The preceptor and spiritual guide
- Updated On Saturday, 21 June 2014
- Written by A group of writers
- Editor Kawther Rahmani
- Supervisor Sayyed Roohullah Musavi
- Published on Sunday, 31 October 2010
- Hits: 580 views
- Hits: What types of preceptor are there in the spiritual journey and what is the role and importance of each type of preceptor?
The preceptors are of two types: general and special. The general preceptor is he who is not responsible for guiding any particular individual. People seek his guidance, considering him to be a learned and experienced man. The Quran says: 'Ask those who know if you do not know.' Such preceptors can be helpful only in the beginning of the spiritual journey. When the spiritual traveler begins to view the manifestations of the glory of the essence and attributes of Allah, he no longer needs to have a general preceptor. The special preceptor is he about whom a divine ordinance exists to the effect that he has been assigned the job of guidance. This position is held only by the Holy Prophet and his rightful successors. Their guidance and company are essential and indispensable not only at every stage of the spiritual journey, but even after the spiritual traveler has reached his destination. The nature of this company is esoteric rather than physical, for the real nature of the Imam is that station of his luminosity, the authority of which extends to everyone and everything in the world. Although the Imam's body is also superior to the body of everyone else, the source of his authority over the universe is not his body. To explain this point further it may be mentioned that whatever happens in this world, its source is the names and attributes of Allah, and the same Divine names and attributes are the essence of the Imam also. That is why the Imams have said: 'Allah is known through us and he is worshipped through us.' Therefore, it may rightly be said that whatever stages the spiritual traveler traverses, he covers them in the light of the Imam, and every position to which he advances, that position is controlled by the Imam. Throughout his journey the spiritual traveler enjoys the company of the Imam and remains associated with him. Even after reaching his destination, he needs the company of the Imam, for it is the Imam who teaches him the rules that are to be observed in the World of Divinity. Therefore, the Imam's company is essential at every stage of the spiritual journey. Yet there are many subtle points therein which are not easy to explain. They may only be discovered by the spiritual traveler through his own journey. To know whether a general preceptor is fit to be so, it is necessary to watch him closely and have contact with him for a considerable time. However, such supernatural phenomena as knowing what others think, walking on fire or water, narrating past events or foretelling the future, are not signs of being a favorite of Allah. The performance of such things becomes possible at the beginning of spiritual vision, but the stage of proximity to Allah is far away from this stage. No one can be a preceptor in the true sense unless and until he receives the light of the glory of the Divine essence. To receive the light of the manifestations of the Divine names and attributes is not enough. The spiritual traveler is said to be receiving the light of the manifestations of the Divine attributes when he feels that his knowledge, power and life are really the knowledge, power and life of Allah. At this stage when the spiritual traveler hears something, he feels that Allah has heard it and when he sees something, he feels that Allah has seen it. He may feel that Allah alone is the Knower, and the knowledge of every existing being is the knowledge of Allah Himself. The spiritual traveler is said to be receiving the light of the glory of the Divine names when he views the Divine attributes in himself. For example, he feels that Allah is the only Knower and his knowledge is also that of Allah. Or he feels that the only living Being is Allah and that he himself is not living, but his life is actually that of Allah. In other words, he intuitively feels that 'there is no knowing, living or powerful being except Allah.' If a spiritual traveler receives the light of the manifestations of one or two Divine names, it is not necessary that he should receive the light of the manifestations of other Divine names also. The spiritual traveler receives the light of the glory of the Divine essence only when he completely forgets himself and can no longer find any trace of himself or his ego. 'There is none but Allah.' Such a person can never go astray, nor be seduced by Satan. The devil does not lose hope in alluring a spiritual traveler until he obliterates his very existence. But when he enters the sanctuary of the world of divinity, after annihilating his personality and ego, Satan loses all hope of seducing him. A general preceptor must be such as to have reached this stage. Otherwise, it is not safe for a devotee to submit himself to just anyone. It is not advisable for a spiritual traveler to randomly visit any shop to acquire what he needs or to submit himself to any kind of spiritual pretender. He should make a complete investigation about the proposed preceptor, and when it is not possible to do so, he should put trust in Allah, compare the proposed preceptor's teachings with those of the Holy Prophet and the Imams, and act only according to what conforms to the latter. If he does so, he will be safe from the wiles of Satan. The Quran says: 'Satan has no power over those who believe and put trust in their Lord. His power is only over those who make a friend of him and those who ascribe partners to Allah' (16:99).