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SUFI PSYCHOTHERAPY
Let us continue the analogy of the human being as like a seed. Sufi psychotherapy focuses on removal of hindrances to proper growth and development and on providing the seed with the requirements necessary for full development. If you want a seed to grow well, the soil must have the proper nutrients and the site must have sufficient, but not too much, sunlight, with no windbreak. The seed and growing plant must be protected from extremes of temperatures or storms. Before planting, the land must be cleared — any large stones removed. Fences made out of stones removed from the soil last for centuries. Any old trees must be cut down — they can be used for fire wood. Once the trees are cut, digging out the roots is the hard work. They go deep. The brush must be cleared, so the land is open to the sun. Then the soil must be tilled.
A gardener is essential, for the seed should not be planted just any old time. The gardener knows when to plant, and he knows the depth. Different seeds need different depths. Weeding must be selective. Some varieties of plants in certain locations do better with certain kinds of weeds growing around them — weeds that keep away insects and parasites. Watering must be the right amount for the kind of plant you want to grow. Support must be provided if necessary — staking or a trellis may be needed for certain plants. Ultimately, most plants need careful pruning.
Pir Nader Angha teaches that all the natural characteristics of a seed, its adaptability, capability, its growth agents and the perfect coordination of its living parts, all of which are based upon its essential and constant identity, are concentrated and preserved in that particular seed. If one paid careful attention to the trunk, branches, leaves and fruit of a tree, and could see the dominating force and power that guided the form, design, and all the hidden characteristics of that beautiful tree, one could discover the genuine identity in the seed itself. And so it is with a human being. Such observations do not belong to the level of physical and sensual discoveries.
If the mind becomes pure and clear of all the attractions that are being offered by the outside world, and its attachment to the physical plane becomes trivial, it will become inspired by the source of knowledge, the heart. The mind will become like a polished mirror on which the truth of the heart will reflect and manifest the knowledge beyond the boundaries of the body. When the mind becomes a clear mirror as well, the reception of information will then be from the unlimited source of knowledge, the heart, as opposed to the senses.
If this does not occur, the information that is gathered is basically memories in the filing system of the brain, and because of the activity that goes on in the cell, it will manifest any memory at an appropriate time. The reality of receiving becomes a mirage, and the more one is inclined toward the action and reaction of the cell the more the senses will respond with attention to the memories. The more we deny the memories, the closer we come to the purity of the heart. It is like rooting weeds from the earth, and that is the truth of the awakened hearts. The famed Sufi Master, Professor Angha, tells us, in Message from the Soul:
The awakening of hearts is in the harmony of the soul with the truth of existence at the point of equilibrium. If six conditions come together with another six in your deeds, the sign of leadership will appear in you.
Six Conditions
1. Concentration of thoughts
2. Awareness of conscience
3. Endurance and patience in reaching God
4. Keeping of vows and firmness of step
5. Finding complete trust in God
6. Clear-sightedness
Six Complementary Deeds
1. Purifying the self
2. contemplating in solitude
3. Endeavoring to discover the truth
4. Concentrating the external and internal powers
5. Being consistent in ascending the states
6. Attaining tranquility
When the heart of a disciple attends altogether to these twelve principles, his self and tongue will be safe from misdeeds.
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