Being mature spiritually

German philosopher Immanuel Kant proposed three ways of recognising spiritual 'immaturity'. He says that when a book takes the place of our understanding, or a spiritual director takes the place of our conscience, or a doctor decides our diet, then we are not yet enlightened individuals. You may have your own criteria.

The great mystic Noor-ad-Deen Abd-ar-Rahmaan Jami stated the same thing in medieval Pashto, albeit in a different way: Dan k'iaz inn mitahouz if'an arzilam/ Yaan waa'n qurze'n isp shihaan? - You're your own spiritual master/ Why do you need external agencies for inner development?

The journey towards spiritual maturity and enlightenment is a soulful and also sole-ful journey. It's a solo trip to evolution. Mystics believe that too much dependency on a Master or Murshid is a sign of unwillingness and hesitancy to travel on the path to self-enlightenment. Iqbal wrote: Na kitaab, na ustaad/Chalna hai tanha din-raat - Neither a book nor a Master/ Travel alone day in and day out.


All answers lie within. We all learn to walk by stumbling. If someone holds your hand all the time, when will you walk on your own, realise your inner strength and self-worth? So, walk alone, stumble, fall, stand up and reach your manzil-e-maqsood, final destination, on your own steam. You will have the soul satisfaction of undertaking the arduous journey on your own.