In the path of mystical journeying (Suluk), the stages of spiritual life hold a place of particular importance. The Collective Life, as the second stage of existence in the mystical journey, guides the seeker from the scattering of faculties and attachments towards unity and concentration in willpower. This life, which in the words of Nekooyam is described as the life of resolve and concentration, is a journey from the death of disunity to eternal and spiritual life. In this article, 581st session of his lectures from Manazel al-Sa'ireen and its detailed analyses, a precise and comprehensive explanation of this stage is provided. The structure of the text, organised with headings and subheadings, is designed to present deep mystical concepts in a refined and scientific language for a specialist audience. Literary metaphors and analogies, like lamps illuminating this path, serve to clarify the concepts and create a meaningful connection between the content and the reader's mind.
The Collective Life is the second stage of existence in the mystical path, which stands in contrast to the death of disunity. This stage, also known as the life of resolve, refers to the concentration and cohesion of the seeker's faculties in the divine path. At this stage, the seeker is liberated from scattered thoughts and worldly attachments, and instead, aligns their powers under the command of knowledge and will. This life, much like a clear stream, guides the scattered faculties towards a single destination and leads the seeker from the spiritual death of disunity to the life of the soul.
The Life of Knowledge, which is the first stage of the mystical path, refers to the unveiling and inner cognition. This stage is akin to a mirror that reveals the truth before the seeker; however, it does not guarantee the ability to act upon this knowledge. In contrast, the Life of Resolve, which is the second stage, pertains to the power of will and the gathering of the faculties. In this stage, the seeker not only knows but also has the capacity to collect and align their faculties under the command of knowledge. This distinction is akin to the difference between the light of knowledge and the force of action, guiding the seeker from theoretical wisdom to practical wisdom.
Resolve is like the captain that steers the ship of the seeker's faculties through the sea of the mystical journey. This power of will grants the seeker the ability to gather and focus scattered forces. With resolve, the seeker disciplines their faculties and prevents distractions and confusion. The analogy of a drill and piercing a wall is illuminating here: just as a skilled craftsman concentrates the drill on a single point to make a hole, the seeker with resolve focuses their faculties on a divine purpose. The absence of this focus is akin to an aimless effort that merely scratches the surface of the wall, resulting in nothing but destruction.
The gathering of faculties is the seeker's ability to unify their inner forces and direct them towards the divine goal. This process is like precisely tuning the strings of a musical instrument to produce a harmonious sound. Through gathering, the seeker aligns their faculties under the guidance of knowledge and achieves spiritual creation. This creation is akin to the divine power Kun Fayakoon mentioned in the Qur'an, as described in the following verse:
With focused resolve, the seeker shares in this divine power in a limited way and gains the ability to manifest spiritual goals. This ability is the result of discipline and concentration in the mystical path, leading the seeker from disarray to unity.
The soul of necessity is like a breeze that, at the beginning of the mystical path, separates the seeker from worldly and non-divine attachments. At this stage, the seeker, realising the incapacity of created beings and the impotence of creation, detaches from everything other than the Divine. This detachment is akin to cutting the strings of captivity from a bird, allowing it to soar towards the skies of freedom. The soul of necessity drives the seeker towards the Divine, liberating them from false attachments. This stage is the beginning of the mystical journey, guiding the seeker to the recognition of the limitations of creation and the need for the Divine.
The self of neediness represents a stage higher than the self of necessity, guiding the seeker towards a connection with the Divine. At this stage, the seeker becomes aware with knowledge that all power, dominion, and sovereignty belong solely to the Divine. This realization acts as a light, dispelling the darkness of ignorance, leading the seeker towards a longing to receive from the Divine. The self of neediness binds the seeker to the Divine, preventing desires for anything other than the Divine. This stage is akin to a bridge that leads the seeker from separation to union with the Divine. At this station, the seeker recognizes that even their longing for the Divine is a divine gift, and the grace to attain it is bestowed by the Divine itself.
The self of pride is the pinnacle of collective existence, wherein the seeker witnesses the manifestations of the Divine Names in their particular forms. This station is akin to donning a sacred robe, adorning the seeker with the divine attributes. In this stage, pride is not in relation to others, but rather the exaltation of the seeker due to their embodiment of the Divine Names. This station represents a summit reached after traversing the paths of separation and union, where the seeker views themselves not as superior to others, but as honoured by the Divine grace. The words of Imam Ali (AS) are illuminating at this station: "I am the master of the children of Adam, and I have no pride.", demonstrating humility despite reaching perfection.
The death of division is a spiritual death that arises from the soul's attachment to worldly and material matters. This dispersion of the heart is akin to a storehouse in which everything is scattered and none of it is of use. Attachment to worldly matters, such as shoes, clothing, and possessions, deprives the heart of its spiritual vitality. At this stage, the seeker is like one who, in every moment, is distracted and unable to focus: during prayer, they think of studying, and during study, their mind is occupied with other matters. This fragmentation prevents the attainment of spiritual goals and leaves the heart in a state of desolation.
The life of unity is a state of spiritual vitality that concentrates the heart and will towards a single divine goal. This life is not a conceptual unity in the sense of intrinsic oneness but rather a linguistic unity, referring to the focus of the will and attention on the Divine and the purity of intent in the spiritual journey. This concentration is like gathering rays of light into a single point, producing a bright flame. At this stage, the heart of the seeker becomes the centre of willpower, and their memory serves the divine goal. This life is a spiritual existence, guiding the seeker towards eternal life in the realm of holiness.
The unity in the life of unity is linguistic, not theological. Theological unity relates to intrinsic oneness and theoretical wisdom, whereas linguistic unity refers to the focus of will in practical wisdom. This distinction is similar to the difference between seeing the truth in the mirror of knowledge and embarking on the path towards it through volition. The seeker at this stage focuses their will on the Divine and, with a pure intent, advances towards the divine goal.
Discipline in the spiritual journey is like a string that arranges scattered beads into a meaningful pattern. Through discipline, the seeker prevents distractions and aligns their energies towards the divine goal. A useful analogy is that of an actor, who, through practice, fully immerses in their role. Similarly, the seeker must dedicate their full attention to every action, whether studying or worshipping. The lack of this discipline is like a disconnection in the sequence of actions, which disrupts everything. Through concentration, the seeker prevents the wastage of time on irrelevant matters, completing each action to its fullest.
Division is like a bag in which scattered objects are thrown, with none being useful. The seeker, in this state, is burdened with excessive attachments and cannot direct their energies towards a singular goal. This multiplicity is like a warehouse containing everything, but none of it serves its purpose. The seeker, in this state, is like one who is always distracted and never reaches their intended goal. This division prevents the attainment of spiritual encounters and miracles, leaving the heart in a state of spiritual death.
The life of unity is a journey from the darkness of division to the light of oneness and concentration. This station leads the seeker from scattered energies and attachments towards focus and discipline in will. The three selves of necessity, neediness, and pride are like steps guiding the seeker from disconnection from creation to union with the Divine and, ultimately, to the embodiment of the Divine Names. Willpower and concentration are the keys to this journey, leading the seeker to spiritual creation and eternal life in the sacred realm. This life not only frees the seeker from division but transforms the heart into a centre of unity and focus on the Divine. Pride, at this station, is free from egoistic pride and adorns the seeker with humility and servitude.
Translated with the supervision of Sadegh Khademi.
