POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE SPIRITUALITY

The process of conditioning begins right from birth. Initially, it is an unconscious process. The individual’s family, his institutions, his society, and his community: all are sources of this conditioning. From childhood up to adolescence, he is affected by this conditioning. Only after reaching adulthood does he become able to understand this problem consciously. From here onwards begins what is called personality development. It calls for an awakening of the mind and a conscious discovery of this problem. At this stage, the individual must develop the capacity for anti-self thinking. He must engage in introspection. He must try to decondition his previous conditioning with complete objectivity. This is the most important task for every man and woman. What is de-conditioning? It is a process of sorting out the ideas and concepts you have stored in your mind, all of which you must view with complete objectivity. You must overhaul your personality in a dispassionate manner. You have to remove the negative thoughts in your mind to turn your negativity into positivity. A man asked the Prophet of Islam a very comprehensive question. He said, “O Prophet, give me a master piece of advice by which I may be able to manage all the affairs of my life.” The Prophet replied: “Don’t be angry.” (Sahih al-Bukhari) This means you must try to purify yourself of anger. Don’t allow anger to become a part of your personality. It is only in this way that you can truly develop your personality. o Repentance is an inner spirit, a readiness to atone for every kind of mistake.