Aspects of Sufi Mysticism

The Sufis are the custodians and heirs of the esoteric teachings of the prophet Mohammed. Sufism could thus in simple terms be defined as an islamic form of mysticism. The sufis constitute a group of people within islam. Apart from faithful observing the common obligations of islam,they also choose for themselves a particular spiritual discipline so as to realize the higher ideals of the prophet's religion. The word Sufi is derived from the arabic word suf,meaning "wool" and therefore a sufi is literally a "man" of the wool. The early ascetics of Arabia wore wool,and this attire therefore served as a symbol denoting their spiritual office and calling. The Sufi approach seems to be in perfect consonance with the concepts of the prophet of islam,mohammed,who after defining the basic structures of the religion saw the need for a variety of ways through which individual could work towards their spiritual fulfilment taking into consideration their own abilities,temperaments,and social situation. The Koran,the holy book of the Moslems,refers to this variety as path of peace and well-being. Indeed, Mohammed himself averred that there many gates to paradise. While practitioners of prayer,devotion,fasting,charity,etc.will paradise through their respective gates,some people will enter through all of them. By implication this means that the Sufi choose from themselves a particular course of life. But more importantly,the are also aware of other courses and their value as visualised by the prophet. Sufis never accepted the Koran literally. Rather,its hieratic and hidden meanings have served as their guide. The Sufis regard the statement "He who knows himself knows his lord"as a product of the theophanic revelation given to mohammed. This statement was considered a gnostic one. The Sufis considered this self-knowledge to be esoteric;a spiritual knowledge attainable by only the elect. Aside from this, the statement was only given currency in very restricted sufi circles and also through specialized writings. ATTAINING SELF-KNOWLEDGE According to the sufis,the kind of self-knowledge that could lead to knowledge of God was not only esoteric but also mystical. Self-knowledge could only be attained by self-naughting. This implies emptying one's self. In other words,knowledge of God is considered the progressive negation of limited concepts which in the final analysis could be classified as a sort of unknowing. Sufism seems to have no uniform body doctrines,which explains its very strong eclectic traits. As a spiritual discipline,a greater part of the elements were taken from the prophet's teachings as well as those derived from direct personal experience. In later centuries,especially during the period of ibn-arabi(A.D 1165-1240),Sufism exhibited strong Neoplatonic and Hermetic influence. Equally significant were the writings of the early Christian fathers on Sufi philosophy and practices. One can therefore argue,without any fear of contradiction,that the prophet's religion and Sufism are not the same. But there is need for a caveat here. The difference between the two reflects the the tensions between the exoteric and the the esoteric. To the Sufis esoteric knowledge did not stand in opposition to the exoteric tradition. Esoteric knowledge was seen not as a substitute for the commonly available forms of knowledge,but as an appropriate complement. Indeed a popular dictum within sufi circles is that the inner had to be approached through the outer. This statement brings us to an important perspective in the whole gamut of Sufi philosophy. The secret is simple this: Esoteric knowledge can only be attained by those who are already conversant and competent in the customary forms of living. THE MYSTERY OF SUFISM What are the techniques employed by the Sufi in the presentation of their teachings and doctrines? The Sufi approach to their teachings and doctrines have from time immemorial intrigued and confused many people. The inability of a majority to penetrate and arrive at the sublime truths revealed by sufis has elicited facetious comments which are often singled out by some scholars as constituting the sufi mystique. Sufis generally do not speak of their spiritual experiences. Various techniques are employed in the presentation of these experience. Some describe them in ordinary language. Others use the personality-oriented language of the theologians,while others make use of all philosophical and even scientific knowledge available in the presentation of the teachings. A corollary to the above point is the ingenious sufi device of adapting the written word to convey certain parts of what they teach. This has fostered within sufi circles the development and use of manipulated and enciphered materials. This led to the jest that when sufis draw diagrams and also present other things,they do not have to be accepted just in the form the appear. It is important,however,to bear in mind that these cryptic writings were never designed to be completely hide or conceal the true meanings. Rather,they were intended to show,when decoded,that what on the surface looked more like a complete poem,myth,or treatise could possibly be susceptible to another interpretation. Sufis aver that only the bird understands the textbook of the Rose ad that not every reader knows the inner meaning of the page. This underlies the sufi claim that their teachings are presented in a manner which enables people to use them according to their own level of understanding. it can thus be established that sufis do not stick to one convention. In other words,sufism can be taught in many guise -such as religion scripture,romantic peotry,joke,tales,legends,and art forms ,etc. THE PRESENTATION OF TRUTH Another sufi idea,which has remained an enigma and has so far been impossible to integrate into the mind of many people,relates to the sufi approach to presenting a subject. Part of the problem derives from the fact that sufism is truth without form. The sufi contend that there are three major ways of presenting any subject. The first is to present everything in rota. The second method is to present what people want,while the third way is to present what will serve them best. Now what are the likely consequences of the approaches to this trilogy for the presentation of the truth? The sufis claim that if we present everything,the result may be surfeit. In the second approach,we choke the people-hamper then in their development-when we present what they want. In the third approach,we stand the danger of misunderstanding and opposition if we present what will serve the people best. Notwithstanding the maze of difficulties involved,the sufis insist that if we have served the people thus,whatever the appearances,we have served the people and that definitely ww will benefit. The sufi, according to the islamic philosopher Nuri Mojudi,is one who does what needs ti be done. But more than that,the sufi is also one who does what needs to be done when others cannot do it. The sufi is thus one who possesses a special gnosis. Sufism,in the strict sense of the word,is therefore considered as the transcending of ordinary limitations. It is understandable how the word sufi has been linked with Sophia,the Greek word for divine wisdom, and with Ain Sof,the hebrew qabalistic term meaning the absolutely infinite. The aphorism in the esoteric science that mystical principle are fundamentally the same,although often worded differently in each age,is not a trite statement. Each avatar or messenger of God expounded and taught what wad considered adequate to the human understanding and in accordance with the spiritual requirements of the time. SUFISM AND ROSICRUCIANISM All the true paths,they say,lead to the same goal. Despite the outward differences dictated essentially by the environment and culture,close parallels can be drawn between Sufi and Rosicrucian mysticism. Sufism,like the teachings of the Rosicrucian order,maintains that the mystical experience is an intensely personal one. This by implication,means that the mystical experience only involves group or mass participation in rite when such will produce the necessary change in consciousness and aid in the realization of the inner experience. The two systems of mysticism also subscribe to the patheistic concept of God. Pantheism,is simple terms,is the concept that sees God dwelling in all things. However,this concept does not make the slightest allusion to the fact that the things itself is God. Instead,the mind of God is conceived to reach down into all things,thus becoming the creative force behind all reality. The Sufi psychology of classifying people into the appetitive soul(Nafs),spirit(Ruh),heart(Qualb),and intellect(Agl) finds a common ground in the Rosicrucian approach where members are given attributes such as the physical,mental,and spiritual qualities. There is also the consensus between the systems that humans are one if the manifestation of God. God is accepted as one reality,and our higher nature is considered as a direct emanation from divine or supreme being . The human being is therefore the microcosm,the small universe in which all of these manifestations are united. Students of these two system of mysticism also devote much time to prayer. Prayer is sort of transcendental method of communion with God. It is seen as an intimate and personal contact with the creator of all beings. Finally,sufis and Rosicrucians,being men and women of timelessness and placelessness,are able to bring their experience into operation within the culture and country in which they find themselves.

UNFOLDMENT OF THE INNER SELF

For many people interested in mysticism, metaphysics and making sincere attempts to advance on their chosen private paths of inner development, there comes a time when they are overwhelmed by the wealth of written information that is available on subjects dealing with their quest. Books on the occult and on the experience of various adepts along their respective paths,as well as methods and techniques of achieving "instant illumination" beckon them from all sides. Sadly many of these sources amount to little more than a muddying of the benefit to their personal efforts at gaining greater spiritual awareness.

Although it is advisable and indeed sometimes necessary to read up on various matters relating to metaphysics, and to find inspiration and upliftment in the writings of those who have walked the worthwhile paths of inner development before, it must be remembered that intellectual exercise is not the accepted prerequisite for admittance into the true realms of metaphysical initiation. Many student spend most of their time in intellectual  pursuits of this sort, associating with others of like mind for long-winded "intellectual" discussions which may stimulate the mind for a while, but ultimately lead nowhere, except perhaps to the uncomfortable realization that with all the reading they have done, their inner progress has remained at a standstill. What then is the necessary requirement for advancement on the path of inner unfoldment?

The slow, painful and often mind-shattering process of true self -unfoldment comes only through the practical application of the highest and noblest ideals engendered by an ever-aspiring humanity towards the understanding of the laws of its Creator. In order to progress a little further on the path, our lives must reflect the inner love and compassion which can only be found through daily meditation and attunement with the inner self. We often find in life beings who evince little or no "intellectuality " and whose lives are devoid of any formal academic knowledge, but who nevertheless reflect an inner understanding and compassion towards humanity that is an inspiration for all others. Gentleness and kindness in all their thoughts and actions punctuate their lives,and others turn to them with open hearts, as if cognisant of the fact that they are witnessing the unfolding of a true soul upon a genuine path of inner development.

What in essence is this understanding and compassion which commands the respect and love of other travelers on the well worn path of self-evolution? it may perhaps simply be the compulsion to be of service to other less fortunate in life, the extending of a helping hand, the utterance of the little word of encouragement which lifts the clouds of despondency and despair that sometimes crowd a person's day. It takes so little to make another person happy, and this in essence is what encourages men and women from all walks of life to admire the individual who, with perhaps little knowledge of the literature of the day, can bring that special ray of sunshine into their lives. Gentleness of mind and soul is not an easy task. It is something that must be cultivated, nurtured and never left to wither. We must learn to go out of our way each day to find the task that needs us the most, and then to perform it silently without great fanfare and expectation of reward; for service is one of the greatest tools of the art of gentleness. Service is self effacement , and thoughtfulness in the little way that count, are what truly bring us nearer to an understanding of the qualities we need. Each day, let us find something good to say about the people we meet and must interact with. Let us stop looking at others objectively and seeing only that they are physical beings. Let us learn to look beyond the outer self and its shortcoming and see the soul within, trying to unfold along the same path of human understanding.

The reading of books and classics is necessary in the learning process and the growth of our intellectual abilities. However, it is not through reading alone that we will reach that much coveted state of Niravan or Cosmic Illumination which is the ultimate goal of all student of metaphysics. We must remember that Osiris, standing at the gates of the underworld, does not ask each soul for a dissertation on Plato's "Dialogues" or Locke's Essay on Human Understanding, " but rather, will weigh our every thought and action during the span of our sojourn on Earth and judge us accordingly .

Let us therefore pass the test by punctuating our studies with practical application of the Metaphysical teachings which will bring about the merging of our outer self with the inner self, the personality of the soul itself. The individual soul that animates you through its vital life force is the ward and guardian of your life. Your outer, intellectual self, is also the guardian of the physical body through which your soul keeps you alive for the full course of your incarnation. However, it is the soul which acts as the wisest, most gracious, most compassionate and understanding advisor in your daily affairs that you could ever hope for .

Cosmic Energy ( The Power Of Life ).

Mystical lore teaches that every cell in our body possesses a consciousness all of its own. Knowing  this can be a powerful factor in our lives because inevitably, there will be times when we require additional energy and power to see us through a crisis or some particular task. Certainly for those students who are interested in drawing on the psychic power within them, this is a vital principle and one which mystics have understood for centuries .

A Potent Energy

All of life is bound together by a potent energy; a compelling force that weaves its way through every firm of life, sustaining it, nourishing it and urging it on to fulfilment or completion . It can be seen working quietly in all mineral, vegetable and animal life. This great energy and power has been working silently in all forms of life ever since the first speck of protoplasm dwelt in the water that covers the earth.

      The Hungarian scientist and author Erwin Laszlo in his bestseller science and the Akashic Field (2004) gives us compelling reason why this is so, as well as a possible mechanism through which all living things are guided or compelled to follow templates of creation into which they evolve. It is as if er are born to evolve into copies of those templates of perfection, though no two templates are ever identical. Rosicrucians call the template the soul and the perfection they aspire to as the soul personality, namely the personality that the soul adopts whilst incarnated in material reality .

       There are certain creepers in the garden whose tendrils grow along the surface of the soil looking for something, often your best plants, to wrap around. If you place a stake in the ground, the creeper will climb up it. And if you move the stake, the creeper will alter its direction toward it.It seems as if a life force urges the creeper to completion and realization, and acting within the bounds of its "template of creation", the creeper acts only in the way all other creepers of its species do.

       The same can be seen in animal life, which ranges from the tiny amoeba to the blue whale. We can see this illustrated particularly well in the life of the swallow. The bird couple build their nest under the eaves of a village church or, if you are lucky, the ledge of your bedroom window. The birds mate, the female lays her eggs and the couple patiently take turns in siting on the eggs until the young are hatched. Then, equally as patiently, they feed them until they are able to feed for themselves. At summer's end, an inner impelling life force urges the family southward over thousands of miles of land and open sea to their winter home. When spring comes, the same life force calls the couple back to the same place to begin another cycle, responding rhythmically to the laws of their being, acting always within the bounds of their template of creation.

        If circumstance interfere with their response to this  urge, they double their efforts to obey it. If their nest is destroyed, they build another without delay. If the nest is robbed of its eggs, the female will lay more. And if  the young are threatened, the couple will protect their offspring with all their energy, even to the point of giving their lives to save then. A swallow may be temporarily cages in a large pen, but when it hears the mysterious call southward, it will beat against the bar of the cage until it escapes or is exhausted. Rob the female of her mate and she will pine and possibly die. This is true of many other creatures and clearly shows the indomitable life urge which permeates all living things. There is a template unique to every living thing, and within its bounds, creatures of each species are born, evolve and occasionally achieve perfection.

Urge For Life

For imperator of the Rosicrucian Order, Ralph M. Lewis once said: all living things are compelled to live. When we consider our own self, the urge is more compelling still. If we cut a finger, there is an immediate reaction of the physical organism to restore the injury and create new tissue to bring the affected part back into the harmonious stream of the rhythm of our being.

        Whatever happens, this power is always there, seeking expression and movement. It is never static.Try and repress the flow of this energy, and it will make its power felt in unpleasant ways such as dreams, depression, fantasies, morbid curiosities and even nervous disorders. We soon learn to harness the life force and to transform this wonderful energy into something practical and useful in daily life. In fact we can become transmitters of the life force too. Within each of us is this dual urge to emit and absorb, to learn and to teach. Physically we express ourselves and spiritually there is a craving for God, a continual flow of energy, back and forth. These are symptoms of the same yearning; our urge to seek a union with the cosmic, with the mind of God. This impelling urge is universal and basic to all forms of life and what's more, it should be respected, for it is a privilege to have that great quality which surpasses all others, namely. consciousness.

       Why is it that we are so reluctant  to recognize our fundamental need of a supreme Creator, a God that is greater than anything we can conceive? When we are physically tired, we yield to the urge to rest. When we feel the need of companionship, we seek out new friends. We know what troubles us and we do something about it. Yet it seems so much difficult to diagnose the "unrest of the soul".

     If our body is out of harmony with the its environment, we become physically ill. If our mental faculties are out of harmony with our environment, we become neurotic or mentally ill. But when our soul is out of harmony with its environment,in other words, when we are attempting to pass beyond the bounds of the template from which we were made, we don't think it abnormal. There are many individuals who have no idea what is wrong with them, yet find the peace and harmony they seek in a return to their God, without whom they can never experience the fullness of life and the purpose of being .

      A friend once confided to me that there were times in his life when he was overcome with a feeling and keen awareness of the constant ebb and flow of life within and around him. He was overwhelmed with the vastness of it all and later told me that he had found the answer to his enquiries in the words of an ancient Greek philosopher: all things are becoming. This changed his ideas and he realized that the power behind the great movement throughout nature is the spirit of the Cosmic, quietly impelling all of life toward self-awareness . The voice that urges us to satisfy the hunger of the soul calls to us in many ways, not least of which is though scenes of beauty, words of beauty, music of beauty. The poet Wordsworth heard it and said, i have felt a presence that disturb me with joy of elevated thoughts.

Cosmic Impulse

It will come to others, though not necessarily as it comes to a poet. In a thousand ways its serene call may be heard: To the scientist it may be through a sudden and profound appreciation of the orderliness and symmetry of the universe, or a sudden revelation of some higher form of logic. To a doctor it may be through an influx of love and compassion for the people he or she has attempted to heal over the years. To others it may come through the love and caring one has for certain others, a love greater than life, indeed a love that alone make life worth living. To another, it may come not during "the golden moment of love's vacation" but in an hour of deep sorrow when a little life is released from its pain and borne back to the heart of God . And to others it may come in the sunset years of life in a moment of overwhelming gratitude for the mere honor of having been allowed to spend so many years in this lovely world. And finally it may be in one of those never-to-be forgotten moments of silence that changes the whole course of one's life.

     It will come to those who work in the home, ministering to little children in the many quiet acts of service and love. In a thousand ways in all the things we do, the things we see, the people we meet, God is there. Truth, love and beauty are trying to break through.So when you feel restless, never despair, but know that is is the urge of this power trying to sweep you into harmony with the Cosmic will and with the noble, true things of life.

     In our still, quite moment, i believe it is possible to have direct, intimate communion with God in whatever form we are able to perceive God. God is of course not an absolute reality even if it must of necessity be an absolute actuality. Therefore the reality of God in our lives is in whatever form most deeply inspires and move us and our experience of God is a communion so thorough that all the highest tendencies of the personality are gathered together in deep, deep harmony with each other during such an unforgettable moment.

          When God enters your life, there will be no doubt that you are experiencing the most sacred, gentle, beautiful presence you could ever conceive, and the power it imbues you with remains with you for the rest of your life. You know that something unique and special has been added to your body, something you cannot see, something which speaks to you but in a way that is different from your senses. And as the years are added to your life, you get to know this hidden mystery better and realize with joy how you are the link uniting divinity with matter .

         The power i speak of is not the power of worldly men: that sort of power corrupts. The power i speak of is the power of holiness, the power that motivates true love...., the love that finds form in music, painting, poetry and work. Suck love is divine and beneficent beyond words .

Cosmic Ebb and Flow

what a powerful principle that is : let motion equal emotion! It tells us to balance the great energy which permeates our being and and which pervades the universe. it calls our attention to the myriad forms that exist in the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the lithosphere, the air, the water and all mater, which are the stage for nature's eternal program of becoming .

       Everything is alive in nature, vibrating and organizing according to a master template. Things are either coming or going, they have been or are becoming and nothing is static. It is the business of nature to attract and repel, to give and take in equal measure. We have a wonderful partnership with nature. we take in oxygen, absorb vital life force in the process, and give off carbon dioxide. In a similar way plants takes in the carbon dioxide ans give off oxygen, something we take for granted, but what a great partnership! Everything is in motion, there is an ebb and flow, action and reaction, cause and effect, all combined to make our life on earth possible .

Hidden Energy

This leads on to the very important realization that we are transformers of all this wonderful energy. As young children the energy within us is produced very quickly and the wise parent knowing the need to expend such energy will direct the child's attention to sports or some robust activity. There, the child having found an outlet and having let off steam in some filed event, equilibrium in the young body will result. To be healthy, well and happy, every parent and teachers knows that  real work must be done with the hand as well as the head.

          Throughout our live we harbor energies within ourselves that we seldom use. We often recognize them as so -called "second wind", but there are other layers of energy beside that first glimpse of this little-used power: Our physical energy : in all work which requires physical effort such as gymnastics, football and swimming, we use controlled energy by scientific application, training and judicious use. In all games and muscular work we expend this physical energy which we guide with our intelligence.  Our mental energy : In this 21st century we now have more time in which to direct our mental energies. Computers have given us more valuable time in which to apply our energies to other creative projects.  Our Spiritual Energy: The boundless power of spiritual serenity is available to all of us. It is source of goo will, self-confidence and inner strength. We are therefore able to accomplish difficult task easily and put extra effort into everything we do.

        Energy is time used wisely or unwisely. It is up to us whether we make sense or nonsense of it. We are more conscious of energy being used first in the physical, understanding that energy is related in the vast dimensions of time to every sphere of life, we find that is the greatest commodity we have, because everything we accomplish is done in that fleeting moment called now .

     We use our energies in thought, word and deed, and nothing is accomplished without this wonderful infinite power we call energy. We are also manipulators of this creative force and are able to turn our weakness into strengths through intelligent direction of the vital life force with which we are animated every moment we live .

Inhibited Energy

Two of the really great inhibitors of personal energy are worry and fear. Both not only prevent us from taking positive action when needed, but prevent us from absorbing vital life force in sufficient amount to replenish what we are constantly losing. The often given advice is don't worry, it'll sort itself out. Yet we know that it is a very simple matter to offer this advice to someone else but a far more difficult thing to apply it to ourselves. Worry and fear insidiously exaggerate and boost each other if we allow them to run wild and the result is a gradual depletion of vitality .

         Remember that thoughts give off energy, not only outside of us to other people and animals, some of whom will be affected by it, but internally as well to all part of our body. Negative unwanted thoughts must therefore be replaced by good, healthy, positive thoughts. Remember, you become what you think . if you are trouble by anything, at the very least analyse the source of your trouble. Yes it takes energy to do this but is energy well spent .

        Break down your trouble in minute detail if necessary and without emotion so you fully understand them. If they involve something that is inevitable and you cannot change it, then focus on accepting the inevitable and try to stop worry about it. If it's something you can alter, then make a plan of action and follow it instead of worrying. Worry is a form of fear, and we fear and worry about those things we know little or nothing about. Find out all you can about your work, the people around you, your environment and yourself, and you will have no reason to fear. To quote the psychologist William McDougall, fear once around haunts the mind; it comes back alike in dreams and in waking life bringing with it vivid memories of the terrifying impression. It is therefore the great inhibitor of action and future action .

Motion Must Equal Emotion

In the nature years of life, the energy which propelled and guided us in out early physical and mental pirsuits, now less robust but equally compelling and still seeking expression, especially in the lives of those who devote themselves to philosophy and mysticism, finds that expression in the sphere of psychic development and spiritual unfoldment.

        Our energies serve us best if we use them wisely and intelligently.To recall Elbert Hubbard's wife words motion must equal emotion . In other words, if you study, you must express what you are learning; you must teach, write or create. Your expression must equal impression.

       This remarkable principle is closely associated with another great cosmic principle...., that of giving . Energy is never wasted or used up, merely directed. It is never static, it is always becoming. So it is with everything we do, and one of the clearly written in the great law of giving. If you receive a gift or if joy and happiness come to you, you must pass them, along. Failure to do so obstructs the divine current . No one would think of preventing the flow of the traffic through a busy street. Similarly then, the wise student will not obstruct the creative life-giving energies that permeates his or her being and those around them, but will offer instead, intelligent direction .

      Illness are often viral or bacterial in origin, but the body has reserve of strength to fight all illness if it has enough vital life force to do so. Illness task fast in a body especially easily when there is a lack of balance in the body. If you inhale, you exhale: it is a law of your being. Similarly, if we are to fulfil the great principle spoken of above, we must work and play, study and laugh, love and labor , exercise and rest,and let motion equal emotion. In this way the wonderful creative energies of the cosmic become the power in our lives.

The Butterfly

Amelia sat patiently observing the struggles of a butterfly as it attempted to emerge from it's coccoon. At first a small opening appeared at one end and the butterfly struggled and struggled for hours to force it's way out. And then it suddenly seemed to stop , as though it could go no further , stuck between two worlds. Feeling very sorry for it's plight , she decided to help the butterfly . So, with a pair of small scissors, she snipped the cocoon open and the butterfly emerged. But it was not what she had expected . It had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. She continued watching , expecting that at any moment the wings would expand and unfold, thereby completing the transformation so it could fly away.

             Unfortunately , this did not happen . In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of it's life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never managed to fly . What Amelia in her misguided kindness and haste had not understood was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening was natures way of forcing fluid from the butterfly's body into it's wings , thereby expanding them and preparing them for flight.

           A struggled such as this is perfectly natural. It is a process of natural law allowing us to experience the worst and the best in life . It is not just a test of our physical resolve to overcome obstacles in daily life either, but a direct strengthening of our soul awareness in it's quest for spiritual advancement. Of course there are times when everything seems overwhelming or we are caught up in the raw emotion if grief ; but such times pass and we can later look back reflectively and often see them from the wider perspective of the human condition .
Daily struggles are a fact of human life, and if we can but see them for what they really are, we will be well on our way to mastering life.

Seeking Answers Within

We, people of this world, have been given a special task to seek what we have lost .If we wish to find it, then we must not seek outside of ourselves. On the whole, we do not need flatterers and imposters who encourage us and promise us mountains of gold so that we should follow them alone and outshine them. And when i have attended sermons my whole life, always heard speak and sing of heaven and the new rebirth, and was left standing aside, i would not have advanced from one moment to the next. When one throws a stone into the water ant gets it out again, the stone is as hard as it was beforehand and has kept its shape.  But if one throws it into the fire , then it gets a new shape.

Man , so it with you, even if you run off to church and wish to be seen as a servant of Christ; that is hardly enough . In case you have been standing aside, then you are the same as before. Neither is it enough that you have learned all books by rote and that you have continued for days and years reading all the writings and if you know the Bible of by heart, you are still no better in God's eyes than the pig herder who all this time has kept watch over his pigs, or a poor prisoner in the dark who all this time has not seen the daylight . This is how the doubting soul remains outside the temple of Christ , it knocks , it seeks and increasingly doubts whether this is true way. You will not find  a new rebirth or precious stone in the battle, nor any wisdom of reason ; you  have to let go of everything in this world no matter how beautiful it may be , and you have to go within, do nothing other than place your sins in a heap which have poisoned you, and cast them away with God's mercy , and raise yourself to God to ask Him that he will forget them and that He will illumine you with his spirit.

     

   If you should fall and lose the beautiful crown , do not despair, seek, knock , turn back and try again and you shall experience the spirit which has written these words. You shall then receive a tree instead of a branch and you shall say : Has my branch thus becomes a tree while i was  asleep? Then you shall immediately recognize the philosopher's stone.  

Some Aspects Of Mysticism

It have been said that the mystical doctrine relates to the relationship and potential union of the human soul with ultimate reality and that the mystical school is a school of learning by becoming .

         The mystic claims that the average person is only half alive: the greater part of his being i dormant because it has never been taught or allowed to function properly or to realize its full potentialities. They mystic discipline sets out to remedy that.

          The keyword are light, life and love; and by these we have to transmute all that is negative, and therefore 'evil', in our live to that which is positive and good. We strive to overcome the "I" of self not by mortification or subjection (which is merely an inversion ), but by enlightenment ; seeking to outgrow rather to suppress it .
       We can never be self-satisfied or complacent because each advancement made, only serves to emphasis how much further we have to go.

         Gradually, as mystic or metaphysical students, we become aware of certain profound principles from an inward discovery or revelation. Initially,  we commence by a search for truth. Purity of motive must be the underlying factor in this search, for unless we apply it to all things, thought, purpose, self-analysis and outward dealing with others, we cannot even begin to glimpse truth as a reality .

       Many things can be leaned intellectually but it is not until we feel and know them throughout our whole selves that they become real and can then exert a positive influence in our lives. There is such a frail dividing line between thinking that we understand a thing and really understanding it; yet, to effect the transition between the states is, for many people, an apparent impossibility. That is the reason why we have often to experience tragic or unpleasant things in life: they serve to rupture the outer shell that separates the intellectual understanding from that complete understanding which permeates the whole being .

      Without purity of motive one cannot understand oneself; if one cannot understand oneself it is impossible to understand others, then life becomes full of complexities and distortions and the truth totally obscured .

      Understanding brings its own" shorthand' of expression. Colette, the famous french writer, was once giving water to tulips drooping in a vase. Her innate tenderness and compassion, which covered all aspect of God's creation, extended to the flowers dying for lack of water. "Maurice !" she cried to her husband, " there is only one creature." There, in a sort of "shorthand," the entire thing was said.

     God's love runs through all, is manifested everywhere, and those who have eyes to see, recognize it in both the animate and inanimate worlds; in earth and rock, in plant and animal as well as in the human. God is love, sounding and resounding in every particle throughout the universe. It is a mystical experience and can only be conveyed to those who have had a like sensation. A love that is both person and impersonal, reflecting the all and taking us back again, in thankfulness, to the Source .

The Basis Of Spirituality

In approaching the subject of spirituality, we come to realize that this subject seems to lack a singleness of nature. Some individuals think of spirituality as phenomenon unique to the human race; others consider it to be of supernatural origin, a divine efficacy. Then there is the rationale that spirituality is psychological, objective and subjective experiences .

       There is however, the strong suggestion that each of these differing ideas regarding spirituality can be integrated into a single idea. In other words, spirituality embraces, in part at least, some quality of each of these different concepts. An eminent philosopher once said; "you are never an isolated individual cast off from the rest of the universe; you are always in relation to the world about you. The whole of man is greater than its part. The reality in which man finds his own realization is always above and beyond him."

         This realization that we do not stand alone in existence, that in some way we have an affinity with all else, can well form the basis of what is termed spirituality.But while we exist to ourselves, what we experience has reality as well. These other things of this external world which we perceive can, in various ways, affect us; sometimes beneficially , and at other times causing fear and distress.


           At this point we may assume that primitive man, long ago, began evaluation was based upon an innate sensitivity. This sensitivity has but two qualities to measure the value of all sensation: pain and pleasure.

             Everything we experience has its final value determined in terms of the pain or pleasure accompanying it. But such sensations are varied in their cause and intensity. While some of our pleasure arise from the physical gratification of the appetite, we also have the more abstract pleasure of the intellect. There is also that mysterious and exotic pleasure which is experienced as the harmony of the whole self. it is a state of euphoria, a freedom from all irritability, and yet its sensations cannot be related to any of our peripheral sense; it seems to transcend them all. Achievements in aesthetic and cultural pursuit can often produce a state approaching that rapture of the whole self.

                                           WHAT IS GOOD?
Humankind however, has arbitrarily and collectively assigned the quality of good to all the pleasure which  have been and still are experienced.Whatever satisfactorily fulfils the expectation of pleasure, whether from a physical or mental pursuit, is said to be good. For example, a good craftsman is one whose work is well performed; a good citizen in one who conscientiously abides by the requirements of good citizenship.

           What impression did the phenomena of nature have upon the mind of early man ? Among our early ancestors the concept of hylozoism prevailed, namely the notion that all celestial phenomena were imbued with life. Heavenly bodies, such as the planets, were said to be animate, thinking, superior beings. Some wee given imagined characteristics that were perceived as being good and beneficial to humanity; while others their opposite;evil. It was reasoned that the idea of good naturally suggested an opposite that was not good. So that which was adverse and distressed humankind in some manner and was associated with pain was thought to be harmful and evil.

         it would appear that at some point in our intellectual and emotional evolution it was thought best to emulate the behavior of the gods and goddesses that, it was believed , possessed the quality of goodness. The question was asked, what benefit did these beings representing immanent goodness derive from their benign acts? Since humankind experienced this goodness as varying kinds of pleasure. by comparison then, what was the pleasure of goodness experienced by these heavenly entities? Was it through the acquisition of a  material substance, or the successful completion of some act of other?

           It was thought that heavenly entities performed good deeds for mortals, and humanity benefited from such acts. But did these celestial beings also experience a personal gratification from what they had done? Let's for a moment follow the reasoning process of early man in that stage of his inquiry into the nature of goodness. Quite clearly the goodness that was experienced when one person aided another in distress would be retained in the collective memory. The responsive display of gratitude from the person being aided was strongly felt by its  recipient. This sensation of pleasure was one of emotion and unlike any  that satisfied  the physical craving of the body.


                                The Heart-Centre of Goodness

this sensation experienced after committing an act of goodness seemed to permeated the whole of man's being. The anger, fear and other forms of emotional response seemed to centre in the heart. We only have to reflect on how our own heart speeds up or palpitates at times of stress as well as pleasure. Was the pleasing sensation of goodness also centred in the heart? Since the heart was at one time consider to be a source of life, could not the impulsive act of goodness and its senation of pleasure be likewise centred in the life?

          The conclusion, over aeons of time, was that the finer perceptions of life were immersed in the infinite ocean of the cosmic realm. There was an invisible power, a something that flowed from this supernatural realm to humanity. The experience was one of goodness and it was pondered upon what thoughts and human behavior would represent it . This impulse and motivation, of which humanity became conscious of , was the spiritual.
 
           Yet this divine power infusing humankind had to be given an identity, a firm that the human mind could realize. It was thought to be conveyed by the breath, with which life enters ans departs. Thus the word spiritual, in one of its original meanings denoted the breathing of air.


                               The Concept Of Soul
Yet it came to be thought that air was not the essence of this spiritual quality; it was only the medium for transporting it to humans fro  the cosmic realm. This gave rise to what theology and related subject designate as soul. The idea of soul went through a raft of changes as to its nature and function in man.The most prominent and persistent concept is that the soul is a kind of ethereal substance implanted in man by the spiritual or Divine Source which itself also became subject to various human interpretations.

          The incorporeal substance concept of the soul, however, has associated with it the belief that can corrupt it by our behavior or we can regenerate it; returning it to its original spiritual state. Consequently, according to this notion, the quality of soul can very.

        There is also the particular metaphysical and mystical concept , a belief held by mystics from the east and  the west alike, that what is traditionally termed 'soul' is a super state of consciousness,in other words a higher manifestation of the stream of human consciousness. The attribute of consciousness pervades the whole force of life and exists in each living cell and, as an attribute of vital life force, resides in every human being. There is no distinction in its quality in humankind. To the extent that we each become aware of this exalted state of consciousness, we exhibit that goodness which is know as spirituality .


                                      Individual Spirituality
But what should represent this spirituality, this oneness which is experience as the Absolute, or the God that we conceived of ? Man's reason struggled to reduce to common and comprehensible terms those rules of self-discipline by which we might become aware of our indwelling spirituality; simply , it was an attempt to establish a mortal goodness corresponding to true spirituality .

              However, the conclusions of human reasoning are not universally alike. Those who had this revelation and attained a personal enlightenment felt an obligation an their part to assist others to experienced it also. They attempted to reduce a state of ecstasy to common words and actions, which formed the nucleus of their religious beliefs and practices . Although carried out in good faith, this process often engendered dogma and practices which were not truly spiritual and resulted in intolerance, bigotry , and a false sense of devotion .

           There is no single road which leads directly to spirituality by its material aspect and its interpretation of the spiritual good, There are indeed many such road whose guidelines to spirituality deviate from what it really is. Goodness, which is true spirituality , cannot be realized by argument or the compulsory acceptance of a dogma. The realization of the goodness of spirituality must be a subjective attainment . If , for analogy, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then certainly spirituality is likewise wholly individualistic .

          If we have the benevolent wish to assist others to attain the ultimate experience of spirituality, we may introduce them to mystical procedure by which this self-realization can be attained,either through a religion that teaches the fundamentals of mysticism, or through an organization which traditionally perpetuate those teachings. We should allow ourselves to learn the meaning of spirituality through the sphere of our own understanding, whether it is alignment with that of others or not .

         After all, no particular description of a sunset can ever equal one's personal perception of it .