Knowledge and Piety in the Path of Spiritual Ascent

Knowledge and piety should lead to lightness and spiritual elevation, not to heaviness and arrogance, which obstruct the path of spiritual practice.

Critique of Arrogance

Arrogance, particularly arising from devotional practices such as nocturnal prayer, constitutes a major obstacle on the spiritual path. A seeker who, due to night vigils, looks down upon others with disdain, is exposed to the danger of spiritual arrogance. Such a seeker, instead of achieving elevation, falls into the trap of spiritual pride, and their worship, rather than being beneficial, becomes harmful.

In any case, the friends of God do not wait for rank nor do they engage in ostentation. They pursue continuous spiritual progress and rarely glance at those below them or reflect upon the path they have traversed. Some possess such elevated capacity that no spiritual station can intoxicate them. One who becomes enamoured with their own progress and perceives its effects within themselves is akin to someone consumed by self-conceit and lost in ego. Among wine-drinkers, some consume wine without the slightest effect, while many others become drunk from a mere sip. The former group are those who remain concealed and discreet.

Commentator’s Critique and Obstacles to the Path

The commentator notes at the conclusion that this book is intended for intermediate seekers. Nevertheless, it also addresses the extremes and contains traces of the mysticism of the beloved; although the beloved mystics do not adhere to the structured arrangement of spiritual stations. According to our view, a seeker should traverse only the station of “detachment from desire,” which we will discuss in its subtleties throughout this work.

The commentator critiques Kashani’s arrangement of stations for intermediate lovers. The