Topics
When something is cognized, it is cognition any
how, even if it is that of the nescience. And, every cognition, according to
the law of Preserved Scripturum, enjoys the status of a reality. We are,
therefore, left with no other alternate but to denominate the cognition of the
nescience, too, as knowledge. Cognition of nescience termed, by the Sufis, as
the Knowledge of La (llm-e-La) and the cognition of knowledge as the Knowledge
of Illa (Ilm-e-Illa). Both these cognitions are two Beatific Vision of the
Alpha-Luminescences --- one, the La Beatific Vision and the other, the Illa
Beatific Vision.
When someone preserves both these realities in
his mind then it becomes easy for him to understand the ingredients of the
Observation (Shahood). Thus, every observation has only these very two
compnents. The first of the two, the knowledge of La, is called the unconscious.
When a student of spirituality wants to be
acquainted with the unconscious i. e. Knowledge of La, he has to forget about
all the fantasies, ideas and thoughts of the external world. He is required to
cogitate about his inner self, i. e. to get to the inner most recesses of his
mind.
This contemplation is such an activity which
cannot be limited to a particular form of any sort of thinking_. We call this
thinking as the Cogitation of La, to wit, for a short while or for a
considerable length of time we try to remain in that state of mind when every
angle is only that of nescience. This cogitation of La could be acquired by
practising Istarkha' (gazing in the dark). Reiteration of Istarkha causes the
internal circles of mind to be vacated from every thought or idea of any sort. Or
to ay, the mind fully absorbs in cogitation of La at that particular moment and
the unconscious is Observed in this state of absorption.
The luminescences of La are the part of the
luminescences of Alif-lam-Meem. Understanding of the luminescences of
Alif-lam-Meem is associated with the understanding of definition and analytical
study of the luminescences of La. The luminescences of La are those Attributes
of Allah which introduce us with the the Oneness and uniqueness of Allah, the
Most Exalted.
This oft-repeated question is asked many times
by the people: What was there before Allah?' When the mind of a Sufi is fully
trained for the spiritual association and he is versed with the properties of
the luminescences of La, this question is eliminated altogether from his mind. Because
after having the knowledge of Allah's Attribute of La this idea becomes alien
for him that there could have been a possibility of any existence before the
existence of Allah. The concept of Oneness of Allah is comprehensively grasped
by the spiritual associate when his mind familiarizes with the luminescences of
La.
This is the first point from where a Sufi or a
spiritual associate takes the first step in cognition of Allah. Initially, n
the circling limits of this step, he get the opportunity of acquaintance with
his own self i. e. he finds himself nowhere despite searching and thus, real
sense of Oneness of Allah and the true spirit of cognition of Allah starts
taking shape in his feeling. This is the state which has been termed as
‘Lostfulness’ (Fannaiyat), few call it ‘ Lost-in-Diety)
A devout or a spiritual associate cannot
acquaint himself with the tenor or perception of ‘La’ unless his mind is able
to accommodate the whole expanses of the luminescences of La. Initialy, the
luminescences of La are felt in the depths of his perception. This feeling
remains beyond the limits of consciousness at a remote distance, therefore this
sensation could rightly be called the Unconscious or the ultra-conscious
feeling but the flight of thought finally has its access to it. The state Produces
this pattern of thinking and trains him to think on these lines.
Practice of remaining awake, the first lesson
in the course of Discemment, helps in achieving this absorption to a great
extent. Foundations of this lesson forms the pattern of absorption in the mind
of the Sufi and some power of intuition is produced in him. Then, this thinking
is further activated, strengthened and polished by ‘Istarkha’. After
consolidation of this strength the luminescences of La begin to apper before
the inner sight during 'Reminiscence' (Warood). The Reminiscence further
refines this thinking causing origination of Substantial Non-observation (Li Shahood-e-Nafsi).
In the mind of Non-observation Khizar (peace be upon him), the Administrative
Auliya and the angels start coming into visual contact and one occasionally
gets a chance to converse with them. The translation. of the signs and
notations expressed by them start reaching the hearing of the spiritual
associate in his own language because of 'one of the characteristics of this
state of Non-observation. Gradually conversation starts taking place in the
form of question - answers and many unseen arrangements are revealed through
the angels thereby.
KHWAJA SHAMS-UD-DEEN AZEEMI
Alshaikh Khwaja
Shamsuddin Azeemi, Chief Editor of the monthly Roohani Digest, the renowned
spiritual scholar, founder of the chain of Muraqba Halls the world over has had
the honour of learning the spiritual sciences from his spiritual mentor, His
Divine Grace Qalander Baba Auliya, the sage of this age. In order to teach him
the spiritual sciences Qalander Baba Auliya made Alshaikh Azeemi to pen down
the words that he used to narrate. Alshaikh Azeemi being a devoted disciple not
only noted the contents but also did his best to understand what he was taught.
The eventual out come of his dedicated work took the form of the ‘Loh-o-Qalum’,
the first ever book that comprises the whole syllabus of the spiritual science.
Who else was more suitable to explain the contents of this document but
Alshaikh Azeemi, the very able student of Qalander Baba Auliya. Dissemination
of that knowledge, which is the legacy of prophets and had reached him in
disciplic succession, has become an obsession for Alshaikh Azeemi because, according
to him, this knowledge is the only elixir and the antidote for the ailing
humanity in present times.
