Labib Mahfuj Chisty
Introduction: Man, soul and the call of infinity
Man is not just a biological body made of flesh and blood. Inside this man is a mysterious being, which has come from the world of infinite light. That being is the one who basically questions, laughs, cries or loves. That being is the one who seeks the truth and sighs looking towards infinity. From ancient times to the present, some of the most unresolved philosophical questions have been roaming in the minds of people. Who am I? Why am I here? Where will I go? What is the real meaning of this laughter and tears of the world? Who is doing all this? Why will I die? What will happen to me after death? – In search of answers to these questions, various philosophies of life have been born in people’s lives, and various religions have been formed in different countries. But people have only increased their infinite thirst. They have not actually found the right answers to these questions accumulated over the ages. Neither the formalities of religion have been able to give good answers to these questions, nor have the struggles of philosophy. That is why people have taken refuge in the lap of spirituality. Spirituality has unraveled these mysteries of people.
Spirituality is not the name of a specific religion or group. Spirituality is the science of the self, the philosophy of the heart, and the name of the infinite effort to discover and awaken the eternal infinite truth and beauty hidden within people. Spirituality is the name of a long pursuit. Just as a farmer plows the soil and sows seeds, so does a spiritual seeker cultivate his inner land and sow the seeds of the Lord’s name. At the same time, the Lord awakens in the heart temple of the seeker, then the person also becomes a complete person. This is how spiritual awakening basically happens.
What is spirituality? A philosophical and humanistic definition
In a word, spirituality means knowing the self. And knowing the self means entering the depths of one’s existence. The prerequisite for knowing oneself is knowing oneself. That is why Sufi seekers say that one who knows oneself, knows the Lord. This knowledge is not an informational knowledge, it is an existential realization. As a result of this realization, the self-created momentary identities are gradually erased from the human mind. After all identities, i.e. the veil, are unveiled, the pure truth, the real essence, and the reality lie in the depths of existence. The main purpose of spirituality is to attain that reality.
The spiritual seeker never leaves the world, but rather he transcends the world within the world. He knows that everything is temporary, but in this temporaryness lies the seed of eternity. The infinite being resides within the finite. That great image blooms in the mirror of the fragile body of man. That unseen great Lord is caught in the human estuary.
Religion and Spirituality
Religion is the structure, spirituality is his life. The soul of a person who is confined only to religious rituals is dry, his mind is affected by materialistic illness and all his religious observances are reduced to mere formalities. And the spiritual soul is there, ever-so-saturated with the unadulterated irrigation of religion, full of love and shrouded in mystery.
Soul, Soul and Spiritual Struggle
Sufi philosophy, that is, spirituality, liberates and awakens man from within. The command of the Lord elevates, activates and develops the soul. It purifies the veiled existence of the soul. It overcomes Ammara, Lawama, Mulhemo and calms the person. It settles him in eternal peace.
Spiritual path in the eyes of saints
The one who surrenders himself into the glorious existence of the Lord and becomes Lord and is established in the Lord is the saint. He is the one who is endowed with the qualities of the Lord and the bearer of the identity of the Lord. All the qualities of the Lord are active through this saint. A saint never performs miracles, rather he is the craftsman of the heart, who preserves the ability to show the way to fallen people.
What is spiritual awakening? What is spirituality?
Spiritual awakening is not a sudden event, it is a deep awareness born gradually in the human heart. When a person realizes – I am not my thoughts, I am not my perception – I am that consciousness and being, which witnesses all the thoughts and feelings of the world. This is the main awakening. This awakening turns a person into a saint. Then the pride and self-praise of man diminishes, then he learns to forgive, then he feels peace in solitude, then he is freed from the delusion of the world, and the remembrance of the Lord continues in the heart and the heart becomes filled with divine joy.
Ways of Spiritual Awakening
Self-observation (Muhasaba): The Supreme Soul is within the self. Therefore, the news of the Supreme is obtained through self-observation.
Dhikr and Meditation: Dhikr is the name of retaining the presence of the Lord deep in the heart. And meditation is conscious presence.
Silence and Solitude: Silence is the language of the Lord. When we are silent, the Lord speaks from within us. Only when our words stop, does He say, “Kun.”
Presence of Saints (Sohbat): There is no way to walk on this path without following the Saints and Murshids.
Spirituality – An Endless Journey
Spirituality is an endless journey, where we constantly break ourselves down and rebuild ourselves. Because, within us is the one we seek. The path is difficult, but liberation lies only on this path.