The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi by William C. Chittick

Author:William C. Chittick [Chittick, William C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: World Wisdom
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

III. The Nature of Man

1. Universal Man

Although the universe is one when seen from the point of view of the Divine Essence, from the point of view of relativity there is a fundamental polarization into microcosm and macrocosm. The macrocosm is the universe in all its indefinite multiplicity, reflecting the Divine Names and Qualities as so many individual particularizations and determined modes. The microcosm is man, who reflects these same qualities but as a totality. The macrocosm and the microcosm are like two mirrors facing each other; each contains all of the other’s qualities, but the one in a more outward and objective manner and in detail (mufassal) and the other in a more inward and subjective manner and in summary form (mujmal) . Thus man’s total knowledge of himself in principle includes the knowledge of the whole universe. For this reason the Quran says, “And He [God] taught Adam the Names [i.e., the essences of all beings and things]” (II, 31).

The father of mankind, who is the lord of “He taught the Names,” hath hundreds of thousands of sciences in every vein.

To his soul accrued (knowledge of) the name of every thing, even as that thing exists (in its real nature) unto the end (of the world). . . .

With us [ordinary men], the name of every thing is its outward (appearance); with the Creator, the name of every thing is its inward (reality). . . .

Inasmuch as the eye of Adam saw by means of the Pure Light, the soul and inmost sense of the names became evident to him (I, 1234-35, 1239, 1246).

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