The Kalaam Cosmological Argument

The Kalam Cosmological Argument
[from http://www.philosophyofreligion.info]

The temporal, kalam cosmological argument, dates back to medieval Muslim philosophers such as al-Kindi and al-Ghazali. It has recently been restored to popularity by William Lane Craig. Like all cosmological arguments, the kalam cosmological argument is an argument from the existence of the world or universe to the existence of God. The existence of the universe, such arguments claim, stands in need of explanation. The only adequate explanation, the arguments suggest, is that it was created by God.

What distinguishes the kalam cosmological argument from other forms of cosmological argument is that it rests on the idea that the universe has a beginning in time. Modal forms of the cosmological argument are consistent with the universe having an infinite past. According to the kalam cosmological argument, however, it is precisely because the universe is thought to have a beginning in time that its existence is thought to stand in need of explanation.

This argument has the following logical structure:
The Kalam Cosmological Argument

(1) Everything that has a beginning of its existence has a cause of its existence.
(2) The universe has a beginning of its existence.Therefore:
(3) The universe has a cause of its existence.
(4) If the universe has a cause of its existence then that cause is God.Therefore:
(5) God exists.

The first premise of the argument is the claim that everything that begins to exist has a cause of its existence. In order to infer from this that the universe has a cause of its existence the proponent of the kalam cosmological argument must prove that the past is finite, that the universe began to exist at a certain point in time.

The crucial premise of the kalam cosmological argument, then, is the second: “The universe has a beginning of its existence”. How do we know that the universe has a beginning of its existence? Might not the universe stretch back in time into infinity, always having existed? The proponent of the kalam cosmological argument must show that this cannot be the case if his argument is to be successful.

Advocates of the kalam cosmological argument claim that it is impossible that the universe has an infinite past. In support of this claim, modern advocates of the argument often appeal to modern science, specifically to the Big Bang theory. Modern science, they say, has established that the universe began with the Big Bang.

Traditionally, however, it is mathematics that has been used by proponents of the kalam argument in order to establish that the past is finite. There are a number of ways of doing this; I’ll outline three mathematical arguments for the finitude of the past.

Maths and the Finitude of the Past


The kalam cosmological argument rests on the idea that the universe has a beginning; its second premise states as much. Advocates of the argument offer two kinds of argument in favour of this claim: scientific and mathematical. Here three mathematical arguments for the finitude of the past will be outlined.

The first argument draws on the idea that actual infinites cannot exist, the second on the idea that actual infinites cannot be created by successive addition, and the third on the idea that actual infinites cannot be traversed.

If any of these arguments is successful, then the second premise of the kalam arguments will have been proven.

The Impossibility of an Actual Infinite

The first mathematical argument for the claim that the universe has a beginning draws on the idea that the existence of an infinite number of anything leads to logical contradictions. If the universe did not have a beginning, then the past would be infinite, i.e. there would be an infinite number of past times. There cannot, however, be an infinite number of anything, and so the past cannot be infinite, and so the universe must have had a beginning.
Why think that there cannot be an infinite number of anything? There are two types of infinites, potential infinites and actual infinites. Potential infinites are purely conceptual, and clearly both can and do exist. Mathematicians employ the concept of infinity to solve equations. We can imagine things being infinite. Actual infinites, though, arguably, cannot exist. For an actual infinite to exist it is not sufficient that we can imagine an infinite number of things; for an actual infinite to exist there must be an infinite number of things. This, however, leads to certain logical problems.

The most famous problem that arises from the existence of an actual infinite is the Hilbert’s Hotel paradox. Hilbert’s Hotel is a (hypothetical) hotel with an infinite number of rooms, each of which is occupied by a guest. As there are an infinite number of rooms and an infinite number of guests, every room is occupied; the hotel cannot accommodate another guest. However, if a new guest arrives, then it is possible to free up a room for them by moving the guest in room number 1 to room number 2, and the guest in room number 2 to room number 3, and so on. As for every room n there is a room n + 1, every guest can be moved into a different room, thus leaving room number 1 vacant. The new guest, then, can be accommodated after all. This is clearly paradoxical; it is not possible that a hotel both can and cannot accommodate a new guest. Hilbert’s Hotel, therefore, is not possible.

A similar paradox arises if the past is infinite. If there exists an infinite past, then if we were to assign a number to each past moment then every real number (i.e. every positive integer) would be assigned to some moment. There would therefore be no unassigned number to be assigned to the present moment as it passes into the past. However, by reassigning the numbers such that moment number one becomes moment number two, and moment number two becomes moment number three, and so on, we could free up moment number one to be assigned to the present. If the past is infinite, therefore, then there both is and is not a free number to be assigned to the present as it passes into the past.

That such a paradox results from the assumption that the past is infinite, it is claimed, demonstrates that it is not possible that that assumption is correct. The past, it seems, cannot be infinite, because it is not possible that there be an infinite number of past moments. If the past cannot be infinite, then the universe must have a beginning. This is the first mathematical argument for the second premise of the kalam cosmological argument.

The Impossibility of an Actual Infinite created by Successive Addition

The second mathematical argument for the claim that the universe has a beginning draws on the idea that an actual infinite cannot be created by successive addition. If one begins with a number, and repeatedly adds one to it, one will never arrive at infinity. If one has a heap of sand, and repeatedly adds more sand to it, the heap will never become infinitely large. Taking something finite and repeatedly adding finite quantities to it will never make it infinite. Actual infinites cannot be created by successive addition.

The past has been created by successive addition. The past continuously grows as one moment after another passes from the future into the present and then into the past. Every moment that is now past was once in the future, but was added to the past by the passage of time.
If actual infinites cannot be created by successive addition, and the past was created by successive addition, then the past cannot be an actual infinite. The past must be finite, and the universe must therefore have had a beginning. This is the second mathematical argument for the second premise of the kalam cosmological argument.

The Impossibility of an Actual Infinite that has been Traversed

The third mathematical argument for the claim that the universe has a beginning draws on the idea that actual infinites cannot be traversed.

If I were to set out on a journey to an infinitely distant point in space, it would not just take me a long time to get there; rather, I would never get there. No matter how long I had been walking for, a part of the journey would still remain. I would never arrive at my destination. Infinite space cannot be traversed.

Similarly, if I were to start counting to infinity, it would not just take me a long time to get there; rather, I would never get there. No matter how long I had been counting for, I would still only have counted to a finite number. It is impossible to traverse the infinite set of numbers between zero and infinity. This also applies to the past. If the past were infinite, then it would not just take a long time to the present to arrive; rather, the present would never arrive. No matter how much time had passed, we would still be working through the infinite past. It is impossible to traverse an infinite period of time.

Clearly, though, the present has arrived, the past has been traversed. The past, therefore, cannot be infinite, but must rather be finite. The universe has a beginning. This is the third mathematical argument for the second premise of the kalam cosmological argument.

Justice in Judgement

Salaams and Peace & Blessings upon us all

I had been pondering upon something for a long time. Being exposed to gossip and bad opinions and overly good opinions. I was concerned how such notions would have such strong effects upon individuals and groups, towards one another and upon themselves. In other words, I feared how me having a bad opinion of someone made me more likely to be unjust, unfair and thus neglectful of my duty towards them. Yet also, me having an overly high opinion of someone, may blind me, making me neglect myself and others too, but being unjust and unfair in this respect also.

So here I shall divulge some of my meanderings and I would ask anyone, to please give their opinions and any knowledge/wisdom they have freely. So that it may aid me in my thinking around this subject to come to some formalised conclusion on the topic.

Bismillah Hir Rahman nir Raheem.


To judge is Allah's right and only Allah is perfected and absolute in it.

Thus Shariah is the guide to judge, the Quran also meaning "Criterion" & also the life and Sunnah of Rasul(SAW) as the best example of being one who held judgement, yet fulfilled all duties and was the most just.

We do not ever have complete knowledge of anything, that is with Allah alone. Yet we must judge and naturally we will. Our first duty is thus not to forget how lacking we are to make judgements.

It would be difficult to act and interact in this world without making judgements. Judgements are like measurements and every action can be measured and should be measured. So one must judge in order to act, to decide what to do and not to do, when, how, where & why. The 'why' relates to intentions & all actions are based upon it.

Our actions are made righteous by being based on our correct belief. Now if our belief is not correct and our certainty of our belief is not 100%, then our judgements & actions are at stake. The worst scenario is having baseless judgements and actions, which with belief we should be far from.
Yet are we not making judgements in what and how to believe? Thus as already addressed our capability in judging is not perfect when based on our own devices, we are therefore in need of other than our own selves. Hence guidance must be sought and Prophecy is necessitated.

In judging people, one may make bias their actions and reactions to such an extent from such judgements so as to neglect the duties owed to people.

This is why we are meant to offer "benefit of the doubt" to others, as we can not know them like we know our own selves. Remember, even with our own selves we struggle to understand and know ourselves. How we know ourselves paints how we see others. We compare others to ourselves to know them. Thus some people who really don't like things about themselves, when they see it in others they tend to not like such others. When we see things we like in our selves, we like to see it in others and thus are attracted to such people.

Though we may know people whom we have shared a great deal in terms of experience, knowledge, tastes and opinions; these can never be exact. Though each one of us judge according to the devices we have, we are gifted with being able to richly communicate with one another, share, express, challenge and correct judgements of one another. This thus makes clear the great importance communication plays in our lives. Know that gossip is the lowest form of communication, it rather distorts and destroys communication, rather than aid its useful purposes.

So rather, I propose a solution. When we have judgements of people, to know that we are lacking, so not to take them to heart. Whenever possible, to be open and honest with each other, so that false inaccurate judgements are done away with. If that can not be done, then to have benefit of the doubt. If still, you can not directly communicate with a person and still can not give them the benefit of the doubt. Then speak to Sheikh. It may be that you are on to something and something needs to be done about that person. Or it may be that you have a disease in your own heart and it needs to be removed.

===================================================================

"Yet also, me having an overly high opinion of someone, may blind me, making me neglect myself and others too, but being unjust and unfair in this respect also"
Some people get more praise than they deserve. This is fine, and certainly better than blaming. Praise is a good thing. However, when we go beyond and start to almost attribute things to them that they do not deserve, such as worship and unquestioned devotion.

For instance, why will I forgive a friend easier than a stranger or someone who I don't like?

Say for instance, I have a car to go to class/lesson, the first people I think of, will most naturally be my friends perhaps. Now surely I should be seeking who is more in need, and not forget those in more need of a lift than my friends, especially when we find certain people to be boring or even "smelly" for the journey.

It is good to have friends and have them close to you more than others. But we should not forget others who may be in more need or have more right to a thing.

This sort of thing is what I am talking about, when I fear my high opinion of someone, may blind me, making me neglect myself and others, in regards to when others are more in need or more deserving.

When in a crowd or gathering, it is good to want to spend time with your close friends, but do not neglect those who have no friends present or new people who don't know anyone. These are perhaps more in need of our company than our friends.

These are subtle things indeed and know that it is not as bad as blaming someone, to over praise someone. It is just about keeping it all in context of Justice and Duty.

===========================


I thank you for reading this, and I look forward to your responses.

MOM - 23 April 2006 10:26

MOM

Just how, we were once in our mothers’ wombs. We had peace and tranquillity there, time, space and nutrients to grow. Protected from the outside world that we can not yet live in, whilst at the same time veiled from all the work, effort and sacrifice our mothers do, in order to facilitate our life in the womb. Such as preparing a marriage, a house, a baby room, a cot, the finance and planning, etc, etc. The heartaches and worrying, the constant consideration of us whilst before we enter the womb, whilst in the womb and after we leave the womb. Unconditional, undying love, who can measure? Perhaps only Allah, hence why Allah places our Mothers after him, in first position, second position and third, leaving no podium spaces for the Fathers of this world.

In the womb, you get all the joys and peace. Yet outside, everything is sacrificed. Can only eat, drink and do things allowed and not do things no allowed. Strictness upon themselves that they do for you cause of you. Not for themselves alone or because someone else tells them to do. For Nine Months, they can not do anything, literally!

Then after leaving the Womb, still, our Mother’s body is literally providing for us. They must take care of themselves, so that their milk for you is not spoiled, but is rich. They can not sleep when you can not sleep and must wake when you wake. Now, without the protection of the womb, they have to stretch themselves even farther. When you can crawl, even farther and when you can walk, yet farther, till you can run… they are almost overstretched already.

Yet no… they still try to keep stretching, even when you see yourself as completely separate from your mother’s body physically. Yet no… we are still in a womb, the womb of the heart. Look again, at the stunt of the house party. The Womb is the workplace your mother struggles in. The Womb is the House your mother maintains. The bills that she pays, the clothing, the food, etc. The kitchen in which she slaves, the ironing, the cleaning, the washing, the laundry, etc.

Just like, when you are in the Womb, if you were to try to get a bit too ambitious like Stewie. If you wanted to get out of the womb, or try to control how much you give and take from the Umbilical Cord, you would kill your mother and thus kill yourself. Now with the house party, you know, you could have killed your mother, the heart attack. The fear of anything could have happened, her work, social services, etc, etc. Thus, in doing so, you would have killed yourself, and dragged down the whole family together too. Yet just like in the womb, how oblivious you are of things beyond that protective and nourishing wall, so to you are, as a grown up living under your mothers house. Do you work? Or pay bills? No? Then what can you really know.

I have already told you about the three levels of knowing. You can know of the Knowledge on one level, the Witnessing on a higher level and an Experience on the highest of levels. Sometimes our Moms when telling us things, we remark, “I know”, and they reply “No you don’t, you think you know, but really you don’t!”

They have witnessing and experience, of things you only know through knowledge. Real knowledge, where one has that of one witnessing and experiencing, they are more awake to reality, yet with just the knowledge in the mind through reflection and contemplation, there’s room for doubt and angles gone uncovered.

You know about terrible things that happen to young people. Yet what terrible things have happened to you in relative comparison? You knowing of such things give you a certain attitude. Yet, those people who have witnessed such things have a more profound attitude, which changes the way they are. Those who have unfortunately had to experience to learn, they are changed forever. Do you want to have to rely upon experiencing such things? If you do not use your intellect, that which Allah has granted you, correctly as Allah wishes, then you will have to be given more to think about… such as a witnessing or an experience, to wake you up to realisation.

Heaven is at the Feet of the Mothers, our Mothers. Heaven is not even above the feet of our mothers, yet we take our own heads above the heads of our mothers, our own tongues above the tongues of our mothers, when really our heads should be below the feet of our mothers. So look well, look true.

Listen to what is said to us, and may Allah take us by the hand.

Amen

Anarchism versus Stability[draft incomplete]

Anarchism versus Stability

What I personally feel, is that as someone who strongly believed in anarchism against all other ideologies, especially with high regard for Noam Chomsky’s vision. Is that the simple basic component of society, the family, or the commune, or the village of Ghandi’s vision. What we are individuals hold dear and have immediate relationships with throughout most of our lives. It is this model of life and existence, this model of micro society, that we fear is not represented in the macro society and state of other ideologies that propose a use for a state, or a concentration of power.
Now in a family, amongst a group of friends, a commune or village, there is a concentration of power… yet its miniscule, cause the absolute power of the entire thing, family, group, commune and village, is pretty miniscule. Yet, there are some RULES, some boundaries, some attitudes and respects, that are subtle but all the more vital that keep it stable and a nurture of peaceful growth. On the Macro scale of State Ideologies, such things are forgotton largely. As they are not immediately seen, as is the previous micro comparisons. Where is Love in a Family, where is Love in a State over a Society? A state, that recognises such things, will undoubtedly recognise such subtle rulings and conventions, subtle relationships that make it more appealing and less threatening.

Inate Morality against Acquired Morality

Philosophy of law is a branch of philosophy and jurisprudence which studies basic questions about law and legal systems, such as "What is the law?", "What are the criteria for legal validity?", "What is the relationship between law and morality?" and many other similar questions.

In the Western tradition there are several schools of thought on the philosophical basis of law. First, there is natural law, which attempts to describe law as an inherent quality in humans that is derived from nature. Second, there is the positivism which believes that law is a purely human-made construct that society uses to maintain social order. Third, there is legal realism which believes that law is an arbitrary set of rules that are largely established through the tastes and preferences of judges. Legal interpretivism is a contemporary theory of law different from positivism and natural law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law#Philosophy_of_law

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morality


The two camps

1 - We are all born with an inate concept and idea of basic morality, of a sense of right and wrong, of justice.

2 - We acquire our concept and idea of morality, justice, right and wrong; from our environment.

Of course, we must accept room for an area of gray, and not such a plain black and white. Firstly, lets discuss the possibilities and some possible examples/case studies.

It is a folly, to believe simplistically, that there is a basic common ground of morality in everyone. Religiously, we talk of Good and Evil. Of God's Grace and Satans Temptations. Materialistically, we can assume that its is genetic, or through process of learning or both.

In an athiestic materialistic world, we would have to accept that Morality is relative; as there is no source, but our own chanced genetic make up and environment.
In a religious view, its established from whencebefore, from a higher being or consciousness of some sort.

Responsibility & Understanding protects Freedoms & Rights

If understanding is a virtue in any sense, then should Modernity be able empowering and encouraging such virtues? If virtues are being replaced by something called freedom.. then I shall attempt to correctly repeat the famous quote "Your freedom will be my oppression".

We live in an age where freedom is discussed without it being linked with responsibility and understanding; even in some instances as a 'virtue' that goes beyond responsibility and understanding. For the freedom to be irresponsible with ones ownself (smoking, drug use, promiscuity) and to be free from needing understanding is a freedom greater than the freedom of the society at whole, a collective freedom which always needs responsibility and understanding. The ultimate end of individual freedoms getting too unrestricted, is where some individuals will obviously oppress other individuals; for one individual to be totally unrestricted in freedoms is to be a dictator.

We need to focus on responsibility & understanding as the most greatest of individual achievements. If everyone is responsible, then everyones rights are protected and so are freedoms. If everyone is dieing for their own individual freedoms and rights first.. think what happens in such societies? To be responsible means you have to have understanding of yourself, your surrounding and the consequences thus far, beyond your own self and your own surroundings. Rights and Freedoms do not give focus as much upon responsibility and understanding; especially beyond oneself.

Promiscuity and the abolishment of the institute of marriage. Does not take into account the need for protection and restrictions of spreads of STDs. What about protecting society as a whole. Is a society more stable with people getting married and having families, or John Lenon's dream of Free Love; which focuses on you have the freedom & right to do it.. yet not enough love to consider the greater society. Marriage and families in contrast to free love and promiscuity, protects our YOUNG from such issues of SEX, lust, porn, and so forth. Promiscuity and free love, is a catalyst to porn, immorality, irresponsibility and the breakdown of families.

I hope this is making it clearer now which of the two pairs is more sensible logically and more in need of.

Responsibility and understanding promotes and protects rights and freedoms in a manner that is not destructive. Rights and freedoms that are promoted whimsically with no regard to responsibility and to greater understanding will ultimately lead to impoverished rights and freedoms.

jihad ul nuffs

Nuffs, ego, subconcious, the real you.

Do you really know who you are? Do you know what you are capable of and not capable of? In truth, you can try contemplating on what is and what is not, however you are not trully satisfied, until you have tried and failed or succeeded. Even the so called most intelligent among us, scientists, use the most simple method of trial & improvement.

I am going through Jihad-ul-Nufs. Jihad is struggle, and Nufs is your 'self', ur ego & desires, etc, etc. Its things like laziness, the child in you doesnt want to do it, the child in you doesnt want to know, doesnt want to do, all about WANTS. Even though it makes sense intellectually to eat healthily, everyone knows this. You ask everyone, is it good to eat healthy, answer is YES. Ask anyones Nufs, it will tell ya, I WANT NICE THINGS TO EAT WHEN I WANT TO EAT AS MUCH AS I WANT. How many times are you thinking about your health or the times you are eating, and how much you are eating, what your eating, when you do eat? Even though you know its good to eat healthy.

You all know what is good and what is bad, but how many of us smoked, took drugs, had free careless sex out of lust, cheated, lied, and it was SOO EASY to do it? Why? cause we are in a constant state of self denial, of hiding that true self in us.

In Islam, we are taught to face our own selves. You only get away with cheating, lieing, etc, etc, cause you aint dealing with it, you deny it. Most shopaholics deny they have a problem, just as do alcoholics. How many smokers do you know, told you that they are not addicted and that they can give up when ever they want. I have heard this from almost EVERY smoker I ever knew. Even though I tried to convince them they are 'lieing' to me and to themselves.

So what do we do in Islam? We take responsibility of our Nufs, just like parents are to take responsibility of their children.

Now, what happens is, people dont hold themselves accountable and check themselves. As my Shayk says, "Check yourself, Before you wreak yourself". If you aint keeping your desires, anger, emotions, ego in line, in check.. someone else is gonna be keeping them in check with their own ways,.. yup, the whispers of the Devil. An unchecked bit of Nufs, is like a child that is allowed to run riot.

This is "Jihad-ul-Nufs", and believe me, it is the most difficult struggle, esp living in this world, of commercialism, consumerism, where they are continually reaching out and appealing to your Nufs.

I am struggling very hard, .. and its taking its toll. InshAllah, I want to be the best parent I can be to my children, how can I be, if I have not gone through Fa-Na ( when your Nufs become a Fortress, your mind and Soul a Fortress, and the Devil can not knock it or penetrate it ). here is a poem.


Whispers of Satan, by Souladvisor



Stay in your bed, don’t make a fuss.
Your prayers can wait; give into your Nufs. (1)

What! Go to the mosque, the path you’ll pave?
Don’t bother, think of the gas you’ll save.

Why go the extra miles to be kind?
Don’t share that smile, they won’t mind!

Listen to your parents, why should you?
You’re big enough, don’t let them tell you what to do!

Don’t look at those orphans, what could they need?
You have your own problems, and family to feed.

Wear good hijob? Oh me, Oh my, you’ll be targeted as a Muslim and put to shame.
Just wear no makeup, and dress simple and plain.


Go for Jihad? No not you.
It’s not your problem, what can you do?

Don’t worry about Jennah, your place is reserved.
I promise you’ll get all you deserve.

Preach about Islam, and be nice?
Listen to me, and take my advice!!!

Don’t fast during Ramadan, you’ll feel dead.
Don’t go for Haj, the heat you’ll dread.

Why give charity, or feed the poor?
Don’t do it I say, They’ll just ask for more.

Don’t visit the Muslims, they’ll bite your back.
Don’t stop your work for prayer, it’s money you lack.

Then he makes you hoard your wealth.
He thinks while he talks, and laughs to himself.


You take me as your friend, and don’t give me a fight.
I’ll take you to hell to gain respite.

On the judgement day we will meet.
Allah’s plan we can not defeat.

Shatan thinks and thinks of more to say.
Say A’ oothoo billahi, and make him run away.

Dear believer, don’t let shatan put you to the test.
You can overcome him, just do your best.

(1) Arabic word: Nufs - meaning yourself.
http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/souladvisor/

self realisation - self awareness

24th Sept 2005

Ive been going through a lot of self awareness and realisation the past few days. I think its going to continue. The month of Ramadhan is meant to be like that. Its the month that Satan's whispers are silenced to those preforming the fast. So any dirty lil thoughts, images and whispers one hears, is ultimately from their own ego and poisoned heart. I recall last Ramadhan, it was scary for me, cause I was hearing and seeing AWFUL things come out. However, my Shaykh tells us, that when you have a really dirty bucket. You pour in clean water, the dirt has to come up first. So.. thats what happens to those that are practising the spiritual cleansing during the initial stages. Something we Muslims (and I also believe most religious and spiritual people) are meant to be doing always. The word Sufi, its.. its a label, not a title, a category, not a group. We dont really call ourselves Sufi's, though everyone else (ie all other Muslims) call us Sufi's, so.. why confuse people by saying we are something else that they dont recognise, people recognise the 'label' that is 'Sufi'.

Well.. i realised one of the diseases of the heart I had.. was of ego and arrogance. Now when you think of some who has an ego or arrogance. You think of someone who is outwardly showing off, or.. exuberating this kind of over confidence in themselves. I believe I had some sort of over-confidence .. yeah lots of it showing, but i never saw confidence and arrogance in the same boat. Now I realised, I was the kind, that didnt care what he really looked like on the outside and how I was seen. I could get humiliated and I didnt really care. Why? Cause I was cocky n confident on the inside, I already felt too good about myself underneath, so it didnt matter what hit me. Obviously, such things and attitudes grow sneakily within a person over time. As it did so within me. Something like this aint easily spotted by everyone. Especially by the subject concerned, however thats what true friends I would add are for. It was my closest of friends and my older brother, that brought this to my attention. However, it was through trials and tribulations that one goes through, that made me realise this. I done something that at first I was not ready to admit fault to. Something that had really dire consequences. Something that cause someone close to me a lot of agony, and between them and someone else who was once very close to them real agony.

My Shaykhs always telling us. Dont we want to sort ourselves out? Fix ourselves? Change our conditions to better oneself? Well is good things or bad things that change us? That affect us? Thats the neccessity and benefit of tests,trials and tribulations that one goes through in life. Especially for those that are on a spiritual path. Secularists, will equate and calculate whatever they see fit, as always. Yet even among them, there are those that have awakenings and have senses and episodes of self-awareness, and soul-searching. There are religious people that have cold dead hearts. There are people that are not religious, just humanitarian ( i cant think of any other label or category for them thats recognised), who have some of the warmest, humblest and noblest of hearts. Between my brother and my sister, and some of my friends out there are examples of this.

In Islam, we see life as this. In the Koran, God tells us that He is closer to us than our own jugular veins. However, what is the point of life, what is the point, infact how can there be a journey towards Him, if we have already arrived. Life is given its reason through the existence of our 'lower selves', our ego's, our sins, our vices, and via Evil. If there is no disobedience, and no Evil. Whats the point of Life? There would be no journey towards him. In Islam, we are taught to understand this. It makes the burden of Evil, sin, pain, suffering, and so forth, more bearable. Instead of something thats just pointless and meaningless.


You see, in Sufism, we study, learn and train the heart, mind and soul. You see, we call the emotions, feelings, good and bad "nuffs". They are within us as like animals and beasts in a Zoo. Our head or intellect is supposed to be that Zoo Keeper, we do hold the keys to them. We also feed them. (bear with me; im being metaphorical with significance for sake of clarity and trying to use as simple terms and explanations as possible). To feed those of hate, you do hateful things, or put up with hateful things, be in the company of hate, etc. To feed empathy, you socialise and interact and learn to be close to people, your open your heart to eachother and feel the hearts of others. To feed lust, you keep thinking about and occupy yourself around such things. To feed your own desires, your own wants and lusts, avarice and greed.. well you just keep feeding your own self and thinking of your own self, you keep prioritising and seeing things from your own point of view. Sometimes, these 'beast' can take over the Zoo Keeper, if he/she feeds them too much. Sometimes.. unfortunately we ultimately SUBMIT willingly to one of these beasts. In Sufism, we learn to starve the bad ones to keep them in control, and try to feed as much as we can of the good ones. In Islam, we learn to Submit to God alone, his Will, instead of our own small, impotent, short-sighted and selfish will. For if there is a God, should that God's Will be the best for us? IF not, then what kind of god would it be?



So with fasting. The belly is the home of the beast. The larger the stomach, the more room there is for it to be filled with .. anything that wishes to occupy it.. greed, avarice, lust, etc. Fasting helps to keep it in check. There is a Muslim Proverb that goes with this. I think you can call it a proverb or saying. It goes something like "When the stomach is full the limbs are hungry". So if the stomach is empty, the beasts within dont care about anything else, any other vice or sin or wants or luxuries, its concerned with the stomach. Once thats full, it opens the gate to all the other things. Hence, our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), never filled his stomach to full, except when he had guests, cause out of the curtesy they had, they would not eat more than the Prophet(pbuh).. so to make them not feel so bad about eating the food he has had provided for them, he would eat more than he is used to.

This is why, Ive been fasting every Monday and Thursday. Prophet Muhammad(pbuh), is known to have fasted every Monday and Thursday. The Prophet David(pbuh), he fasted every two days, thats why we call it the "Fast of David", when one fasts every other day. Fasting and self discipline and self control, are noble traits found in different degrees and levels across humanity. Look at Ghandi, look at Bhuddists, look at Catholic Monks, Hari Krishna's and so forth. Oh and not forgeting my favourite two groups.. the Martial Artists and Jedi Knights :) haha

Whole Worlds to Explore

How does one see others?

I like to see them as "Whole Worlds to Explore"


When two people meet, they are like two globes, and at that meeting point of them globes, is the transaction. From that part of the globe that is touching the other, is what is being manifested from essence to external attributes (voice, expression, behaviour, etc), and yet through that part also, is that globe seeing the other globe.

Upon seeing a person, upon meeting a person. You are only witnessing a glimpse into that persons life. A life possibly full of many things, a person full of many emotions, thoughts, dreams, ambitions, views, opinions, feelings, experiences, etc, etc.

Does the meeting of the globes, revolve aroud eachother harmoniously. Does one orbit the other. Do they clash, hurt eachother, or immerse in eachother pleasurably. How long is that contact kept, how far does the contact spread, from one part of anothers surface to another part, and so on.

Will you touch upon the surface, only to reel, having touched a side too warm and harse. Will you not have patience, to give a chance to see more? Or will you conclude judgment enough, just from that brief meeting?

If you stop at that exterior, you will never get to the interior, which is the real. Stop at the clouds, even if stormy, you wont ever find any peaceful lands to lay upon.

You could also stop at the exterior, and just love the exterior. However, that is superficial and superficial is not meant to last, for it is only an attribute of the real, not the real itself. If you were to delve in deeper, you may be rewarded by something so much sweeter to love, or find something to change your mind entirely about the relationship. So dont race to love upon reaching the beautiful skies, wait first to atleast get a touch of the ground below and give change to get a lil "Down To Earth together" :)

Oh how I wish to see what someone loves you for, as well as understand why anyone would not love you. Get the complete picture. A great adventour awaits you, at every rendevous.





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The First part. I just want to clarify something. Sometimes, you may look upon upon, or think upon something, in one state. In one mood, or in one angle, you see and think upon that thing differently, when in another mood or angle. Also, when looking and thinking upon something, in a different mood or angle, you usually sometimes notice new things. This is why, the part of that globe, that touches and presents itself to the other, is also in a way the part to reads and sees the surface upon the other globe. "When two people meet, they are like two globes, and at that meeting point of them globes, is the transaction."

Compassion since Birth

Love

All you need is Love, as the Beatles once sang.

Love is all you need, so many more have sung.

Love Thy Neighbour, Prophet Moses, Saviour of the Hewbrew People, Revelation from the All-Loving, All-Compassionate.



What is the opposite of Love, Hate. Any Alternative? How about indifference.
Can hate be justifiable? Of Course. Can hate be neccessary, yes, out of Love. Love for your loved one, is naturally what is love for whatever harms your loved one.
So Love has to be justified, just as Hate is justified, and in turn, both become neccesary in the 'equation'.

Though everyone can say, that Love is the desired out of all. Those who are experienced and well-endowned with wisdom to see deep into their experiences; would say that love's best reward, is its reciproca'tion.


So.. I wish to get personal in this writing of mine here. I am afraid I shall have to, to explain what I can see of this.
To be able to be Compassionate, is my goal. You see, Mercy is to give a poor person some aid. Love, is to be comfortable with the company of something or someone, in your pyshical presence and or emotional space; ie, your thoughts, your heart.
Compassion, is to give a poor person aid, because you have experienced yourself the hardships or being poor, and how much a little aid would mean to such a person, as it would have meant to you, when you experienced poverty. Compassion is to do with actually relating and feeling, other than your own self.
Compassion, thus far exceeds that of Love and Mercy on their own. It is more powerful and more secure, for a basis of any relationship.


Now.... I am not sure about anybody else. But for me, I absolutely LOVE and ADORE babies and lil kids. If you spend enough quality time with babies and small kids, and remember also that you were once like them, and so were everyone else, you too would love babies.
From that love, i feel compassion, or atleast try to, for everyone. Everyone, was in a mother's womb once. Everyone, was given birth to. Most of us, were taken care of, breastfed, nourished, protected preciously, loved and cared for. Its when something goes wrong with the nourishing, care and love, do many people turn out to be those of whom many of us find difficult having any form of compassion rather than hate towards.
However nasty a person is, I know that when they were a baby, I would still be inclined to adore that baby. Who among us, would say that they would kill Hitler, whilst he was still in his cot? Many could say, but in reality, standing infront of a cot, with a sane mind and healthy heart. One could not kill a baby, without utmost difficulty. A few may though. However, thats a question, of perception of the concept of fate. Which is a whole other field of philosophy, though connected to this in some respects.

I am not to say, that I would blindly give love out freely, and let myself be taken advantage of and made a fool of. For as I said before, to love, is also to hate that which harms that which you love. However, at the same time, we are connected, in the way we all came out of some form of compassion and could only be maintained and sustained through some form of compassion. For if hate, disgust or dislike overtook compassion, love and mercy, a baby would die neglected.
This is the same way, that some children grow up can become those whom some may despise. Adults, also, even after a nourished young life, may also become hard-hearted.
I just want to be a nourisher, rather than a drainer, as much as I possibly can. I want to stay in touch, with that compassion that brought us into this world. Rather than the Hate and Fear that takes most of us out of this world.

neccessity & justification

WE do not have the powers to do so much as one would wish probably to believe, foolishly enough. Its a good thing we all have restraints on our powers, for it seems that those that attain power, seem to fail sort of its responsibility. A brief look at current affairs should prove my point. However, that power must be somewhere, inevitably, and yes, there have been leaders and powerful fingures who were responsible to the extent plausible. Prophets, Ghandhi, Malcom X, Martin Luther King, Ho Chi Min of Vietnam, etc, etc.



The reason, why to suffer is a bad thing, is cause it is to suffer. It is one of those things that people do not prefer, especially when it is unneccessary and unjustifiable. Which means, there are some sufferings that are neccessary and justifiable. For instance, falling over and hurting yourself, cause your too drunk or stoned. Inciting someone enough with incorrect intention so that they reap revenge pyshically.

So suffering, is something inevitable. Who, does not suffer in some way or another? Who is so powerful and independent? None. But, there are things justifiable and neccessary, and things that are not so, to a degree.

See, you can look at your own life, and look at things within you and around you. Use the idea of justified and neccessary things. There is a sense of Justice and Neccessity that can be acquired with some reflective contemplation no? Your not born with it, but when people open their eyes and see, it becomes clear.

What & Who, How & Why, things are neccessary and justifiable, that is the question. Is that not the case?

Are there not the questions were are born to, and the questions we live to and die to?

What do you think?



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we have something right? That detests suffering to an extent within us all, even if its of a purely selfish self-centered nature. But IF IT IS the case that we are born and come into existence from nowhere, and die and leave nowhere. As in, we just came from non-existence to existence, and from existence to non-existence, without any real consequence.... either suffering means nothing, as life and death mean nothing. OR, suffering must mean something, as we have discussed. So does not life and death must mean something? Otherwise what the hell is the point of contemplating and feeling, of such a thing that is suffering?

What does life and death mean to you then, I ask again. : )