Gateways to Enlightenment : Episode 1 – Hij’ra

Introducing the series titled Gateways to enlightenment. These talks cover modern approaches and indications in moving from information to transformation; broken down for ease of understanding into four gateways of enlightenment. The first of these doors is hijra: to cut off, cut back, or leave behind. This cutting or leaving occurs at numerous levels. It includes physically moving, but the inner meaning is to do with departing from the movements and activity of the mind: mental habits and thoughts. Turning away from the assumptions of the personality, tendencies and attachments. Hijra is, in fact a perpetual process. Fears and habits, attachments to situations always occur and remain whilst living in this world. The dynamics of hijra is further elaborated as an essential inner quality that appears as outward action. By selecting and discussing a few specific verses from the Qur’an, Shaykh Fadhlalla describes an updated and user-friendly map for moving away from the lower self and recognizing the higher that is always-already there, within you. Select Qur’anic beams are relayed in concordance with different aspects and subtleties of ‘turning away’. Ultimately, Allah or Supreme Consciousness is not subject to distance, or time. Inner stability is borne by the recognition of change and difference, and to make hijra from it with reference to the ever-present, constant, Oneness.