Chapter 14
"Wisdom Study Version"
Additional
"Wisdom Study Material"
For "Chapter 14"
"Wisdom Review"
of "Expanded Version" of "Chapter 14"
of The "Expanded Version"
For This Document
Title:
"The Four Stages
of Spiritual Development"
Author of Original Version: M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
(may God be pleased with Him, and with Us)
Author of Expanded Version: Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.)
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"The Introduction" - to Chapter 14
Greetings - from heart to heart, if we like
Bawa. Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
Bawa. Al-salam 'alaykum wa-rahmat Allah wa-barakatuhu kulluhu. Wa 'alaykum al-salam wa-rahmat Allah wa-barakatuhu kulluhu. May all the peace, the beneficence, and the blessing of God be upon us all. May God help us all.
Bawa. My love you (anbu) - Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Louie Beutler).
About Chapter 14 - by Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.), That Is, about The True Significance of Chapter 14
- In process -
Please come back later. Thank you.
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"Expanded Version" - of "The Original Version" of Chapter 14
His Holiness Teaches Us (Original Version):
And [In Brackets) Shaikh Muhaiyaddeen (Ral.) Teaches Us (Expanded Version):
Guru:
One man speaks of sariyai, kiriyai, yogam, and gnanam. Another speaks of shariat, tareekat, haqeekat, and maharifat. They have many meanings. I shall mention some of them.
A babe in the mother's womb does not know its parents. Does it know, as it is born into the world? No, it does not.
Likewise, the babe does not know the good and the bad. It cries when it is hungry. Immediately, the mother carries the baby and feeds it. Ten months later, the baby who was suckled by the mother is fed by the mother's hand.
The baby passes urine excreta. Does it realize that the excreta is repulsive? No. The child meddles with the excreta with its hands and tries to eat it. The parents see it and clean the baby. The child who has seen the mother feed it with her hand, takes many things and puts them into its mouth.
At this stage too, the child cannot differentiate between good and bad. It is the duty of the mother and the father to discard the bad and show the good to the child. Parents indeed show the child the good and the bad and teach it the good and bad languages. They teach the child the relationships of mother, father, uncle, and cousins.
The baby is like a parrot and repeats what is spoken and copies what is done. The baby has little discriminatory power to know where burning fire is bad or good. Both parents show the child certain things outside the home which it sees and learns. Even at this stage the child cannot differentiate the good from the bad.
When the child is three years old, it begins to understand things and to feel intrinsically. He know his mother, father, brother, sister, things that are his and what belongs to others. Feelings like love, greed, and desire are taught to him.
Still, does the child know? Unaware of good and bad, and bad and good, it does things as others do.
The child is sent to school instilling a love for the school at a stage when it does not know good from bad and lacks in feelings. At this stage the child learns to speak some words and can feel desire and affection. He learns music and dance.
Son, when a child's life is like this, is learning a little knowledge at school the way to the kovil (spiritual aloneness), and to the mosque (spiritual devotion), and to all other philosophies (like spiritual clarity and awakening), akin (or similar) to the studies at school? (No).
Sariyai or Shariat - is the First Stage of Spiritual Development, akin to an "Immature Maiden" or the "Kindergarten Lessons" or the "Doing as Others Do", without a true understanding, that is, without a true understanding of good and bad, through an inner feeling of contrast, that is, without the power from within to come to the correct version oneself, through wisdom, through the "Presence of God" within us, by discriminating between good and bad from within, but rather to come to the correct version only by accepting what is told to us about good and bad from the outside of us, like from the teacher in school
(In this way), Learning lessons, learning them correctly, and accepting the correct version, is the path that is called the Shariat (or the First or Initial Stage of Spiritual Development).
(In this way, learning lessons, learning them correctly, and accepting the correct version, simply "Doing as Others Do", without a true understanding them, that is, of good and bad, through an inner feeling of contrast, that is, without the power from within to come to the correct version oneself, through wisdom, by discriminating between good and bad from within, but rather to come to the correct version only by accepting what is told to us about good and bad from the outside of us, like from the teacher in school, as a child does at this stage in Spiritual Development, all of which is an example of the path that is called the Shariat, or the First or Initial Stage of Spiritual Development, that is, the Journey of the Child from the womb to the Kindergarten)
(In this way), Shariat is the equivalent of the lessons in the kindergarten.
You must be subtlely informed that these (examples of the 4 stages of Spiritual Development are using) scenes that illustrate the world's maya, the illusory appearances of pleasure (that is, the visions seen in the dream of "our presence", and "our story" on the "outside" of us, when we have Forgotten God within us, that is, when in our ignorance, and in our arrogance about our ignorance, we turned away from the "Presence of God" within us, and from God telling and bring to Completion "His Story" within us, for the benefit of all of the Creation of God within us, with "Us" within us, as His Witness).
This (Shariat) is the first grade. Before a child attains (Spiritual) puberty [that is, before the awakened wisdom joined as "One with" the liberated soul goes in search of God within us, that is, in search of the Light of wisdom or the Nur Muhammad that God originally placed on the Forehead of Adam (peace be upon Him) within us].
(Like "us" living a life of "separation and differences" on the "outside" of us, as if we are "separate from" God within us, the "Shariat Child" does as other do, that is,) she goes about freely everywhere. She visits the homes of her friends, relatives, and others and talks without reserve (or restraint). This is similar to the period I spoke of as the kindergarten lesson. The inner meaning of this stage is what is referred to as Shariat."
Kiriyai or Thareekat -is the Second Stage of Spiritual Development, akin to an "Eligible Virgin"
The next stage (of Thareekat or the Eligible Virgin) is when the child avoids the aforesaid actions, discards the games played here and there, controls her smiles, protects her chastity (self-respect), and becomes an adolescent virgin with the physical characteristics of a grown-up. She stays at home. She know the difference between father and mother, and involves herself with their problems. She enjoys herself in the home. This is the stage comparable to Kiriyai (in the Hindi tradition, or Thareekat in the Islamic tradition).
In an attempt to seek an ideal groom for the girl, a husband with a good character, good conduct, good wisdom, good intellect and ability, should be searched for, day and night. This is the mark of a "Good Virgin".
Running here and there, seeing several people, speaking about marriage with any person one comes across will be like the initial stage of (Spiritual Development), of Shariat (but is not appropriate for this second stage of Spiritual Development, of Thareekat).
(When one enters this second stage of Spiritual Develop, of Thareekat, of the Eligible Virgin), one must forget this (initial) stage (of Shariat) and conduct oneself like the Kiriyai (or Thareekat) girl, that is, who trust only One Person, and admits Only Him, to The House (of her heart). This is the Proud Behavior of the Kiriyai (or Thareekat girl), of the Eligible Virgin".
Kiriyai (or Thareekat) is comparable to a state of virginity - not look at anyone else, not speaking with others, not smiling with others, and receiving (Only) the One who has come with Certitude (in God within us).
(In this way) She accepts that the One who has come as the "Lamp of Chastity", will pour oil into her Virgin Lamp. Worshipping God, and keeping Him in her heart, is the "Oiled Lamp" of Kiriyai (or Thareekat).
This My Son, is the state of Kiriyai (or Thareekat, of the Eligible Virgin). Amen.
Yoga or Haqueekat - the Third Stage of Spiritual Development, akin to "Married Bliss"
The next is Yoga (or Haqeekat), when a married groom and bride are in a blissful state of dance and laughter. They laugh when they should laugh and kiss when they should kiss. The bride begins to play with her husband without shyness and without reserve. The bride and the groom enjoy themselves.
The bride keeps her husband in her heart, thinking of him always with desire and joy. She laughs and plays games and calls her husband endearing names. They lose themselves in an ocean of bliss and bring forth children. They derive happiness looking at the pranks of their offspring.
They look everywhere, go to countries, wander in the jungles, climb the mountains, dance and sing in the wonder of happiness and sorrow and console themselves, and the wife calls the husband in endearing terms.
Eventually, the wife addresses her husband as Nathan (Lord, Leader). She shows Him great devotion. She glorifies Him like a celestial being. She playfully ridicules him. They love each other. Both lives are as One. This is the result of the State of Bliss which is the Third Stage (of Spiritual Development) called Yogam (or Haqeekat).
Sariyai (or Shariat) is comparable to a Young Immature Maiden who smilingly looks at things not seen, asks for things not heard of, assumes that breakables are of high quality, demands the purchase of articles just like the crying baby. This Child Like Behavior is the Sariyai or (Shariat) stage.
The subsequent stage of Kiriyai (or Tareekat) is speaking where it should be spoken, conducting oneself with decorum, virtue and good character, explaining what is what, ascertaining the Certain One, building The House Of "O" (Within Us).
(The House of "O" within) that is adorned with the Hexagonal Lotus Flower (Within Us), watering it with the water that does not bring forth flowers (which is the water of grace that brings forth truth within us), diluting it with the perfume of punuhu (civet), jawwathu, athar, rose-water, katham, kasthuri and sandalwood at the time when the husband enters the home, an event for which the wife waits counting the minutes, and with fragrant thoughts in her heart.
She bathes her Husband in pure qualities (of the 99) and embraces Him (in True Prayer). She drags Him into the House (of Her Heart, and Has Her Way With Him, that is, within the State of True Prayer within us, the "Prayer of the One to the One Who Is" within us, They join to reveal True Man within God within us, as the Resonance of Allahu, as Allah Muhammad, as the "Sweet Taste" within the Fruit of the Tree of Iman-Islam within us).
This is the certitude and the determination of Kiriyai (or Tareekat) which is akin to the bliss of affinity to the Motionless Primal One (within us).
Taking A Deeper Look - into the nature of the Motionless Primal One within us, and how in truth, this is but our "Stillness" again changing places with our "Movement", if we like, that is, if we will only join in partnership with God within us, to let God make us "Still", that is, to make "Us" again into "His Stillness", as He again becomes our "Movement"
[See below, for the clarity that has grown within the heart of this child, living at the "Feet of God" for our age, for the last 30 years, about the following:
1) The House Of "O" Within Us
2) The Hexagonal Lotus Flower Within Us
3) The Question of Our Life
4) The State of True Prayer Within Us
5) The Motionless Primal One Within Us
[The House Of "O" Within Us. Is the House of the Resonance of Allah within us, where the Resonance of Allah can be Perfected within us, by transforming the "Soul Force" within us into the "Bliss of the Life Force" within us, by controlling the "Pleasurable Senses" within us, that is, by "Putting a Cork in the Bottle" that is this elemental body, by using the 11 Weapons of the Qutb within us, which in truth is the "Ship of the Qutb" within us, to close down the two openings below, and re-opening the 7 openings above as the 7 levels of wisdom within us, ruled over by the Three or Triple Flame within us, by "Ya Allah, Ya Rasul, Ya Muhaiyaddeen" within the "Alif, Lam, Mim" within us, which are part of the 28 Mystical Letters within us, as the "Bridge of the nose", the "Mouth and Throat", and the "Brain", and in this way, joining the 3 within us with the 7 within us to become the 10 within us, which on the "outside" of us is see as the 10 Commandments of Moses (peace be upon Him), and within us are experienced as the 10 Mystical Experiences of the Qutb)
[That is, if we like, for the Choice is ours, not God's, that is, the Choice to use our life in this way, or not, that is, as How God completes what God has started within us, a very, very long time ago, which is to reveal God to God within us, for the benefit of all of the Creation of God within us, or at least to truly join in partnership with God within us, to truly start to do this within us, before we die to the flesh in our current state, and get an eternal hell within us of "separation from" God within us, as our eternal reward]
[The Hexagonal Lotus Flower Within Us. Is the Flower of the Innermost Heart within us, of the Qalb within us, which are the 6 Faces of Clarity within us know as Muhammad (blessing and peace be upon Him) within us, with the 5 letter form of Alhamd within us, of Alif, Lam, Mim, Hay, and Dahl within us, which is the "Secret Form of the Truth of Allah" within us, which is the "Essence of the 28 Mystical Letters of Man's Body" within us, which is the "Form of the Suratal Fatihah or the Cause" within us, the "Form of the Mother of Man's Wisdom, or Ummul Qur'an" within us, that naturally blooms within us out of the 4 letter elemental form of our heart within us, of Ahamd, of "Alif, Min, Hay, and Dahl" within us]
[That is, when our mind and desire within us sit down within us, when our wisdom stands up within us, sitting before the "Gift of God" for our age, causing the 5 elemental spirits or ruhanies within us, to return to the state of the 5 Main Angels of God within us, becoming again the first 5 levels of wisdom within us, of the 7 levels of wisdom within us, that is, of "Feeling, Awareness, Intellect, Estimate or Judgment, Subtle Wisdom, Divine Analytic Wisdom, and Divine Luminous Wisdom" within us, and when they again become One within us, that is, when the first five levels of wisdom within us, of the 5 Main Angels of God within us, again become "One" within us, they reveal the Flower and Fragrance of Heaven within us, which is Goodness within us, as the 6th level of wisdom of the Qutbiyyat of God within us, as the One within us, who truly teaches, analyzes, and controls all of the Creation of God within us].
[So "The Question Of Our Life" becomes, My dearest loving brothers and sisters,
"When will Ahamd become Alhamd?,
When will Ahamd become Alhamd?,
When will Ahamd become Alhamd?
[The State of True Prayer Within Us. All of which in truth is the Love Song between the Qutb and Allah within us, which naturally start within us when we come to the state of the "Eligible Virgin" or Tareekat within us, a Love Song which are the 6,666 Verses of the Holy Qur'an within us, which in truth is the "Pearl of Wisdom" within us, a Love Song designed to restore the "Lost Letter" within the 28 letters within us, that is, the letter that we lost to the "Dog of Desire" within us, when at God's direction the Angel Gabriel (peace be upon Him) plucked out the "Spit of satan" from Adam (peace be upon Him) within us, and throw it down within us, which became the "dog" within us, as "Man's Best Friend" within us, and in this way, losing our "Contentment and Gratitude" to the "Dog of Desire" within us]
[But also in this way, through this Love Song between the Qutb and Allah within us, that is, when we truly become the "Eligible Virgin" within us, restoring this "Lost Letter" to Man within us, in its Original Condition within us, that is, as the Letter of Shukur within us, as Contentment and Gratitude, but this time, again connecting our Contentment and Gratitude within us, to God within us, and to what is "Within God" within us, and to "What God is doing" with what is "Within God" within us, which is revealing God to God within us, for the benefit of all of the Creation of God within us, all of which in maturity become the 28th Letter of the 28 Mystical Letters within man's body within us, the letter of Insan-Muhammad within us]
[The Motionless Primal One Within Us, is one of the 4 Aspects of each of Us, all of which is our birthright, our true heritage, the true destiny of our soul, for in truth we are all 4 Aspects, which make up our life, not just what we are currently experiencing on the illusory "outside" of us, as what defines us, as what falsely defines us as a life of "separation and differences" on the "outside" of us, living as if we are "separate from" God within us, as if we are "separate from" each other, and as if we are "separate from" the Creation of God within us, all of which is "Just Not True".
[For in truth we are the following 4 aspects of life within us, all of which interact, move, and generally come forward and recede within us, to produce what we now call "our life", that is, "our presence" on the "outside" of us, but as well, if we like, each of the four stages of spiritual development within us, in this way, telling and bringing to Completion, and Witnessing, "our presence" and "our story" on the "outside" of us, as well as "God's Presence" and "God's Story" within us, as well as Everything Else, including God within us, and "His Story" within us, and True Man's Story" within "God's Story" within us, within the "hereafter" or the "Next World" or akhirah within this earth world or dunya within us, that is, including God within us, and what is "Within God" within us, and "What God is doing" within what is "Within God" within us, that is, if we will only let Him, if we will "Only let God" reveal God to God within us, for the benefit of all of the Creation of God within us, as well as what is currently within us, that is, if we continue to "Not let Him", which are all of the lives of darkness and evil that have grown within us, in our ignorance and in our arrogance about our ignorance, like weeds in "God's Beautiful Flower Garden"
1) The Motionless All Pervading One is the Omniscient Silent One.
2) The world is hypnotic fascination.
3) The mind is agitation, disorganization, and bewilderment.
4) The Word of the Gnanam Guru is a driving force]
[For more on this wisdom point please read the following: Chapter 2, "Search For God", in the beautiful book of wisdom, "The Pearl of Wisdom", all of which explains:
1) The "Many movements in this world", and
2) "How one performs meditation before birth", that is,
3) "How the meritorious acts that One performs before birth determine the
nature of our birth into this world]
[That is, all of which determines whether or not we are born as a man, or something less than a man, or a man among men, or a human being among men]
Continuing With - the description in Chapter 14 of the nature of the state of "True Married Bliss" that follows the state of the "Eligible Virgin", that is, the Third Stage of Spiritual Development called Yogam or Haqeekat that follows the Second Stage of Spiritual Development called Kiriyai or Tareekat
This is the certitude and the determination of Kiriyai (or Tareekat) which is akin to the bliss of affinity to the Motionless Primal One (within us).
Adorned with buds, flowers and ripe fruits, and scented with kasthuri and kumkumappu, the mattress is spread and the bed arranged with love, for the husband to enter this third house (which is "True Prayer" within us, the station of Haqeekat or Yoga within us).
She buys things that cannot be bought and offers things that are not asked for. On her own volition she says,
"You are the Zenith of Natham (Leader) and Vetham (Lord of Vedas). O you are
the One of my dreams, of Heavenly Beauty and Compassionate Eye of Justice,
who will not be captivated by the pleasures of life".
"I will give myself to You without your demand. Ask what belongs to me. See the
unfolding of my luster. See how I come running with my beautiful eyes."
So saying, she comes running quickly, establishing the breath of the "Art of the Sun and the Moon", the one which is beyond the scriptures and the religions.
The exalted Lord of the Vedantha opens His eye of Grace and looks through His Third eye of Yoga (or Haqeekat).
He smiles and enters the House of the Heart and engages the Unique Incomparable One in the play of blissful games, saying,
"O My God, I know none other than You. I have seen none other than You. I
have seen nothing other than You. I saw You with the two breaths joined
together . O Compassionate One, give Me Your Compassion."
Praising Him in many such ways, retaining Him in the Heart, laughing enthusiastically and enraptured in married bliss, the bride unfolds her heart and spreads it like a carpet. She unites with the Husband and together they detect the Mystery (which is the "Oneness of God and True Man" within the Story of God within us).
They play games, sing and dance gaily like a married man and woman in the ocean of bliss enjoying a perfect marriage, and being fulfilled in the ocean of Gnana. Uniting with God , conversing with Him, and existing in bliss in gnanam.
Realize this My Disciple, gems of My eyes.
Gnanam or Maharifat - the Fourth stage of Spiritual Development, akin to transcending all duality, and any reference to marriage, even a "Blissful Marriage, and "Merging With God"
Gnanam (or Maharifat) is the fourth stage (of Spiritual Development), stripped of all that was said earlier, unmindful of everything else and determining God is the One and the Only One, embracing Him within You.
It is using that Luster, to breathe and spread the Light of Luminosity, to make It germinate without root, seed or fruit, to flower without a creeper, to bear fruits without flowers, to close both eyes and destroy and discard all illusory thoughts in the mind, to praise the One and the Only One, to elevate confidence, to make the twenty one thousand six hundred and twenty one (21,621) breaths, to say,
"There is none other than Allah. Only Allah exists"
To breathe with certitude and establish the art of Kalai of the Sun and the Moon, is gnanam, or the Eyes of Grace of the wisdom of the Gnostic eye.
Many call these divisions Shariat, Tariqat, Haqiqat, and Marifat, ultimately leading to the One and Only, meaning the Essence. Be what it may, God's Eye of Grace will open out to Him who trust in the One Incomparable God, and worships Him with certitude, determination, awe and love.
To show the way in these four stages, to step over the ocean of worldly affairs, to show the right and the left, till you reach gnanam, you will need a glorious Guru, who has experienced the blissful state. I say this with emphasis.
You must obey the right Guru.
Seek Him, disciples, gems of My eyes.
Disciple:
Swami, glorious Guru, I understand the four types of worship you have spoken of. I am eager to learn some more matters.
"The End"
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