Every human being is composed of three bodies or souls. Each body is then comprised of two subtle substances (latifa, plural latayef).
Al-nafs al-ammara: a.k.a. Animal Soul, lower Self, ruh haywani = Soul (nafs) + Heart (qalb).
Al-nafs al-lawwama: a.k.a. Human Soul, Ego, ruh insani = Soul (ruh) + Consciousness (sha’ur).
Al-nafs al-mutma’inna: a.k.a. Contented Soul, Higher Self, ruh a’zam = Mystery (khafi) + Arcanum (akhfa).
These six subtle substances (or chakras, which we are going to call spheres) are further divided into six more layers of light and pure light (nur). From the three waves of light, diurnal senses are formed, while through three pure-light (nur) waves, nocturnal senses are formed. The layers of light are necessary for the diurnal senses, while the pure-light waves are needed for the functioning of nocturnal life.
Each one of us wakes up after sleeping. After waking up, when our eyes first open, we enter into the conscious senses. We can call this state semi-awakening. What we mean by semi-awakening is that during this stage, we have not yet fully entered into consciousness. However, the moment we wake up from sleep and enter the first state of awakening, our soul is inundated by thoughts and actions—meaning that the awakened styles of thoughts and actions start flowing collectively.
After semi-awakening, the second stage starts. During this stage, our mental alertness deepens. As it deepens, the drowsiness that our brain feels ends. During this stage, we enter into a state of exhilaration or slight intoxication (khumaar). This feeling of slight intoxication fluctuates and activates the sphere of the Heart (qalb). When the feeling of exhilaration gets stronger, it turns into wajdani (intuitive ecstasy). This is the third stage of wakefulness. During this ecstasy, the sphere of the Soul (ruh) is activated.
First stage:
Semi-wakefulness (initiation of conscious senses) = Thoughts and actions converge into one point = Sphere of Soul activates.
Second stage:
Drowsiness decreases, gives way to alertness = Exhilaration = Sphere of Heart activates.
Third stage:
Exhilaration deepens = Ecstasy = Sphere of Soul (ruh) activates.
Just as there are three stages of wakefulness, there are three stages of sleep as well. The way we enter into wakefulness by going through three stages, we enter into sleep by going through three stages as well. The stage between sleep and wakefulness is ghanood (drowsiness).
During drowsiness, the sphere of sirr (conscience) is activated. The second stage of sleep, which could be labeled as light sleep, is the movement of the sphere of khafi (mystery). The third and final stage of sleep, which is often called ‘deep sleep’, is the movement of the akhfa (arcanum) sphere.
A point to ponder is that at the start of all these states, we all go through a state of stillness. When we wake up, our mind is usually at peace and is filled with a feeling of emptiness. Similarly, during other states as well, we go through this period of brief tranquility. This means that to shift from one state to another, serenity is essential. Just as during wakefulness every condition begins with tranquility, in the same way, drowsy senses also experience slight tranquility, and after some moments, this serenity of the senses deepens and turns into sleepiness. Early sleep, after going through that quiet moment for a while, turns into light sleep, and then finally, the quiet waves of deep sleep take over. That is why this influence is called deep sleep.
Laws of Vision
Waking and dreaming are both related to senses. In one state, the speed of senses goes up, while in the other it goes down. However, their condition does not change. Whether awake or asleep, the same kind and style of senses work. Waking or dreaming are actually two chambers of the brain—or in other words, we have two brains. When senses are activated in one brain, it is called waking, while when the senses are activated in the other, it is labeled as sleep. This means that the same kinds of senses interchange between waking and sleeping. This interchanging of senses is, in fact, life. When one kind of sense becomes dormant inside the brain, the other kind simply takes over. During wakefulness, the senses start working right when blinking starts—that is, when the eyelids start hitting the eyeballs. When this process happens, we come out of sleep and enter the waking state. In our present time, we can use the example of a still camera as a metaphor. Even when there is film inside the camera and it has a lens, the camera will not work unless the button is pressed, causing the shutter to open and close within a tenth of a second or so.
In the same manner, unless the eyelids fall on the eyeballs (blinking), the frontal screen is not going to fall on the roll of the brain. This is the second stage of beholding during the waking stage. The first stage begins when a thought enters the mind of a person as they wake up from sleep. That very thought becomes the barrier between sleep and awakening. As this thought deepens, the process of blinking starts, and the scene in front of the eyes begins transmitting to the screen of the brain.
The law of sight is that the brain not only receives the picture of the outward image but also receives the information with it. By seeing, the mind attaches meaning to that information. The image that falls on the screen of the mind through blinking usually lasts for 15 seconds. Before those 15 seconds pass, other images fall one by one on the screen and take over the previous image. That process remains consistent throughout the waking period.
During the waking period, vision is directly linked to the eyeballs. Through blinking, the eye camera actually takes pictures continuously. The rule is that if blinking is suspended, then the nerves inside the eye will stop working. The senses of the eye nerves function only as long as the blinking process goes on. If the eyelids are forced to remain open and the movement of the eyeball is stopped, then empty space appears in front of the vision and the picture-making process of the eyes halts.
The entire universe and all the creatures in it are linked together in a cohesive manner. Different stages of life and different times seem separate when seen with the outward eyes. However, no matter how different they may seem, all stages of time and life are linked to the center. Rays or waves serve as communicators between the inhabitants of the universe and the center. On one hand, the waves from the central source descend, feed the individuals of the universe, and maintain centralization. On the other hand, after feeding the creatures of the universe, these waves ascend back to their source. This never-ending process of ascent and descent is life. The distance these waves cover ends up making this universe look like a loop. With ascending and descending movements, this loop further divides into six more loops. The first circle of the universe and its inhabitants is called Soul (nafs). The Soul is like a lamp from which light is emitted. The light or wave of this lamp is, in fact, vision or sight.
Evidently, where there is a ray, there will be light, and wherever light is, it brightens the environment. Wherever the lamp-light falls, it observes. The light of the lamp is composed of many colors. The more colors it has, the more colorfulness it brings to the environment. The intensity of the lamp’s light ranges from very low to extremely bright. When low-intensity light falls on objects, whims about them enter our mind. Objects on which medium-intensity light falls create thoughts in our mind. When high-intensity light shines on objects, their images form in our mind. Finally, when extreme-intensity light falls on things, they can be seen with our sight. In fact, in order to see anything, we go through these four stages.
In order to see and comprehend anything, first a whim about that thing enters the mind—meaning a very diminutive sketch is formed. When the whim deepens, it becomes a thought. When a thought goes deep inside the mind, the picture of that object comes into being. When the picture deepens, the thought becomes imagination, and when the picture in the imagination converts into form and figure, that object comes into the range of our sight.
Cognition points out that seeing is an ability that works even in the dimmest light. Even the lightest sketch of any given thing—even if it is merely a whim—sends it to the vision so that, after going through the other three stages, the object can be seen in the dimension of form and figure, with all its colorfulness.
The way we have described the rule of vision, all senses work in the same fashion. These senses are smell, hearing, taste, and touch. All the interests and activities of life—events, actions, and the entire system—are based on the same rule mentioned above.