Brief Summary
This YouTube video by Emine Eroğlu provides a detailed explanation of the final two "Lemas" (lessons or proofs) from the Masnavi Nuriye, focusing on the concepts of helplessness, poverty, and perfection as they relate to understanding the existence and unity of God. The video emphasizes that all beings, through their inherent limitations and needs, point to the self-sufficiency and oneness of God. Additionally, it explores how the perfections observed in the universe—in art, nature, and creation—reflect the perfect attributes, names, and essence of the Creator.
- The 13th Lama focuses on the proof of helplessness and poverty, highlighting how the inherent limitations of all beings point to the necessary existence of God.
- The 14th Lama discusses perfection, explaining how the flawless attributes, names, and actions in the universe declare the existence, unity, and perfection of God.
- The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing these signs to achieve true "Tawhid" (monotheism) and to embark on a spiritual journey towards God.
Introduction
Emine Eroğlu begins a new lesson on Masnavi Nuriye, specifically focusing on the Tawhid (Oneness of God) within the lights of the Masnavi. She mentions that they have completed the lemmas and will now consider the remaining two out of fourteen. The lesson starts with a repetition of the previous lemmas to refresh the viewers' understanding.
Review of Previous Lamas (1-12)
The first lama discusses God Almighty creating everything from something and everything from everything. The second lama explains that every mental life in the universe is formed in an index, filtering all beings. The third lama uses the simile of the sun and transparent particles to illustrate the relationship between God's names and living beings, emphasizing that denying God is like denying the single sun reflected in numerous transparent objects. The fourth lama describes the universe as a constantly rewritten book, with each element containing deeper layers of meaning. The fifth lama explains that each being is like an ode praising God, evident in their composition, harmony, and interconnectedness. The sixth lama introduces the concepts of the whole, the part, and their relationship, highlighting the constant recreation of beings as proof of resurrection. The seventh lama discusses the "Hatemi of oneness" on Earth and in the universe, noting how beings act as if they know each other, fulfilling each other's needs. The eighth lama focuses on sustenance, emphasizing how needs are met with precision and variety. The ninth lama explains that the environment and surroundings point to Allah, with the part belonging to the whole. The tenth lama highlights the ease and safety with which the universe is governed by a single law from a single center. The eleventh lama discusses the similarities between beings, which allow for scientific classification and point to a unique unity. The twelfth lama explains that death itself is a proof of God, as beings point to God through their annihilation, similar to how transparent particles point to the sun through their non-existence.
13th Lama: The Proof of Helplessness and Poverty
The 13th Lama is introduced as the "proof of earth and poverty." It emphasizes that everything, from particles to planets, is inherently helpless and poor, naturally pointing to the necessary existence of God. This concept is particularly important because the path being discussed is also one of earth and poverty. Helplessness and poverty point to the body of a necessary body, distinguishing between possible and necessary existence. Beings' helplessness and poverty are met by God's infinite power and mercy. Despite their impotence, beings carry heavy loads and perform significant duties, maintaining the general order. This lemma highlights that in everything, there are two witnesses that God is necessary and one, reflecting oneness and sameness.
Understanding Sameness (Samadiyya)
The concept of "sameness" (samadiyya) is explored, noting that while God needs nothing, everything needs Allah. Poverty, in this context, means meeting all needs through Allah, connecting to the source of oneness. Poverty is defined as giving up all existence of the heart and being in a relationship only with Allah, feeling that only Allah is needed. Fakr (spiritual poverty) involves cutting off ties from the possible and turning towards the necessary body, Hazrat Ehadu Sameda. Oneness is the name of the essence of God Almighty, while sameness means declaring our name and poverty. Earth and poverty look at ehadu samed, emphasizing that God's self-sufficiency means we need nothing other than Allah.
The Secret of Poverty and Istina Morality
The secret of poverty is "istina," which is the morality of not being a hardship to anyone other than Allah. This is reflected in the "Tawhidname" prayer, which seeks independence from everything except God. Ehadu Samed means cutting off relations with beings and contacting God from that center. Man abandons mortal and imperishable things from his heart and becomes mortal to divine attributes and names, reaching poverty. Poverty becomes a burden of faith, erasing all wills and powers except Allah's. A person with this understanding becomes indifferent to everything other than Allah.
14th Lama: The Perfection Lama
The 14th Lama, the "Perfection Lama," explains that beings testify to God's existence, unity, and also declare that there is no defect or flaw in the Creator's essence, attributes, names, and actions. All beings declare the existence of God Almighty through their manifestations in the universe. God's names are both Majestic (Celali) and Beautiful (Cemali), intertwined in a Kemal (perfection). Examples include the thorns and leaves of a rose, or a snake in a forest painting, illustrating how Celal and Cemal coexist.
Understanding Perfection (Kemal)
The video explains that Kemal (perfection) is not just completeness but a balance of Celal (majesty) and Cemal (beauty). Beings show the existence and unity of God and declare that Allah is the necessary Being. They prove God's names are Majestic, Beautiful, and Perfect. There is no defect in God's essence, attributes, names, or actions. The perfection of the work witnesses the perfection of the act, which indicates the perfection of the name, leading to the perfection of the attribute and ultimately the perfection of the essence.
The Chain of Perfection: From Essence to Existence
The chain of perfection is described as: Essence, Shuunat, Attributes, Names, Efals (actions), and things (existence). The perfection of the work is evident, and the perfection of the act clearly shows the perfection of the name. The perfection of the name indicates the perfection of the attribute, which leads to the perfection of the essence. An example is given of a pavilion or palace, where the decorations and ornaments indicate the perfection of the actions, names, and attributes of the maker.
Understanding the Essence of God Almighty
The video addresses the most obscure concept: the essence of the essence of God Almighty. It references the Quran (Surah Ar-Rahman, verse 29) and theologians, explaining that the word "Glory" is used to describe a level of consideration where certain attributes emerge. These attributes, such as will, power, and speech, are based on shen (divine powers). The ability to interpret these concepts requires a certain level of spiritual attainment or being within the attraction and inclination of God.
Applying the Lamas: Seeing Perfection in Wildflowers
The lesson applies these concepts by examining wildflowers, observing the perfection of the action, names, and attributes in them. The embroidery, ornaments, and description seen in the flowers lead to recognizing God as the ornamented one and the Creator. The 14th Lama of Kemal emphasizes that all beings point to the essence of God, indicating a necessary existence, bearing witness to unity, and indicating the perfection of God's attributes, acts, and essence.
Achieving True Tawhid
To achieve true Tawhid, one must see three things in everything: the existence of God Almighty, the unity of God Almighty, and the perfection of the attributes, acts, and essence of God Almighty. This involves recognizing coins, hatems, and tails in everything observed.
The Truth Seeker in the Orbit of Cemal
The video concludes by reading a section from Hoca Efendi, describing the "truth seeker in the orbit of the name Cemal." This individual, with an understanding of true Tawhid, is always walking towards God, living in abundance but with unity as their goal. Despite physical burdens, their heart and spiritual life flutter towards God. They solve the mystery of oneness with the lights of unity, balancing majesty with beauty. They express astonishment, glorifications, and takbirs, trying to stay away from ignorance and speaking of the universe from multiplicity. The seeker is urged to escape from multiplicity, walk towards the court of individual oneness, and decide on spiritual unity.
Conclusion
The lesson connects the secret of helplessness and poverty to the orbit of Cemal, linking the names of God Almighty to the attributes of faqr and the perfection in His essence. The video ends by emphasizing that trade with Allah is trade without loss, urging viewers to turn the occultation line into perpetual peace and make a continuous parade towards the skies of oneness and unity.
