THE SIXTH POINT

The Divine Name Self-Subsistent

[This point discusses the divine name Self-Subsistent. It is a summary of the Fifth Point about the name Ever-Living, is an addendum to Nur Çeşmesi (The Fountainhead of Light), and is also   considered  appropriate  to  be  an  Addendum  to  the Thirtieth Word.]

An Apology

These important matters concerning the profound, comprehensive greatest manifestation of the  name  of Self-Subsistent  occurred  to  me  as  separate flashes and are therefore not well-arranged. They have moreover remained in the form of an  ill-arranged, speedily written uncorrected rough copy. For these reasons many  deficiencies and much disorderliness are bound to be apparent in the phraseology and manner of expression. You must forgive my defects for the sake of the beauties of the matters discussed.

A Reminder

The points concerning the greatest name are comprehensive to the utmost degree  and also extremely profound, especially the matters concerned with the  name of  Self-Subsistent,  as  are  those of the First  Ray in particular.1

Furthermore since these latter look to the materialists and have penetrated the subject  to  an even greater degree, everyone will not be able to understand every matter in all its aspects. They will, however, be able to grasp a part of each matter. According  to the rule of “A thing should not be abandoned completely even if it is not  wholly obtained,” it is not reasonable to leave aside such a   matter altogether,  saying: “I cannot pick all the fruits in this immaterial garden.” Whatever the amount of fruit a person can pick, it will be of benefit. For just as the matters  connected with the greatest name are extensive to a degree beyond comprehension,  so are they also subtle to the degree the mind cannot distinguish them. Not everyone’s mind will reach the Fifth  and  Sixth  Points  concerning  the  names  of  Ever-Living  and  Self- Subsistent,  in  particular  the  allusions  of  life  to  the  pillars  of  belief and particularly to the pillar of divine determining and decree in the Fifth Point, but they will not remain without some share of them and in any event these matters will strengthen their belief. The importance of strengthening belief, the key to eternal happiness, is truly tremendous. Even an iota’s increase is a treasure. Imam  Rabbani, Ahmad al-Faruqi, said: “In my view, increase in only a small aspect of belief is preferable to hundreds of illuminations and spiritual delights.”

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1   If the person reading this treatise does not have a knowledge of science, he should not begin with the First Ray, but with the Second and should read the First at the end.