, so that we become aware of some of the proofs of God's existence. It can be argued that these bits of joy, happiness are actually from our evolutionary history where altruism and working for the good of the community was encouraged to further survival... and this is likely true, but doesn't it seem like an awfully convenient situation?
I don't really believe in coincidences, I choose instead to believe in a benevolent, invisible, all-powerful force that guides and nurtures everything that is good within me and within others.
After all is said and done, I think I'll go by the book on this one.
Friday, December 16, 2011
An Apology
There is an old saying...
To err is human, to forgive, divine.
Forgiveness is an action that carries with it a great deal of meaning, a great deal of thought as well as some measure of divinity. When an individual errs, makes a mistake or needs to be forgiven, that person has done something which is human. We all err from time to time, we all make mistakes, and we all need to be forgiven... Now the other end of the equation, the forgiveness is what interests me.
When we are given the opportunity to forgive another person for their mistakes, we are given a great deal of power. Having the right to forgive someone is a powerful drive, it places the "ball" in the victim's court. It shifts the power balance so that the wronged becomes the one who can further perpetuate wrong, or who can make things right again.
This means that forgiveness has a great deal of power indeed. When a person is able to truly forgive another for any mistakes that were made, the victim ends the cycle of errors that makes up what has thus far composed our existence as humans. We continually make errors, and we continually seek forgiveness for these errors... Traditionally, we have found this forgiveness within organized religion, or within spiritual pursuits, or from our fellow humans.
When God gave us the power to live, to think, to reason - we received a multitude of gifts that accompany these basic building blocks. The ability to reason and think have enabled us to overcome many of our physical limitations... if you look back only a few thousand years, how many people would have lived lengthy lives without perfect sight? Nowadays many people live long lives even with terrible eyesight. This is not because the importance of vision has decreased over the past millenia, but rather because we have become able to use our other gifts to overcome a previous limitation.
Forgiveness is the same way. We are limited in ability, in our physical and spiritual lives. However, we have been granted the ability to overcome our limitations. Because when we truly forgive another... we gain forgiveness for ourselves.
We all do make mistakes, and when another person asks us for our forgivness, we are given a power that only God can truly delegate... and he has delegated it to us.
This may be why many victims of crime take so long to heal... because the power to forgive has not been given to them... if someone wrongs you, and they do not ask for your forgiveness... the power remains with them... The sins of their actions also remain with them, the spiritual burden also remains with them... but by remaining unrepentant, the victim loses their ability to touch the divine aspect of their existence.
So, remember to forgive others... if they ask for your forgiveness... It's what God would do.
To err is human, to forgive, divine.
Forgiveness is an action that carries with it a great deal of meaning, a great deal of thought as well as some measure of divinity. When an individual errs, makes a mistake or needs to be forgiven, that person has done something which is human. We all err from time to time, we all make mistakes, and we all need to be forgiven... Now the other end of the equation, the forgiveness is what interests me.
When we are given the opportunity to forgive another person for their mistakes, we are given a great deal of power. Having the right to forgive someone is a powerful drive, it places the "ball" in the victim's court. It shifts the power balance so that the wronged becomes the one who can further perpetuate wrong, or who can make things right again.
This means that forgiveness has a great deal of power indeed. When a person is able to truly forgive another for any mistakes that were made, the victim ends the cycle of errors that makes up what has thus far composed our existence as humans. We continually make errors, and we continually seek forgiveness for these errors... Traditionally, we have found this forgiveness within organized religion, or within spiritual pursuits, or from our fellow humans.
When God gave us the power to live, to think, to reason - we received a multitude of gifts that accompany these basic building blocks. The ability to reason and think have enabled us to overcome many of our physical limitations... if you look back only a few thousand years, how many people would have lived lengthy lives without perfect sight? Nowadays many people live long lives even with terrible eyesight. This is not because the importance of vision has decreased over the past millenia, but rather because we have become able to use our other gifts to overcome a previous limitation.
Forgiveness is the same way. We are limited in ability, in our physical and spiritual lives. However, we have been granted the ability to overcome our limitations. Because when we truly forgive another... we gain forgiveness for ourselves.
We all do make mistakes, and when another person asks us for our forgivness, we are given a power that only God can truly delegate... and he has delegated it to us.
This may be why many victims of crime take so long to heal... because the power to forgive has not been given to them... if someone wrongs you, and they do not ask for your forgiveness... the power remains with them... The sins of their actions also remain with them, the spiritual burden also remains with them... but by remaining unrepentant, the victim loses their ability to touch the divine aspect of their existence.
So, remember to forgive others... if they ask for your forgiveness... It's what God would do.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Anger
A wise person once told me that all anger finds its roots in fear... (I may have also heard this from Star Wars - Yoda - but that is another story).
The more I think about this, the more I agree with it. Fear is an irrational emotion, much like anger. Fear debilitates an individual, much like anger. Fear is based in love... much like anger.
Love?
When I think of fear, I think of what causes my fear... A person can be afraid of many things, spiders, heights, other people, death, clowns and many more. All of these fears are intrinsically rooted in a few basic fears, fearing loss of life, fearing loss of control, fearing pain and harm and fearing loss of love.
These basic fears (and I am sure there are others I cannot think of right now) are the roots of all specific fears. One fears spiders and snakes because evolutionarily speaking these creatures posed a threat to human life due to their potentially venomous nature. One fears heights, the unknown and other people because these pose situations where control is no longer within the grasp of the one experiencing the fear. People fear coming to the Dentist because they fear the pain that they mentally believe they will experience during their visits. People fear harm to those they love because they don't wish to lose the bonds that they have created with others.
All of these basic fears tie back to love. We fear the loss of life because we have come to love living. Life has become important to us because it is all we know (in this way, this fear falls into the category of control). While we are alive, we have control over our destinies, after death... who knows?
Fear of losing control ties into our love for our intellect. We are all vain to some extent, because we can be. We have the ability to chose any path we wish over the course of our lives. Our ability to manipulate our surroundings is unparalleled... however, when we are shown the limits of our intellect, this great gift that is ours... we become uncomfortable, we become defensive, we become afraid.
Fear of pain and harm once again ties back to our concept of control, but harm is something that truly terrifies many people. Most people if asked would rather die a quick painless death then live in pain for a prolonged period of time. This fear of pain is a dramatic one for us because it links to two things we love. Our intellects and our lives. Pain debilitates a person, it drives a person crazy, it is a subjective feeling that each of us experiences differently, because our minds are the source of pain. Another source of pain, emotional pain is even more obviously linked to love. We feel pain because we love, we love because we feel pain.
Fear of losing love is perhaps the most obvious fear to link to love. When a mother refuses to let her child out of her sight for a moment... it is because she is scared of harm befalling the one she loves. When a child insists on sleeping with their blanket every night, a part of the reason is because they are frightened that when they wake up, the blanket will no longer be there.
These basic fears are closely tied to anger. When a person gets angry, it is almost always a direct response to a fear being realized. When a couple argues, it is often because one feels threatened by something the other said. When a father yells at his child for arriving home late, it is usually because he was worried that they would not get home safely. When a child yells at their parents, it is often because the child wishes to have more autonomy, more control over their lives and their affairs.
At the end of the day, anger, fear - these negative emotions... are all rooted in a positive emotion, in love.
We would not feel angry or afraid if we did not love, if we did not cherish our lives, the people within our lives, the material possessions we have, our intellects and our souls.
Maybe that's how the universe works? Maybe there exists a God who is completely good (positive), however, when looked at in a certain manner, it can be viewed as a negative.
Love, the strongest of emotions, leads to bad and good, yet, love itself is good.
God is good, yet God created a world and a universe with a great deal of bad within it... it's all in the angle with which one looks at it.
So, what's your angle?
The more I think about this, the more I agree with it. Fear is an irrational emotion, much like anger. Fear debilitates an individual, much like anger. Fear is based in love... much like anger.
Love?
When I think of fear, I think of what causes my fear... A person can be afraid of many things, spiders, heights, other people, death, clowns and many more. All of these fears are intrinsically rooted in a few basic fears, fearing loss of life, fearing loss of control, fearing pain and harm and fearing loss of love.
These basic fears (and I am sure there are others I cannot think of right now) are the roots of all specific fears. One fears spiders and snakes because evolutionarily speaking these creatures posed a threat to human life due to their potentially venomous nature. One fears heights, the unknown and other people because these pose situations where control is no longer within the grasp of the one experiencing the fear. People fear coming to the Dentist because they fear the pain that they mentally believe they will experience during their visits. People fear harm to those they love because they don't wish to lose the bonds that they have created with others.
All of these basic fears tie back to love. We fear the loss of life because we have come to love living. Life has become important to us because it is all we know (in this way, this fear falls into the category of control). While we are alive, we have control over our destinies, after death... who knows?
Fear of losing control ties into our love for our intellect. We are all vain to some extent, because we can be. We have the ability to chose any path we wish over the course of our lives. Our ability to manipulate our surroundings is unparalleled... however, when we are shown the limits of our intellect, this great gift that is ours... we become uncomfortable, we become defensive, we become afraid.
Fear of pain and harm once again ties back to our concept of control, but harm is something that truly terrifies many people. Most people if asked would rather die a quick painless death then live in pain for a prolonged period of time. This fear of pain is a dramatic one for us because it links to two things we love. Our intellects and our lives. Pain debilitates a person, it drives a person crazy, it is a subjective feeling that each of us experiences differently, because our minds are the source of pain. Another source of pain, emotional pain is even more obviously linked to love. We feel pain because we love, we love because we feel pain.
Fear of losing love is perhaps the most obvious fear to link to love. When a mother refuses to let her child out of her sight for a moment... it is because she is scared of harm befalling the one she loves. When a child insists on sleeping with their blanket every night, a part of the reason is because they are frightened that when they wake up, the blanket will no longer be there.
These basic fears are closely tied to anger. When a person gets angry, it is almost always a direct response to a fear being realized. When a couple argues, it is often because one feels threatened by something the other said. When a father yells at his child for arriving home late, it is usually because he was worried that they would not get home safely. When a child yells at their parents, it is often because the child wishes to have more autonomy, more control over their lives and their affairs.
At the end of the day, anger, fear - these negative emotions... are all rooted in a positive emotion, in love.
We would not feel angry or afraid if we did not love, if we did not cherish our lives, the people within our lives, the material possessions we have, our intellects and our souls.
Maybe that's how the universe works? Maybe there exists a God who is completely good (positive), however, when looked at in a certain manner, it can be viewed as a negative.
Love, the strongest of emotions, leads to bad and good, yet, love itself is good.
God is good, yet God created a world and a universe with a great deal of bad within it... it's all in the angle with which one looks at it.
So, what's your angle?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Trust
How do you know you can trust someone?
The question is more an oxymoron than most realize... Once you know, it isn't trust, it is knowledge.
Trust is a blessing, we trust others who are close to us, we trust others who are distant from us with regards to ideology, morality, status and location. However, the important thing is that we are able to trust others.
This concept of trust relates to another concept... altruism. The ability to help another, even if that action does not benefit one and may in fact cause harm. With very few exceptions in nature, human beings are amongst the only creatures that actually can act altruistically. This means that we can do something completely selfless, we can go so far as to sacrifice our own lives for a stranger if we choose to do so.
Why?
Because we love others? That no doubt plays a role, however I feel that trust is another key component. We can trust... we have been given this gift of being able to trust and to keep our trusts, to keep our promises and to act in a selfless manner to further these trusts.
How do you know you can trust me? You don't, you have to believe that you can... and that belief has another synonym... faith.
No one can prove that God exists, no one can disprove God's existence (or state of non-existence if you subscribe to the theory of double-negation). However, one can have faith, one can trust that no matter what happens, there will be someone or something out there to hold your hand.
In the Holy Qur'an it is written that those who believe should keep their trusts... I know that I have violated many trusts in my life, however I pray that I can keep praying, and that you can too.
The question is more an oxymoron than most realize... Once you know, it isn't trust, it is knowledge.
Trust is a blessing, we trust others who are close to us, we trust others who are distant from us with regards to ideology, morality, status and location. However, the important thing is that we are able to trust others.
This concept of trust relates to another concept... altruism. The ability to help another, even if that action does not benefit one and may in fact cause harm. With very few exceptions in nature, human beings are amongst the only creatures that actually can act altruistically. This means that we can do something completely selfless, we can go so far as to sacrifice our own lives for a stranger if we choose to do so.
Why?
Because we love others? That no doubt plays a role, however I feel that trust is another key component. We can trust... we have been given this gift of being able to trust and to keep our trusts, to keep our promises and to act in a selfless manner to further these trusts.
How do you know you can trust me? You don't, you have to believe that you can... and that belief has another synonym... faith.
No one can prove that God exists, no one can disprove God's existence (or state of non-existence if you subscribe to the theory of double-negation). However, one can have faith, one can trust that no matter what happens, there will be someone or something out there to hold your hand.
In the Holy Qur'an it is written that those who believe should keep their trusts... I know that I have violated many trusts in my life, however I pray that I can keep praying, and that you can too.
Friday, August 5, 2011
On Perfection
Aristotle proposed that everything has a perfect version... a perfect form. What we see, everything that exists, is simply a ... shadow of a perfect form. He made very interesting arguments for this paradigm, and as with the concept of God, it isn't possible to prove or to disprove Aristotle effectively, because we simply don't know if this concept is plausible.
It makes me wonder on what it means to be perfect though.
Specifically, is perfection static or dynamic?
When I think of the concept of perfect, I think of something that is still, unchanging and remains static, because if it is perfect, why does it need to change?
I think that may be a fallacy however. How can something remain perfect if it is limited to never change? Or is it possible that if something is perfect, it is unlimited in potential but limited in form?
The reason I ask is because of the simple fact that I believe firmly that the faith of Islam, when interpreted correctly is perfect. However, does this mean that the way that Islam was interpreted a thousand years ago, is the same way in which it should be interpreted today? I would vehemently argue that this is not true, that the faith requires a new lens, it changes in it's practice, in it's interpretation over the years... but the essence... does that change? Can it change? Or is the question, must it change for it to be perfect?
Thinking carefully on it, I would say that the practice of the faith can and must change, however the ethical foundations underlying it cannot change, because they are perfect... so is the practice imperfect or are the practitioners?
Let's not forget God.
God is eternal, God is good, mercy, compassion, love - all spring from God. All of these characteristics change based on the situation... compassion is not a static concept, neither is love. However, God is perfect... so, is God static, is God fixed or is God a cosmic power that is always dynamic?
I know this last is a futile question because I think I suspect the answer. God is both and neither. Static and dynamic... for these terms are very physical expressions. God is beyond both. He does not need to express Himself as a static or as a dynamic.
That still doesn't solve the problem at the base of it all. In our human conception of the matter can something that is static meet the standards of perfection? Can something that is dynamic be perfect? Or is perfection beyond both, in which case - how can a religion that a billion people practice be perfect?
It makes me wonder on what it means to be perfect though.
Specifically, is perfection static or dynamic?
When I think of the concept of perfect, I think of something that is still, unchanging and remains static, because if it is perfect, why does it need to change?
I think that may be a fallacy however. How can something remain perfect if it is limited to never change? Or is it possible that if something is perfect, it is unlimited in potential but limited in form?
The reason I ask is because of the simple fact that I believe firmly that the faith of Islam, when interpreted correctly is perfect. However, does this mean that the way that Islam was interpreted a thousand years ago, is the same way in which it should be interpreted today? I would vehemently argue that this is not true, that the faith requires a new lens, it changes in it's practice, in it's interpretation over the years... but the essence... does that change? Can it change? Or is the question, must it change for it to be perfect?
Thinking carefully on it, I would say that the practice of the faith can and must change, however the ethical foundations underlying it cannot change, because they are perfect... so is the practice imperfect or are the practitioners?
Let's not forget God.
God is eternal, God is good, mercy, compassion, love - all spring from God. All of these characteristics change based on the situation... compassion is not a static concept, neither is love. However, God is perfect... so, is God static, is God fixed or is God a cosmic power that is always dynamic?
I know this last is a futile question because I think I suspect the answer. God is both and neither. Static and dynamic... for these terms are very physical expressions. God is beyond both. He does not need to express Himself as a static or as a dynamic.
That still doesn't solve the problem at the base of it all. In our human conception of the matter can something that is static meet the standards of perfection? Can something that is dynamic be perfect? Or is perfection beyond both, in which case - how can a religion that a billion people practice be perfect?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
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
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
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