Balance of Realities - Subjugation of the soul and subjugation of the universe
Subjugation of the soul and subjugation of the universe
Tags: soul, particles, human beings, ma`rifat, rabb, banayna, bana'l-bayt, khalaqa'l-insan, khalaqna, universe, nearest heaven
The seekers of the secrets of the subjugation of the universe have reached such a difficult stage where, with respect to their research, they will be forced to change their point of view, willingly or unwillingly. The difference between their present and future views will be as much as the difference between climbing a fruit-bearing tree via its trunk or its branch. If its branch is lowered to the reach of a man, it does not mean that he can climb it. Rather it is the trunk by which it can be climbed. In this example, the tree is the universe, the trunk is the soul and the branch is the matter (body). In other words the subjugation of the universe is impossible without the subjugation of the soul.
Although currently scientists cannot dispense with the subjugation of the soul, yet they will realise the dire need of it when they will see that the soul overpowers the entire universe. For, it is impossible for the stages of the collective evolution of humankind from the beginning to the end to be only of material science, and nothing else. Rather, the last half of the path of their evolution is divided into spiritual stages. In other words, just as there is the day and the night in this world, there are two great cycles, the physical and the spiritual, which move constantly and in the course of time, they erase and obliterate the acquired traces of each other, just as the night erases daylight and the day, the darkness of the night. Thus, human life has to pass through such a spiritual cycle that will render useless and then extinct even the most useful inventions of this cycle through the influence of its spiritual progress.
The prelude to this magnificent, universal spiritual evolution may be such, that minute flying particles of the substance of matter (which are controlled by the soul) will permeate human beings according to their capability and subtlety, and will affect everyone, according to their personal dogmatic concepts, knowledge and deeds. Since these particles possess all material and spiritual characteristics, they will strengthen and sharpen the feelings and perceptions of man after a most strenuous experience, to the extent that in order to see, speak and hear, the human mind will no longer need any physical instruments. Some celestial men will also descend along with these living atomic particles. Some of their signs will be the rapidity of their speech and action and the appearance and disappearance of their luminous bodies and their tremendous awe will be like lightning. They will speak every language with utmost fluency and eloquence. They will not have respiration and other such things. Nothing will be a veil for them. It is possible that, in the beginning, due to certain carnal things, they may dislike human beings. But then, with their help, man will engage in subjugating the universe.
As a result of the rewarding study of the last Book of God, the analysis of the symbols used by the authorities in religion and the sufic experience (i.e. spiritual experience), it can be said that, in addition to the human beings inhabiting this planet, there are eight other groups of human beings. Among them, one invisible group is on this planet and the other seven live on other planets. The bodies of these eight kinds of spiritual entities (ruhaniyyun) can be of different substances, free from heat, cold, wetness and dryness. If you wish you can call them angels, spiritual entities, human beings of other planets, creatures of paradise, etc. For, their reality is the same. In the beginning they were human beings and even now their features are (like) human beings. The only difference is that they have reached the highest stages of the subjugation of the universe and have attained the recognition (ma`rifat) of their Sustainer (rabb) and the universe created by Him through the recognition of their own selves. Thus, they are favoured by their Sustainer.
The first proof of this reality according to the Speech of God, the Majestic, is: “And We have built (banayna) above you seven (kinds of) strong ones” (78:12). It is obvious that there is definitely a difference between “khalaqa'l-insan (He created the man)” and “bana'l-bayt (He built the house)”. Thus, in this verse is meant the creation of these seven kinds of celestial human beings [in contradistinction to the creation of earthly human beings]. Further, the purport of using “banayna (We built)” instead of “khalaqna (We created)” for their creation, is to show that they are like living abodes of our Hereafter, as it is evident from the Speech of God, the Absloute Wise: “Indeed the abode of the Hereafter is living, if they but knew” (29:64). The reason for calling them “strong” is their everlasting position, for they are the abode of survival.
As for the question: “Does this verse not mean the creation of the seven heavens?” the answer is that it is these seven groups of celestial human beings who are, in reality, the living heavens who constantly shower blessings upon the universe. Otherwise, there is no cogent proof of the hypothetical division of the vast space [of the universe].
The other proof is that it is unanimously accepted that there are eight kinds of paradise. Thus, it is true that these are the eight kinds of celestial and terrestrial spiritual paradise, just as it has already been mentioned that the abode of the Hereafter is living. Since humankind is the model of life and the living in the true sense are the Prophets and awliya’ (Imams), therefore it is they who are the paradises and heavens for their communities. Further, there is no doubt that paradise is in the heaven and the heaven is the Prophet and the wali, as God, with respect to this reality, says: “And We sent (arsalna) to them the heaven showering abundant rain” (6:6). It is obvious that the phrase “We sent (arsalna)” is used for the Prophet, not for the vast space. And by the “rain” is meant the flow of knowledge.
The nearest heaven for human beings is on this earth, that is, the Prophets, the Legatees (awsiya') and their successors. The proof of this can be found in this noble verse: “And We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps, and made them missiles to (drive away) satans; and We have prepared for them the chastisement of the blaze” (67:5). Thus the Chosen, the holy Prophet Muhammad was the nearest heaven of spirituality for the people of his cycle, adorned only with the lamps of realities, sciences and recognitions, wisdom and guidance, in the light of which the mu'mins were able to walk on the straight path. Apart from this spiritual adornment, apparently he was a human being and had all the essential characteristics of humanity, such as eating, drinking, sleeping, marriage, walking, working and becoming subject to physical difficulties and illness and their consequences, etc. Many people used to doubt him due to these human characteristics and run away from him. This is the meaning of God’s saying that He has adorned the nearest heaven (with the lamps of guidance) and then (due to his human characteristics) made him the one who drives away the devils.
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