Chapter VIII: Self-Examination and Self-Accounting
O Readers, know it for certains that the worst enemy which confronts you is.your baser self. It has been created in such a way that it enjoins evil deeds, runs after evils and flees away from what is good. You have been therefore ordered to lead it aright in the straight and correct path. Engage it by force and lead it^Q the divine service of the Lord, prevent it from greed and passions and deprive it of its joys and happiness. If you neglect your baser self, it will be disobedient to you. You will not then be able to overcome it. If you rebuke it always and treat harshly with it, you will be victorious. This is called self accusing spirit. God has taken oath of it. Hope that it is converted to self-satisfied spirit and becomes one of those friends of God who are self-satisfied and satisfy their Creator. So don't forget to chide your base self, first give instruction to yourself and then to others. The Almighty revealed to Jesus : O son of Mary, give instruction first to yourself and when you carry it into action, then give lessons to the people or else you will be put to shame before Me. God says : Remind one another as reminder benefits the believers. The baser self should constantly be rebuked and scolded, specially
Vol-IV MEDITATION AND INTROSPECTION 361
when it is linked with ignorance. In the following ways. The baser self and passions should be rebuked and then brought under control.
1. O baser-self, how great is your foolishness ? How do you think yourself as intelligent, while you are greatest in ignorance ? Don't you find Hell and Heaven before you? You are going near to either of the two. Why do you then enjoy and are in laughs and jokes though you may face with death either to day or tomorrow? Allah sees your death near while your think it too far. Don't you know that what is coming in near and what is not coming is too far ? Don't you know that death will attack you all of a sudden ? Before its coming, it will not inform you beforehand or its agent will not be sent to you before. It will come suddenly and alone. When it will come, it will not tarry a moment. It will not inform you when it will come, whether soon or late in summer or in winter, at day time or at night, in youth or in old age, Rather it may come at the time of every breath, every breath may be your last breath, and death-illness may suddenly overtake you. So what is the matter with you that you are not preparing yourself for death although it is very near you? Don't you ponder over the following verse of God : Accounts of men are near, while they out of heedlessness are turning back.