Seven Stages Of The Ego

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Şapte stadii/etape ale ego-ului
– de Rumi, așa cum este povestit de Elif Shafak

Primul stadiu este Eul Depravat (Nafs), cea mai primitiva si raspandita stare a existentei, cand sufletul este prins in capcana preocuparilor lumesti. Majoritatea fiintelor umane sunt blocate acolo, zbuciumandu-se si suferind in folosul ego-ului lor, dar considerandu-i mereu raspunzatori pe ceilalti pentru continua lor nefericire. Daca si cand o persoana devine constienta de starea degradata a ego-ului, incepand sa lucreze cu ea insasi, poate sa treaca la stadiul urmator, care intr-un fel este opusul celui precedent. In loc sa dea mereu vina pe alti oameni, persoana care a ajuns in aceasta etapa se invinovateste pe sine, uneori pana la smerire.

In aceasta etapa ego-ul devine Nafs-ul Acuzator si astfel incepe calatoria catre purificare interioara.

In al treilea stadiu, persoana este mai matura si ego-ul a evoluat in Nafs-ul Inspirat. Doar la acest nivel, si nicidecum inainte, persoana poate experimenta adevaratul sens al cuvantului “renuntare”/“capitulare” si calatori/hoinari prin Valea Cunoasterii. Oricine a ajuns atat de departe va avea si va da dovada de rabdare, perseverenta, intelepciune si modestie. Lumea va parea noua si plina de inspiratie. Cu toate acestea, multi dintre oamenii care ajung la al treilea nivel simt nevoia sa ramana aici, pierzand vointa sau curajul de a merge mai departe. De aceea, pe cat este de frumos si binecuvantat, al treilea stadiu este o capcana pentru cel care nazuieste mai sus.
Cei care reusesc sa mearga mai departe, vor ajunge in Valea Intelepciunii si vor ajunge sa cunoasca Nafs-ul Calm/Linistit. Aici ego-ul nu mai este ceea ce era, fiind modificat intr-un nivel inalt de constiinta. Generozitatea, recunostinta si un sentiment ferm de multumire, indiferent de greutatile vietii, sunt principalele caracteristici ale oricarei persoane care a ajuns pana aici.

Dupa aceasta se gaseste Valea Coeziunii. Cei care sunt aici vor fi multumiti cu orice situatie pe care Dumnezeu le-o scoate in cale. Chestiunile lumesti nu mai reprezinta nimic pentru ei, deoarece au dobandit Nafs-ul Multumit.

In aceasta etapa urmatoare, Nafs-ul Multumit, persoana devine o sursa de lumina pentru umanitate, radiind energie catre oricine o cere, calauzind si iluminand ca un maestru adevarat. Cateodata o astfel de persoana poata sa aiba si puteri vindecatoare. Oriunde ar merge, va face o mare diferenta in viata oamenilor. Prin tot ceea ce face si ceea ce aspira sa faca, scopul sau principal este sa il slujeasca pe Dumnezeu servindu-i pe ceilalti.

In final, in cel de al saptelea stadiu, persoana obtine Nafs-ul Purificat si devine Insan-i Kâmil, o fiinta umana perfecta. Dar nimeni nu stie prea multe despre aceasta stare si, chiar daca cativa ar sti, nu ar vorbi despre asta.

Etapele de pe acest drum sunt usor de rezumat, dificil de experimentat/trait. La obstacolele care apar de-a lungul caii se adauga si faptul ca nu exista nicio garantie a unui progres continuu. Calea de la prima la ultima etapa nu este in niciun caz directa. Exista mereu pericolul de a cadea inapoi in stadiile mai joase, cateodata chiar de la un nivel superior pana la baza, la primul nivel. Luand in considerare multele capcane de pe drum, nu este de mirare ca in fiecare secol numai cateva persoane reusesc sa ajunga in etapele finale.

Intrebari pentru reflectie: Cum te raportezi la cele sapte stadii ale ego-lui (Nafs)?
Poti sa impartasesti o poveste personala a unei perioade in care ai devenit constient prin ce etapa treci?
Ce te ajuta sa ramai constient de etapa pe care o experimentezi si sustine propria ta evoluție?
Seed Questions for Reflection

How do you relate to the seven stages of the self (Nafs)? Can you share a personal story of a time you became aware of which stage you were passing through? What helps you remain aware of the stage you are experiencing and support your own journey of evolution?

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Add Your Reflection

15 Past Reflections
GF
Gail Fagan
Mar 21, 2024
Feeling like Allah hoisted me out of my world into His world when I applied for a job with Him one day in prayer together. I applied to be a prayer person. Than it was as if God grabbed me from my human body when I later chose to live in His Will. The commitment is engraved on my soul. I am a student at God University
IM
ijaz mahmood
Jul 12, 2021
Greeting, maybe im stuck in 3rd stage or in 6th a little bit confuse.
J
J Aug 24, 2023
Not sure your being honest with yourself
NS
neha singh
Jan 12, 2021
ss
SK
sohail khatri
Apr 16, 2019
Keep up the good work; I read few posts on this website, including I consider that your blog is fascinating and has sets of the fantastic piece of information. Thanks for your valuable efforts. خرید بک لینک انبوه
DP
Jul 2, 2018

 Like  to read  Insaallah  Elif  Shafakas'  Forty rules  of Love 

Thanks 

SU
Apr 19, 2018

 Nafs(Self) an Arabic word in Quran.
I practice Ramana Maharishi's preaching"Who Am I? I,the biggest stumbling block in spiritual progress relates to the worldly-physical-mortal body.Whearas the eternal Soul inside is only pure consciousness the all pervading Omni present life force.Brahmo Hum Brahmo Hum Brahm Swaroopohum.Nityo hum-Shudho Hum-Budho Hum-Mukto hum.Soul overcoming self is a continuous spiritual quest.Kabir said the path is so narrow that the two cannot reside together. Either it is HE or I. May be I am at a stage dispelling I and adopting HE? In the process the gradual slow Opening of The Third Eye-Tenth Door helps to understand the report card.
 

NN
Nimish N Purohit Jun 5, 2018

 I found your comments very useful and would like to convey my thanks.

AM
Apr 18, 2018

 There are no perfect human beings.  Perfection is God, Jesus , Holy Spirit ... Alone.  There are times, however, when the Holy Spirit in dwells an imperfect human being to Have His (perfect) will done thru that person...but stage seven is not a level any human can reach alone.  This is why I believe!  God's got what I need and cannot achive separate from Him.

PA
Apr 17, 2018

 Stage or no stage we have to continue to apply skillful effort.

ST
Apr 17, 2018
 To love and beloved, to practice health in harmony with one's self - Understanding the evolution of our being in conjunction to the foundation of continuous love practice. 
 
SK
Shavell K. Crawford
Apr 16, 2018
 In reading the seven stages, aspiring to remain at stage 6.  Even on days where I can most identify with stage 6, I revert back to stage one and seek constant humility, repeating the stages.  Stage seven is inevitable and is physical death to the world as we consciously know it.  No one is perfect who is living, often making mistakes.  Repenting or letting go of ego, then advancing to the next stage.  Embracing a loop of learning, imperfections, joy and serving others. 
 
JP
Apr 15, 2018
 Life is a journey of expanding our consciousness. As I review my life voyage, I see myself going beyond my self- restricted  boundaries. I create my own suffering by getting attached to my craving for outer things. Recognizing the cause of suffering has helped me to mature and go beyond such a restricted way of thinking and living. Non-judgmental awareness of my own self-created bondage has been helping me to liberate myself from such bondage. There are times when I feel free from my egoic mind and feel deeply connected with the flow of life. These are the moments of pure love in which the dividing line between me and nature and other human beings gets dissolved. It is an oceanic feeling. Practicing meditation everyday has facilitated the process of knowing myself and expanding my consciousness. It is a unified sky-like state of consciousness. It is a state of pure love, unbound freedom and filled with blissful joy. May we be aware of our self-created boundaries and move in... View full comment
DD
Apr 15, 2018
 The seven stages of the self make sense to me.  I think I became aware of being in a stage when I was in stage 3, Inspired Nafs, as I felt some sense of surrender to life and some sense that further growth was to come.  In this stage, I was aware that new awareness was happening for me, and I was aware of many questions and had a sense that more understanding was coming.  I think I have had experience in stage 4, some brief experience in stage 5, and at least gotten my toe occasionally into stage 6.  What helps me remain aware of the stage I am experiencing and supports my journey of evolution is times that I become aware that my awareness has deepened which is accompanied by a sense of satisfaction and gratitude.  Based on my own experience, I agree with the author that the journey is definitely not linear, as I have had brief experiences in a stage that was mostly beyond me, then tumbled back, and then sometimes have experiences of longer duration in a... View full comment
KP
Apr 15, 2018

 I relate to two steps forward, one step back. In that life and stages are like a dance. There is progress, not perfection, at least that's my mantra. <3 To support the journey I do my best to not judge where I am or where anyone else is either, to sit in compassion for self and others. Each stage contains valuable learning and when we move through without judging it, we are able to see/feel the learning with more ease.