Peace, one and all…
To understand my self is also to understand how that self interacts with and relates to, others. To understand others is to understand divergence and diversity; it is also therefore to come to understand convergence and unity. We learn about one even as we learn about the other.
To marginalise the other and to hide all that we do not wish to face, is to deny the existence of shadow, and hence of light. It is to deny the other’s human freedom, and hence to make our selves as slaves unto darkness.
Human autonomy is an all or nothing affair. Either we are all free, or none of us are. If I acquiese in the enslavement of another, I acquiese in the enslavement of my self. Although this world is always in a state of becoming, freedom of thought and choice are our shared human birthrights. If we deny these birthrights to others, we imprison our selves in a dungeon of our own devising.
Ma’as salama,
Abdur Rahman
June 27, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Assalamualaikum Br Abdur Rahman
“To marginalise the other and to hide all that we do not wish to face, is to deny the existence of shadow, and hence of light.”
- True indeed; well said. Thank you.
Katib
June 27, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Salaam Abdur Rahman,
Thoughtful as usual. Graciously expressed. “Ablution upon Ablution is Light upon Light” [hadeeth] comes to mind.
The psyche strives for unity.
The un-Realized self is governed by ego, the conscious differentiator. un-Realized, the ‘Threshold of the Meeting’ acts as a mirror’s back.
The eye of nafs gazes at the threshold, which is not a mirror. But its gaze is haraam, so it is ‘deflected’. The vector is inwards, but the image is seen to be without. So the nafs falls for the ‘illusion’ and sees an ‘other’ ‘without’.
It also makes the mistake of thinking ‘it’ is the beholding eye. But it is in fact Al-Basir that is looking ‘at’ HIS beloved, and it is HIS Gaze that mesmerizes the ego’s eye. Naturally, we can say, ‘that’ is ‘projection’.
Its all non-sense, of course, until one realizes that the ‘donya’ is an ‘up-side-down’ ‘image’ of ‘reality’ …
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) Said:
“When answering the call of nature neither turn your face or back to Mecca.”
He also Said:
“After excretion the right hand is not to be used, nor is a bone to be used nor camel dung.
http://hadith-sahibukhari.blogspot.com/2007/02/hadith-from-sahi-bukhari-part-07.html
He also Said:
“Nor should you hold your penis with your right hand while urinating. Nor should you breathe into the vessel from which you drink.”
No, we’re not discussing Human Anatomy. The subject remains the said sentient’s notion of ‘Autonomy’ …
http://www.forgiving-merciful.net/quran/suras/096/index.html
/& Salaam!
June 27, 2008 at 11:53 pm
p.s.
What ‘I’ neglected to tell ‘you’, Abdur Rahman, is that there are many borrowed words there (that were not quoted). But have resolved to stop lying to ‘My Self’… and didn’t.
June 30, 2008 at 9:03 am
Salaams Brother Katib,
Jazak Allah for your kind thoughts. Allah bless you always. I look forward to hearing from you soon, insha Allah.
Abdur Rahman
June 30, 2008 at 9:05 am
Salaams Joubin Houshyar,
Welcome to my online home. Allah bless you always. Thank you for adding your thoughts. Given their depth, it might take me a little while to think them through.
I am glad to meet you.
Abdur Rahman