FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE

FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE There is a tree beside my house. I call it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing being that was initially a seed possessing the potential of becoming a full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the universe around it and then grows into a tree. The same is true with spirituality, the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an integral part of, the very nature of every human being. To realize this spirituality, man must derive spiritual food from the universe around him. A tree converts carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a spiritual personality. —Maulana Wahiduddin Khan MARIFAH, OR GOD REALIZATION M OST people talk frequently of marifah (God-realization) without having attained it. The reason is that they want marifah, but they are not willing to pay the price for it, and in this world, nothing can be achieved without paying the price. What man ought to do is that when he is not ready to pay the price for something, he should not talk about it. For talking about something for which he is not willing to pay the price will mean that he is only mouthing words about marifah without understanding its significance. There is an Arabic saying translated as: “Knowledge gives you a part of it only when you give yourself to it completely.” This is true of marifah. The price of marifah is that a person should give his all to it, that he should make it the sole concern of his soul, that while going to bed he should think of marifah, while getting out of bed he should think of marifah. He should engross himself in it to the point of starting to dream of it. The price of marifah is total surrender. One who does not totally surrender to marifah, will find that the doors of marifah will never be opened to him.