🔻Each person’s way of looking at things arises from his interests along with his knowledge.
đź”»If you like something very much, you will have a positive outlook towards it.
👉🏼 Perspective (7)
🔸One of the important factors for evaluating a person is his way of looking at things. Why is a person’s #perspective so important and effective? Because, a person’s perspective is the product of a person’s total being.
🔸People do not make decisions based on just their knowledge. They decide based on their attitude and their way of looking at things.
🔸Each person’s way of looking at things arises from his #interests along with his #knowledge. A person’s way of looking at things is never only based on just his knowledge and awareness. Certain things happen in a person’s heart, which form his outlook.
🔸A person’s interests and tendencies effect his perspective. If you like a certain event to happen very much, your point of view about it will become very positive. You will constantly rationalise it by saying, “This is doable!” If you do not like it to be done, your point of view about it will become negative and you will constantly say, “This is not doable!”
🔸If you are afraid, your way of looking at matters becomes a certain way. If you are a brave person, your way of looking at matters is different! If you love this world very much, your way of looking at death will be different from when you do not love the world that much.
#AlirezaPanahian
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»If you like something very much, you will have a positive outlook towards it.
👉🏼 Perspective (7)
🔸One of the important factors for evaluating a person is his way of looking at things. Why is a person’s #perspective so important and effective? Because, a person’s perspective is the product of a person’s total being.
🔸People do not make decisions based on just their knowledge. They decide based on their attitude and their way of looking at things.
🔸Each person’s way of looking at things arises from his #interests along with his #knowledge. A person’s way of looking at things is never only based on just his knowledge and awareness. Certain things happen in a person’s heart, which form his outlook.
🔸A person’s interests and tendencies effect his perspective. If you like a certain event to happen very much, your point of view about it will become very positive. You will constantly rationalise it by saying, “This is doable!” If you do not like it to be done, your point of view about it will become negative and you will constantly say, “This is not doable!”
🔸If you are afraid, your way of looking at matters becomes a certain way. If you are a brave person, your way of looking at matters is different! If you love this world very much, your way of looking at death will be different from when you do not love the world that much.
#AlirezaPanahian
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»Why does God test us?
đź”»Human beings have two kinds of interests: an interest in becoming good and an interest in becoming bad.
👉🏼 Destiny (11)
🔸Why does Almighty God test us? Because we have been created #human beings, who are creatures who can produce added value. Some imagine God wanted to create good, #obedient creatures! The angels had this same idea. When God wanted to create human beings they said, “Will you set in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood while we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your sanctity?” [Qur’an 2:30] But God wanted to create a being who produces added value and becomes good.
🔸Someone asked #ImamSadiq (as), “Why didn’t God create His servants in such a way that they would all be obedient and monotheists?” He replied, “If God created people obedient, reward and punishment would have been meaningless. God created His servants in a way that they do something themselves to deserve reward or punishment.” [Al-Ihtijaj, Tabarsi, vol. 2, p. 340]
🔸To produce added value, people must have two kinds of #interests: an interest in becoming good and an interest in becoming bad. If you only had one kind of interest, #testing and having a free will was meaningless. You would definitely choose that one interest. If you had two interests, one stronger and one weaker, you would always choose the stronger interest. If you had two equal interests, you couldn’t choose and would be in a dilemma.
🔸God designed our interests very beautifully and wisely. He made one interest stronger and more valuable, but concealed. And the weaker, less valuable interest is manifested. God has created this surprising balance so that people can choose.
🔸When you satisfy your divine, stronger, more valuable interests you truly enjoy more. But these interests are more concealed. If their true value were easily seen, you would go toward them from the beginning like angels. On the other hand, the weaker, less worthy worldly interests, are more easily seen, experienced and appear stronger.
🔸With this design, God has given people the opportunity to make a valuable choice.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”»Human beings have two kinds of interests: an interest in becoming good and an interest in becoming bad.
👉🏼 Destiny (11)
🔸Why does Almighty God test us? Because we have been created #human beings, who are creatures who can produce added value. Some imagine God wanted to create good, #obedient creatures! The angels had this same idea. When God wanted to create human beings they said, “Will you set in it someone who will cause corruption in it and shed blood while we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your sanctity?” [Qur’an 2:30] But God wanted to create a being who produces added value and becomes good.
🔸Someone asked #ImamSadiq (as), “Why didn’t God create His servants in such a way that they would all be obedient and monotheists?” He replied, “If God created people obedient, reward and punishment would have been meaningless. God created His servants in a way that they do something themselves to deserve reward or punishment.” [Al-Ihtijaj, Tabarsi, vol. 2, p. 340]
🔸To produce added value, people must have two kinds of #interests: an interest in becoming good and an interest in becoming bad. If you only had one kind of interest, #testing and having a free will was meaningless. You would definitely choose that one interest. If you had two interests, one stronger and one weaker, you would always choose the stronger interest. If you had two equal interests, you couldn’t choose and would be in a dilemma.
🔸God designed our interests very beautifully and wisely. He made one interest stronger and more valuable, but concealed. And the weaker, less valuable interest is manifested. God has created this surprising balance so that people can choose.
🔸When you satisfy your divine, stronger, more valuable interests you truly enjoy more. But these interests are more concealed. If their true value were easily seen, you would go toward them from the beginning like angels. On the other hand, the weaker, less worthy worldly interests, are more easily seen, experienced and appear stronger.
🔸With this design, God has given people the opportunity to make a valuable choice.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”» In the beginning, we must sacrifice our bad likings for good ones.
đź”» In the next stage, we must sacrifice our good likings for higher ones.
👉🏼 Destiny (12)
🔸In each #test, and in each good choice we make, we must crush some of our #likings. Of course, this is difficult and painful to do. Overcoming superficial interests and reaching deep, hidden #interests is the only way for human beings to produce added value. Thus, God has said, “O man! Surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord, a hard striving until you meet Him.” [Qur’an 84:6]
🔸#ImamAli (as) said, “Each worship act involves some difficulties and dislikes, and each sin involves some desires.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, sermon 176] But don’t try to be religious by adapting religion to your own desires.
🔸The #Prophet (s) said about those who work for their life in the Hereafter, “People die once, but they die 70 times a day due to fighting their own wills, opposing their desires and fighting the evil that runs through their veins.” [Mizan al-Hikmah, p. 2916]
🔸God says, “Certainly We have created man to be in distress.” [Qur’an 90:4] But we keep pursuing excitements and entertainments. We expect to be constantly immersed in pleasures and comforts even though we see that we fail to achieve many of our dreams. Today, some hold classes on how to be #successful and how to reach our dreams. But Imam Ali (as) in a letter to the youth said, “I am writing to a youth whose dreams won’t come true.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, letter 31]
🔸Not only must we crush our bad and worthless likings for good, valuable likings, but in higher stages, we must also crush our good likings for better ones. And this opposing our will continues until the last moments of our lives. [Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 370]
🔸Fighting his will for a person like Ibrahim (as) was not crushing his bad likings. It meant crushing a good liking, loving his son Ismael (as), for the love of God. Imam Ali (as) loved to protect the trust that had been entrusted to him and defend Fatimah (as). But the situation was such that for the sake of God and a higher interest, he didn’t use his sword to defend Fatimah (as), and this was very hard for him.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
đź”» In the next stage, we must sacrifice our good likings for higher ones.
👉🏼 Destiny (12)
🔸In each #test, and in each good choice we make, we must crush some of our #likings. Of course, this is difficult and painful to do. Overcoming superficial interests and reaching deep, hidden #interests is the only way for human beings to produce added value. Thus, God has said, “O man! Surely you must strive (to attain) to your Lord, a hard striving until you meet Him.” [Qur’an 84:6]
🔸#ImamAli (as) said, “Each worship act involves some difficulties and dislikes, and each sin involves some desires.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, sermon 176] But don’t try to be religious by adapting religion to your own desires.
🔸The #Prophet (s) said about those who work for their life in the Hereafter, “People die once, but they die 70 times a day due to fighting their own wills, opposing their desires and fighting the evil that runs through their veins.” [Mizan al-Hikmah, p. 2916]
🔸God says, “Certainly We have created man to be in distress.” [Qur’an 90:4] But we keep pursuing excitements and entertainments. We expect to be constantly immersed in pleasures and comforts even though we see that we fail to achieve many of our dreams. Today, some hold classes on how to be #successful and how to reach our dreams. But Imam Ali (as) in a letter to the youth said, “I am writing to a youth whose dreams won’t come true.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, letter 31]
🔸Not only must we crush our bad and worthless likings for good, valuable likings, but in higher stages, we must also crush our good likings for better ones. And this opposing our will continues until the last moments of our lives. [Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 370]
🔸Fighting his will for a person like Ibrahim (as) was not crushing his bad likings. It meant crushing a good liking, loving his son Ismael (as), for the love of God. Imam Ali (as) loved to protect the trust that had been entrusted to him and defend Fatimah (as). But the situation was such that for the sake of God and a higher interest, he didn’t use his sword to defend Fatimah (as), and this was very hard for him.
#AliRezaPanahian
#Most_Determining_Factor
#Destiny
âś… @PanahianEN
🔲 God says the ability to control our mind is very valuable.
🔲 There are techniques in our worshipping for controlling our mind.
👉🏼 #ControllingMyMind (2)
âž– Controlling our #mind is an inward behaviour that results in one gaining spiritual power. If a person gains spiritual power, he will become more knowledgeable and creative. There is no enjoyment like the enjoyment of being #creative.
➖ God says the ability to #control our mind is very valuable. Our worship acts help us to control our mind. For example, it is recommended to wake up before dawn when a person’s mind is free. It’s a good opportunity for us to think and focus.
âž– There are techniques in our worshipping for controlling our mind. For example, why is prayer a repetitive task? God has designed it this way for us to control our mind. He wants us to not be drawn to other distractions and to concentrate on one topic by controlling our mind so that this power will increase. It is important for a person to be able to focus on one subject, not that others push him to focus on something.
➖ It is not good if others control our mind. Of course, if the One controlling our mind is God, this is great! When He works on your mind, the power of your mind will increase. Let the Qur’an attract your attention too and see what happens! One time it will pull your attention toward Heaven, another time toward Hell, etc. Let’s become entertained with the Qur’an.
âž– Controlling our mind is so important and effective that when a person pays attention to a subject, he affects the attention of those around him too. So it is recommended to sit with those who are attentive.
➖ An important part of controlling our mind is #intention. Half of each intention is related to our heart and the other half to our mind, because the heart’s desires are reviewed in the mind. Our intentions are a combination of our mind and our interests. We may say an intention is formed in the heart, but it’s controlled by the mind. Sometimes we have weak, good interests, but the mind can bring them out. Then we can strengthen these good #interests that were lost within us.
âś… @PanahianEN
🔲 There are techniques in our worshipping for controlling our mind.
👉🏼 #ControllingMyMind (2)
âž– Controlling our #mind is an inward behaviour that results in one gaining spiritual power. If a person gains spiritual power, he will become more knowledgeable and creative. There is no enjoyment like the enjoyment of being #creative.
➖ God says the ability to #control our mind is very valuable. Our worship acts help us to control our mind. For example, it is recommended to wake up before dawn when a person’s mind is free. It’s a good opportunity for us to think and focus.
âž– There are techniques in our worshipping for controlling our mind. For example, why is prayer a repetitive task? God has designed it this way for us to control our mind. He wants us to not be drawn to other distractions and to concentrate on one topic by controlling our mind so that this power will increase. It is important for a person to be able to focus on one subject, not that others push him to focus on something.
➖ It is not good if others control our mind. Of course, if the One controlling our mind is God, this is great! When He works on your mind, the power of your mind will increase. Let the Qur’an attract your attention too and see what happens! One time it will pull your attention toward Heaven, another time toward Hell, etc. Let’s become entertained with the Qur’an.
âž– Controlling our mind is so important and effective that when a person pays attention to a subject, he affects the attention of those around him too. So it is recommended to sit with those who are attentive.
➖ An important part of controlling our mind is #intention. Half of each intention is related to our heart and the other half to our mind, because the heart’s desires are reviewed in the mind. Our intentions are a combination of our mind and our interests. We may say an intention is formed in the heart, but it’s controlled by the mind. Sometimes we have weak, good interests, but the mind can bring them out. Then we can strengthen these good #interests that were lost within us.
âś… @PanahianEN
❤1
🔲 We can change our likings by controlling our mind.
🔲 If we don’t think about bad likings, they’ll get weaker. If we think about good likings, they’ll get stronger.
👉🏼 #ControllingMyMind (7)
➖Many people get annoyed when #religion tells them, "Don’t pursue bad interests," because they don’t have the strength to oppose their own interests. They are upset by religion’s command to "do good," because they’re not interested in doing good.
But religion says something even more important than this. It says, "Change your #interests,” or weaken bad interests and strengthen good ones.
➖Unlike animals, human beings "can change all their interests.” People can become interested in death, stop being attached to this world, and eliminate their jealousy and arrogance. God tells us, "Change your interests gradually. First plan and manage, then move forward." Western culture says, "Follow your interests!" But following interests without changing or managing them brings weakness.
➖There are 2 ways to change interests. One is our actions and behavior, especially if done continuously. The second is controlling our mind. We strengthen our interest in any subject we think and pay attention to. Don’t think about bad likings, & they’ll get weaker. Think about good likings, & they’ll get stronger. Imam Ali (as) said, “Whoever thinks much about enjoyments will be defeated.” [Ghurar al-Hikam, trad. no. 8,564]
➖Don’t pay attention to some things for even a moment, let alone think about them. Don’t even be aware of them. Mind management means controlling some of our awareness. Some knowledge is even forbidden, like hearing gossip. “A believer only uses his ears for gaining beneficial knowledge.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon no. 193] This is mind control.
➖The worst sins are committed in the mind. An example is hypocrisy. As soon as hypocritical thoughts come to your mind, that good deed is abolished! Arrogance and selfishness are even worse. The Messenger of God (s) said, “Sinning is better than avoiding sinning but becoming arrogant.” [Kafi, vol. 2, p. 313]. Arrogance is in the mind. It means looking only at your own effort and not at how many blessings God has given you.
âś… @PanahianEN
🔲 If we don’t think about bad likings, they’ll get weaker. If we think about good likings, they’ll get stronger.
👉🏼 #ControllingMyMind (7)
➖Many people get annoyed when #religion tells them, "Don’t pursue bad interests," because they don’t have the strength to oppose their own interests. They are upset by religion’s command to "do good," because they’re not interested in doing good.
But religion says something even more important than this. It says, "Change your #interests,” or weaken bad interests and strengthen good ones.
➖Unlike animals, human beings "can change all their interests.” People can become interested in death, stop being attached to this world, and eliminate their jealousy and arrogance. God tells us, "Change your interests gradually. First plan and manage, then move forward." Western culture says, "Follow your interests!" But following interests without changing or managing them brings weakness.
➖There are 2 ways to change interests. One is our actions and behavior, especially if done continuously. The second is controlling our mind. We strengthen our interest in any subject we think and pay attention to. Don’t think about bad likings, & they’ll get weaker. Think about good likings, & they’ll get stronger. Imam Ali (as) said, “Whoever thinks much about enjoyments will be defeated.” [Ghurar al-Hikam, trad. no. 8,564]
➖Don’t pay attention to some things for even a moment, let alone think about them. Don’t even be aware of them. Mind management means controlling some of our awareness. Some knowledge is even forbidden, like hearing gossip. “A believer only uses his ears for gaining beneficial knowledge.” [Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon no. 193] This is mind control.
➖The worst sins are committed in the mind. An example is hypocrisy. As soon as hypocritical thoughts come to your mind, that good deed is abolished! Arrogance and selfishness are even worse. The Messenger of God (s) said, “Sinning is better than avoiding sinning but becoming arrogant.” [Kafi, vol. 2, p. 313]. Arrogance is in the mind. It means looking only at your own effort and not at how many blessings God has given you.
âś… @PanahianEN
❤1