What Is the Importance of Spiritual Perfection in Our Lives, and Why Do Human Beings Not Pursue Spiritual Perfection?
Human Being,
a term that we have heard so much that we have become indifferent to, and to the same extent, we are far from knowing it. The human is a remarkable and magnificent being, but we often neglect to know and study him in depth. He has numerous inherent qualities. These qualities, both minor and major, start from the lowest dimensions of our existence and continue up to infinity. These qualities encompass us from all directions, each corresponding to one aspect of our existence: the inanimate, vegetative, animal, intellective, and human (spiritual) qualities.
Each of these dimensions considers the actualization of its potentials (perfection) as its ultimate goal. It strives to reach perfection and loves it. However, what is often overlooked is our most important dimension, that is, the human dimension. The perfect actualization of our potentials depends on the wellness and perfection of our human dimension. The supra-rational or human aspect of our existence is healthy and complete as much as it is healthy and active in seeking its own beloved and striving to attain spiritual perfection.
If we make no effort to reach spiritual perfection, or if we do not put as much effort into it as we put into other parts, it means that the human part of our being has not developed, and we have not yet defined ourselves as a human. In this case, if we even actualize the potentials of our lower dimensions, we will not find happiness and inner peace.
Eternity, Affected by spiritual Perfection
To understand the importance of spiritual perfection, let us give an example. Imagine that in answering difficult exam questions, you have made use of a wide range of significant information and material from the textbook, but you have not given an exact answer to the given questions. Would you score a passing grade? Certainly not!
The perfections that we acquire in this world are all important and valuable in their own right; they give us status and make us feel valuable. Most importantly, they are the means to fulfill our desires and grow. However, achieving the highest degree of perfection in these dimensions still prevents us from reaching lasting peace and happiness because, as mentioned before, our life and opportunities are limited, and we cannot reach the highest degree of perfection even in one of the lower dimensions of our existence.
We can only reach infinity in the human dimension of our existence, which loves to actualize spiritual potentials. If this dimension is active in us in the right way, we will have the ability to actualize infinite spiritual potentials. Only in this case, the inherent qualities of the lower dimensions of our existence will also be properly managed and used; they will not disrupt our happiness and inner peace, but rather they will facilitate our progress.
Spiritual Perfection and the Reasons Why We Do Not Pursue It
The value and significance we give to something is closely related to our understanding and knowledge of that phenomenon. For example, if we know that our present-day decisions about a particular issue greatly and directly affect our inner peace and happiness in the next ten years, we will undoubtedly take our decisions with utmost care and precision. However, it is interesting that we show no interest in moving towards spiritual perfection, which affects our entire future and eternity. That is because we lack a correct knowledge about ourselves, our dimensions of existence, and the existential qualities associated with them.
Perhaps we are not to blame. No one has made us aware of our true and human truth, and we have not pursued it ourselves. Since we opened our eyes, we have seen ourselves in this world and got used to its relations and dynamics; consequently, understanding any intangible phenomenon becomes difficult or even impossible for us. We see the existential qualities of all the lower dimensions of our existence; we understand how the decisions made in each of these dimensions directly impact our lives and those of others. But the human dimension of our existence is an unknown realm to us, and we do not even know the exact criteria for success in this realm.
We are entirely preoccupied with becoming a doctor or an engineer, and seeking leadership, fame, beauty, health, wealth, and facilities. We assume that the more we satisfy our worldly desires, the more successful we are; or the more we strive for comfort, the more peaceful we feel. We are so caught up in the material world that we do not even give ourselves the opportunity to spend some time alone and think about: Who am I? What am I doing in this world? Where did I come from, and where am I going? As a result, we do not know ourselves correctly. We do not have a correct understanding of our status in this world, and our decisions are based on this incomplete knowledge.
When it comes to achieving greater wealth and prosperity, increased beauty and fame, higher social status, and a better job, we have a clear and specific yardstick for success. But if we take a moment to contemplate, we realize that our ultimate goal in achieving all these perfections is to find lasting happiness and peace. It may be interesting to know that inner peace, happiness, and love are the main criteria for success in the spiritual dimension and reaching spiritual perfection.
The Difference between Knowing and Not Knowing
Are those who know equal to those who do not know?[1] Certainly not! Even in worldly life, those who are aware of their true role and position are not equal to individuals who are unaware. For instance, a mother who is aware of her important and decisive role in the development and actualization of her child’s spiritual potentials is not equal to a mother who only brings her child into the world and solely focuses on the development of his lower dimensions of existence.
The more important a matter is, the greater the impact of knowing or not knowing it becomes. But the point is that since we do not know ourselves truly, we do not know what existential potentials we must actualize, and how much time we must spend on them? We spend our time actualizing the potentials that do not influence or even harm our inner peace, happiness, and future.
We have not defined ourselves correctly and know nothing about the different dimensions of our existence. Our story and our true status in life are very similar to a story that Rumi has told in Masnavi. It is the story of a prince who lost his father in infancy, and he was told that he was nothing more than a slave. He grew up with this notion, knowing nothing about his real position and greatness. All his decisions, goals, and desires were shaped based on this false knowledge. Our distance from our true self and the spiritual dimension of our existence is equally dangerous. That is why we do not pursue our most essential needs in life, i.e., inner peace and happiness, which are the prerequisites for moving towards spiritual perfection.
How can we create the necessary balance between different dimensions of our existence? The first step is having complete and precise knowledge. We have come to know different inherent qualities so far. In the following lessons, we will discuss different dimensions of existence and the role they play on our path towards spiritual perfection.
[1]. Holy Quran, 39:9