The Name of God

A name is a sign. Names are given to people and assigned to things in order to provide them with a sign by which they may be recognized and to distinguish them from one another.

The names of God are also signs, and it is only His names that are knowable to man. The essence itself is something that lies totally beyond the reach of man. He is unknown to all but Himself. But his names are accessible to man.

The whole world is a name of God, for a name is a sign. You, too, are names of God; your tongues are names of God, your hands are names of God. When you praise God, your tongue is a name of God as it moves. When you get up to go home, you cannot separate yourself from the names of God: you go in the name of God, and you are the name of God; the movements of your heart are the names of God, and the movements of your pulse are the names of God. The winds that are blowing are the names of God.

If someone has come to perceive something, it is a perception that is a manifestation of God.
When a person eats a meal and praises it, saying, “What delicious food this is!” he is praising God even without knowing it. Similarly, if we say of someone, “What a good person this is!” this expression of praise is also to God, even if we are unaware of it. Why is this? Because the substance in question has nothing in and of itself; all that it is is a manifestation of God. True love of self, similarly, is love of other-than-self, but it is been mistakenly regarded as self-love.

We think we praise the person or thing, but that is because we are veiled from the full perception of truth. When the veil is removed, we see that all praise was to God because the manifestation we are praising is a manifestation of Him.

The wave has no separate existence from the ocean; it is the ocean, although one cannot say the converse, that the ocean is its waves. Waves come into existence only through the motion of the ocean. Rationally, it appears that both the ocean and the waves exist, the latter being an accident with respect to the former. But the truth is that there is nothing but ocean; the wave is also the ocean. The world is like a wave in relation to God.

Imagine one hundred mirrors positioned so that the light of the sun is reflected in each. From one point of view, you might say that there are a hundred lights –one hundred separate, finite lights, each in a mirror. All of them, however, are the same light.

But what about those who can’t see light at all? How can you make the blind understand what the light of the sun is? What language, what words can you use? Light is something that dispels darkness; how can you make one who has never seen light understand what it is?

All advise to this dilemma is appreciated.

An Alternate Reality

Even though I have a few hundred pages to read about Islamic intellectuals, various proposals for Islamizing politics and economies, and studying the black Muslim movement in the United States (oh and I have a paper to write!) I think I’m going to write in my blog instead. Since my good friend Raskolnikov chided me for my arrogance in withholding my writings (even though I was only looking out for the public’s health and interest) I will do as Ron Burgundy in Anchorman says: “I’m just gonna throw this out there, and if you don’t like it, send it right back: I wanna be on you.” (without the “I wanna be on you” part…although, that depends)

As you all know, we are guaranteed many rights by our constitution. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are said to be unalienable rights. There are millions of laws protecting your many rights and in the name of justice you can take legal action if they are infringed. In the modern age, everyone has the right to control the world around them.

But what about your alternate reality? Should there be any laws protecting that? Can there even be laws to protect that? First I should be clear and define my terminology. Reality is everything you can see, touch, hear. The picture that is in front of you. The ground that is below you. These are the things that are “real” whose presence is undisputable to anyone who witnesses them. If someone damages your picture, you can sue.

However, there is also always present an “alternate reality,” which is in fact just as “real” as reality is, that exists in the mind of the perceiver. Alternate reality is interpretation, conception, perception, and ultimately a belief. The picture’s meaning, the feel of the ground, the taste of a drink. An alternate reality can be shared by multiple people, or it can be completely unique to the person witnessing it.

Although there are many laws protecting the tangible of this world, there are far less that protect the individual’s alternate reality. It is much harder to prove undue stress or psychological damage in a court of law. But I would argue that this is far more important. Beliefs are what make a person, not the things that they have. Someone’s worldview, their perception, their attitude, is as unique as their fingerprint. If there is any force which manipulates or coerces that individual’s alternate reality, I would say that is akin to a crime against humanity and perhaps God himself.

Thomas Jefferson, although no prophet, spoke some incredibly wise words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…” Notice that he says “endowed by their creator.” This would mean that God intended for people to be individuals, and think independently. I agree with Mr. Jefferson. No one has the right to criticize or coerce someone’s alternate reality. No position of authority wields that right. Not parents, educators, government officials, not even God Himself.

I don’t believe in assimilation or integration. I believe in the individual. Any form of coercion, prostylization, streamlining or discrimination, goes against God’s original intent: for people to figure out for themselves their own alternate reality, where they fit into society, and what beliefs are important to them. Is there any greater quest in life than for a person to understand themselves and the world in which they live in? Is there any task more noble and worthwhile? If you know yourself, you will know the world around you. If you know the world around you, you will know your purpose. And executing your purpose is the watermark that you leave upon this world.

What if you commit an act, and no one is around to see it or know about it. Did it even happen? If you know yourself and you know why you did it, then it did happen, because you committed the act with knowledge of yourself. You did it for yourself because it is in line with what you believe. You didn’t do it for anyone else, you didn’t do it for God, but you did it because it is intrinsic for you to do so. There are people who only help others because they see their own advantage in it. There are people who pray in front of large masses of people because they want to seem pious in the public’s eye. There are some who act outlandish in public because they enjoy the attention. But what about if no one saw them?

What if no one saw you committing the acts you do daily? Would you still do them? If you would, then you are honest with yourself, have strong convictions, and an unshakable alternate reality. If you wouldn’t, then you are most likely living for others’ impressions of you, have no self identity, and are living a lie. My good friend Kyle wrote in his blog about teachers who don’t like “bad” kids because they are reluctant to learn. True teachers do not discriminate between good and bad. In fact, if there are bad children, it’s due to a failure on the teacher because it demonstrates a flaw in them. That is the only reason why they would complain, because they see their own failure in the student, but they would never admit to that. It is ALWAYS easier to blame someone else. A true teacher would double their efforts, triple if necessary, to work on the “bad” kid, but NEVER give up. It is not in the true nature of a teacher to do so.

Are you beginning to understand why it is important to know yourself? To know why it is that you do things? The Dali Lama once remarked: “Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.” I’m not going to quibble about the definition of “good” and “honorable” because as you know I believe in the individual’s right to choose their own definition. I would, however, argue that there are some things like rape that can never be justified as “good” or “honorable.” My point in the Dali Lama’s quote is that if you lead a life continuously executing your beliefs you will enjoy it again and again. Through reminiscence? Looking at old photos? Memories? No. Through the knowledge gained from your experience in doing what you believed in. It is both humbling and powerful. Have you ever heard the deep conviction of people like Malcolm X? Gandhi? Jesus? Mohammad? When you have beliefs, and follow them no matter what the consequences, I believe you achieve a kind of higher understanding of yourself and the world around you. This is why knowing yourself is important. Because no pundit, no government official, no pop fad will ever shake you. You break loose from the crowd. Most of these historic individuals unfortunately died by unnatural causes. It’s one of the sad downsides to gaining this enlightenment. But the reward is priceless. The stronger the conviction, the higher the watermark on the world. I bet you none of those people regretted standing up for their beliefs.

Now most people don’t have such high expectations or will to change the world. And there is nothing wrong with that. To be simple is also respectable and noble. My point in drawing your attention to these historic figures and the importance of embracing your unique alternate reality, to strenghten your resolve in your convictions and beliefs, is to tell you that you are not a freak. Don’t let anyone tell you your view is wrong. If you believe in something, never let it go. You might be ahead of your time. If you truly believe in something, you should not be afraid to speak up when it is questioned, discriminated, or ridiculed. The rights guaranteed to us are inalienable, and are necessary by law not merely as a protective measure, but instead a call to act. It is your duty to defend what you believe in. It’s your duty to stand up and take command.

Deviant Art

So even though I haven't been doing any introspective, existential, or soapbox writing - at least none that I will be sharing with you (sorry about that but there are some stuff that would make your head explode if you read them, and neither of us want that) - I thought I should let you in on another hobby of mine that is less dangerous: photography. An image, after all, can also speak volumes and can describe a story, a mood, or a thousand other things. Sometimes a picture can be more powerful than words. I like how a picture can mean something different for everyone who looks at it, as opposed to words which are usually meant to direct you toward the author's purpose. The viewer of the picture interprets the picture based on their own imagination. I love taking pictures in the rare attempt to capture a particularly telling slice of life.

Anyway, there is a wonderful website called deviantart.com where millions of "deviations" are published. I just started my account there but I will be updating it with more and more photos as I take them or design them. If you are at all interested in this stuff, check out my site (http://devilock77.deviantart.com/)and view my gallery. I'd love to hear any feedback (I don't know if you need to be registered or not to do so) so either drop me a line there or here. Just remember, I'm an amateur photographer with an amateur camera so be gentle! And make sure you browse that site, there are some EXTREMLY talented artists on there.

An Update

Since the room looks better now compared to the first pictures, I thought I should provide an updated photo. Provide more incentive for anyone thinking about coming here to visit ;)

I’ve started one of my classes and the other one doesn’t start until next Monday. The one I’ve started is called Contemporary Islamic Activist Intellectuals so it focuses on the reformers within Islam who are trying to bridge the gap between the faith and modern civilization. It’s all very interesting to me, so I don’t mind the ton of reading and writing I have to do. But it gives me little time for leisure writing. Unfortunately, when the mind is being trained to focus on the intricacies of a particular subject, there is less influence and incentive towards creative writing, which I had grown to love very much recently. Maybe I’ll post some of my writing from my classes if it’s not too dry and something that everyone can appreciate. I dunno, we’ll see.
The one drawback to this whole move to DC is that my social life has plummeted. I am feeling a good amount of loneliness. I know I’ve only been here about two weeks and that I’ll meet people in time – and I already have two very good friends here – but right now is a little rough. I guess the essential thing is to trust. Even through long periods of time when dreams may appear to be deferred, delayed, and overshadowed, there must be trust that there will come a time when an unwavering will, a strong belief, and endless prayers will be realized. To that I toast.