Our mind is a screen on which the movie of life is displayed. This screen consists of two layers. On one layer, the movie of physical senses is displayed. Any wishes and needs that enter the mind in the form of thought fall on the outer layer of the conscious mind, and through those needs, the different systems of the physical body function.
The second layer of the screen exists in the depths of the mind. It can also be called the inner layer. At this layer, the photographic reflection of information is displayed in the form of light. Under normal conditions, this screen does not come before our eyes.
Example
In a movie theater, the projector is placed on the opposite side, facing the screen. Once the film is loaded into the projector, it is turned on with the light switch. As the film rolls, the images fall on the screen with the help of the light through which they travel. These images on the screen become “alive” the moment they strike it. However, when we look at the space between the projector and the screen, all we see is a stream of light coming from the area where the projector is working. Those rays of light carry all the images visible on the screen.
Hence, this process can be divided into three parts: first, the images of the film; second, the light through which those images travel and eventually fall on the screen; and third, the screen itself, on which the images are displayed.
When we are under the influence of physical senses, we see the film on our physical screen. At that moment, the reflection of the film falls on the outer surface (layer) of consciousness. By nature, our memory makes us dependent on gravity. Under the restrictions of time and space, we can only observe the “present moment.”
Our mind also contains a screen of light on which the cosmic film is displayed. On that screen, we can even see objects that are otherwise hidden from our physical eyes. In this mode of observation, the restrictions of time and space do not apply. In the present moment, we can observe any moment—past or future, near or far.
Whatever we see travels on factors that are invisible to the eye. Nevertheless, without their presence, no action can manifest. Every action of a living being is interconnected, and the creation of every moment depends on the previous one. The first moment leads to the second, and the second to the third. We cannot deny the existence of life’s activities, which we refer to as the “past” and those we call the “future,” all within the “present moment.”
All the attributes and information of life are attached to the physical being. Normally, our eyes cannot see them. However, whenever we need them, they come forward. Physical (outward) senses cannot perceive them, but we cannot deny their existence. These attributes exist fully in the realm of lights (the non-physical world), operating through waves or the chemical properties of cells.
When we see someone, for example, John Doe, our eyes only perceive a body made of flesh and bones. His personal attributes remain hidden from our sight—whether he is kind-hearted, well-behaved, sensitive, and so on. His brain contains unlimited scientific knowledge, his memory has registered millions of images, and there are countless ongoing activities in his body and mind that remain unseen.
His life is a collection of various activities from birth to the present. Every mental and physical activity is a motion. John’s entire life is like a movie, in which each action (motion) is an image. However, even a single image can never be removed from John Doe’s life. The man before us appears as merely a figure of bones and flesh, but his past, his future, and all of his abilities and attributes are hidden from our eyes. This means the real John Doe is defined by his attributes, while his body is merely an outward display of those attributes.
The hidden life of John Doe and all his qualities exist in the form of a film or record. The material manifestation of this film is his physical being, which could also be called consciousness. Our eyes can only see the John Doe of limited qualities, while his unlimited qualities and attributes remain hidden. Yet, no one can deny their existence.
This hidden record or film always coexists with the mind. For instance, when we see someone we haven’t seen in twenty-five years, we do not need to consciously recall the events of those years or enter the time zone of twenty-five years ago. We instantly recognize that person. This means the subconscious holds the record of those twenty-five years. When the record comes into motion, the interim period is bypassed to retrieve the twenty-five-year-old personality. Our mind accesses the “moment” stored in that record.
The seed of a tree is considered the earliest form of its existence. When combined with soil, water, and a specific temperature, it comes into motion. It may seem illogical that such a tiny seed contains all the information about the tree’s life—its branches, leaves, fruits, and future generations. Yet it is undeniably true. As the seed grows, it completes various stages. In other words, the seed holds the entire life record of the tree, which eventually manifests in full form.
According to Sufism, all records of attributes exist at a level called the World of Lights (Luminous World). This record can be accessed like watching a film. The fundamental step to watch this “inner movie” is to turn the vision away from the physical screen. In this practice, all methods are focused on shifting the sight from the outer screen to the inner one. During this effort, consciousness becomes subdued, and the sight rejects the screen that usually dominates our conscious state.
With consistent practice, the focus of sight shifts to the screen that exists in the inner layer of the mind, where the hidden reality of the universe is displayed.
Focusing our sight on the inner film is not part of our daily routine. Therefore, our lower self tries to end the quest. Different thoughts cross our minds, and we tend to grow bored. To maintain our focus on the inner screen, we must repeat the process often until we become accustomed to it.
The “Point of Essence” (Nuqta-e-Dhat) within a human being can observe the wonders of the universe on both screens. The reason we are unaware of the inner screen is that all our interest lies in the outer one. We simply do not develop interest in observing the inner screen.