4 SUFISM TOOLS TO REALIZE THE SELF скачать в хорошем качестве

4 SUFISM TOOLS TO REALIZE THE SELF

In this video we continue our topic of the mystical Sufis. Sufism uses a collective of techniques to enhance the Realization of the Self. _______________________ 1. Self-Realization in Sufism: Knowing the Self to Know God The famous Sufi saying, often attributed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ though debated in hadith scholarship, captures the heart of the path: “Whoever knows himself knows his Lord.” In Sufi understanding, the “self” (nafs) has layers: Nafs al-ammārah – the commanding self (impulsive, desire-driven) Nafs al-lawwāmah – the self that reproaches itself (moral awareness) Nafs al-muṭmaʾinnah – the tranquil self (resting in God) Self-realization is the journey from identification with the lower nafs to awareness rooted in the Divine presence. This is not annihilation of the body or personality, but disidentification from compulsive desire, distraction, and self-centered narration. “Eat little, sleep little, talk little” directly addresses the three main ways the nafs maintains its illusion of control. 2. Eat Little: Refining Desire and Perception In Sufism, hunger is not starvation, but intentional lightness. Why eating little matters: Excess food thickens the body and dulls perception Desire for food strengthens habitual craving Satiety reinforces forgetfulness (ghaflah) Sufis observed that: When the stomach is full, the heart sleeps. Eating little: Softens the ego’s insistence on comfort Makes the heart more sensitive to subtle states Trains the self to obey conscious intention, not impulse This is crucial for self-realization because the ego survives by automatic gratification. When gratification is delayed, the illusion of “I must have” weakens—and awareness widens. 3. Sleep Little: Guarding Wakefulness Beyond the Body Sleep in Sufi language has two meanings: Physical sleep Spiritual unconsciousness To “sleep little” does not mean chronic exhaustion. It means: Reducing excess, escapist sleep Preserving night vigilance (tahajjud, muraqabah, remembrance) Night wakefulness was treasured because: The world is quiet Social identity dissolves The heart becomes intimate and exposed Rumi writes: “Why are you asleep? The water of life is flowing around you.” Self-realization requires continuity of awareness. Excess sleep fractures that continuity and strengthens identification with the body alone. 4. Talk Little: Silencing the Ego’s Story Of the three, talk little may be the most subtle and difficult. Why? Because the ego lives in narration. Talking: Reinforces the sense of “me” and “my opinions” Solidifies identity through reaction and defense Externalizes attention instead of deepening presence Sufis were not antisocial; they were anti-compulsive speech. To talk little means: Speaking only when speech carries truth, necessity, or remembrance Letting silence digest experience internally Weakening the ego’s need to assert itself Al-Junayd said: “The water of wisdom flows in silence.” In silence, the false self loses oxygen. In that loss, real presence appears. From Discipline to Love Importantly, Sufis warn: If these practices are done without love, they become dry asceticism. True self-realization happens when: Eating little becomes gratitude Sleeping little becomes intimacy Talking little becomes listening—to God, to the heart, to reality itself As Rabiʿa al-Adawiyya taught: “I do not worship You from fear of Hell or hope of Paradise, but because You are worthy of being loved.” The Paradox of Self-Realization In the end, Sufi self-realization reveals something paradoxical: The “self” you tried to discipline was never real What remains is awareness without ownership Life continues, but without the burden of ego The one who eats, sleeps, and speaks appropriately is not restrained—they are free. ___________________________________ Fasting & brain waves : Increases alpha waves Increases theta waves May reduce excessive beta activity Longer fasting can enhance gamma coherence Sleep deprivation & brain waves ): Increases theta and delta waves while awake Disrupts alpha waves Reduces beta and gamma activity Mantra chanting & brain waves: Increases alpha waves Increases theta waves Can enhance gamma synchronization Silence & brain waves: Increases alpha waves Increases theta waves Reduces excessive beta activity