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| Dr Ron Hulnick, USM presenting human levels of consciousness |
Later this model inspired me a parallel we can make between these layers of human consciousness and the word "Nafs" (self) used in Quran. This is what I'd like to share with you.
1) Human Being Model
The model of Dr Hulnick is what many spiritual teachers stress about human consciousness : the more you go inside the more you discover subtle layers of consciousness. So this is my own version of the model presented by Dr Hulnick : |
| A Spiritual Model of a Human Being Consciousness |
- At the top we find our physical body and sens perceptions. It is our anchor in this life, whenever we are lost in our mind and emotions. Just a few conscious breaths or paying attention to our sens perceptions, and again we are here and now; connected to real world. The thoughts simply fade away.This technique is really magic, it is like we power off the stream of thinking just by a little conscious breathing. Our physical body is our biggest gift given by God (or Universe if you prefer). It let us be rooted in reality and make us part of this great and beautiful symphony playing across the entire universe.
- Just below the body there is a huge world : Mind. What a beautiful creation of the Universe ! A more recent creation of the Universe comparing to the body. It is mind which allows us to create many beautiful things on this Planet. Mind, in the hands of a conscious being, is a wonderful tool. But as a Master of our being, it is a curse ! Lost in our Thinking Mind, we become uprooted from this Universe. Surfing mind thoughts can lead us to a scary world full of fear, anger, war, etc.
- Below Mind, there is the vast realm of Emotions. More subtle energy than Mind, emotions are more fleeting and more powerful too ! If Mind need a few seconds to think, an emotion is almost instant. An emotion can be so violent to create a flow of thoughts and even manifest at the body level. Emotions can also be very subtle and persistent and poisons a human being life without noticing it. Of course, Mind and Emotions feed each other. A simple thought can create a profound emotion and vice-versa.
- Below Emotions there is a huge realm of darkness, the so called Unconscious. Our being is not aware of its content. It is made of very subtle energies made of past emotions or thoughts, either personal or collective. Our repressions go there too, feeding this huge dark "tank". Since it is unconscious, we can't observe it as we can do with the upper layers. But we can witness indirectly its manifestations. From time to time, triggered by some event, out of the blue, a very subtle emotion or thought bubbles from Unconscious and manifest itself. Later (may be in no time) it amplifies in upper layers and becomes stronger. A meditative consciousness can notice this bubbling from its beginning. A less consciousness human being can act following the blue print of this subtle thought without knowing its origin.
- Beyond these layers there is our true self. It is this very consciousness which allows all the above layers to exist and to interact. Usually overlooked by human beings, but it is our true nature. Our true self is an infinite entity connected to the whole Universe. Its brightness shines from time to time through the physical body; when the intermediary layers are less agitated. It is the source of all creativity in this world. A scientist or an artist tap some glimpses from this vast source. After that, they manifest it in the form of a piece of art or science using the Mind and the Body.
2) Human Consciousness and "Nafs", or Self in Quran
I discover an amazing thing : Quran is talking about at least three kind of "Nafs" or Self :
- Annafs Allawama or Blaming Self : "(2) وَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ " in Surat Al-Qiyama (79).
- Annafs Al Ammara bi sou' or Tempting Self : "وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي ۚ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّي ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (53)" in Surat Yusuf (12)
- Annafs Al Moutmainna or Peaceful Self : "يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ (27) ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً (28) فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي (29) وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي (30)" in Surat Alfajr (89)
Now the diagram of the previous section is remade using these three kind of Nafs :
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| Spiritual Human Being Consciousness Model translated in Arabic |
Dr Ron stress the following fact conveyed by all spiritual teachers : all the layers above true Self are the realm of duality : good/bad, beautiful/ugly, hot/cold, etc. But the true Self transcends all these dualities : it is a realm of Peace and Oneness : this for me the "Peaceful Self" (Annafs Moutmainna) mentioned in the Quran. The realm of duality is in continuous tension between the two other kind of Self : the Tempting and the Blaming Selves . The meaning of the end of Surat Alfajr may be that the way to Paradise is to transcend this duality and be aware of this non dualistic and peaceful Self.
3) Let Our True Self Shine
The previous diagram shows also an excerpt from Surat Annour Aya 40 which says :
أَوْ كَظُلُمَاتٍ فِي بَحْرٍ لُّجِّيٍّ يَغْشَاهُ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِ سَحَابٌ ۚ ظُلُمَاتٌ بَعْضُهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ إِذَا أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ لَمْ يَكَدْ يَرَاهَا ۗ وَمَن لَّمْ يَجْعَلِ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُورًا فَمَا لَهُ مِن نُّورٍ (40)
which can be translated as :
Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds - darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allah has not granted light - for him there is no light.So the "... waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds" sound for me like the three layers of "Ripples of Unconscious", "Ripples of Emotions" and "Clouds of Thoughts". I love this parallel since usually spiritual teachers talked about ripples or clouds in our layers of consciousness covering our true being. If the surface of the ocean is calm and the sky is clear, the stars become visible and we can see through water...
So to let the light of our true being shine through the layers of our consciousness. And there is a golden way to achieve this : witnessing (not lost in) our Mind and being watchful of (not following) our Emotions. By doing so, we will be again transparent to the light, our inner light...
... and this is what Meditation or Sufi Dhikr is all about ...
