Seedbed of Light (continuation page 59)
“Reflecting on the reality that the Owner of this world is the All-Preserving. He misses nothing, and records and preserved everything in a manifest book. The balance, order, harmony, and measure seen in the world are but a few lines of this book.”
Manifest book is really what we observe as normal human beings i.e. the universe. This manifest book is not only what we see outwardly such as order, harmony…
Comment: So we are saying that the manifest book contains not only what we extract from the universe but more than that.
As far as we are concerned, the meanings we extract from this world, what we see outwardly is only a few lines. We see some characteristics in the universe such as order, harmony…as the author mentioned. Example: Do you see what is preserved in the DNA of the cells? After it is disclosed, then you see what was in it just as we have to wait for about 4-5 years to see what was in the seed of a particular tree and all the meanings they carried. The meanings are also preserved in this world but we do not see the meanings in physical form. As human beings, we have to reason and find out the meanings. We only discover one of a thousand possible meanings that this universe refers to and we interpret the meaning based on how much we are aware of them.
How much are we aware of the meanings which are conveyed to us in creation?
- Almost none. Please be honest with yourself!
But intellectually we know that there are endless meanings referring to the qualities of the Creator but we do not utilize them or neglect to reflect on them in our practical daily lives. Example: Look at a person, what do you see? I see shape, harmony, balance and measurement. How about his/her human qualities, do you see those? You do not know what kinds of feelings or emotions s/he has.
Everyone and everything reflects endless meanings. How much of the human qualities do we discover?
- Not even a fraction!
“Those who complete their life and therefore their duties and depart from the visible, material world carry their entire life on preserved tablets and on their deeds preserved in their results. The Creator keeps them in various “mirrors” in the visible and unseen worlds. It is as if many things have been charged with recording whatever we do, how we behave towards the living and non-living entities with which we have some relation.”
NOTE: Mostly in this author’s writing and in the Quran, “and” refers to “that is” or “while”.
Comment: What is “preserved tablet” referring to?
The purpose of the last phrase in the above text aims at teaching us something. First the author is drawing our attention to the fact that one’s entire life is preserved in the fruit with a seed in it. When it comes to human beings, everything is a preparation of the mind, and since our physical side is preserved in the seed, what about our human side, feelings, understanding, reflections, emotional side, human qualities…do you think they won’t be preserved? We should not externalize the conclusions that we extract from creation. The life story of the tree is preserved in the seed of its fruits and what does it have to do with me? Human beings are also preserved in their seeds, called “genetics”. How about human qualities, aren’t they going to be preserved? All the signs here say that “look, your qualities will be preserved.” What you thought, what you felt, concluded…all are being preserved.
Comments: For the trees, the fruits are the preserved results of their qualities. For human beings, our qualities must also be preserved.
These are the signs to teach me that my feelings, emotions… must also be preserved. But then you ask for what? Why are they preserved? If I am going to die and disappear from existence, what is the point of preserving then? There is nothing meaningless in the universe. Your feelings, understandings and attitudes…all are preserved and if it goes to nothingness, then it contradicts what we are seeing here. We have to be convinced that this creation, my attitude, my feelings, my thoughts and however I develop my human qualities must be for a purpose. When we learn something, we know that it is preserved. Why? Because we are going to use it. If we are not going to benefit from what we learn, why do we learn it and why is it preserved? Example: If I developed some of my skills today and if I am not going to utilize it tomorrow, what is it good for? These are all very obvious signs for us to understand that definitely they are going to be used, but for what? We cannot use the word “judgment day” that we will be taken into account. Yes, that is what the scripture says and let me see if I can confirm that. Everything is preserved in the physical side in this world. See the example manifested in the universe. Why do we think that the life story of the whole tree is preserved in one seed? Do you think the seed is going to be taken into account? Because from the seed it becomes into another embodiment of what it contains (tree). Seed may look like nothing materially but what is recorded in it is going to be used in another form of tree and grow.
Let us come to our human reality. My feelings, qualities, understanding, attitudes must be preserved for what? Not only for “judgement day” which will take place after I die, but my humanity is going to grow into a tree right now during my life on earth. This tree is not going to be my body but will be according to the quality of my developments and improvements of my human side. The improvements of the human side are displayed in this world in the form of talent and knowledge. When it is preserved, it must be displayed in the form of my exact being, according to the capacity of the talents that I have developed. That is why it must need another type of creation to preserve the qualities that I have developed here. My human side needs another creation with another body which enables it to experience the result of its developed form. I learned, I experienced something and it is in my feelings only. I do not really physically experience it. Example: My Creator must be Absolute. What I feel here is a sense of security in my being. Appearance wise, my body may be the same as compared to a person who never developed his human qualities. Based on how I utilized my senses here, there must be another type of creation where I can physically experience what I do here. Here, that creation is hidden in the form of meaning.
Apart from our feelings and conclusions, we do not really experience physically the abilities that we developed here. Don’t you think that it would be fair if these feelings are physically also practiced and given life in new form?
Comment: What do you mean by feelings?
The human side, i.e. how much have I developed my human qualities, they are secretly within me but I am not physically experiencing them here in this world.
Comment: Let us take an example to understand better. I enjoy a fruit and I acknowledge the Merciful One or this fruit is pointing to its Source. I see Mercy in it. Is that one feeling?
Yes, it is. Another person who denies his human side claiming that things just happened to be out of the blues and that the fruit s/he is eating is just a natural thing is also eating the same fruit as you are but physically none of your feelings are demonstrated although the seed is there. That is, the quality of the seed is there but physically it is not demonstrated here. You are experiencing the meaning of things here within yourself. But the new creation must be such that you physically experience your conclusions as well. Example: when you ate the fruit, you know that the Source of the fruit must be an Absolutely Compassionate and Merciful One. Another person says that I ate the fruit and it is gone, that is how it is. Since you realized that the Source of the fruit is Absolute, wouldn’t you like that what you feel remains with you, in other words, the existence of the fruit physically remains? So, as you eat it, it does not go into annihilation as compared to the person who eats it as merely a fruit, which is Hell because there is no Eternal enjoyment (since they did not develop their human qualities this way and so the spirit has not been ready to experience such physically).
- Paradise is an awareness of eating the fruit in a way that it never finishes physically and the enjoyment never ends.
Comment: I see what is going on. Human beings want things to be permanent and our experiences are transient and what we make out of these experiences because there is a need for wanting these experiences to last forever, just as in the fruit example.
It is not only a need but also a confirmation that I prepared myself for. Example: two people went to class and one of them paid attention to the Professor and the other did not. Their physical experiences are the same i.e. sitting in the classroom and listening to the Professor. However, as far as the learning goes and the human side is concerned, one of them has registered the meaning of what things point to and the other one has not. Wouldn’t it be fair for the one who registers meaning to also physically experience it? Example: Do you believe in the Creator being the wise, just and compassionate One? Not in the form of knowledge but are you convinced about it? (Justice is not physically manifested in this world. Mercy is physically manifested here but on a temporary base and you know that it should not be temporary.) Why don’t you expect that this Creator is going to create a new type of world where Mercy will be physically permanent? It must! That is, everything must be given to us to the level of education of our human side and preparation of our soul, accordingly we will be living in a physical world in the hereafter that is resurrection.
Everything is according to what we intellectually feel. Example: I may feel that my Creator is a Just One but I am subject to an injustice. But my Creator is Just so why am I physically experiencing injustice? You say it should not be? Why wouldn’t you experience justice physically as well? You like justice and the feeling is there.
The physical manifestation of the qualities included or preserved in the seed is demonstrated in a physical form here temporarily. When the seed grows into a tree, what you see it what was registered in the seed physically. The same experience should be for human beings as well i.e. in this world I do not experience in my physical life what I have concluded or I do not experience the tree. These examples in the world are given to us that yes, we will physically be experiencing the way we train our souls here. The example of it in the universe is everywhere. The scripture also exactly gives the same example (71: 17) that we see in the universe. We will be given a physical form where we will physically experience however we developed, educated or trained our human side. That is, which kind of talents or abilities we have developed in this world.
- Nothing will be missing or will be wasted.
Everything is meaningful under the witnessing of what we see in this world and the message the Creator brings to us in verbal form, they all confirm each other. That is why the Quran says that there should be no doubt about any matter related to belief (la raiba fih) because you can check it with the creation. But if you say that I do not know, it means that you have not done your research or assignment. That is what we are doing here, training and educated our souls.
Comment: Just got a drop from what was said. Basically, when you acknowledge any feeling which is pointing to the Source (if it is trained because not every feeling is acknowledged, for example, some people use their feelings but they do not acknowledge what they refer to and they turn blind to it), then you conclude that there must be a kind of creation where these feelings must be created in physical form, otherwise to preserve it would be pointless and it would contradict what I am experiencing in this world.
We have to make sure that whatever I develop with my feelings/conclusions and gain talent/ability, I will be practicing it in the new creation. There must be a new kind of creation and this creation should provide me with an opportunity to experience these feeling in physical form. These conclusions/feelings within me are signs that they must be met. There is no reason to deny that because here we see signs that a seed grows into a tree in physical form. If what is preserved in the seed is not going to be blossomed into a tree, then why do you think it is preserved? Physical resurrection is necessary for human side otherwise it is pointless to preserve the seed if the seed was not going to grow into a tree.
Religious language that we are accustomed to is vague. Example: your imaan (belief) is not going to be wasted, don’t worry about it. What is my imaan? We have to make it real, without hiding the thought behind the religious terminology. At the end when the religious terminology comes, then you confirm it without imitating. But if you are repeating a word borrowed from religious terminology, you realize that you repeat it without preparing your mind. Not acknowledging means not educating the soul. If the seed had a choice, it says that I will grow into a tree; accordingly it will prepare and develop. This cannot be preserved in me for nothing so it must be used. How? Grow into a physical form. The other seed does not deserve anything of what is preserved in it. That is justice. What I learn in class, accordingly my talent develops. What I miss, I deserve what I get.
Comment: We are talking about choices, either you cultivate the seed and it grows into a tree.
No, we are saying that the seed gets what it deserves. That is, the seed that says that I am going to grow into a tree deserves to be grown into a tree. The other one says that I am just going to rot here does not deserve anything. The seed had a choice and it rejected the wisdom in the preservation of these qualities in itself. Like a student goes to class and the Professor is teaching something and says what I am going to do if I learn or not because it is for nothing. I will get out of class and that knowledge will not be used for anything. What does s/he deserve? A failing grade. But if someone says that I am going to use it after I get out of class, then s/he is going to develop a talent/knowledge in it, the other one gets nothing because s/he is not appreciating the event where the Professor is teaching. The student who takes things lightly as soon as s/he got out of class does not develop much knowledge of the subject matter. That is the wisdom in creation. (Please remember that human beings have freewill to develop the seed. The seed does not have freewill.)
Comment: That totally make sense, in other words if someone is in compliance with their human nature, which necessitates to take the choice of developing your potentialities then that becomes the tree of Paradise as opposed to the one not developing his potentialities, there is still a tree for such kind of attitude.
Yes, but that tree is a void one, does not bring any benefit. That is, the fruit of such a tree (hell) causes you more hunger than satisfaction. That is the consequence.
Everyone goes to school and eventually graduate. The ones who have worked on their skills apply them in their profession while the other who has no skill cannot do anything or apply any of his learning. That is hell. Since the one who denied his human qualities, does not get any benefit from it. Physically, both individuals have a body and all the tools but post-graduation, for the denier, the body gives no benefit although his human senses still feel what they are missing because s/he has not learned anything and denied what has been taught in the universe.
Comment: The way I train my being here in this physical life, I am given a new form accordingly to apply what I have learned here.
It must be so, otherwise we would deny the purpose of existence of this world.
Comment: If I am aware or conscious of the existence that is happening here and now in this moment that everything is given by my Maker for the sole purpose of education, then this consciousness is what flows into “akhira” or concept of Eternity.
What is akhira (Hereafter)?
Comment: The result of my existence here. So, the deed right now is the result of my existence right now and if I am aware of the source of this existence right now then the result of this moment is flowing or connecting to this tree that is developing here and now into akhira or eternal existence.
We have to avoid using religious terminology. We need to develop a terminology that convinces us without using previously learned but not digested religious concepts. While reasoning, the religious concepts block the way of thinking, it is very dangerous! Use your own language to explain and then when you hear the word “akhira” in the scripture, you say that this is what I understood. The religious terminology is not to be exploited but confirmed. We have to prepare ourselves to confirm the religious terminology. Use it and get away from it. While reasoning, use your own language and it should make sense to you without hiding behind religious terminology. If I say I do not believe in “akhira,” you will have nothing to say other than “Ohh! This person is not a Muslim”. Religious terminology is used by people who are not convinced about the truthfulness of the content of these terminologies. That is why you cannot express it because you are not convinced about it in this world. We are reasoning here. Hence, we have to develop our own conclusions and be convinced about them.
Comment: The seed needs some factors such as water, soil… to become a tree. Similarly, my human qualities need some factors to become a tree.
When you conclude something after eating a fruit, you do not see your conclusion manifested physically but there must be another type of creation where that manifestation will be physically and practically practiced.
Comment: The seed needs assistance to become a tree and in this world, I need to train my human qualities so it becomes a tree. Does it physically become a tree? No. Therefore, my qualities must need something to assist them to grow into a physical tree.
Who can assist you? Whoever gives existence to this world must give existence to another type of creation where I can physically practice what I have concluded. I am sure that the One who creates this world and displays the characteristics or what I am experiencing here (the type of creation hinting that there must be another type of creation), It must do it. Do we need any means for the existence of this universe or do we just find it? It is given to us and hence the new type of creation can also be found as it is given. It means that whoever created me in this world must create me how I deserve to be treated. It is the wisdom. There is no way to doubt it or deny it.
Comment: To answer the question of what can assist me, well, here, we are given our human qualities. Physically, when we seed a tree growing into a tree, we follow the order, till the soil, water…but in terms of my human qualities what am I given to cultivate or develop them? So, I think that one has to utilize themselves to work on their human qualities to enhance them so they grow into a tree which is related to the acknowledgment process. We are using all our tools here to reason and come to a conclusion.
“Their deeds preserved in their results”, what does the author mean by deeds?
The outcome of education or my understanding i.e. my perception of existence, my attitude towards existence is my deed. We have to see ourselves as students in this universe/school. What is the deed side of being a student? Our conclusions and what I have learned from being in the class. Being in the class or not being in the class is not important because everyone is in the class and no one can get out of it. The important thing is what you learned and how you developed your human qualities. Unfortunately, deeds are understood as independent entity from our learning. Example: being in attendance and sit in the class as a student means nothing. What you have learned as outcome of going to the class is “deed”. We do everything here whether we believe or not. Example: Grape is the act of Absolutely Merciful One. As far as the activity is concerned, everyone is doing the same thing (i.e. eating the grape) but the deed (outcome) is different. This concept of “deed” is very much misunderstood. People mostly think that eating the grape is a deed since action wise everything is the same. When “deed” (a’maal) is understood as performing actions only, then deed gets reduced to rituals such as prayers and fasting only rather than “LEARNING,” educating our human senses with the knowledge of their Creator. Hence, the differentiation of “good deeds” as drinking juice or water and “bad deeds” as drinking alcohol takes place. What a horrible understanding! What about your human side? While drinking your water, which kind of human qualities are being educated through this physical action? A person who reduces everything to natural events drink water as well. The purpose of thirst, quenching the thirst and existence of water is to teach you that the Source is giving you this gift to acknowledge that He is the Merciful One. Acknowledge the Source of existence of the water! The physical action is only a fraction of what the Quran means. Yes, according to the teachings of the Quran, we should not drink alcohol but understanding “good deeds” only in these terms contradicts the purpose of the teachings of the Quran. The purpose of the teachings of the Quran is that when you attend the class, you have to learn what the Author of the universe is teaching you. Whether it is alcohol or water, what does it represent? This narrow-minded attitude makes one understand the teachings of the Quran under permissible and non-permissible acts only. There is no denying that the acts are there but the Quran’s aim is not to make you drink water rather than alcohol. Yes, you drank water all your life but you did not acknowledge water to be the manifested form of Mercy in a material form, then you lost the opportunity. Quran’s purpose cannot be to make people drink water rather than alcohol, it is too simplistic! All the rest of the teachings then goes into the trash can because the purpose of the Quran is to make you realize all that is created. Another example, to eat bacon is a “bad deed”. The main teachings of the Quran are that everything glorifies God.
- The ultimate aim of the Quran by creating the sheep, pig or another creation is to teach us that the Creator of these beings possess the qualities of “createdness”.
- The purpose of the Quran is to demonstrate the qualities of the Creator in either a sheep or a pig.
- Sheep and pig are both means demonstrating the qualities of the Creator.
A fraction of a portion of the teachings is geared towards acknowledging the physical aspect of practically applying this concept of “createdness” and acknowledging the will of the Creator by not eating “bacon” but eating “sheep”.
- Deeds= reflections, conclusions, confirming and submitting to what you have concluded (which is being consistent within yourself) through observing the creation. That is Muslim!
Muslim means “someone who submits to the reality that they are experiencing in this world and their human qualities acknowledge these realities and they are consistent with these realities. Be consistent with your humanity is what the Quran teaches and at the end apply the action wise acknowledgment of the will of the Creator.
How do we understand here that everything is kept in the “unseen side”?
The meanings we get from objects/events in the universe. When you get the meaning, it is in you. If I trust the host, I am comfortable with my humanity or consistent with myself. If I do not trust the host, everything bothers me and threatens my life because I am really afraid of death.
- What is the reason that people are afraid of death?
- They think that death is the end of his/her existence. The more I am convinced that death cannot be the end of my existence, the more I will be relaxed towards my existence, depending on my interpretation and conviction. I am free to interpret in anyway.
The visible world and unseen side is inside me which is my conviction and no one sees it but I experience it. Physically two people are in the same condition but one of them does not bother about anything and trusts the host, while the other one does not trust the host and tries to satisfy his/her temporary pleasures. Their experiences of the meanings in the existence are completely contradictory and different.
How do we behave towards the living and non-living entities?
We understand that we have to respect trees, atmosphere and environment. That is true but it cannot be the purpose of the teachings of the Quran. Anyone who uses his/her human qualities without corruption and falling into ambitions and carnal desires accepts this. Even the people who corrupt their human qualities still understand that the environment must be respected. We do not need Divine guidance for it because it is hardwired in us. That is, we do not need extra verbal explanations/reminders. If the verbal reminder teaches me something, it should teach me something that I cannot easily grasp. What do you think is the purpose of my Creator teaching me in verbal explanation that one has to behave nicely towards non-living and living entities?
Comment: Because ultimately everything points to the same Source whether it is a living or non-living thing. From your observation in the universe, when you question how things are coming into existence, you conclude that there must be a Source bringing things into existence. You do not need the verbal explanation since this realization is within you.
What do you think is the purpose of the verbal explanation of the Creator asking you to be nice towards beings in general?
Comment: It is in conformity with how I am made.
What does it mean to behave nicely to beings as appropriate to your nature? Give an example.
Comment: Well you are looking at a plant in need of water.
Go to biology class, they teach you better and you do not need Divine guidance for that.
Comment: You are interacting with the beings and your behavior is just not for the beings. Let’s say that I was a guest in your house and started to break down the furniture then my misbehavior in that case is not just towards the item itself but towards the host it belongs to.
Comment: The question is that it is in my humanity to behave nicely towards living or non-living beings. Why do I need the verbal reminder from my Creator to behave nicely if it is already in my human nature to behave nicely as I understand “nicely”?
What is nicely?
Comment: There is some sort of education told to me through that which is to witness the qualities of behaving nicely towards creation and this act of witnessing becomes the learning. My Creator is calling me to witness something through the act of being nice and acknowledge that this niceness has been instilled in me as a witness to my Creator who has made me.
Example: You are invited to a friend’s house and they offer you food. You behave nicely towards the food i.e. you did not waste it or leave any crumbs. Do you think this is the purpose of being offered the food? In other words, what is the purpose of your friend offering the food to you? Just to make you not waste it, or to make you realize that s/he loves you. In other words, the food is offered to express and convey the love, friendship and concern towards you. Your friend is transferring the message to you through the food. If you respect the food only as food (without deriving any meaning) and not as a message bearer (or gift) from your friend (the food makes you acknowledge all the qualities of friendship such as kindness, niceness…of your friend), then you cannot acknowledge the love of your friend towards you. “Oh You Who is a kind One, a Loving One! You love me…” The mistake here is appreciating the food for itself and not the Source of existence of the food because the food is a means that your Creator uses to convey Its messages towards you. It’s very simple!
Human beings can know from their physical existence as we are created right now without needing any extra guidance that the food should not be wasted. Just as atheists who do not acknowledge the messages of the Qur’an, are propagating that environment must be respected, so what is the point in the teachings of the Quran to respect living and non-living beings? Is the Quran teaching atheistic ideas? We are reading the Quran for the reverse purpose. We do not read the Quran in order to understand the objectives and purposes of the Quran.
What is the Quran teaching?
We have to respect the environment for the sake of the message it brings to me. Physically, everyone does it. No one needs Divine guidance that rainforests should be preserved or we should not pollute the air. Unfortunately, we reduce the Quran to material lifestyle. Our minds are not trained there. Respecting living or non-living beings is not for the sake of next generation. It is so simplistic! What is the purpose for the next generation? We all will die. Is my Creator speaking to me in order to make me understand what an atheist by himself can understand? It is a devastating insult to the teachings of the Quran!!! Otherwise we do not need the Quran as we all respect the environment for example. We assume this pointless understanding and apply it to the Quran. That is why the Quran has no effect in our lives because we do not get the message.
Let us reflect more on how do we behave towards living and non-living being as far as the purpose of our existence is concerned which is the concern of the Quran?!