What are the bounties of God we have already received?
24th Word, Fifth Branch, SECOND FRUIT (page 370 continuation):
“Because, O soul! Since the All-Glorious Creator, Who clothed you in existence which is pure good, has given you a stomach and appetite, through His Name of Provider, He has placed before you all foods on a table of bounties.”
The main topic here is that worship is not an introduction to additional rewards but it is the response to previous rewards we received. The most important thing we already received is Existence and we have to acknowledge that everything that existence needs in order to be sustained is already given. It seems that existence occurs once but in reality, to the conscious one, it appears continuously.
We keep experiencing existence at every moment. Existence is pure good. Nothing is lacking in its existence and everything is fully satisfied in its existence. Existence is needed for us, conscious human beings, to experience what sustains it i.e. the Provider. The Provider provides what needs to be given in order for existence to be sustained. This is the only way that we can understand that the Source of existence is needed.
When we question the Source of existence, we understand that beyond the existence of this universe, there is a Provider, a Conscious Being. The disease of this age does not spark conversation about existence of anything and thus, takes everything for granted. Philosophy fails to explain the Source of existence of anything including human life and senses. If existence of the universe is eternal, then there is no need to believe in a Creator, don’t you think so? We have to question:
- How come my consciousness becomes aware of existence?
- What is the Source of existence of this consciousness?
- How come consciousness exists?
Always question the existence of everything: “This is given now I have to respond back to this reality.” That is, acknowledge the Source of existence: “You are the One that made me aware of Your existence.”
The existence of this universe by itself is not important. Through the existence of this universe do we become aware of the Source of Existence. Otherwise, I am an alien within my being in this universe if there is no Source of Existence. I will be a stranger interacting with this universe and everything would be meaningless. Also, we will not feel confident in our being because we
will not see the Source of Existence through things.
“Then, since He has given you a life decked out with senses, life too requires sustenance like a stomach; all your senses like eyes and ears and like hands before which He has placed a table of bounties as broad as the earth. Then, because He has given you humanity, which requires many immaterial foods and bounties, he has laid out before that stomach of humanity, in so far as the hand of the mind can reach, an extensive table of bounties as broad as the worlds of both the inner and outer dimensions of things.”
Life also requires sustenance. That is, ears and hands are tools given to communicate with the rest of the universe. Whatever is needed to sustain my life here is provided by the Provider. Hence, I have to respond back to the Provider for everything that is given to me here. Nothing is complicated. Whenever the text talks about humanity, it refers to the qualities that we are endowed with, which in turn points to the fact that we have an Owner taking care of us here. We are not alone here, we are not orphans. My existence provides me with evidence that I am being taken care of in this guest house of the universe. I have an owner taking care of me. Quran speaks with substantial evidence. Example: look around you, can things happen by themselves? No. Everything is in need to be given existence. Since I have a Lord, an Owner taking care of me, I need to treat my life accordingly. So, I say why worry about death or anything worldly which is nothing but something insignificant.
Existence of anything points to Eternity. All my equipment (humanity) desires to exist Eternally. Consciousness yearns for Eternity. Everything we experience here points to an Eternal Existence taking effect right here right now. Example: My sense of tasting has an Eternal dimension. How? I want the experience of enjoying the taste to last eternally. Also, I want to have the ability to taste eternally. I can turn the sense of tasting into an Eternal Pleasure by acknowledging that the One who gives me this opportunity is the Source of my Existence. Since It has given me this desire for having eternal pleasure and the tasting ability to last eternally, It must fulfill It. The condition here is for me to acknowledge It.
I cannot make sure about Eternal Life by myself but after hearing it from the Messengers, I learn about it because I am created with the quality of learning. When we learn, we just discover what is already within us. That’s why Prophets are sent or God’s speech is sent to us to teach us what is already within us. Thus, existence of an Eternal Life is also taught, otherwise we will not realize it.
- The most important aspect that the Speech of God brings to us is the existence of an Eternal Life (referred to as akhira).
- There must be a Creator; I can realize this without the Messengers.
My senses are renewed as part of creation. I have to act according to the requirements of my senses. The requirements of my senses are to acknowledge the Source of its Existence. This universe is the place of practicing and training. We have to go through the training in order to practice to get familiar with Eternal Life. Whatever we are required to do as God’s way (sharia) is nothing but training for an Eternal Life. Let us get ready for an Eternal Existence. Our mind should be connected to Eternal life. Example: I am eating here to train my human senses to get to know that the Creator of this food is the Eternal One and It is taking care of my needs. As a result of this training here on earth we will prepare our human feelings to get ready for graduation or departure from this universe.
- Nothing should be done for the sake of this universe.
- We need to turn everything as preparation for an Eternal Life.
- Get used to the fact that there is an Owner taking care of you.
Why should I do anything? Since everything is connected to an Eternal Life (i.e. I must be given an Eternal Life), I need to prepare myself accordingly. We are teaching ourselves here to get ready for an Eternal Life. If someone does not take notice of the Creator while training here, this person is bound to fail. When you realize that you made a mistake, the Creator forgives you, there is no need to worry about that, just acknowledge your mistake and never repeat it again. What you need to worry about is how you are preparing for an Eternal Life.
There is no such thing as getting reward for an Eternal Life. The reward lies in becoming aware of your reality i.e. your existence in this universe is tied to an Eternal Existence. We cannot think of our existence on a temporary base. Example: Why are your eyes given to you? Your eyes are given to you to acknowledge the Creator of eyes guaranteeing that you will be given perfect vision in an Eternal Life. That is why the Speaker in the Scriptures keeps saying that I a reminder to you.
- Eternal life must be always connected to my life here.
- Eternal Life (akhira) needs to be experienced at the end of every moment.
Have I prepared myself for Eternal life at the end of a day?
When I learn something pertaining to my reality, it becomes second nature as far as my existence here is concerned. That is, attributing all human senses and qualities to their Source leads to the reward i.e. acknowledgement. That is Paradise. I cannot be independent in my existence. I cannot claim to be an Absolute Being. Every moment everything is dependent in their existence. We cannot even imagine one strand of hair being independent.
“Then, since He has given you Islam, i.e. belief, which require infinite bounties and are nourished through countless fruits of mercy and are supreme humanity, He has opened up before you a table of bounties, pleasure, and happiness which includes the sphere of contingency together with the sphere of His sacred names and attributes.”
Religion does not particularly promote existence of God. It helps one identify their feelings with the Source of their existence. When you acknowledge the Source, the ability to acknowledge the existence of God is within your own will. That is, you are here in this universe just practicing this reality. In other words, acknowledging and thus worshiping the Source is what is in you. It has nothing external to you and you do not have to torture yourself to worship God.
- Living with God consciousness is relaxing, the reverse is torture.
Islam means belief i.e. what the Creator provides you is for you to acknowledge It or for you to introduce your senses to It. Belief requires acknowledgment of God, Its Messenger and all other matters related to our existence. Islam makes existence meaningful. Since the Source of existence is infinite, Islam enables you to practice humanity without boundaries. Example: We have the sense of stealing is not good. What Islam teaches us is not to steal in the name of God, i.e. acknowledge that this sense of stealing is bad is given to you by your Creator. That is Islam. Islam is supreme humanity i.e. one’s actions are related to the Absolute Source of Existence. All aspects of our existence depend on its Source of existence.
- Islam connects you to the Absolute Creator who is the Absolute power of sight, feeling… This connection is established through your acknowledging the reality i.e. Source. As a result of this acknowledgment, you feel secure in your existence, which is the reward. In other words, the reward lies within your acknowledgment.