Out of vacuum and nothingness the All-Pervading Energy radiates as omnipresent spirit, in opposition to darkness, which is in fact just only a human illusion. Darkness could be seen as less light and light could be seen as less darkness. This sequence has no apparent purpose, yet in the mystery behind it lays the secret of all creation, as referred to by the term ‘logos’ in ancient Greek mysticism. However, abstract concepts can only be intuitively perceived, beyond the limitations of logical definitions.
Materialization is discernible in the formation of various shapes, substances and sounds, all individualized in different proportions, within basic components (Akasha) and are motivated by various types of energies, such as accommodation seen in the earth element, receptivity seen in the water element, transformation seen in the fire element and expansion seen in the air element. Out of various combinations of the elements different minerals develop, followed by the outburst of an endless diversity of vegetation, and finally the creation of moving creatures, as well as the human inhabitants of the earth.
The physical body, which can also be considered as a universe in itself, reveals traces of the mineral kingdom, the vegetable kingdom and the animal kingdom, which are stages of evolution seen along the process of embodiment of the human state. In the human being, the responsibility of improving on nature’s creation is seemingly the purpose of life, which is in fact an unconscious longing to trace back the indefinable origins.
The polarities spirit and matter are obviously recognizable in the allegorical concepts of heaven and hell, referred to in some form or other, according to specific religious doctrines, thereby providing the preachers with a hold upon the masses, with th aim of determining what is virtue and what is evil.
There is no such thing as an angelic enclosure called heaven, where the virtuous ones are welcomed with rewards, nor is there a place called hell where the evildoers are kept in captivity. Virtue and evil are not reflected upon the screen of the indefinable. In fact, in our doings, it is we who create heaven or hell for ourselves and for others, and what is more, the heaven of one person, may be hell of another.
However, the concept of heaven and hell could eventually be understood from a mystical point of view, when imagining oneself standing in front of a mirror, clad in rags, but the sight of misery has no influence upon the mirror. Similarly, when clad in wealthy cloths, the mirror makes no difference between misery and wealth, but only reflects back that which was shown upon it. This explains why joys and sorrows do not affect the soul, when such conditions are cast upon it, likened the reflections in the mirror, which leave no trace upon the screen of the indefinable life-spirit within.
Hidayat Inayat-Khan
