Reflections on Life

In this article, I would like to share with you some of the stimulating topics that I learned from a talk show (“Life and Thought”)1 as a viewer, by blending them with my own thoughts. Conversation among the guests “You have to be a walker in life. Enthusiasm and curiosity are two different things. Enthusiasm is fleeting, curiosity is demand.” he begins. In this context, the redefinition of some concepts, which we know very well, by adapting them to the present, is discussed. The concepts of patience, endurance, generosity, banquet, belief and tradition meet with the audience as some of the topics discussed within the framework of the conversation.

Factors of life

The right choice of the factors that shape our lives is the one that is acceptable in achieving what is demanded. These factors can be traditions, customs, beliefs, technology, geography, nature, family and the society we live in. It is certain that each of these has its own importance. The biggest mistake we will make is to substitute them for one another. The most common of these substitutions seems to be the confusion of tradition with the notion of faith. Situations where we can't differentiate correctly make us prejudiced and can lead to bigotry.

Patience

We get "patience" advice from our environment in case of misfortune or trouble. Saying "be patient" will not relieve our pain, on the contrary, it may leave deeper traces. What then is the concept of patience?

First of all, the concept of patience is not a process. In fact, what we know as patience is endurance. Patience is the moment, endurance is the process. Interpreting endurance as patience stems from tradition.

Patience is remembering the Truth (Allah) through an event. To accept this is patience, to endure is endurance. Waiting for someone with cancer to do nothing is not patience. When a starving animal is not given food, it will wait helplessly. In fact, patience is the answer to being tested for man. Faith is surrender and it is a concept that deserves to be tested. Patience broken off from faith turns into tradition.

Patience traditionally comes to mind in adversity but is hardly remembered in blessing. Patience is not interrupting the connection with the Truth in blessings and troubles, it is a moral value and worship, it is not endurance based on belief.

It is also necessary to understand the patience in blessing; not to go to the extreme. Blessing is to be the trustee of those who exist with patience. The blessing and burden of patience is knowing the existence of the one who does it. Understanding poverty is patience, trying to eliminate it is endurance.

It is said that removing a tormenting obstacle from the way is charity. I can't help but wonder if it would be charity in throwing many ignorant people out of the way!

Patience is endurance in adversity, patience in blessing is bestowal. The saying that the one who is patient will triumph is actually a tradition. This situation is expressed in a similar sense in every culture. For example, “patience is virtue = patience is virtue”.

Generosity

Generosity is another misunderstood concept. We refer to the situation as Halil İbrahim table, where there are all kinds of dishes and the amount of food is very high. This is to express how generous the offerings are. We say how generously it was in reference to the banquet presented. However, the literal meaning of the word banquet means guest. Traditionally, what we understand from this is Halil İbrahim's table, not serving a thousand and one kinds of food; but the reference referred to means a feast that cannot be eaten without guests. Sharing is prioritized.

To succeed

Behind every success story is patience. The effort and effort given until that victory should not be forgotten. In the migration of migratory birds, the birds that perish from the convoy until they reach their destination are not seen very often! This is due to the difficulty of the given occupation or the rules of nature. It is not customary not to forget the Truth in blessing and distress. Beyond the chronological or biological horizontal expression, being with the Truth vertically is patience. An important reason why patience has become traditional is the struggle for life. In this struggle for life, concepts are defined as the basic motive is for people.

While living, we must live humanely and exist with moral values. The basic factor of life is possible with aesthetics, logic and moral values. The expression "Let's see my Mevlana, whatever is beautiful" is Sabr-ı Cemil.

Patience is recommended to whom

While patience is recommended to the poor and the sick, it is essential that it be offered to the able as well. By tradition, we know affliction as describing a state of distress or a bad situation. However, calamity literally means the one who hits, that is, calamity does not mean bad. When the arrows of fate hit, the result can be good or bad. Poverty and wealth both require patience.

In the masnavi, a fly landing on a leaf on a small pond thought it was Captain Derya. Those in power, who despise power in the name of a three-penny position and a few memorable circles, are those who do not know patience.

Why concepts should be defined

The need to re-understand and define some of the right concepts that we know wrong is to get rid of the vicious circle that we have been going around in lately. Because a person who thinks too much in himself does not understand that he is transforming and changing, but the real Truth is fixed and unchanging. 

is present. We are one step closer to our end unless the necessary concept definitions are adapted by sticking to the traditions that have become taboo in the time tunnel.

Current state

The states of the world we have been through lately are exemplary. Dozens of events that used to fit 2-3 generations in the past now fit in half a lifetime, maybe more. We can't see the forest behind because we bring the match too close to our eyes. While Covid, MetaVerse, StarLink, 5G and media manipulations are perfectly applied in the background, it is necessary to understand the distracting events such as Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, Arakan, East Turkestan, Ukraine.

The able

I fear that the self-seeking powers think they are so impatient and arrogant, they seem determined to bring about food crisis, seed, water wars and unmanned armies in our short life. The only truth they believe is; There will be no room for different opinions for technology to serve information according to its own scientific database and ratios. Clearly, these men, who delude themselves to be able, claim to "pull God out of circulation".

When someone dies, their loved ones say, "We came from God, we go to God." Beyazıt Bestami finds this lacking. Because the question is, so where are we now? Ibn Arabi gives the answer to this; "We came from one of Allah's names, we walk with one of his names and we go to another."

The aforementioned proud powers are making plans so that we do not see the path we are walking with their artificial securitization.

Answer to prayer

With the belief that gratitude increases blessings, we pray when called, and we do not find an answer when we pray, because those who are not guided do not pray. Some religious or religious people do not have the right to be proud and arrogant towards non-religious people by acting on their feelings.

According to the Mu'tazilite view, there is a "deservedness" in belief, that is, if I pray, I will get the answer, but this would be like obliging Allah, which is against this approach. Paradise is not given on the merit of the servant, but on the benevolence of Allah to the servant.

Life isn't about what we've been given, it's about what we do with what we've been given. The same rule applies in morality. Blessings such as being powerful or assumed to have health, money, and power are metaphorical. In order for our paths to cross with the truth, all claims from religion must be removed from the heart.

According to Bestami, we should not be proud because we are Muslims, we should only be grateful. Faith is surrender, not persuasion. Religion is only communicated, told and declared. Worship is for the formation of a religious mind.

Which question

The positive question that should be asked in life is the one that stimulates curiosity, does not deviate from the path, does not discourage demand, and is asked on the basis of fairness. If we express with the following anecdote that we need to empathize with ourselves before demanding something or asking a question;

An old uncle, who lived in the surrounding villages of a small town, used to take the yogurt he made at home to a grocery store in the town and sell it, like other villagers. One of the two-kilogram boxes brought to sell, the old uncle's one attracts the attention of the grocer, and when he gets curious and weighs it, he realizes that 250 grams is missing. Convinced that the old uncle's yoghurt is always lacking in the same amount, the grocer pulls the old uncle aside in an appropriate order and reproaches the situation.

The uncle, who is expected to be embarrassed, is sure that he did not do such a thing on purpose: My son, your shop does not have a scale and weight in my house. I know for sure that it is only two kilos because I weighed it with a bag of sugar that I thought I bought from you for 2 kilos, and I bring it like that. Can we weigh your sugar bag, please?

Conclusion

When we say that we need to understand what we do with what we have rather than what we have; What we can do right is by getting rid of the bondage of our souls. Those who want to pursue the truth have so many enemies that in this abundance of enemies, people want their brave ones too!

In fact, the biggest enemy is those who are disguised as devils and those closest to us whose form appears to be true. Unfortunately, such enemies know us very well because they are very close to us. It is as if they are a shadow and surround us. If we become arrogant with our knowledge, stingy with our wealth, lazy in our work, and cruel in administration, we are caught in the net of the enemy we complain about.

If there are people in a society who practice science, make decisions with justice, and trade with honor, all kinds of enemies will kneel down. Being sincere before spouse, yard, property, office and child is the only determination that will bring the shadow enemy to his knees.

We are mirrors of each other in society. Whatever it is, we agree with it. It is not in vain that it is said that society is governed by what it deserves. If there are decent scholars, competent members of the judiciary, and decent traders, there will be abundance, peace and justice.

We should know that we have no right to demand that the world be corrected without correcting our own hypocrisy, deceit, arrogance, and haughty behavior.

1 Those who are curious about the details of this interview program; https://www.vavtv.com.tr/programlar/dusunce-ve-hayat/dusunce-ve-hayat-38-bolum section link.