🔻What is the first thing to do to have control over our outlook?
🔸If a person wants to have control over his or her way of looking at things and to regulate it, what is the first thing that he or she should do? What can be considered to be the first action to regulate our way of looking at things is #thinking. In the traditions, thinking has been introduced as the tool and the way of reaching to #insight and a correct #outlook. The Commander of the Faithful, Ali (‘a), said, “Think so that you can see well.” (Oyun al-Hikam, p. 75) He also said, “The root of insight is thinking.” (Ghurar al Hikam, p. 57) In another place, he said, “Whoever thinks much, his insight will become good.” (Ghurar al Hikam, p. 57)
🔸In another tradition, Imam Ali (‘a) said, “Whoever does not think does not have insight.” (Oyun al-Hikam, p. 539) He also said, “Whoever thinks well, will gain a good and correct outlook.” (Nahj al-Balaghah, letter no. 31) Furthermore, he said, “An insightful person is the one who hears and thinks.” (Oyun al-Hikam, p. 178)
🔸 #Wisdom is the most prominent kind of thinking. This means producing content through thinking. God told His Prophet (s), “… to teach them the Book and Wisdom…” (Qur’an, 62:2) Don’t only teach them the Book. Teach them wisdom too! This is the result of thinking. Unfortunately, some people accuse us religious people of being against thinking!
#AlirezaPanahian
✅ @PanahianEN
🔸If a person wants to have control over his or her way of looking at things and to regulate it, what is the first thing that he or she should do? What can be considered to be the first action to regulate our way of looking at things is #thinking. In the traditions, thinking has been introduced as the tool and the way of reaching to #insight and a correct #outlook. The Commander of the Faithful, Ali (‘a), said, “Think so that you can see well.” (Oyun al-Hikam, p. 75) He also said, “The root of insight is thinking.” (Ghurar al Hikam, p. 57) In another place, he said, “Whoever thinks much, his insight will become good.” (Ghurar al Hikam, p. 57)
🔸In another tradition, Imam Ali (‘a) said, “Whoever does not think does not have insight.” (Oyun al-Hikam, p. 539) He also said, “Whoever thinks well, will gain a good and correct outlook.” (Nahj al-Balaghah, letter no. 31) Furthermore, he said, “An insightful person is the one who hears and thinks.” (Oyun al-Hikam, p. 178)
🔸 #Wisdom is the most prominent kind of thinking. This means producing content through thinking. God told His Prophet (s), “… to teach them the Book and Wisdom…” (Qur’an, 62:2) Don’t only teach them the Book. Teach them wisdom too! This is the result of thinking. Unfortunately, some people accuse us religious people of being against thinking!
#AlirezaPanahian
✅ @PanahianEN
🔻What can we do to have a correct way of looking at things?
Good tendencies give us a correct outlook and bad tendencies give us a wrong outlook!
🔻A person who is indifferent about right and wrong will have a wrong outlook.
👉🏼 Perspective (9)
Some say, “In #scientific discussions, we should put aside our #tendencies and be neutral so that our #outlook will not be influenced by any tendencies. Otherwise, we will not understand the truth!” However, a person’s opinions and outlook are definitely influenced by his tendencies.
🔸Having a correct #perspective is dependent on a person’s tendencies and likings. Bad tendencies give a wrong outlook to a person and good tendencies give a good and correct outlook to a person.
🔸When they say, “Do not allow your tendencies to influence your scientific evaluations,” they mean wrong tendencies. However, one should allow his good and correct tendencies to have an effect.
🔸Some good tendencies and some #truth_seeking open a person’s mind and better his understanding. Increase your tendency towards the truth so that you may have a good understanding! If you are a truth-seeking person, you’ll gain a correct outlook.
🔸If a person is indifferent about right and wrong and loses his sensitivity to #oppression, God will deprive him of the power of understanding and his outlook will become corrupted. For example, if a person is indifferent about the murdering of Muslims in Myanmar, when he studies this crime, he will not come to a correct result or viewpoint.
#AlirezaPanahian
✅ @PanahianEN
Good tendencies give us a correct outlook and bad tendencies give us a wrong outlook!
🔻A person who is indifferent about right and wrong will have a wrong outlook.
👉🏼 Perspective (9)
Some say, “In #scientific discussions, we should put aside our #tendencies and be neutral so that our #outlook will not be influenced by any tendencies. Otherwise, we will not understand the truth!” However, a person’s opinions and outlook are definitely influenced by his tendencies.
🔸Having a correct #perspective is dependent on a person’s tendencies and likings. Bad tendencies give a wrong outlook to a person and good tendencies give a good and correct outlook to a person.
🔸When they say, “Do not allow your tendencies to influence your scientific evaluations,” they mean wrong tendencies. However, one should allow his good and correct tendencies to have an effect.
🔸Some good tendencies and some #truth_seeking open a person’s mind and better his understanding. Increase your tendency towards the truth so that you may have a good understanding! If you are a truth-seeking person, you’ll gain a correct outlook.
🔸If a person is indifferent about right and wrong and loses his sensitivity to #oppression, God will deprive him of the power of understanding and his outlook will become corrupted. For example, if a person is indifferent about the murdering of Muslims in Myanmar, when he studies this crime, he will not come to a correct result or viewpoint.
#AlirezaPanahian
✅ @PanahianEN
🔻What is the best way to gain a correct outlook?
🔻Thinking about consequences regulates and corrects a person’s outlook.
🔻When faced with any phenomenon, ask yourself, “Then what?”
👉🏼 Perspective (10)
🔸A person who wants to have a correct #perspective should be able to think about #consequences and be far-seeing. This means he should think about far times, far results, the Hereafter and life after death.
🔸In any #suffering, think about its end result. This thinking reduces that suffering. Similarly, after gaining any #joy or pleasure, think about its end result. This thinking reduces its sweetness and does not allow you to become drowned in it too much.
🔸In order to regulate your #outlook, whenever you come to face a matter, ask yourself, “Then what?” Even the pleasure and excitement, which comes from buying the best car, lasts only for a week or so. Then what?!
🔸When you ask yourself, “Then what,” your way of looking at things that are important and enjoyable for you will change. You will become an example of this tradition, “He is pleased with that which is to last forever.” [Nahj al-Balagha, Muttaqin Sermon] You will become happy with the things, which never go away.
🔸Thinking about the #Hereafter and the end result of any deed gives an accurate and correct perspective to a person. People who think about consequences look at everything correctly. However, a person who does not consider the far off will analyse everything childishly. He will not have an accurate outlook about phenomena and people.
🔸It has been said in the traditions to recite Chapter 56, “The Great Event,” every night. This chapter takes your thinking towards the Hereafter and the end result of your life, and it corrects any inaccurate perspectives. Consequently, you become ready to see everything correctly the next day.
#AlirezaPanahian
✅ @PanahianEN
🔻Thinking about consequences regulates and corrects a person’s outlook.
🔻When faced with any phenomenon, ask yourself, “Then what?”
👉🏼 Perspective (10)
🔸A person who wants to have a correct #perspective should be able to think about #consequences and be far-seeing. This means he should think about far times, far results, the Hereafter and life after death.
🔸In any #suffering, think about its end result. This thinking reduces that suffering. Similarly, after gaining any #joy or pleasure, think about its end result. This thinking reduces its sweetness and does not allow you to become drowned in it too much.
🔸In order to regulate your #outlook, whenever you come to face a matter, ask yourself, “Then what?” Even the pleasure and excitement, which comes from buying the best car, lasts only for a week or so. Then what?!
🔸When you ask yourself, “Then what,” your way of looking at things that are important and enjoyable for you will change. You will become an example of this tradition, “He is pleased with that which is to last forever.” [Nahj al-Balagha, Muttaqin Sermon] You will become happy with the things, which never go away.
🔸Thinking about the #Hereafter and the end result of any deed gives an accurate and correct perspective to a person. People who think about consequences look at everything correctly. However, a person who does not consider the far off will analyse everything childishly. He will not have an accurate outlook about phenomena and people.
🔸It has been said in the traditions to recite Chapter 56, “The Great Event,” every night. This chapter takes your thinking towards the Hereafter and the end result of your life, and it corrects any inaccurate perspectives. Consequently, you become ready to see everything correctly the next day.
#AlirezaPanahian
✅ @PanahianEN
🔻Two Important Strategies for Obtaining a Correct and Accurate Outlook
🔻Following one’s carnal desires and love of this world take away a person’s insight.
👉🏼 Perspective (11)
🔸Another way to obtain a correct #outlook in addition to thinking and using foresight, which were mentioned previously, is to ask God to show truth and falsehood to us! This prayer has been narrated from the Prophet (s), “God, show us the truths of the world the way they are!”
🔸In addition to showing truth and falsehood or good and bad to His servants, God grants another grace too. He shows us that which is better from among all that is good and that which is worse from among all that is bad.
🔸The #excuses, which many bring for having become corrupted, are actually good words! Many use good words for their excuses for backbiting or oppressing others. However, they should have paid attention to other good words, which are even more important. This is similar to those who left religion (Khawarij). They used good words and stood up against Ali (‘a).
🔸In addition to the above technique, which is actually a strategy, another strategy we should use in order to have a correct #perspective is to not obey our #carnal_desires and to oppose them. As soon as we move towards carnal desires and #loving_this_world, our correct and noble outlook will become ruined.
🔸The Commander of the Faithful, Ali (‘a), said, “This world is the furthest point of a blind person’s sight, and he cannot see anything else besides this world. An insightful person is one who has a penetrating outlook. His sight sees the other side, and he understands that there will be a Hereafter. (Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 133)
#AlirezaPanahian
✅ @PanahianEN
🔻Following one’s carnal desires and love of this world take away a person’s insight.
👉🏼 Perspective (11)
🔸Another way to obtain a correct #outlook in addition to thinking and using foresight, which were mentioned previously, is to ask God to show truth and falsehood to us! This prayer has been narrated from the Prophet (s), “God, show us the truths of the world the way they are!”
🔸In addition to showing truth and falsehood or good and bad to His servants, God grants another grace too. He shows us that which is better from among all that is good and that which is worse from among all that is bad.
🔸The #excuses, which many bring for having become corrupted, are actually good words! Many use good words for their excuses for backbiting or oppressing others. However, they should have paid attention to other good words, which are even more important. This is similar to those who left religion (Khawarij). They used good words and stood up against Ali (‘a).
🔸In addition to the above technique, which is actually a strategy, another strategy we should use in order to have a correct #perspective is to not obey our #carnal_desires and to oppose them. As soon as we move towards carnal desires and #loving_this_world, our correct and noble outlook will become ruined.
🔸The Commander of the Faithful, Ali (‘a), said, “This world is the furthest point of a blind person’s sight, and he cannot see anything else besides this world. An insightful person is one who has a penetrating outlook. His sight sees the other side, and he understands that there will be a Hereafter. (Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon 133)
#AlirezaPanahian
✅ @PanahianEN