The Chapter of Drowning (باب الغرق), one of the profound and decisive stations in the mystical journey, is examined in-depth in Lecture 560 of Nekounam, May His Soul Rest in Peace. The analysis, which draws upon verses from the Holy Qur'an, hadiths, and mystical reflections, explores this station as a transitional stage in the path of Wilayah (spiritual authority). It leads the seeker from the shore of the multiplicity of creation to the boundless ocean of divine unity, a place where neither the shore is visible, nor is there any attachment to it. Drowning is a state where the seeker ascends from superficial signs to the direct unveiling of the Truth, yet has not fully freed themselves from the remnants of the ego. This station is intimately connected with the verse of the Qur'an:

and other verses of the Qur'an, which highlight the role of divine mercy and emphasize the exceptional nature of the spiritual path. The following text, through the synthesis of the lecture's content and detailed analysis, expounds on the second level of the Chapter of Drowning, namely, "the drowning of the signs in the unveiling" (استغراق الاشارة في الكشف), within an academic structure and style.

Concept of the Chapter of Drowning and Its Position in Wilayah The Chapter of Drowning is a transitional station in mystical practice where the seeker has passed the initial stages of the journey, but has not yet attained the perfection of Wilayah. This station is like an ocean that separates the seeker from the shore of the multiplicity of creation and directs them toward divine unity, yet they are still caught in the turbulence of their own ego.

In this station, the seeker is neither a shore-dweller nor sees the shore; they are in the middle of the path, submerged in the divine truth, yet have not been completely freed from the temptation of the ego. This existential suspension places them in a state where they are neither fully immersed in multiplicity nor have they reached absolute unity.

The second degree of the Chapter of Drowning, the "drowning of the signs in the unveiling," is where the seeker ascends from superficial signs to the direct unveiling of the Truth. At this stage, the seeker speaks with their own divine existence and journeys with the witnessed (حق), without being influenced by their ego's arrogance.

This immersion is like diving into the ocean of truth, taking the seeker from the surface level of signs to the profound depth of witnessing the divine essence. At this stage, the seeker no longer relies on transmission or reason, but speaks from what they find within themselves.

In the state of drowning, the seeker is still under the influence of the remnants of their ego. The "I" (لي) still precedes the "Allah" (الله), which indicates the persistence of selfhood. This precedence of the ego prevents the full realization of Wilayah but signifies progress compared to earlier stages.

This selfhood is like a shadow that falls on the mirror of the seeker's heart, diminishing the divine light. The seeker must empty themselves of ego in order to erase this shadow and allow the light of truth to shine forth unimpeded.

The Chapter of Drowning is an intermediary station in mystical practice that guides the seeker from the multiplicity of creation toward divine unity. The drowning of the signs in unveiling leads the seeker from superficial signs to the direct witnessing of the Truth, yet the remnants of the ego still prevent the full realization of Wilayah. This station requires detachment from selfhood and a complete focus on the divine.

The Levels of the Heart, Soul, Secret, Hidden, and Most Hidden In the state of drowning, the seeker passes through the levels of nature and soul, ascending to the levels of the heart, soul, secret (سرّ), hidden (خفی), and most hidden (اخفی). These levels are the existential stages in mystical practice, each representing a deeper level of witnessing and closeness to the divine.

This ascent is like climbing a ladder, with each rung bringing the seeker closer to the higher realms of truth. The heart is the gateway to these levels, and the most hidden is the peak where multiplicity disappears and unity is fully revealed.

The drowning of the signs in unveiling marks an ascension from the realm of divine names (حضره اسمائی) to the realm of divine oneness (حضره احدی), realized through the light of unveiling of the essence. In this station, the multiplicity of names disappears and the face of the divine appears with unshielded beauty.

This ascent is like a bird flying from the branches of multiplicity to the limitless sky of unity. The seeker moves from the diversity of names to the unity of the essence, and the veils of majesty are lifted from before them.

In the station of unveiling, everything except the face of the divine perishes. As stated in Surah Ar-Rahman, 55:26:

In this state, the seeker sees only the divine face remaining.

This annihilation is like a drop dissolving in the ocean, causing the seeker to be obliterated from their ego and remain in the divine existence.

In the state of drowning, the seeker ascends from the levels of the ego to the spiritual levels and from the realm of divine names to the realm of divine oneness. This ascent is accompanied by the annihilation of everything except the divine face, bringing the seeker closer to the divine unity. The levels of the heart, soul, secret, hidden, and most hidden represent stages in this existential ascent.

The Commanding Soul and Divine Mercy The Qur'an states in Surah Yusuf, 12:53:

The commanding soul (نفس اماره) is a natural obstacle on the spiritual path, but divine mercy restrains it.