We all desire justice.
It is a fundamental human desire to see fairness in our world, however subjective that "fairness" may be. It can even be argued that justice is a desire found throughout the animal kingdom (as can be seen in the famous capuchin monkey experiment - if you haven't seen it, Youtube it). This desire for justice though is a very curious thing in it's subjectivity. We are completely okay with an imbalance that works in our favour - we justify it by saying we, "deserve this," or, "it is the way it has to be," or even, "thank goodness that wasn't me."
Evolutionarily it makes sense. We don't want others to have an advantage over us. That advantage could manifest itself into a slight edge for survival. The curious thing is that we still insist on calling it a sense of "justice."
Justice needs fairness in an equal manner. It needs objectivity. This is especially salient when we look at today's world and our short attention spans.
We have millions of displaced people in Syria. These people are suffering in conditions that are terrible and are being forced to migrate away from their ancestral homes in a struggle to survive and better their lives (something that they deserve as human beings). We forget about all of these displaced people the moment there is a chemical weapons attack and a military offensive by the US against Syria.
Then, we forget about the chemical weapons attack and the retaliatory measures the moment a doctor gets dragged off a United Airlines flight. Why does this happen? Because we can easily relate to that doctor, that could have been me! Can I picture myself and my family as refugees?
I saw this happen in my own life over the past week. I am ashamed to say, that I had forgotten about those suffering in Syria. My attention focused on chemical weapons and why this attack mattered. Then, the new obsession of the week became United Airlines and how they mistreat their customers.
We want justice, but do we really understand what it is?
Justice is not forgetting South Sudan. Justice is not forgetting the Central African Republic, North Korea, Syria, Iraq. Justice is hard. It is easy to move one's attention from one "flavour of the week" to the next, but it is exceptionally hard to truly desire justice.
Because fairness for all isn't just about you and I. It's about looking out for everyone, realizing we're all equal in the eyes of God. Even if it is just a prayer, send some love the way of those who really need it in the world.
Life isn't fair, but we can at least try to make it a bit more just.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Perception vs. Reality
In the book Sophie's World, the protagonist wears a pair of rose-tinted glasses through which she sees the world for a short time. When she wears these glasses, her perspective changes subtly. How she sees the world is different. The book uses this device to explore the concept of perception vs. reality.
Does perception influence reality or is reality an immutable concept? This seems to be a strange question to ask. How does my perception of anything change that thing?
This however leads us to another question... Does perception imbue the perceived with anything?
It can be argued that without being perceived, something cannot exist. At least in a physical sense. If I cannot sense or measure something, how do I know it exists? It is an argument applied for and against the existence of a higher power. If I don't know it exists, does it exist? Or how can you refute it's existence if it is something you cannot perceive (ergo, it's existence is irrefutable using empirical methods or sensory perceptions)?
So, what does perception bring? When we perceive an aspect of something are we seeing something that objectively exists in what is being observed, or is all perception marred by subjectivity? If I note that snow is white, does that mean that the colour of the snow is a truly ingrained characteristic of snow or does that mean that my perception of snow includes my perception of the colour of the snow?
It really makes one think about the reality of matter itself. If seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses affects my perceptions of the world, but does not affect the characteristics of the objects being perceived, then how many layers of glasses do we wear on a daily basis? How many layers of false perception separate us from the truth inherent in everything?
The key question here though is, what is that truth? What lies within any object at its core essence when we strip away all of our false perceptions? Is that true essence the same within all things or does it differ?
When we perceive anything, we make it ours. That which is imperceptible lies beyond our ability to control. I feel our ability to perceive something limits it. Perhaps that is why God is often times called He who is seen and unseen.
I guess the trick lies in opening our eyes.
Does perception influence reality or is reality an immutable concept? This seems to be a strange question to ask. How does my perception of anything change that thing?
This however leads us to another question... Does perception imbue the perceived with anything?
It can be argued that without being perceived, something cannot exist. At least in a physical sense. If I cannot sense or measure something, how do I know it exists? It is an argument applied for and against the existence of a higher power. If I don't know it exists, does it exist? Or how can you refute it's existence if it is something you cannot perceive (ergo, it's existence is irrefutable using empirical methods or sensory perceptions)?
So, what does perception bring? When we perceive an aspect of something are we seeing something that objectively exists in what is being observed, or is all perception marred by subjectivity? If I note that snow is white, does that mean that the colour of the snow is a truly ingrained characteristic of snow or does that mean that my perception of snow includes my perception of the colour of the snow?
It really makes one think about the reality of matter itself. If seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses affects my perceptions of the world, but does not affect the characteristics of the objects being perceived, then how many layers of glasses do we wear on a daily basis? How many layers of false perception separate us from the truth inherent in everything?
The key question here though is, what is that truth? What lies within any object at its core essence when we strip away all of our false perceptions? Is that true essence the same within all things or does it differ?
When we perceive anything, we make it ours. That which is imperceptible lies beyond our ability to control. I feel our ability to perceive something limits it. Perhaps that is why God is often times called He who is seen and unseen.
I guess the trick lies in opening our eyes.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Learning Languages
My child is currently learning how to speak and communicate.
It's a very interesting process, that requires a lot of patience from him and from his parents. Many times, we'll say things and he'll understand them, but be unable to respond. Other times, he won't understand. Still other times, he responds in his own way.
This strange form of dialogue makes me think about our communication with God. Maybe in the terms of the Divine, we are simply young children, who are spoken to with clear messaging and direction. The metaphors that God uses in His Holy books and His communication with us cannot be made any simpler, however, to truly understand it, we need to grow.
Maybe we are young minds, trying to grasp these many mysteries. Young minds that very slowly develop. Maybe when I say "we" I mean all of humankind...
All of humanity is a young child. As we grow through generations. As we develop our universal consciousness, our technological innovations, our spiritual selves, gradually the language of the Divine becomes more apparent. I feel as though we are nearing the cusp of being able to speak or at least better understand God's Divine language. This would be a major breakthrough... Then I realize that even if we do, we're still only a 2 year old with a lot of learning left to do.
I've learned from many classes and courses that if you really want your child to develop proper language skills, you should simplify your speech, but not infantilize it. God knows all. He won't let us develop poorly. He's already spoken to us throughout all of nature. All that is left is for us to watch, listen and begin to understand.
It's a very interesting process, that requires a lot of patience from him and from his parents. Many times, we'll say things and he'll understand them, but be unable to respond. Other times, he won't understand. Still other times, he responds in his own way.
This strange form of dialogue makes me think about our communication with God. Maybe in the terms of the Divine, we are simply young children, who are spoken to with clear messaging and direction. The metaphors that God uses in His Holy books and His communication with us cannot be made any simpler, however, to truly understand it, we need to grow.
Maybe we are young minds, trying to grasp these many mysteries. Young minds that very slowly develop. Maybe when I say "we" I mean all of humankind...
All of humanity is a young child. As we grow through generations. As we develop our universal consciousness, our technological innovations, our spiritual selves, gradually the language of the Divine becomes more apparent. I feel as though we are nearing the cusp of being able to speak or at least better understand God's Divine language. This would be a major breakthrough... Then I realize that even if we do, we're still only a 2 year old with a lot of learning left to do.
I've learned from many classes and courses that if you really want your child to develop proper language skills, you should simplify your speech, but not infantilize it. God knows all. He won't let us develop poorly. He's already spoken to us throughout all of nature. All that is left is for us to watch, listen and begin to understand.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Vacation to Vacation
My wife wrote me a small note a few days ago, which was deeper in meaning than I had thought.
She told me in this note, "don't live from vacation to vacation."
It's a common enough refrain, but I haven't really stopped to think about this before.
I find that often-times, I live my life in segments, waiting for the next vacation, the next trip, the next event to give me time to relax, rest and rejuvenate myself. This seems normal enough on the face of it, but underneath, it hides something insidious.
When we live from vacation to vacation, we are ignoring the present moment. Every moment that we are alive is meant to be a gift, every moment is meant to have meaning. Whether we draw this meaning from the colour of trees and flowers, from reading poetry that touches the soul or music, or whether it is drawn from prayer or love of God or others, these gifts abound throughout our lives. When we ignore the present moment, we ignore these gifts. This ignorance is akin to the greatest of sins a human can commit - Thanklessness.
In Islam, one of the most important aspects of the faith is the concept of submission. Submission goes beyond simply agreeing with what God has in store for us, or accepting our lives. Submission includes being thankful for all that we receive or do not receive. Many times, I've heard others who have let an opportunity pass by be thankful - missing that chance was likely the best thing that could have happened for them. This aspect may seem simplistic to some, but it is a beautiful simplicity.
When we fail to live everyday and instead live from vacation to vacation, we miss the beauty in every moment, we fail to be thankful.
I'm going to try to not live from vacation to vacation. I'm going to try living every moment fully and completely and thankfully. I hope you will too. I guess this attempt is the best thing that could happen to me as well and for this, as everything else. I'm thankful.
She told me in this note, "don't live from vacation to vacation."
It's a common enough refrain, but I haven't really stopped to think about this before.
I find that often-times, I live my life in segments, waiting for the next vacation, the next trip, the next event to give me time to relax, rest and rejuvenate myself. This seems normal enough on the face of it, but underneath, it hides something insidious.
When we live from vacation to vacation, we are ignoring the present moment. Every moment that we are alive is meant to be a gift, every moment is meant to have meaning. Whether we draw this meaning from the colour of trees and flowers, from reading poetry that touches the soul or music, or whether it is drawn from prayer or love of God or others, these gifts abound throughout our lives. When we ignore the present moment, we ignore these gifts. This ignorance is akin to the greatest of sins a human can commit - Thanklessness.
In Islam, one of the most important aspects of the faith is the concept of submission. Submission goes beyond simply agreeing with what God has in store for us, or accepting our lives. Submission includes being thankful for all that we receive or do not receive. Many times, I've heard others who have let an opportunity pass by be thankful - missing that chance was likely the best thing that could have happened for them. This aspect may seem simplistic to some, but it is a beautiful simplicity.
When we fail to live everyday and instead live from vacation to vacation, we miss the beauty in every moment, we fail to be thankful.
I'm going to try to not live from vacation to vacation. I'm going to try living every moment fully and completely and thankfully. I hope you will too. I guess this attempt is the best thing that could happen to me as well and for this, as everything else. I'm thankful.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
The Deceptive Word
Words can be incredibly deceptive.
Looking at the simple process through which we speak and communicate, this dilemma with words can be easily seen. First, the speaker has a thought. That thought needs to be processed and articulated into language. Then that language is communicated. The communication is then heard by another, reinterpreted through their own language abilities, their own perspectives and their own abilities before turning back into a thought in their own mind.
With all of the layers of potential miscommunication and misinterpretation present, it seems obvious that words are deceptive. Often times, what I mean to say, is not what you will hear. Even when it is written, edited, re-edited and modified several times. Is the true message in the words being conveyed?
Words are a risky business indeed... Sometimes I wonder, why did God choose to communicate His message in such a flawed form?
When I hear or read the words of the Holy Qur'an, I am reading or hearing another's interpretation of these words. Even when listening in their native language of Arabic, the listener hears inflections and tone that the speaker puts into the text... There is always some level of interpretation, there is always some flaw.
But is this a flaw?
Diversity of belief and interpretation are a part of what makes our world beautiful. It leads to ugliness as well, but also beauty. The world is made up of opposites, without ugliness, there can be no beauty for beauty would be the norm... it would be average.
When I read something in my flawed perspective, and you read something in your flawed perspective, we are transmitting something that may be inaccurate in it's parts, but accurate as a whole. When I look at the big picture, all of us together in our beauty and our ugliness. We represent a bigger tapestry, a larger calling, a beautiful mosaic.
We need to move back farther, accept our own failings and those of others and believe in the bigger picture. This is unfortunately, impossible for most of us to do. Seeing the perspectives of all of humanity is daunting, but adding in the entire universe of thought? Inconceivable...
So, what can we do? I say, never trust your words, they can betray you at any time. If you can't look at the perspectives of all of humanity, turn instead to no perspective at all. Clear the mind of thought and let the vessel be filled not with words that you cannot control but with grace that guides. Don't go with the flow, be the flow.
Looking at the simple process through which we speak and communicate, this dilemma with words can be easily seen. First, the speaker has a thought. That thought needs to be processed and articulated into language. Then that language is communicated. The communication is then heard by another, reinterpreted through their own language abilities, their own perspectives and their own abilities before turning back into a thought in their own mind.
With all of the layers of potential miscommunication and misinterpretation present, it seems obvious that words are deceptive. Often times, what I mean to say, is not what you will hear. Even when it is written, edited, re-edited and modified several times. Is the true message in the words being conveyed?
Words are a risky business indeed... Sometimes I wonder, why did God choose to communicate His message in such a flawed form?
When I hear or read the words of the Holy Qur'an, I am reading or hearing another's interpretation of these words. Even when listening in their native language of Arabic, the listener hears inflections and tone that the speaker puts into the text... There is always some level of interpretation, there is always some flaw.
But is this a flaw?
Diversity of belief and interpretation are a part of what makes our world beautiful. It leads to ugliness as well, but also beauty. The world is made up of opposites, without ugliness, there can be no beauty for beauty would be the norm... it would be average.
When I read something in my flawed perspective, and you read something in your flawed perspective, we are transmitting something that may be inaccurate in it's parts, but accurate as a whole. When I look at the big picture, all of us together in our beauty and our ugliness. We represent a bigger tapestry, a larger calling, a beautiful mosaic.
We need to move back farther, accept our own failings and those of others and believe in the bigger picture. This is unfortunately, impossible for most of us to do. Seeing the perspectives of all of humanity is daunting, but adding in the entire universe of thought? Inconceivable...
So, what can we do? I say, never trust your words, they can betray you at any time. If you can't look at the perspectives of all of humanity, turn instead to no perspective at all. Clear the mind of thought and let the vessel be filled not with words that you cannot control but with grace that guides. Don't go with the flow, be the flow.
Monday, May 23, 2016
Ripples
Sometimes I wonder if we are all ripples in a lake.
When I think of the greatest mystics of all time, I begin to
wonder about their effects that these individuals truly have had. When I think
of their lives, I think of a rock being thrown into a lake. The rock changes
the lake in many ways. Some ways which are immediately noticeable, some which
may take centuries to become known.
Poetry, love, literature and song are ways in which the
Divine Spirit can manifest. Those who are one with the flow of the universe act
as conduits for this spirit. So, in the analogy of the rippling lake, the stone
is not an individual life, but rather the message of the Divine.
I wonder, if we are ripples that have been created by past
disturbances to the lake. Maybe the great lovers of the ages manifest
themselves through you and I? Or maybe we are meant to be the disturbance.
Maybe future ripples will look back on the works we have created and marvel at
the effects one small stone or word has had on the entirety of mankind.
Leave no stone unturned in the search for the truth,
especially not if you have the chance to throw that stone into the lake of
time. Maybe even a ripple can create a splash?
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
My Truth
I often hear of people who say they are searching for "the truth."
Is there such a thing?
There is definitely Divine truth, there are facts and there is information and there is truth... Is there a single truth though? I'm not too sure.
Truth is oftentimes used synonymously to stand for the Divine or for Divine Truth. When I think of "the truth," this is what I believe is being referred to.
Here's where it gets tricky for me. If we believe that God is perfect, then we need to look at the definition of perfection. Is perfection a static concept or does it need to be dynamic? Is perfection encapsulated by an infinite number of possibilities and non-possibilities encompassing all of creation? If so, then this conceptualization of God (which is admittedly limited to only what the human intellect can posit) requires God to be infinitely dynamic.
How can the infinitely dynamic truth possibly be contained within the singular?
Is there really "the truth" or would it need to be "my truth" or even "my truth at this moment in time"?
I have come to believe that it is the latter. We can search for infinity all that we want to, but we can only see what we can comprehend at a given moment in time.
I pray that you may find all the moments of your truth that you are able to.
Ameen.
Is there such a thing?
There is definitely Divine truth, there are facts and there is information and there is truth... Is there a single truth though? I'm not too sure.
Truth is oftentimes used synonymously to stand for the Divine or for Divine Truth. When I think of "the truth," this is what I believe is being referred to.
Here's where it gets tricky for me. If we believe that God is perfect, then we need to look at the definition of perfection. Is perfection a static concept or does it need to be dynamic? Is perfection encapsulated by an infinite number of possibilities and non-possibilities encompassing all of creation? If so, then this conceptualization of God (which is admittedly limited to only what the human intellect can posit) requires God to be infinitely dynamic.
How can the infinitely dynamic truth possibly be contained within the singular?
Is there really "the truth" or would it need to be "my truth" or even "my truth at this moment in time"?
I have come to believe that it is the latter. We can search for infinity all that we want to, but we can only see what we can comprehend at a given moment in time.
I pray that you may find all the moments of your truth that you are able to.
Ameen.
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