Excerpt from the Lectures of Nokounam (May His Secret Be Sanctified), Session 545
Within the spiritual journey of the seekers traversing the path of truth, the station of Joy radiates like a resplendent gem in the firmament of spiritual progression, compelling the heart to dance and the spirit to laugh. This station, situated within the section on Wilyt in the Manzil al-Sirn, serves as a resting place where the seeker, having passed through the stage of af (purity), attains a profound heartfelt joy that effaces the traces of dread, thereby striking open the gateway to the direct witnessing of the Divine Essence.
In the 545th session of his lectures, Nokounam (may his sacred secret be sanctified) expounds on the third stage of joy, known as Joy of Hearing the Response (Surr Sam al-Ijbah), which represents the zenith of mystical progression. At this station, the seeker reaches the state of intrinsic annihilation (fan dht), freed from egoism, otherness, fear, and desire, and solely follows the Divine Will. The spirit, the locus of witnessing the Beauty of the Essence, bursts into laughter a laughter born neither of carnal desire nor mere mirth, but from wonder and awe. In this astonishment, the seeker perceives the unity of servitude and lordship.
The Joy of Hearing the Response is a profound delight arising from complete surrender to the calls of annihilation in the direct witnessing of the Divine Essence. This joy, like a celestial breeze, dispels the vestiges of dread and separation from the seeker's heart, guiding them towards the threshold of beholding the Presence of the Unity (arat al-Aadiyyah).
At this stage, the seeker's spirit erupts in laughter a laughter not stemming from base desires but from astonishment and admiration provoked by the vision of the Beauty of the Divine Essence. As articulated in the lecture, this joy is Surr yam thr al-washah, yaqra bb al-mushhadah, wa yuiku al-r a joy that effaces the effects of estrangement, strikes the door to witnessing, and causes the spirit to laugh.
This station, positioned as the third degree of joy, transcends mere carnal delight (farah) and heartfelt joy (surr). Whereas the soul attains farah and the heart surr, the spirit here experiences laughter (ak), a hallmark of maturity in the spiritual journey and arrival at the Divine command.
Joy at its various stages is profoundly linked with the vessels of annihilation (afl al-fan) and the Divine Names. At the first degree, the soul attains carnal delight; at the second, the heart achieves joy in the witnessing of Divine attributes and acts, though still burdened by the anxiety of division. At the third, the spirit laughs, reflecting a consummate joy borne of intrinsic annihilation.
This spiritual ascent transports the seeker from the nafs (self) to the heart, and thence to the spirit, wherein the vessel of annihilation enfolds them and unites them with God.
At this station, the seeker transcends the veil of knowledge and reaches the vessel of the Divine Essence. As the lecture states: an-nafs farah, al-qalb surr, al-r ak. This elevation signifies the seekers progression through the stages of annihilation, each serving as a vessel for the manifestation of the Divine Names.
Fan dht (intrinsic annihilation), which manifests at the third degree of joy, entails the negation of acts, attributes, and the very essence itself. At this station, the seeker is liberated from all forms of egoism and otherness, becoming immersed entirely within the Divine Essence.
This annihilation, like a boundless ocean, absorbs all remnants of the self and transports the seeker into unity with the Truth. The lecture emphasizes that al-fan al-dht yataamman nafy al-afl wa a-ift wa al-dht.
At this stage, the seeker negates not only their acts and attributes but also their own essence within the Divine Essence. This negation guides them to intimacy with the Beloved, where no veil or division remains.
The Joy of Hearing the Response is the delight arising from acceptance and surrender to the calls of annihilation in witnessing. Here, sam (hearing) signifies not mere auditory perception but profound acceptance and obedience.
The seeker, like a flower turning towards the sun, embraces wholly whatever the Truth commands with heart and soul. The lecture states: Surr nash min ijbat daw al-fan f al-mashhd saman wa ah.
This surrender is not born of the nafs but of the spirit, which after passing through the soul and heart arrives at the vessel of the Divine Command. At this station, the seeker has cleansed the dust of mundanity from their heart, listening only to the Divine Truth.
This joy obliterates the vestiges of dread, understood here as the residual egoistic attributes that persisted in the second degree of joy. This dread is not fear of the other but the anxiety of division engendered by egoistic traits. At the third degree, such concerns dissolve, bestowing upon the seeker Divine tranquillity.
As the lecture remarks: yam thr al-washah ayy baqy a-ift an-nafsniyyah.
The Joy of Hearing the Response strikes open the door to witnessing the arat jam al-dht al-aadiyyah the Presence of the Unified Divine Essence. This witnessing is of the Essence itself, not of attributes, and it unites the seeker with Unity.
At this station, the seeker transcends the vessels of submission, delegation, and satisfaction, reaching intimate union with the Beloved. The lecture affirms: yaqra bb mushhadat arat jam al-dht al-aadiyyah.
This vision, like a pure mirror, reveals the Beauty of the Essence to the seeker, wherein no veil remains between them and the Truth.
The laughter of the spirit is the consummate joy arising from witnessing the Beauty of the Essence, born of astonishment and awe. At this stage, the seeker comprehends the unity of servitude and lordship (al-ubdiyyah kunhuh ar-rubbiyyah) and is engulfed in wonder.
This laughter signifies the vision of existential unity, wherein the seeker perceives nothing except the Divine Essence.
As the lecture states: yuiku ar-r li-s-surr at-tm bi-mushhadat jaml adh-dht.
The spirit alone remains at the stage of intrinsic annihilation and is the locus of witnessing the Divine Essence. Reason, soul, and heart have been effaced through the annihilation of knowledge and attributes; the spirit, as the Divine command, serves as the vessel for arrival at the Essence. The Holy Quran states:
None remains except the spirit which is the locus of witnessing.
No fear of Your fire, nor desire for Your paradise.
Key Point: The eradication of fear and desire guides the seeker toward absolute surrender to the Divine Will. Divine Will: The Axis of Spiritual Progress
At this station, the seeker follows exclusively the Divine Will, disregarding any self-serving considerations. This subjugation, like a pure spring, leads the seeker to the source of Truth. The lecture notes state:
He follows what God wills without questioning why or how.
Distinction between the Infallible and Non-Infallible Saints
Non-infallible saints attain this station occasionally, whereas the infallibles remain perpetually established therein. This distinction refers to the infallibles perpetual and inherent annihilation in the Divine Essence. The lecture elucidates:
The saints who are not infallible arrive here intermittently; the infallibles are constantly present at this station.
Amazement and Wonder: The Fruit of Spiritual Journey
At this station, the seeker experiences amazement and wonder, where the unity of servitude and lordship becomes manifest. This astonishment, like a stormy sea, immerses the seeker profoundly and evokes awe before the grandeur of the Truth. The lecture notes affirm:
The essence of servitude is lordship.
One may fall into bewilderment or abdication of duty if he does not guard himself.
Key Point: The peril of amazement and abdication underscores the necessity of companionship with a spiritual guide to preserve the seeker within this exalted station. The Role of the Guide in Stabilising the Seeker
Even at this elevated station, the seeker requires the guides presence to safeguard against amazement or abdication of duty. The guide, like a lamp in the night, directs and stabilises the traveller. The lecture states:
The seeker needs the mentor to establish him firmly in this station.
The Spirit: The Receptacle of Maturity and Divine Command
The spirit is the vessel for spiritual maturity and attainment of the Divine Command. This rank, like a lofty summit, conveys the seeker to the Divine Breath. The Holy Quran states:
"And I breathed into him of My Spirit."
(: "In him I breathed of My spirit," Hijr: 29)
This verse attributes the spirit to the Divine Breath, which is the receptacle for reaching the Essence. The lecture notes articulate:
The spirit is the vessel of maturation and arrival at the Divine Command.
We are the Most Beautiful Names; through us existence began and through us it is sealed.
Transition to the Gate of the Secret: The Final Step
The seeker, by maintaining steadfastness at this station, progresses from delight to the gate of the secret; otherwise, he succumbs to amazement or abdication of duty. This transition, like a bridge towards loftier peaks of spiritual journey, guides the seeker to higher ranks. The lecture elucidates:
If he preserves himself, he passes to the gate of the secret; otherwise, amazement or abdication of duty ensues.
Key Point: Passage to the gate of the secret signifies the seekers stability at the station of delight and readiness for superior spiritual ranks.
