FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

awareness when he reflects upon the things of the world is able to see the Creator in His creatures. The meaning of the creation of the universe is laid bare before him. Ultimately, the universe becomes a permanent source of spiritual inspiration. He is continuously nourished by it during his worldly experience. A believer is not supposed to shun his normal life in order to lead a life of observation and contemplation. Islam does not advocate withdrawing from the world. He has to live in this world and participate in its activities. What is desired from him is that while fulfilling all his duties, his heart should not be attached to worldly affairs. In this way he continues to gain spiritually. A noted scientist has said that only a prepared mind can make a scientific discovery. The same can be said of meditation. Here also a prepared soul alone can benefit from it. First of all tazkia, purification of the soul, has to be done through meditation. Tazkia aims at clearing one’s heart of all kinds of negative sentiments, otherwise meditation will not work. There is a very interesting story which illustrates this point. A milkman came to Gautam Buddha and asked him to give him Gyan, i.e. the realization of truth. Gautam Buddha asked: “Would you like milk to be put in an unclean container?” The milkman said: “No. First of all we must clean the container and only then can we put milk in it.” Gautam Buddha then said: “The same is true of realization. Realization can be put only in a clean container. First of all, you have to cleanse your heart and mind of all kinds of moral pollution. Only after this cleaning process will you be able to receive the truth.” The preparation during the pre-meditation period is very important. Anyone who desires to benefit from meditation will have to complete this pre-meditation course based on simple living and high thinking. Jesus Christ said: “Man cannot live by bread alone”. It means that physical food cannot provide complete fulfilment to man. Man requires something more. This something more is spirituality. If food is needed for the nourishment of the body, spirituality is needed for the nourishment of the soul. Both are required for the complete development of the human personality. A truly spiritual person is able to convert physical events into spiritual lessons. He derives spiritual nourishment from material things.