Rule
1:
How we discover God is a
direct expression of how we view ourselves. If God brings to mind mostly fear
and blame, it implies there is mostly fear and blame welled inside us. If we
view God as full of passion and compassion, so are we.
Aamer: Your passion and compassion belong to your lover.
Rule
2:
The Path to the Truth is
a confinement of the gist, not of the mind. Make your heart your primary guide.
Not your mind. Meet, challenge, and ultimately prevail over your nafs (false
ego) with your heart. Knowing your ego (higher self/soul) will lead you to the
knowledge of God.
Aamer:
You have to overcome your egos.
Rule 3:
Each and every reader
comprehends the Qur’an/Bible on a different level in tandem with the depth of
his understanding. There are 4 levels of insight. The first level is the outer
meaning and it is the one that the majority of people are content with. Next is
the Batum- the inner level. Third there is the inner of the inner. And the
fourth level is so deep it cannot be put into words and is therefore bound to
be indescribable. Scholars who focus on the Sharia/ Bible know the outer
meaning. Sufis/ Light workers know the inner meaning. Saints know the inner of
the inner. The fourth level is known by prophets and those closest to God. So
don’t judge the way other people connect to God. To everyone there is his, own way
and his own prayer. God does not take us at our word but looks deep into our
hearts. It is not the ceremonies or rituals that make a difference, but whether
our hearts are sufficiently pure or not.
Aamer: Don’t judge other people by their appearance.
Rule 4:
You can study God
through everything and everyone in the universe, because God is not confined in
a mosque, synagogue or church. But if you are still in need of knowing exactly
where his abode is, there is only one place to look for him: in the heart of a
true lover.
Aamer: He always lives in you.
Rule 5:
Intellect and love are
made of two different materials. Intellect ties people in knots and risks
nothing, but love dissolves all tangles and risks everything. Intellect is
always cautious and advises, “Beware too much ecstasy,” whereas Love says, “Oh
never mind. Take the plunge!” Intellect does not easily break down, whereas
love can effortlessly reduce itself to rubble. But treasures are hidden amongst
ruins. A broken heart hides treasure.
Aamer: You have to associate with people.
Rule 6:
Most of the problems of
the world stem from linguistic mistakes and simple misunderstandings. Don’t
ever take words at face value. When you step into the zone of love, language as
we know it becomes obsolete. That which cannot be put into words can only be
grasped through silence.
Aamer: Be Polite and humble to others.
Rule 7:
Loneliness and solitude
are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself
into believing you are on the right path. Solitude is better for us, as it
means being alone without being lonely. But eventually it is best to find a
person, that person will be your mirror. Remember, only in another person’s
heart can you truly see yourself and the presence of God within you.
Aamer: Be in like-minded people they are your mirror.
Rule 8:
Whatever happens in your
life, no matter how troubling things may seem, do not enter the neighborhood of
despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only
for you. Be thankful! It is easy to be
thankful when all is well. A Sufi/Light-worker is thankful not only for what
she/he has been given, but also for what she/he has been denied.
Aamer: Always be thankful to your Lord (Be Positive).
Rule 9:
Patience does not mean
to passively endure. It means to be farsighted enough to trust the end result
of a process. What does patience mean?
It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, to look at the night and see
the dawn. Impatience means to be so short-sighted as to not be able to see the
outcome. The lovers (of God) never run out of patience, for they know that time
is needed for the crescent moon to become full.
Aamer: Never ever lose hope.
Rule 10:
East, West, South or
North makes little difference. No matter what your destination, just be sure to
make every journey, a journey within. If you travel within, you’ll travel the
whole wide world and beyond.
Aamer: First explore yourself.
Rule
11:
The midwife knows that
when there is no pain, the way for the baby cannot be opened and the mother
cannot give birth. Likewise for a new self to be born, hardship is necessary.
Just as day needs to go through intense heat to become strong, Love can only be
perfected in pain.
Aamer: Hardship is the theme of adoration, so be prepare.
Rule
12:
The quest for Love
changes us. There is no seeker among those who search for Love who has not
matured along the way. The moment you start looking for Love, you start to
change within and without.
Aamer:
Love can change life.
Rule 13:
There are more fake
gurus and false teachers in this world than the numbers of stars in the visible
universe. Don’t confuse power-driven self-centered people with true mentors. A
genuine spiritual master will not direct your attention to him or herself and
will not expect absolute obedience or utter admiration from you, but instead
will help you to appreciate and admire your inner self. True mentors are as
transparent as glass. They let the Light of God pass through them.
Aamer: Truth is as translucent as crystal.
Rule 14:
Try not to resist the
changes that come your way. Instead let the life lives through you. And do not
worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you
are used to is better than the one to come?
Aamer: Change is obvious.
Rule 15:
God is busy with the
completion of your work, both outwardly and inwardly. He is fully occupied with
you. Every human being is a work in progress that is slowly and inexorably
moving towards perfection. We are each an unfinished work of art, both waiting
and striving to be completed. God deals with each of us separately because
humanity is a fine art of skilled penmanship where every single dot is equally
important for the entire picture.
Aamer: Surely He will listen you.
Rule 16:
It’s easy to love a
perfect God, unblemished and infallible that He is. What is far more difficult
is to love fellow human beings with all their imperfections and defects.
Remember one can only know what one is capable of loving. There is no wisdom
without love. Unless we learn to love God’s creation, we can neither truly love
nor truly know God.
Aamer: It’s very difficult to understand love.
Rule 17:
Real Filth is the one
inside. The rest simply washes off. There is only one type of dirt that cannot
be cleansed with pure waters, and that is the stain of hatred and bigotry
contaminating the soul. You can purify your body through abstinence and
fasting, but only love will purify your heart.
Aamer: Purify your inner by love.
Rule 18:
The whole universe is
contained within a single human being – You. Everything that you see around,
including the things you might not be fond of and even the people you despise
or abhor, is present within you in varying degrees. Therefore do not look for
Satan outside of yourself either. The devil is not an extraordinary force that
attacks from without. It is an ordinary voice within. If you get to know
yourself fully, facing with honesty and hardness both your dark and light
sides, you will arrive at a supreme form of consciousness. When a person knows
himself or herself, he or she knows God.
Aamer: Always recognize yourself.
Rule 19:
If you want to change
the way others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself.
Unless you learn to fully love yourself, fully and sincerely, there is no way
you can be loved. Once you achieve that stage, however be thankful for every
thorn that others might throw at you. It is a sign that you will soon be
showered in roses.
Aamer: First Love
yourself wholeheartedly fully and sincerely.
Rule 20:
Fret not where the road
will take you. Instead concentrate on the first step. That’s the hardest part
and that’s what you are responsible for. Once you take that step let everything
do what it naturally does and the rest will follow. Do not go with the flow. Be
the flow.
Aamer: Always concentrate on your step.
Rule 21:
We were all created in
God’s image and yet we were each created different and unique. No two people
are alike. No two hearts beat to the same rhythm. If God had wanted everyone to
be the same, He would have made it so. Therefore disrespecting differences and
imposing your thoughts on others is tantamount to disrespecting God’s holy
scheme.
Aamer: Never ever impose your prophecy on others.
Rule 22:
When a true lover of God
goes into a tavern, the tavern becomes his chamber of prayer, but when a wine
bibber goes into the same chamber, it becomes his tavern. In everything we do,
it is our hearts that make the difference not our outer appearances. Sufis do
not judge other people on how they look or who they are. When a Sufi stares at
someone, he keeps both his eyes closed and instead opens a third eye – the eye
that sees the inner realm.
Aamer: Purification of heart is very vital for love.
Rule
23:
Life is a temporary
loan, and this world is nothing but a sketchy imitation of Reality. Only
children would mistake a toy for the real thing. And yet human beings either
become infatuated with the toy or disrespectfully break it and throw it aside.
In this life, stay away from all kinds of extremities, for they will destroy
your inner balance. Sufis do not go to extremes. A Sufi always remains mild and
moderate.
Aamer:
Always be moderate and mild.
Rule
24:
The human being has a
unique place amongst God’s creation. “I breathed into him of My Spirit,” God
says. Each and every one of us without exception is designed to be God’s
delegate on earth. Ask yourself, just how often do you behave like a delegate, if you ever do so?
Remember, it falls upon each of us to discover the divine spirit inside and
live by it.
Aamer:
Always ascertain whether you behave like a delegate.
Rule 25:
Hell is the here and
now. So is heaven. Quit worrying about hell or dreaming about heaven, as they
are both present in this very moment. Every time we fall in Love, we ascend to
heaven. Every time we hate, envy or fight someone, we tumble straight into the
fires of hell. Is there a worse hell than the torment a man suffers when he
knows deep down in his conscience that he has done something awfully wrong? Ask
that man. He will tell you what hell is. Is there a better paradise than the
bliss that descends upon a man at those rare moments in life, when the bolts of
the universe fly open and he feels in possession of all the secrets of eternity
and united with God? Ask that man. He will tell you what heaven is?
Aamer: Good and bad lies in yourself, so critically
analyze yourself.
Rule 26:
The universe is one
being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of
stories. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all in a silent
conversation. Do no harm. Practice compassion. And do not gossip behind
anyone’s back – not even a seemingly innocent remark! The words that come out
of our mouths do not vanish, but are perpetually stored in infinite space, and
they will come back to us in due time. One man’s pain will hurt us all. One
man’s joy will make everyone smile.
Aamer: We all are interconnected with each other in this
universe.
Rule 27:
This world is like a
snowy mountain that echoes your voice. Whenever you speak, good or evil, it
will somehow come back to you. Therefore if there is someone who harbors ill
thoughts about you, saying similarly bad things about him will only make
matters worse. You will be locked in a vicious circle of malevolent energy.
Instead for forty days and nights say and think nice things about that person.
Everything will be different at the end of forty days, because you will be
different inside.
Aamer: Always lower your voice and speak less.
Rule 28:
The past is an
interpretation. The future is an illusion. The world does not move through time
as if it were a straight line, proceeding from the past to the future. Instead
time moves through us and within us, in endless spirals. Eternity does not mean
infinite time, but simply timelessness. If you want to experience eternal
illumination, put the past and the future out of your mind and remain within
the present moment. The present moment is all there is and all that there will
ever be.
Aamer: Always tries to make your present, forget about
past and future.
Rule 29:
Destiny doesn’t mean
that your life has been strictly predetermined. Therefore to leave everything
to fate and to not actively contribute to the music of the universe is a sign
of sheer ignorance. “The music of the
universe is all pervading and it is composed on forty different levels. Your
destiny is the level where you will play your tune. You might not change your
instrument but how well to play is entirely in your hands. ”
Aamer: Your ultimate duty is to firm struggle.
Rule 30:
The true
Sufi/Light-worker is such that even when he is unjustly accused, attacked and
condemned from all sides, he patiently endures, uttering not a single bad word
about any of his critics. She/he never apportions blame. How can there be
opponents or rivals or even “others” when there is no “self” in the first
place? How can there be any one to blame when there is only One?
Aamer: Always have to be patiently endures.
Rule 31:
If you want to
strengthen your faith, you will need to soften inside. For your faith to be
rock solid, your heart needs to be as soft as a feather. Through an illness,
accident, loss or fright, one way or another, we are all faced with incidents
that teach us how to become less selfish and judgmental and more compassionate
and generous. Yet some of us learn the lessons and manage to become milder,
while some others end up becoming even harsher than before. The only way to get
closer to the Truth is to expand your heart so that it will encompass all
humanity and still have room for more Love.
Aamer: Always expand your heart to be soft, compassionate
and generous.
Rule
32:
Nothing should stand between
yourself and God. Not imams, priests, rabbis or any other custodians of moral
or religious leadership. Not spiritual masters, not even your faith. Believe in
your values and your rules but never lord them over others. If you keep
breaking other people’s hearts, whatever religious duty you perform is no good.
Stay away from all sorts of idolatry, for they will blur your vision. Let God
and only God be your guide. Learn the Truth but be careful not to make a fetish
out of your truths.
Aamer:
Never impose your vision over others.
Rule 33:
While everyone in this
world strives to get somewhere and become someone, only to leave it all behind
after death, you aim for the supreme stage of nothingness. Live this life as
light and empty as the number zero. We are no different from a pot. It is not
the decorations outside but the emptiness inside that holds us straight. Just
like that, it is not what we aspire to achieve but the consciousness of nothingness
that keeps us going.
Aamer: Your aim should be, "supreme stage of
nothingness".
Rule 34:
Submission does not mean
being weak or passive. It leads to neither fatalism nor capitulation, just the
opposite. True power resides in submission – a power that comes from within.
Those who submit to the divine essence of life will live in unperturbed
tranquility and peace even when the whole wide world goes through turbulence
after turbulence.
Aamer: Submission is the real strength of universe that
comes from the depth of the heart.
Rule 35:
In this world, it is not
similarities or regularities that take us a step forward, but blunt opposites.
And all the opposites in the universe are present within each and every one of
us. Therefore the believer needs to meet the unbeliever residing within. And
the unbeliever should get to know the silent faithful in him. Until the day one
reaches the stage of being the perfect human being, faith is a gradual process
and one that necessitates its seeming opposite: disbelief.
Aamer: Always explore and understand the uncertainty
inside you.
Rule 36:
This world is erected
upon the principle of reciprocity. Neither a drop of kindness nor a speck of
evil will remain reciprocated. Fear not the plots, deceptions or tricks of
other people. If someone is setting a trap remember so is God. He is the
biggest plotter. Not even a leaf sits outside of God’s knowledge. Simply and
fully believe in that. Whatever God does He does beautifully.
Aamer: Always be confident enough, your Lord is with your
side.
Rule 37:
God is a meticulous
clock-maker. So precise is His order that everything on earth happens in its
own time. Neither a minute later nor a minute early and for everyone without
exception the clock works accurately. For each there is a time to love and a
time to die.
Aamer: Lo and behold, everything has
its own proper time to exist.
Rule 38:
It is never too late to
ask yourself, “Am I ready to change the life I am living? Am I ready to change
within?” Even if a single day in your life is the same as the day before, it
surely is a pity. At every moment and with each new breath, one should be
renewed and renewed again. There is only one way to be born into a new life: to
die before death.
Aamer: There is never too late to be changed.
Rule 39:
While the parts change,
the whole always remains the same. For every thief who departs the world, a new
one is born. And every decent person who passes away is replaced by a new one.
In this way not only does nothing remain the same but also nothing ever really
changes.
Aamer: Remember No one is compulsory for this universe,
there is always a replacer.
Rule 40:
“A life without love is of no account. Don’t
ask yourself what kind of love you should seek, spiritual or material, divine
or mundane, Eastern or Western…. divisions only lead to more divisions. Love
has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is pure and simple. Love is the
water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire. The universe turns differently
when fire loves water.
Aamer: Only love can make life altered.
Comprehensive by Muhammad
Aamer