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Chains of Captivity, Attachment and Dependence
Attachments and dependences- inner and outer possessions, are major obstacles to revelation of truth and to getting along the path of divine guidance. It is not easy for us to break off from our attachments. The more our possessions and attachments are, the harder our progress in the path of divine guidance would be...
Every attachment entails bondage, captivity and dependence; the fact of having or not having something becomes important to us...Possessions such as money and material things, spouse, child and all kinds of occupations, entertainments and addictions are among the most outstanding outer attachments.
But why attachments are considered as impediments to the Flow of Divine Guidance?
In fact man has a determined reserve of energy. The level of his energy is high enough to take him back to the divine territory, to the Unbound Being and to the Absolute Perfection; and when we spend this energy, which can also manifest itself like attention, for other things we shall be short of the necessary level of energy and attention for returning to God. We shall not be able to fly towards the unbounded for our wings have become weakened. That is why the more our attachments are the slower and weaker the pace of our progression towards the Lord will be. Similarly, the contrary of this statement is valid.
Of course there are also those who, despite remaining stuck to their attachments, pretend to have enough energy to go towards God!!! This is as if a person having heavy shackles on his hands and feet pretend to be able to swim from the depth to the surface of the sea. It is obvious that this will not practically happen...
''Throw possessions away. Travel light so you could fly.''
...The roots of mans sufferings and troubles lie in being separated from the truth and the source of his existence and of being emptied of the conscious presence of the Supreme Creator. This emptiness creates an inner gap that is the source of all troubles and pressures in human life.
Somehow we seek to put an end to these profound pain and anxiety in our minds and hearts through our attachments and dependencies. We believe the more we accumulate and possess the closer and richer we can get; yet this is only an absurd delusion...
''Knowledge* and possessions'' act like alcohol; they cause drunkenness and unawareness so we might momentarily and not definitely forget the realities of life and essential problems. However, our problems not only have not been solved but they have also grown more complicated and larger. Sooner or later we shall face them again. On the other hand if we do not feel any pain we shall not seek any remedy; and if we have forgotten we are sick, there will be no reason for us to look for a doctor.
He who is attached to his possessions and knowledge has a false feeling of serenity and relative security - ''a false feeling'' of self sufficiency and power. Such person is drunk and a drunk is unable to notice the realities.
Though not apparently but in practice, he does not feel any need for God and is not eager to know about divine mysteries. Such person is likely to rise up against divine commandments and laws.
The more we feel we need the Lord, the more He reveals Himself in us and the closer we get to Him. But he who is ''a slave to his own attachments'' does not feel to be in need of God and if ever he feels something it would be either very weak or it would go no father than words and delusions. Such a person does not need - does not feed any feel for - a teacher and guide for he has different goal in his mind. Since he has not yet realized he is lost and believes he has found serenity and comfort, therefore, he does not apparently need any guide or any guidance...
The Lord is Great, Magnificent and Holy and shall not manifest Himself in everywhere and in everybody. He is peerless and sees no equal to Himself; therefore, He would manifest Himself in a place emptied of everything. When we are, both inwardly and outwardly, filled up with possessions, desires, knowledge and attachments, the Light of God would never reveal itself in such circumstances...
What would you do if you wanted to pour clear healing water into a container filled with poison? Would you pour it on the poison? Of course, this would be a foolish thing to do.
*An acquired knowledge without understanding and awareness.
However, it is wise ''to empty the poison'' first and to throw it away; next, to wash out the container thoroughly until there would be no trace of poison left, and only then to pour the healing water in it. Likewise, if we want [the Spirit of] the Lord to shower on us and fill our being with Its light, we should also wash ourselves out. We should relinquish all the poisons and toxins namely all knowledge, doubts, deductions, materiality, occupations and everything we have in order to receive what we have not - the great joy and the divine glory. We should renounce seeking our self and begin seeking the Lord; and the Lord shall give Himself to he who seeks Him, indeed.
We must throw away what has to be thrown out and to relinquish what has to be abandoned. We have to wash out the receptacle of our being from every poison and filth; comprehension is the antidote and tears are the cleaning agent...
When we become attached to something and it becomes ours, we have, in reality, surrendered ourselves to it. To surrender oneself to meanness and left-over of this world is to surrender to ones gloomy caprices and desires. How could he possibly surrender himself to the Lord Most High - Whose greatness is unconceivable? Does he deserve to carry out divine commandments or does the Lord give him such permission at all? This would be unconceivable and unfeasible indeed.
How can we know if we are attached to something or not? It depends on how much we are busy with it, how much it imports to us to have or not to have it, how much we think about it and try to get it, and how much we would be disappointed if it should be taken away from us.
Blessed is he who belongs only to the Lord and his likings and desires are directed towards Him alone. He is a true Moslem for he has really surrendered himself to God. The only thing that matters to him is to draw himself closer to Him and the only think he fears is being separated from God. The joy and satisfaction of the Lord are important to him. He makes every effort to reach the divine source and his creator. He is truly happy and salvation shall be his reward. He shall end in union with God; he shall die in Him and shall be reborn in Him...
What is meant by being free from attachment? Does it mean to live the life of a recluse?
Definitely not. Whatever God has created and bestowed on us is good and sacred. Every opportunity and occasion He has given us is a factor of elevation and growth. Everything is a gift from God - money, wife and husband, children, parents, enlightening pleasures, recreation and rest. Yet all these could be either good and blissful or bad and evil. When you are enslaved by them, they are malignant and jeopardizing. However possessions and knowledge could also be beatific when you would not depend on them and you would be above them and not in the same level or under them. They could be salutary if their existence or non-existence matters because they could get you closer to or keep you away from the Lord, or if they would not prevent you from flying, or if they would not deviate your attention that should be dedicated to God, or if they would not waste your energy that should be spent for discovering divine mysteries and moving towards Him. But beware of self-deception and false justification and condoning your deeds.
Most people who claimed to be detached and above their possessions and knowledge were wrong in their pretensions and deceiving themselves. Do not underestimate the deadly traps of self-delusion...
To be continued
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