Seven Stations of the Self

I just want to point you in the direction of this article which amazed me by its simplicity. Articles by sufi sheikhs are usually beyond comprehension. Either my understanding has grown or this article is really simple to understand.

You will find the entire article by Sheikh Fadhlullah Haeri

HERE

The 7 levels of the self are

Commanding (Amarah)
Blaming
Creative
Secure
Contented
Pleasing or Harmonious
Perfect ( Insanul Kamil

I found what he said about each very interesting but what caught my eye was this:

The Creative (or Inspired) Self

The third level of nafs is the creative and tolerant nafs. It is an evolved self but not sufficiently for it to be secure. When we are in an artistic or creative mood, we do not have many fears or anxieties and are open to inspiration. From the Sufic viewpoint, this pleasant self is in danger because its very open-mindedness threatens the laws of correct behavior to which creation is subject.

It is the open-minded self that says all right to everything and that anything goes. Like mercury on a table, this self jumps in every direction. It is the 'why not?' attitude. It is like a man of seventy who, having never skied in his life, suddenly decides he would like to try it. He will probably topple over and spend months in hospital recuperating from his injuries. Although the inspired self may find itself in trouble, it can also foster hope because of its flexibility. Most people who embark on a spiritual path start from this level of tolerance and liberalism because they are willing to see their own folly.

It explains to me why I find people who are not rigid and who are open and questioning far more ready to embark on the spiritual path and those who are closed minded and ready to reject to be really fixed on a solid materialism no matter how holy they thought they were.Especially when they equate their holiness with a I am holier than thou......

It also explains my *liberal * phase hohoho..........

Here is a part we can all relate to:

If we are content with every circumstance and situation that occurs in our lives, we will realize, spontaneously rather than analytically, the complexity of precision and perfection that causes each situation to occur. We may not like what we see; we may not expect it; but we will see the perfect truth in it.

We may, for example, have had certain expectations about our child's ability or performance. In the event that he has not behaved as expected, we are disappointed. Once we see that we overestimated the child's maturity, our understanding of our miscalculations will bring about knowledge and contentment. This state of contentment and understanding will not prevent us from acting positively to rectify a situation, or from assessing the possibilities for action from a balanced standpoint.

Arabic is a unique language because the root words usually have an entry
that is one page long , with the different meanings it has . This is what makes reading the Quran and fully understanding all the nuances almost an impossibility unless one is gifted with insight and a knowledge ot the Arabic . Here is another part of what the Sheikh wrote.

The Arabic headgear is called 'aqqal. It is actually one cord twisted into a double circle and put on the head. As an item of dress, it is a functional device used to secure a piece of material that shades the head from the sun, but its other role is to tether  the leg of a camel, so the beast sits down and behaves itself.
The origin of 'aqqal is the word that means 'to be tethered'; if we are tethered it is by the faculty of reason. This faculty of reason is within us all if we stop the mind and allow ourselves to be quieted. It is for this reason that those of us who are spiritually inclined want to reflect. We want to stop the so-called mind and go wandering off. Access to Reality begins when the process ofcontentment, in a positive dynamic sense, leads to the contented self. I am content; hence I see more clearly. I see the despot within me. I see the blameworthy and the inspired within me, and I see the highest potential within me. I see freedom and timelessness within me.