From tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Sun Jul 21 14:55:25 1996 Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 10:30:40 -0400 (EDT) From: tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Reply-To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com Subject: tariqas-digest V1 #76 tariqas-digest Sunday, 21 July 1996 Volume 01 : Number 076 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Martin Schell Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 12:04:07 +0700 Subject: Enneagon/Enneagram Consider the following diagram: 9 8 1 7 2 6 3 5 4 If I have used the space bar correctly, you should see a rough circle of the numbers 1 thru 9. If you connect the following sequence, 1..4..2..8..5..7..1, you have the numerical basis for the Law of Seven that Tanzen has been discussing. This sequence of six numbers is equal to the repeating fraction 1/7. If you want 2/7, start the sequence at point 2 and follow the same lines: 2..8..5..7..1..4. Start 3/7 at point 4. Points 3 and 6 are considered "shock points" as in Tanzen's essay. If you also connect 9..6..3 in a triangle as the Law of 3, then the entire 9-pointed circle is known as an "enneagram". The enneagram was popularized by Gurdjieff in Europe, but actually is much older. Oscar Ichazo (who has been my teacher for 22 years) has innovated many uses of the enneagram (which he calls "enneagon"). He says it goes back to Pythagoras, and was used by Jafar al-Sadiq. In an interview with Michael Goldberg in LA WEEKLY several years ago, Ichazo said that "Sufis have no interest in the enneagon." This was confirmed by Sheikh Nur al-Jerrahi, a Sufi who was also interviewed. Hence, the motivation for my question: "Was Jafar al-Sadiq a Sufi?" Thanks to One and All. martin ------------------------------ From: Thomas McElwain Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 08:19:48 +0300 (EET DST) Subject: dhikr sCondense of Bektashi-Dawoodiyya dhikr al-Sabt, 20 July 1996, 11 a.m. Al-Fatihah. Seven dhikrs: La ilaaha illallaah, Allah Allah, Huu, Al-Hayy, Al-Haqq, Al-Qahhar, Al-Qayyum. Suratul-Ihklas. Deuteronomy 6:4,5 and Isaiah 6:3 cantillated in Hebrew with whirling: Hear O Prince of God, the Lord our exalted is One Lord: and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Holy, holy, holy, Lord of the stars, the fulness of the whole earth is His glory. Numbers chapters 14 and 15, cantillated in Hebrew with whirling: the story of the twelve spies and refusing to enter the land of Canaan. I created the universe in order to experience illusion. Each thing in the world has its place. Each creature is unique and can do something no other can do as well. The humblest ants build better, relatively speaking, than the humans at their best in the Egyptian pyramids. What is unique to humankind? Not reason, for reason is an abherent trait found in only exceptional individuals, and even then it is almost always used to defend the absurd. I created humans specifically for their nonsense. The ten spies who said it couldn't be done, fell into the nonsense of over-generalizing on the basis of observation. The two who said it could be done, fell into the nonsense of not heeding their senses. Even I God spoke nonsense in saying I would destroy them, as Moses pointed out. Ah, Moses, I created them for the pleasure of their nonsense. Why are you so reasonable, my dear? For this, I cannot refuse your request. I created humankind like the other primates to say Hu Hu Hu Hu Haa, or like the wolf to say Huuuuuuu! Humankind added meaning. Such foolishness. The Taurat was made to be sung, and in almost every verse there is YHuuuuuuuuWH, which the scholars would make out to be YaHWeH, just to avoid the Hu. They wanted to add meaning, and take out the cantillation, but the Talmud forbade them, in one of those stopgap measures that brings glory to Me and destruction on the human race. Instead of singing, they wanted to speak, always with meaning. Eventually they will, in the name of understanding, suppress the great diversity of languages without realizing that the melody was the purpose. Then they will improve on language by speaking in the binary system, like commputers, all made up of zeros and ones. Finally they will notice that zero is nothing and then there will be only One. So their nonsense in the guise of sense comes back to Me. Huuuuuuuu! Dhikr of Psalms cantillated in Hebrew with whirling: Psalm 92:8(9), But You, Lord, are most high forever! Psalm 46:10(11), Be still, and know that I am God! Al-Fatihah. Assalaamu Alaykum Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuhu, Salaamun, ma'a salaamati, Fi amaanillaahi. Ali Haydar. ------------------------------ From: Jinavamsa@aol.com Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 02:48:24 -0400 Subject: Re: Enneagon/Enneagram In a message dated 96-07-21 01:17:29 EDT, you write: > >The enneagram was popularized by Gurdjieff in Europe, but actually >is much older. Oscar Ichazo (who has been my teacher for 22 years) >has innovated many uses of the enneagram (which he calls "enneagon"). >He says it goes back to Pythagoras, and was used by Jafar al-Sadiq. > >In an interview with Michael Goldberg in LA WEEKLY several years ago, >Ichazo said that "Sufis have no interest in the enneagon." This was >confirmed by Sheikh Nur al-Jerrahi, a Sufi who was also interviewed. >Hence, the motivation for my question: "Was Jafar al-Sadiq a Sufi?" > >Thanks to One and All. > >martin > > hello Martin and all, some feel that Ja`far a.s-.Saadiq was an early Sufi, as Pere Nwyia. see esp. p. 41 of A. Schimmel's Mystical Dimensions of Islam and other pages ref'd to in her index. Perhaps one Sufi teacher might hold that the enneagon has no interest to Sufis but others hold that the enneagram does, even if they equate the two terms. would Oscar know the present whereabouts of Claudio Naranjo? (if so, please reply about that to this email address if pref'd) in peace, Jinavamsa ------------------------------ From: Thomas McElwain Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 11:23:47 +0300 (EET DST) Subject: re: the Sheykh and racial slurring Assalaamu Alaykum dear ones! Since you have tuaght me that racial slurring can be positive, I have tried to find examples of it. Of course the prime example is the gross anti-Semitism of the Jewish prophets and the Jesus of the Gospels, who never told us anything he hadn't heard his Yiddische mama say. My father was an old Indian who used to build houses on contract for a living. I worked with him during summers when I was in college. He didn't have to sniff the air or look at the sky, he knew if it was going to rain or if it was going to be a good day to pour concrete. He still watches the weather report just for the pure pleasure of being right when they are wrong. One day I asked him how he knew so much. He said, "Well, whenever I go down to the corner of French town and hire me a nigger laborer for the day, I figure he's bound to be able to teach me something I don't know. I don't let the day end until I find out what it is." On the other hand, he says about me, "I sent my boy to college and he come back ignorant. The Bible says to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Now I'm just a-waitin for him to git old." Love in any color, Ali Haydar ------------------------------ From: Thomas McElwain Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 11:38:33 +0300 (EET DST) Subject: why I get tired of Me God being blamed for all the things people do to themselves and each other. It's a good thing I'm invisible, or they would be wanting to crucify me next... Now what would happen to the universe if I penetrated it with my power? Why if I merely touched the universe with my little finger, the whole thing would fall apart and you with it. So don't go tempting the Almighty to do this or that, becausde I might just take you up on it one of these days. Then where would you be? In kingdom come. No, I cannot penetrate the universe with my infinite power and expect it to go on existing. So I don't. But the world, which cannot sustain my power, can hold my goodness. That is why you find me here in the world without an inkling of my might and majesty, but in all my infinite goodness. "By the Way, where were you God, when we killed six million Jews?" you ask. "Why didn't you save them?" I made myself scarce fast. Do you think I wanted to get gassed? I would have been the first one to get picked up. You've heard of people who are more papist than the Pope? Well, I'm more Jewish than the Jews. Love is spite of everything, Ali Haydar. ------------------------------ From: barzakh@idola.net.id Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 16:23:22 +0700 Subject: Re: THE SOUL'S THREE FACES Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Assalamu'alaykum, Dear Friends, Tanzen wrote: ... >>It is so slow around here thought I'd inject some juice: >> >>"The whole experiment of existence is to unite the various parts of the >> naphsha in willing cooperation with the source--Abwoon." Here, making >> the two one twice, per Jesus' advice in Gospel of Thomas. >> >>THE SOUL'S THREE FACES >> >>The human soul has three faces: nephesh, ruach, and neshemah. >>Nephesh is the animating and animal self--that within which >>scatters and gathers. Ruach is the breathing self, conscious >>in the present moment--a portion of the Breathig Life of All. >>Neshemah is the illuminating self--light of the light of >>guidance from the One. The three are contained, one inside >>the other, although each has its own neighborhood of activity... >> >>The animal self (nephesh) is intimate with the body: It >>nourishes and supports it. It is the "below"--the first >>instant of the arising of all sensation. Having fulfilled its >>purpose and conscious of itself, it becomes a throne, and >>accommodation for the breathing, conscious self--a place for >>ruach to rest--as Isaiah writes (32:15): "when the breath >>pours upon us from the first Source." >> >>When these two selves have fulfilled their purpose and >>prepared themselves, they are ready to receive the >>illuminating self (neshemah), which rests in the >>accommodation created by the breath. The illuminating self >>transcends the normal ways of sensing: it is the fulfillment >>of all sensation. Throne upon throne, vehicle within vehicle, >>one place to rest--one accommodation--rests upon another >>and again upon another. >> >>Studying and experiencing these faces of the soul leads to >>Hokhmah, Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Sense, and in this way the >>Source or Sacred Breath and Soul can bring together >>mysteries that seem separate and divisive. >> >>Nephesh is like the dark light at the bottom of a candle's >>flame, the part close to the wick that you can't see through >>but without which there would be no flame at all. When fully >>lit, the bottom of the flame provides a seat for the white >>light above it (ruach), the only one we usually see. And >>when these two are burning fully, the white light creates a >>foundation for another light--one not completely seen or >>sensed yet present as a mysterious essence--the illuminating >>atmosphere or aura of the light (neshemah). All three reach >>completeness in conscious relationship to and partnership >>with each other. This is the light of the All-embracing. >> >> --Saadi (Neil Douglas-Klotz), "Desert Wisdom" >> pp.153, Harper Collins, (1995) translation >> from "Zohar, Book of Radiant Life" >> >>GLOSSARY >> >>Nephesh -- vital soul, subconscious, instinct, naphsha, >> sufi nafs, low-self >> >>Ruach ---- spirit (breath), conscious, intellect, middle self >> >>Neshemah - inner or super soul, intuition, superconscious, >> High Self, Abwoon, source from Source, collectively >> makes up Spirit of Guidance >> >>Spirit of Guidance, Ruh-al-Quddus, personified as the Archangel >>Gabriel. >> >>"The Spirit of Guidance may be called the heart of God, a heart >> which is the accumulator of all feelings, impressions, thoughts, >> memories, and all knowledge and experience... The heart of God >> is the intelligence and the current of guidance in the heart of >> every person... In the Spirit of Guidance one finds a living >> God active in the heart of every person."--Hazrat Inayat Khan, >> from his "The Divine Breath" >> >>For information about Abwoon Study Circle and Neil's work and >>schedule, check: >> >> http://www.teleport.com/~indup/ >> >>or e-mail Selim Turnor at 73523.3177@compuserve.com >> >>and ask for information. >> >>tanzen >> >> >> > >-- ><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> > > Please permit me to share mine: A few weeks ago I posted a mail to the list about Qur'an's hidden explanation (in Al-Hasyr:22-24) about Physical and Spiritual Evolutions (I got it from my Sheykh), and I think his concept has a very close similarity with Tanzen's sweet 'juice'. :-) Well, after tasting Tanzen's juice, I decided myself to re-explain this evolution concept. Watch out, here goes my psycho-babble ..... :-) The Physical Evolution has God's Attribute of Az-Zahir (~~Visible) in it, while The Spiritual one has Al-Batin (~~Hidden). Az-Zahir and Al-Batin are mentioned in Al-Hasyr:22. PHYSICAL EVOLUTION ================== The physical evolution (from Al-Hasyr:23) has four phases: Phase 1 - Earth element -> Inorganic => has God's Attributes of Al-Malik(~~Potential) and Al-Quddus(~~Pure), -> given Water element, becomes: Phase 2 - Vegetable => has God's Attributes of As-Salam(~~Grow) and Al-Mu'min(~~Multiply) -> given Air element, becomes: Phase 3 - Animal => has God's Attributes of Al-Muhaymin(~~Protect) and Al-Aziz(~~Conquer) -> given Fire element, becomes: Phase 4 - Human => has God's Attributes of Al-Jabbar(~~Think) and Al-Muttakabir(~~Taste) which is the peak of Physical evolution. It stops here. At this phase: - -> we find ourselves as part of Nature, - -> we follow Nature's phenomenon and work under its influence. - -> we use our highest instinct to admire Nature's beauty of shapes and colors, try to copy Nature by making paintings and statues, creating songs and dances. # This is the lower stage of human soul which I think is equal to NEPHESH (vital soul, subconscious, instinct, naphsha, nafs, low-self). NOTE: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire come from God's Attribute of Ar-Rahman (~~Grace), so that those in the lower phase can "leap" to the upper phase in "The Universe Journey to God". And it is God's Love (~~Mercy~~Ar-Rahim) which pulled all of us back to Him again. Ar-Rahman & Ar-Rahim are also mentioned in Al-Hasyr:22. All souls in the Physical Evolution are in the Realm of Phenomenon (Ayah). Also known as The Realm of Works (Af'al). SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION =================== After the peak of Nature's Physical Evolution, God gives Nature (in this case: human) a way in "The Journey Back" via Spiritual Evolution, which has three phases (from Al-Hasyr 24): Phase 1 - the soul in The Realm of Knowledge (Ilm) - -------- Also known as The Realm of Names (Asma). At this phase: - -> we are face-to-face with Nature, - -> we are exploiting Nature's resources (incl. other human) for our benefits, invent and enhance our tools, using our mind to improve science and technology, and become more intelect, - -> we become constructive, - -> we know God as The Supplier of our needs -> Allah is He (Huwa), - -> the soul has God's Attribute of Al-Kholiq (~~Create~~Invent) # This is the middle stage of human soul which I think is equal to RUACH (spirit/breath, conscious, intellect, middle self). # I also think that human soul in this stage is dominated by The Active Force of Tanzen's Rays of Creation. Phase 2 - the soul in The Realm of Gnosis (Ma'rifah) - -------- Also known as The Realm of Character (Sifat). At this phase: - -> we find Nature(and Universe) inside ourselves, - -> we become one with Nature, trying to preserve it, give all our belongings to others, always purifying our hearts, - -> we become integrative, - -> we know God as The Master of our hearts -> Allah is I (Ana), - -> the soul has God's Attribute of Al-Bari (Sorry, forgot the English translation, my Qur'an and Dictionary is not with me right now). # This is the upper stage of human soul which I think is equal to NESHEMAH. (inner or super soul, intuition, superconscious, High Self, Abwoon, source from Source, collectively makes up Spirit of Guidance). # I also think that human soul in this stage is dominated by The Passive Force of Tanzen's Rays of Creation. Phase 3 - the soul in The Realm of Hikmah (English?) - -------- Also known as The Realm of Essence (Zat). At this phase: - -> we see Nature no more, only Allah (God), - -> we have knowledge directly from God, not following our mind or heart anymore but have Wisdom from God, See with His Eyes, Hear with His Ears, Work with His Hands, Walk with His Feet, - -> we become creative, - -> we know God as our Partner in Dialogue -> Allah is You (Anta), - -> the soul has God's Attribute of Al-Mushawwir (Sorry, dunno the English). # This is the top stage of human soul which I think is equal to HOKHMAH (Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Sense). # I also think that human soul in this stage is dominated by The Neutralizing Force of Tanzen's Rays of Creation. GLOSSARY ======== There are four stages of human: (1) we are inside nature: ->Phenomenon (Ayah) -> Instinct -> Sensitive -> Esthetic ->No spiritual evolution yet (Taqlid) (2) we are facing nature: ->Knowledge (Ilm) -> Intelectuality -> Constructive -> Logic ->Allah is He (Islam) (3) nature inside us: ->Gnosis (Ma'rifah) -> Intuition -> Integrative -> Ethic ->Allah is I (Iman) (4) no nature, only Allah : -> ? (Hikmah) -> Wisdom -> Creative -> Essence/Truth ->Allah is You (Ihsan) Synthesis of Intelectuality and Intuition is Wisdom. Synthesis of Knowledge(Ilm) and Gnosis(Ma'rifah) is Hikmah. Synthesis of The Passive and The Active Force is The Neutralizing Force. Synthesis of God's Attribute of Al-Jalal (Mighty) and Al-Jamal (Beauty) is Al-Kamal (Perfect). God creates all of His creations in pair. (Qur'an verse?) So we are either in the state of Al-Jalal or Al-Jamal. Al-Jalal is the counterpart of Al-Jamal. The right interaction which can only occurs in the situation of Sakinah (Peace?), will yields a situation of Mawaddah(English?), which in the end spreads Rahmah (Blessings) to the surrounding. - -------------------------- Al-Jalal Al-Jamal - -------------------------- sky earth rich poor civilized primitive smart dumb strong weak superpower developing countries countries - --------------------------- My Sheykh gave a simple example to understand this concept: Take a light bulb. Imagine the positive element as Al-Jalal and the negative element as Al-Jamal, the vaccumness of air as the condition of Sakinah (Peace?), and the filament as the right method of interaction, will yields light which is the condition of Mawaddah (English?), and help us do our work which is called Rahmah (Blessings?). The Islamic ritual practices are also presented hierarchialy by each stage mentioned before: (1) Sholat (Daily Prayers) transendence: Ikhlas - Find ourselves inside nature. emanence: Shiddiq - Find nature inside us. (2) Zakat (Donation) transendence: Al-Birr - Find ourselves inside community. emanence: Amanah - Find community inside us. (3) Shaum (Fasting) transendence: Taqwa - Find ourselves inside God's Will. emanence: Tabligh - Find God's Will inside us. (4) Hajj transendence: Tawakkal - Find ourselves inside God's Essence. emanence: Fathonah - Find God's Essence inside us. This does not mean (for example) if we reach stage (2) we don't have to fast, but rather the wisdom of each ritual practice can be found/experienced deeply at certain stage. Perfect and continous performance of each rituals may also be the key (still with God's Grace) for us to "leap" from the lower to upper stage. Each stage has character of: (1) Water: no water, no life -> it's the basic SOURCE of development (2) Milk: the best nutrition to grow babies -> creates a correct SITUATION for development (3) Wine: give spirit -> accelerates the PROCESS of development (4) Honey: created by a very well organized team of bees -> creates a perfect STRUCTURE of development Whew, there are a lot more to say but I think this is enough for now. This concept is open for all critics, comments, and opinions, so that we may have a good dialogue in finding the Truth. Comments on Raqib's Chayah: I think it is the stage of Love (Maqam al-Mahabah?), a stage outside another hierarchial stages/stations (Maqam). Please note that there are other hierarchial stages which are different from those mentioned above. Comments on Raqib's Yechidah: I think it's the Union with Allah which prophet Muhammad reached during his Mi'raj journey, but God sent him back to earth so that he can call all human to reach that stage. Last but not least, please forgive my mispellings and poor vocabulary. :-\ Tanzen, more juice please...? Love and love and love and love to all. Wassalamu'alaykum, your babbling brother, Michael Roland ------------------------------ From: Thomas McElwain Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 12:24:48 +0300 (EET DST) Subject: al-sheikh again Dear All, Assalamu 'alaykum bismillaahi ar-Rahmaani ar-Rahiimi Kaffea Lalla has been deceiving us! She pretends to bare her heart and soul, but she is hiding the greatest sheikh of the century right in her own home. She is a very friendly dog named Amy. I have just been initiated at Amy's hand, and have spin into new orbits of Haqiqa. Now I know where Kaffea gets it! Hey! Stop that! Do you think you are better than a dog, just because you say more than Huuuuuu? Love to All (and sundry), Ali Haydar ------------------------------ From: Thomas McElwain Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 12:28:15 +0300 (EET DST) Subject: final solution Here is my simple formula to becoming God. Do you really want to enter the gate of Haqiqa? If the answer is yes, do as follows: Turn into an electron as a step in the right direction. Then turn into a sub-electron particle. So far, so go. Now, whirl, dervish, whirl. When you are going so fast that you are everywhere at once, then you will be God. You will also be on the plane that crashed. Wrath and mercy, Ali Haydar. ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 05:26:01 -0700 Subject: Rumi's I AM NOT Plus I AM NOT Muslims! What can I do? I have lost my identity! I am not a Christian, Jew, pagan, or Muslim. I am neither an Easterner nor a Westerner, neither a land nor a sea person. Nature can't fully account for me, nor can the whirling cosmos. I don't exclusively belong to earth, water, fire, or air. I am not of the invisible-ineffable, nor of the dust-- I am not a procees or a being. I am not of this world or the next, and deserve neither eternal reware nor eternal punishment. I am not of Adam or Eve, not of the original Garden nor the final one. My home has no address; my tracks leave no trace. I am neither body nor soul--What can I say? I belong to the Self of the Beloved. I have laid all "twos" aside: this world and that world are one. I search for One, I recognize One, I see One clearly, and I call the name of the One. That unnameable One, the breath of the breath, is the first and last, the outside and the inside. I identify no one except by "O That... O This!" I am drunk on the cup of Love: here-now and everywhere-all-time have vanished. I can't handle any business except celebration. If I spend an instant without you, that instant makes my whole life seem worthless. If I can win one moment with you, I will crush both worlds under my feet as I dance in joy forever. My Beloved Shams-i-Tabriz, I am living permanently intoxicated: I have no more stories to tell except ones about drunks and parties. --Jelaluddin Rumi, "The Diwan of Shams-i-Tabriz based on literal translation of number 31 in "Selected Poems", R.A. Nicholson (1898, pp.124-127), by Saadi Shakur Chisti (Neil Douglas-Klotz), in "Desert Wisdom", Harper Collins: New York (1995) I AND YOU "I" and "you" focus light like decorative holes cut in a lamp shade. But there is only One Light "I" and "you" throw a thin veil between heaven and earth. Lift the veil and all creeds and theologies disappear. When "I" and "you" vanish, how can I tell whether I am in a mosque, a synagogue, a church, or an observatory? --Mahmud Shabistari, "The Secret Rose Garden", Saadi translation, from "Desert Wisdom" "I've laid all twos aside," tanzen ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 06:04:28 -0700 Subject: Re: final solution Thomas McElwain wrote: > > Here is my simple formula to becoming God. Do you really want to enter the > gate of Haqiqa? If the answer is yes, do as follows: > Turn into an electron as a step in the right direction. > Then turn into a sub-electron particle. So far, so go. > Now, whirl, dervish, whirl. > When you are going so fast that you are everywhere at once, then you will be > God. > You will also be on the plane that crashed. > Wrath and mercy, > Ali Haydar. O Teacher, Lord of my Lord, let it be declared "We are back to normal!" love, harmony, and beauty, down these precious threads, tanzen ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 06:55:53 +0100 Subject: Amy Amy, my Beloved friend, female dog puts her paw right her and says she loves the friends of Lalla, and her friends, and Allah is Allah! ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Sun, 21 Jul 1996 07:22:54 -0700 Subject: Re: THE SOUL'S THREE FACES Ivan Ickovits wrote: Hello, Raqib! I do believe your two "levels" are more like states or even stations of being achieved through a rising consciousness. The three "faces" of soul are parts of being of which we become conscious as we evolve. They are not realms but substance with which we live momemt-by-moment. One can have a direct relationship with nephesh and neshamah through ruach. I call my nephesh "Bud" and neshamah "Lord Ralph". Such knowledge, such experience, is an aspect of making the "two one" twice. Ruach, through will, makes friends with closest neighbor, nephesh... when this is achieved, the two make friends with neshamah. Then using your kabbala terms, chayah and yechidah becomes a reality, but in varying degrees depending on desire, purpose. Sufis grade the nephesh into several levels and each are readily apparent to the devotee. The quality of the nephesh varies as a person's consciousness varies... but at any time, all the parts (faces) are there, waiting to be understood, waiting for the "bigger picture" to be seen. Such is the experiment: God getting to know Self through self, willing coordination of the whole nephesh (nafs) by the ruach (self) and then joining the neshamah... each neshamah in union with the neshamah of the universe (spirit of guidance). This could be hard saying, "Neshamah is that element directly responsible for our being here at this time and place." Such is our Lord, my Lord Ralph. When I give thanks, I thank each part starting with Bud (low-self), Ralph (High Self), then Spirit of Guidance, powers of angels for their continued assistance, then Allah (The Beloved, The All, Brahman Unmanifest). Nothing is taken for granted, nothing comes from habit, instinct, in the thanking, all coming from ruach (middle self, term used by Kahunas coming out of Egypt, /nine souls/, from Atlantis). BTW, clearly, at least to me, Jesus' Father in heaven is the High Self or neshamah... such is not God (Allah), and Jesus let us know this when he is reported to have said, "Don't call me good, only God is good." When he said, "I and my father are one," he meant he had made the two one twice... nephesh, ruach, and neshamah working in harmony... so simple, once we see. In my Father's house are many mansions." - many levels of consciousness in our house of being. Our house, the separated "you", is the immediate responsibility of neshamah, our individual maker, that which our conscious mind (ruach) evolves into. Allah, God, is all and in all, the whole, infinite... there is nothing that is not Allah. Peace and love: pray that our truth becomes our good, tanzen > In classical kabbalistic teachings there are two more levels of the soul > above the three mentioned. Chayya is next going up. Then Yechidah. While > the first three levels of nephesh, ruach, and neshamah are achievable by > some human effort (always with the grace of the beloved), the experience > of the last two are by divine grace directly and are outside the scope > of human effort. It is a redo of the statement I will favor whom I will > favor, even though the person is not worthy. That is to say, Divine > action is directed according to a set of rules and values that are not > apparent or graspable by human intellect or heart. > > Chayah is in the domain of direct experience and its isness is > non-verbal, When we go beyond reason to the essential longing and > yearning of the spark for the flame, where living is its own truth, that > is Chayah. Chayah as the name implies (from Chay - life), is the life > element - the will to live. > > Yechidah is in the realm of intuition, It is essentially identical with > th Divine. As the name implies It is the Monad -- undifferentiated > unity -- a singularly unique holographic particle of God. There is no > distance, no abyss separating the divine spark Yechida from the One > infinite being. > Raqib [...] > >GLOSSARY > > > >Nephesh -- vital soul, subconscious, instinct, naphsha, > > sufi nafs, low-self > > > >Ruach ---- spirit (breath), conscious, intellect, middle self > > > >Neshemah - inner or super soul, intuition, superconscious, > > High Self, Abwoon, source from Source, collectively > > makes up Spirit of Guidance > > > >Spirit of Guidance, Ruh-al-Quddus, personified as the Archangel > >Gabriel. > > > >"The Spirit of Guidance may be called the heart of God, a heart > > which is the accumulator of all feelings, impressions, thoughts, > > memories, and all knowledge and experience... The heart of God > > is the intelligence and the current of guidance in the heart of > > every person... In the Spirit of Guidance one finds a living > > God active in the heart of every person."--Hazrat Inayat Khan, > > from his "The Divine Breath" ------------------------------ End of tariqas-digest V1 #76 ****************************