The reality of gnosis
- Updated On Friday, 27 June 2014
- Written by Allamah Tabataba'i
- Editor Kawther Rahmani
- Supervisor Sayyed Roohullah Musavi
- Published on Friday, 14 May 2010
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- Hits: What is the reality of gnosis and spiritual comprehension?
Even though most men are occupied with gaining a livelihood and providing for their daily needs and show no concern for spiritual matters, there lies within the nature of man an innate urge to seek the ultimate Reality. In certain individuals, this force which is dormant and in a state of potentiality becomes awakened and manifests itself openly, thus leading to a series of spiritual perceptions. Every man believes in a permanent Reality despite the claim of the sophists and skeptics who call every truth and reality illusion and superstition. Occasionally, when man views with a clear mind and a pure soul the permanent Reality pervading the universe and the created order, and at the same time sees the impermanence and transient character of the diverse parts and elements of the world, he is able to contemplate the world and its phenomena as mirrors which reflect the beauty of a permanent reality. The joy of comprehending this Reality obliterates every other joy in the eye of the viewer and makes everything else appear to be insignificant and unimportant. This vision is that same gnosis 'divine attraction' (jadhbah) which draws the attention of the God-centered man toward the transcendent world and awakens the love of God in his heart. Through this attraction he forgets all else. All his manifold desires and wishes are obliterated from his mind. This attraction guides man to the worship and praise of the Invisible Deity who is in reality more evident and manifest than all that is visible and audible. In truth it is this same inner attraction that has brought into being the different religions within the world, religions which are based on the worship of God. The gnostic, or Arif, is the one who worships God because of his love for Him rather than hoping for reward or fearing punishment. From this exposition it becomes clear that we must not consider gnosis as a religion, but as the heart of all religions. Gnosis is one of the paths of worship and is a path based on knowledge combined with love, rather than fear. It is the path for realizing the inner truth of religion rather than remaining satisfied only with its external form and the confines of rational thought. Every revealed religion, and even those that appear in the form of idol-worship, have certain followers who tred upon the path of gnosis. Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Islam and even the polytheistic religions all have believers who are gnostics.