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Sound reason: excerpt 3 of a lecture by Bahram Elahi, MD

Ostad Elahi used to define his teachings as a new medicine of the soul: one that is adapted to the true nature of human beings and adheres to the law of causality governing both their spiritual and material lives. The spirituality he practiced was natural spirituality, and he viewed the process of spiritual perfection as a curriculum.

The excerpts presented here are drawn from a lecture given at the Sorbonne in March 2011, in which Professor Bahram Elahi revisits various aspects of Ostad Elahi’s philosophy. Rephrasing them in a simple and direct manner, he relates these points to fundamental questions and examines them from a rational standpoint.

For there is no process of spiritual perfection without the active development of “sound reason”, which is present at a potential stage in each of us. This excerpt revisits the general conditions of such a development. We are like pupils: our life on earth should be used to obtain the “certificates of primary and secondary education” that will then allow us to go through the higher stages of our process of perfection. The “primary certificate” corresponds to the ritual stage of major religions, which contributes to germinating the seed of sound reason. The curriculum of secondary education corresponds to the actual process of spiritual perfection: it is then up to each person to deal with the development of their sound reason, in an individual and voluntary way.

Further readings:

The soul and the conscious self Excerpt No. 1 – The soul and the conscious self

To begin with, who are we? What is this self that we identify with? And what prevents us, in practice, from connecting to it? These questions relate to the issue of the soul and the fight against the imperious self. [read more]

The purpose of our existence Excerpt No. 2 – The purpose of our existence

Why are we here? What is the meaning of this earthly life? These questions relate to the idea of spiritual development as a cognitive process: the process of perfecting our ordinary reason into sound reason. [read more]

A few fundamental principles Excerpt No. 4 – A few fundamental principles

Is it enough to have faith and become acquainted with the fundamental principles of spirituality to secure one’s spiritual future? That is the question addressed in the following excerpt by Prof. Bahram Elahi… [read more]


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9 comments

  1. G Jan 31, 2012 1:41 pm 1

    Sound reason: excerpt No. 3 of a lecture by B. Elahi, MD

    How, with which powers or faculties of the soul, can we study or obtain the secondary certificate consisting of the fundamental? With sound reason. And when I speak of “sound reason”, you have to know that, within each individual’s ordinary reason, the seed of sound reason is planted. But its up to us to germinate it and develop it. Ordinary reason can very well understand all the problems of material life, allow someone to be learned in different fields, physics, chemistry, mathematics, or even get the Noble Prize, yet they won’t understand a single word when it comes to the spiritual dimension. They don’t understand. Ordinary reason is not made to understand, it just doesn’t get it.

    There are three fundamental stages in reason. The first stage is ordinary reason, the reason that we use in our everyday life. Sound reason is ordinary reason that has evolved, becoming able to also grasp the spiritual dimension. And divine reason is the perfection of reason: you’ve become a particle of God, a divine particle; you have immediate and direct knowledge of all truths; you enjoy absolute freedom and-depending on your capacity-total power. Now, how do you develop your reason? First, it has to germinate, as I said. Once you have obtained the primary certificate, you have germinated your sound reason. Now its a matter of developing it. To develop it, you need to put it in practice the “correct” divine and ethical principles. What does “correct” mean? “Correct” means that these principles were originally sent out from the Source of our creation to feed the soul and have it develop. They are the food of the soul. The only one for that matter. Why “correct”? Because original principles, in the long run, get old. And human interference kills them. So what shall we do? For then, the divine and ethical principles we will have, instead of being correct, will be dead. Now, they’re food. They’re like medicine. If they’re not correct, they’ll be devoid of any active ingredient. If you take some medicine without its active ingredient, it will have no effect. If you “take” a divine and ethical principle that is not correct it will have no impact whatsoever on your soul.

    Where then can these correct principles be found? This is settled too, these principles are always dispensed by His guidance. His guidance is always present on earth and anyone sincerely looking for the Truth- Truth with a capital “T”- wherever they may live, whatever their culture, as long as they are sincerely searching according to their belief, but searching for the Truth, will be connected consciously or unconsciously, to this guidance and without realising it they will be directed toward these principles and practice them. But when you want to apply them there is a major obstacle, which at every step stands in your way and prevents you from applying them. It is your imperious self. So in order to be able to apply them you have to remove the obstacle that the imperious self represents. But then as soon as you want to remove it, you realise that you can’t. It is too strong. You cannot do it. What can you do then? Look for the support of metacausal energy. Without the support of metacausal energy its impossible. Nobody can. Nobody, nobody, nobody. Its impossible. Where can you find metacausal energy? The Source: turn your attention toward the Source and you will receive metacausal energy. And once you receive metacausal energy, you realise you can.

  2. Juneone Jan 31, 2012 8:21 pm 2

    Thank you for part three. I realize that am in a constant state of confusion about the limitations of my ordinary reason. I am always telling myself ” you mean you can figure out how to do x or y, but you can’t remember to do your prayers?”, and yes it speaks directly to my misunderstandings. Thank you, thank you……

  3. Nov Feb 01, 2012 11:22 pm 3

    Thanks for sharing this video with us.
    I was wondering if you can give a few examples on a developed/under development Sound Reason? for example, if someone has attention to the Source and see god’s signs in everyday life, does he have Sound Reason?
    I guess my question is very general, but i appreciate if you can help me with giving some examples. Thanks

  4. wire Feb 02, 2012 3:23 pm 4

    @Nov

    One example of sound reason could be that something has happened to me, and the result is that I am upset at the event having happened. However, in my heart, if I truly reflect, I know that this event in the long run is quite beneficial to me spiritually, and this helps to calm me down. Since sound reason gives us the ability to understand spiritual truths, i think someone who has attention and is able to see God’s signs in our daily life, and as a result gains self-knowledge does have sound reason.

  5. Noel Feb 04, 2012 2:22 pm 5

    Sound reason identifies and helps me understand the tricks and rationalizations that my imperious self constantly uses to stop me from turning my attention to the Source. I frequently have the following inner dialogue between the two conflicting voices of my sound reason and imperious self. One voice says “You are too tired to do your prayers” “You worked long hours today; you need to rest. You can do your prayers tomorrow.” Or it says, “You have too much to do this morning.” “Do your prayers later.” Then, the voice of my sound reason says: “If you don’t do your prayers and capture metacausal energy, you won’t be able to fight any of the attacks of the imperious self and you won’t be alert to the spiritual lessons or God’s signs throughout the day. That sympathetic voice, disguised as your helpful friend, is in fact your worse enemy, so don’t listen to it and do your prayers now!”

    On the subject of the importance and value of prayer, I find the book “Words of Faith”, especially the sections “On Prayer” and “A Few Short Sayings About Prayer” very helpful and inspiring.

    Thank you for this excerpt and comments.

  6. maxfarsh Feb 05, 2012 10:50 pm 6

    Thank you for the translation and thank you to write of the first comment (@G) for transcribing the lecture.

    On the point: “is too strong. You cannot do it. What can you do then? Look for the support of metacausal energy. Without the support of metacausal energy its impossible. Nobody can. Nobody, nobody, nobody. Its impossible. Where can you find metacausal energy? The Source: turn your attention toward the Source and you will receive metacausal energy. And once you receive metacausal energy, you realise you can.”

    Question:
    I agree that without the source we cannot overcome. But has anyone failed against the imperious self after turning their attention to the source? Perhaps sometimes the attention is not tuned correctly or it lacks sincerity? Wishing the best for everyone in their inner struggles.

  7. Nov Feb 09, 2012 12:10 am 7

    Thanks for your comments,
    During the week i tried to have more attention to my thoughts and by analyzing it managed to diffrentiate between Sound Reason and Ordinary Reason.

    @ maxfarsh,
    I also think that Sincerity is a key factor.
    However, as mentioned in “Sprituality is a Science”, the soul’s development shall be gradual.
    “As a result of natural meditation, we always act in accordance with our conscience and feel at peace with ourselves. Gradually, we succeed in better perceiving our errors and weaknesses without falling into despair and consequently improve ourselved daily.”
    So I guess Attention to the Source (metacausal energy), helps us in learning about ourself, our mistakes and by Sound Reason we can find ways to fight against imperious self.
    At least this is how i think, pls correct me if i’m wrong.

  8. wire Feb 09, 2012 3:46 am 8

    @maxfarsh:

    I think in the course of my life, I have truly turned my Attention to the Source when I wanted Him to prevent something unpleasant from happening to me. On the contrary, when I am faced with the imperious self (i.e. when i am trying NOT to do what it is telling me to do, and what I deep down want to do as well), I do not think I have ever truly turned my Attention to Him, because my imperious self was so strong that I did not sincerely invoke Him.

    Like Bahram Elahi says at the end of the video, when we truly have attention to Him, we will have the support of Metacausal Energy, and we will realize that we can overcome the imperious self…

  9. LA Mar 29, 2016 12:00 am 9

    Perhaps we could strive to “build up” some metacausal energy within, during those fleeting though truly sincere moments of attentive connection, of dialogue & prayer we have with the Source, so that we can use it to fight against the imperious self!

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