Ostad Elahi (1895-1974) is a renowned Iranian magistrate, thinker and musician who devoted his life to self-knowledge and the quest for Truth. His approach is based on his personal experiences, observations, and research. Having spent first 25 years of his life in asceticism and traditional spirituality, he renounced traditional mysticism in order to join society. He undertook the judicial career to become a magistrate, and started to build his innovative approach to spirituality which he defined as natural spirituality. He defines spirituality :
A true spirituality nourishes the soul, ensures its maturation and leads it towards perfection. Natural because it teaches us the original divine principles that correspond to the nature of our true self. It is adapted to our true and authentic spiritual needs.
The key features of his teachings are practical and adaptable to everyday life, regardless of religion or gender. Natural spirituality can be applied in the midst of life, in the everyday practices of the social, familial and professional settings.
It is not related to any ritual or particular religious tradition. It means having constant attention to our inner self (self-knowledge), to others (observing rights), and to the Source (attention). The function of spirituality is to harmoniously develop the souls of human beings so that they can realize their primordial nature and reach perfection.
Extracting the quintessence of religions, Ostad Elahi identified their universal invariants and laid the foundations of a universal spiritual teaching :
On the path of Truth, all faiths and religions are one, race and color have no relevance, and there is no difference between men and women.[1]
For him, God is unique. He has revealed himself to humans at all times under different names and forms. But the message is always the same: to lead man towards his perfection and then allow him to return to the source.
His Words of Truth, selected by his son Dr. Bahram Elahi, combine spiritual reflections and points of wisdom, practical advice and anecdotes. They address ethics, relationships with others, the place of the divine, the process of perfection… and invite everyone to travel the path of self-knowledge and to realize their true humanity.
Ostad Elahi’s lifetime quest for Truth resumes:
“Truth” is knowing what we are, where we have come from, what duties we have here and where our ultimate destination lies. To access the Truth, we must devote ourselves to the pursuit of this knowledge and seek to understand it through practice.[2]
The purpose of life on earth is the maturation of the soul and its progress towards perfection. The essential prerequisite of this process is to become truly human.
A true human being’s natural inclination is to always strive to have a positive impact; his actions benefit society and he is well-liked by others. In other words, when a person becomes truly human, his nature dictates that his actions always be beneficent[3]…[he] rejoices in the happiness of others and shares in their sorrows. The other sign of a true human being is to feel an aversion toward vile deeds and all that is contrary to one’s conscience and dignity.[4]
However, there is a major obstacle in the pursuit of Perfection, which is the inevitable confrontation with the imperious self [5]. This confrontation entails an ongoing fight against the imperious self’s instincts and illegitimate desires that urge for immediate gratification. It also does not take into account reason or law, or the rights of the others. This fight thus accumulates a strong negative psychic energy which is harmful for the soul and which prevents us to see the Truth”[6].
One should strive to strengthen the body, while at the same time fortifying the soul such that the body, with all its means, remains subservient to the soul. This approach to confronting the imperious self is analogous to a new science of medicine intended to purify the soul that I’ve come to realize through personal experience. The whole of the twelve years of asceticism that I endured prior to entering public service had less spiritual value than just a single year spent in a professional work environment.[7]
The coherence of one’s actions, words and conduct in society is emphasized as an essential part of becoming human.
Words are one thing, for them to have an impact is another. By practicing that which we believe, our actions and words are endowed with impact. It is action alone that yields impact.[8]
Throughout the book, one can find answers to essential questions such as:
- How to become a true human being and remain virtuous while living in society?
- How to fight against the imperious self and advance towards our goal of Perfection ?
- The immortality of the soul and what awaits us in the other world?
Words of Truth is like a personal treat for the soul. Its concise and conversational language prompts one to devour it. All the while the profound meanings penetrate the soul and strike a lasting effect on the reader. These words can sprinkle particles of light on our inner conflicts and guide the way in the thick of life.
Words of Truth is published and available in the following languages:
French: Paroles de Vérité, Albin Michel 2014
Persian: برگزیده (Bargozeedeh), Nashr-e Panj, 2009
Italian: Parole di Verità, Mondadori, 2016
Turkish: Hakikat Sözleri, Doğan Novus, 2017
Duygu Bruce
[1] Saying 21
[2] Saying 1
[3] Saying 4
[4] Saying 277
[5] Introduction, French edition page 16 (translated by the author of this article) .
[6] Introduction, French edition page 16.
[7] Saying 322
[8] Saying 337
