"INTERNAL STATES CONDUCTIVE TO PERFECTING THE LIFE IN PRAYER
AWARENESS
By conscious awareness we mean that state in which one's mind and feelings are in no way distracted from what one is doing and saying. Perception is united with action and speech. Thoughts do not wander. When the mind remains attentive to what one is doing, when one is whole-heartedly involved, and when nothing makes one heedless, that is when one has achieved conscious awareness."
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship
And following up on yesterday's discussion of the challenges - or at least my challenges - of sometimes losing focus during prayer, here's another passage from Ghazli's work. He provides six key concepts, which I'll tackle over the next week.
So we start off with Awareness. Truthfully, although al-Ghazali is obviously correct in the need for awareness, bringing us back to our discussion of monkey mind, I don't know if this necessarily gives me the tools I need to avoid wandering off during prayer/meditation. Or maybe he does. I'm struck by al-Ghazali's statement that, "Perception is united with action and speech." In The Heart of Islam Nasr proposes that all of life is a jihad, in that it's all a struggle for God and with the support of God. Maybe it's better to think of prayer in the same way. By that I mean that it might be better to not think of prayer as some isolated event where you connect with God several times a day, but rather a more seamless part of your daily life; which would, in theory, make the transition into the prayer space, physical and spiritual, less jarring? Essentially, live my life in a more intentional way, where perception is more clearly united with action and speech. However, as Muslims we are supposed to live in the world. Islam is a very active faith which requires you to play a role in the outside world, but then step away from it five times a day for a more pure, focused meditative moment with your faith. In classic Islamic thought there is no separation between the secular and sacred worlds, but clearly we do draw a line. When we take our shoes off before entering a mosque or perform ablution before praying we are clearly crossing a boundary. Of course, you are bringing the best parts of the faith, the guiding principles of how you treat others, with you when you cross back.
Hmmm, all I think I've done so far is muddy the waters.
AWARENESS
By conscious awareness we mean that state in which one's mind and feelings are in no way distracted from what one is doing and saying. Perception is united with action and speech. Thoughts do not wander. When the mind remains attentive to what one is doing, when one is whole-heartedly involved, and when nothing makes one heedless, that is when one has achieved conscious awareness."
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship
And following up on yesterday's discussion of the challenges - or at least my challenges - of sometimes losing focus during prayer, here's another passage from Ghazli's work. He provides six key concepts, which I'll tackle over the next week.
So we start off with Awareness. Truthfully, although al-Ghazali is obviously correct in the need for awareness, bringing us back to our discussion of monkey mind, I don't know if this necessarily gives me the tools I need to avoid wandering off during prayer/meditation. Or maybe he does. I'm struck by al-Ghazali's statement that, "Perception is united with action and speech." In The Heart of Islam Nasr proposes that all of life is a jihad, in that it's all a struggle for God and with the support of God. Maybe it's better to think of prayer in the same way. By that I mean that it might be better to not think of prayer as some isolated event where you connect with God several times a day, but rather a more seamless part of your daily life; which would, in theory, make the transition into the prayer space, physical and spiritual, less jarring? Essentially, live my life in a more intentional way, where perception is more clearly united with action and speech. However, as Muslims we are supposed to live in the world. Islam is a very active faith which requires you to play a role in the outside world, but then step away from it five times a day for a more pure, focused meditative moment with your faith. In classic Islamic thought there is no separation between the secular and sacred worlds, but clearly we do draw a line. When we take our shoes off before entering a mosque or perform ablution before praying we are clearly crossing a boundary. Of course, you are bringing the best parts of the faith, the guiding principles of how you treat others, with you when you cross back.
Hmmm, all I think I've done so far is muddy the waters.
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