INTROSPECTION

INTROSPECTION After Making a Mistake INTROSPECTION is a major source of purification known as Tazkiya. Introspection awakens the human mind, it jolts the human personality, and gives the individual the incentive to reform. Introspection in this way leads one to intellectual and spiritual development. Let us assume that you were provoked and reacted negatively to a hurting remark from someone. Later you became repentant and engaged in introspection about your reaction. Introspection led you to realize that your behaviour would result in making you a negative personality. Such a result would have a deleterious effect in the life after death. In fact it would render one incapable of entering Paradise. You came to realize that the culture of the people of Paradise would be that of peace and positivity; only those would be accommodated there who had the capacity to live together in love and peace. This being so, one who develops a personality which is intolerant, easily provoked and downright unfriendly will be held ineligible to enter Paradise and will be deprived of happiness and success for all eternity. You will become extremely keen to reform yourself such thinking will prove to be revolutionary and you will become your own watchdog. Thinking born of introspection is the greatest source of purification which can always be achieved by inner self-appraisal, rather than by some external activity. What are the Means of Attaining Purification? Traditionally, some things are considered to be the means of attaining tazkiya, such as, supererogatory prayers, recitation of the Quran, prophetic prayers, meditation, companionship, taking lessons from the lives of the ‘saints’, etc. According to this thinking, it is like a fixed course, or something to be learned from a manual. However, the truth is that there is no fixed course for attaining such purification. It can be attained only through a living act. Introspection leads one to intellectual and spiritual development.