To our dear Brothers and Sisters
in USA, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil

 

Mühledorf, 15.02.2004

 Theme work:

The fourth theme about the Nafs is a look at Nafs-e motma’ene or the “ Comforted Nafs”

 My dear friends,

 Three months have passed since I sent you the last theme. Now we have a look at the “highest” of the four Nafs. While Nafs-e molhama allows access to the cosmic order and thus becomes enlightened by the other world, the Nafs-e motma’ene is the master place of higher consciousness. It is a state of inner tranquillity, calm and peace. It is our inner centre, our inherent home where we sit at the feet of our Lord, himself sitting on His throne (arsh) in our heart (qalb).

 The holy Quran mentions the Nafs-e motma’ene in verses 89:27-28:

 O thou human being that hast attained to inner peace! Return thou unto thy Sustainer, well-pleased and pleasing Him.

 There are ten attributes that are often mentioned for this “state of the heart” – as it is sometimes called:

·        Poverty

·        Patience

·        Righteousness

·        Honesty

·        Contentment

·        Knowledge

·        Realization

·        Certainty

·        Honour

·        Faithfulness

 In this state of the soul we are in no conflict with nothing; we are freed from the roots of conflict; we are in the centre of the daily hurricane – like the Semazen when he or she turns, completely centred in the “Here and Now”.

 But also in this state where we are supposed to be very close to God, there are possibilities of veils. The moment we start to be aware of this beautiful state, we may become possessed by our own certainty. Satan makes us believe to be perfect (Insan-i Kamil). And so – instead of serving God with our beautiful quality – we serve ourselves and become arrogant.

 The Nafs-e motma’ene is the “substance” from which the quality of a real Derwish can be built. I end this letter with three references that express the quality of this Nafs:

 There is no Derwish in this world;
and if there should be one
he is not there.
(Abdul-Hasan Ali Kharaqani, 11^th century)

 Live for this world as if you would never die;
and live for the other world as if you would die in the next moment.
(Hadith)

 Be the way you appear;
or appear the way you are.

(Hz. Mevlana Cellaleddin Rumi)

 My dear Friends, may we learn to appear in each moment with one face, to speak with one tongue, but to listen with two years, to see with two eyes and to open both hands. May we be allowed to walk upright, and may our sincerity grow each moment!

   

Yours, Peter