Theophany and the Realm of Direct Divine Manifestation

The Blonde Stranger and the Creek: 7 Questions on God

As I goest along my quest, through the trails of death and life:
"May The God bestow me with the powers over Exaltation & Depression (Moon);
Synthesis & Analysis (Mercury);
Desire & Fear (Venus);
Reputation (Sun);
Pleasure & Pain (Mars);
Gain & Loss (Jupiter);
Life & Death (Saturn)."

The tree shuffled outside my window. This it often does at the time for the talks that reach to my very sinew. Fiery Air addresses Airy Water as the sunlight disappears. Glittering appears though. He needs no priestly robe. She needs no acolyte shawl. Walking or still, here comes the words about all.
"Please, " said Airy Water. "Tell me of God. How do you know He exists? What is God's essence? What are his personality?"
"Where can I start?" said Fiery Air as he looked at one of his bookshelfs. The room was growing darker, just as he liked it. "All that we say is like a needle in the ocean pulled out. Does the water left on the needle after shaking it really compare to the Ocean?"
"No, but what can you say then?"
"All are destined to know of The God. As it says in a Legendary Saying (AHadaThanaa) of MooHammad attributed to God, 'I was a hidden treasure and I desired to be known and loved. Therefore, I created the universe.'"
Airy Water questioned again how Fiery Air knew God existed. "I have belief because much of what I'm told has stuck to my mind and heart. I have faith because the physical universe seems to point me towards that belief. I know because, I have experience."
Airy Water asked, "What is your experience?"
Fiery Air answered, "Mostly it is the knowledge of certain matters. The more one looks into a subject, there seems to be more. Also, I see when I look at my experiences, Holy or mundane, there are always ones that transcend others. Indeed, all my knowledge and experience don't seem to reach the boundaries of anything."
"When you learn and experience, that makes you think you know and experience less of what there is?"
"Yes. Shall I tell you of when I experienced God's presence?"
"You may."
"One spring day a few years ago: I walked across the grounds of Clark Community College; here in Vancouver, listening to Al Qooraan and reciting, or just reciting. I don't remember which. I should have detailed notes of it, somewhere. Walking amoungst the cherry blossoms falling off around twenty trees, time slowed down dramatically. I could hear the word Allah with every white and pink petal, falling in the wind. 'Allaah (The God), Allah (The Power), Allah (The Astonishing),' said the most beautiful and melodic voices one could hear. I felt Allah's presence. I mean one goes around thinking that everywhere is God. This is not the same as experiencing the presence. There is nothing that I can say to let you know what that is like."
"Will I know a day like that?" asked Airy Water.
Fiery Air postulated, "On your Day of Judgement, you will know. As for in this life, I know not what you will know of the metaphysical. True knowledge of such is not something that you will arrive at merely because another has it. You must have substantial evidence and experience for yourself. Some knowledge is only held by one person. There are few guarantees with knowledge. Belief leads to faith, which leads to knowledge I can only offer to help with belief and acquiring faith, if the God wills it (InShallah) for you."
"If I believe in something without proof, I may know of it some day?"
"Yes, but just don't believe in anything, nor negate everything not from you firsthand experience."
"Ok."
Fiery Air continued: "Of God's essence, substance, core; that is something too transcendant to talk about, to think about, yea to even use one's feelings with. We are to reflect on God's Personae."
Airy Water asked, "Is Personae like a personality?"
"Yes and no. Personae is the way you are seen and percieved by others. God's personality is destinctive. Al Qooraan 112.4 says, 'None is like him in anything.' God is the best, the most, the purest, or the source of all in every way he manifests. God's personality is the universe seen through five worlds of spirit, soul, emotions, mind, and body."
"The parts of myself are worlds?" She puzzled.
"And worlds within worlds, if you only knew. The realms of Direct Divine Manifestation, Light Beings, Fire Beings, and that of the humans are all experienced through the parts of ourselves. That is why people say all is within you. We understand all else in terms of our selves."
Airy Water questioned, "You spoke of God's personality. What do you mean?"
Fiery Air answered, "The God is the most, purest, and the best in any quality that justly describes him. I may go over the list of 319 from Al Qooraan and Hadeeth or a list in a language other then Arabic. Today, I could sing you a list of 99 from those 319, if you'd allow me."
"Sure."
"ArraHmaan-The Beneficent, ArraHeem-The Merciful, Al Malik-The Sovereign, Al Qooddoows-The Holy One, Assalaam-The Source of Peace, Al Moowmin-The Guardian of Faith, Al Moohaymin-The Preserver of Safety, Al `Azeez-The Exalted in Might, Al Jabbaar-The Irresistible," He vibrated lowly.
"Al Mootakabbir-The Justly Proud, Al Khaaliq-The Creator, Al Baaree-The Evolver, Al MooSawwir-The Fashioner, Al Gaffaar-The Forgiver, Al Qahhaar-The Subduer, Al Wahhaab-The Bestower, Arrazzaaq-The Provider, Al FattaaH-The Opener, Al `Aleem-All Knowing," Feiry Air raised his pitch very slowly.
"Al Qaabid-The Constrictor, Al BaasiT-The Expander, Al KhaafiD-The Abaser, ArraafiAe-The Exalter, Al Moo`izz-The Honorer, Al MooDhill-The Dishonorer, AssameeAe-All Hearing, Al BaSeer-All Seeing, Al Hakam-The Judge, Al `Adl-The Just," It was said ever so softly.
"AllaTeef-The Subtle, Al Khabeer-The Aware, Al H.aleem-The Clement, Al `AZeem-The Magnificent, Al Gafoowr-The Effacer, AShShakoowr-The Appreciative, Al `Aleey-The Most High, Al Kabeer-The Greatest, Al H.afeeZ-The Preserver, Al Mooqeet-The Sustainer, " continued the divine homily.
"Al H.aseeb-The Calculator, Al Jaleel-The Sublime, Al Kareem-The Generous, Arraqeeb-The Watchful, Al Moojeeb-The Responsive, Al WaasiAe-The All Embracing, Al H.akeem-The Wise, Al Wadoowd-The Loving, Al Majeed-The Glorious, Al Baa`iTh-The Resurrector," went the words that seem to call me.
"AShShaheed-The Witness, Al H.aqq-The Truth, Al Wakeel-The Trustee, Al Qaweey-The Strong, Al Mateen-The Firm, Al Waleey-The Patron, Al H.ameed-The Praiseworthy, Al MooHSee-The Examiner, Al Moobdee-The Orginator, Al Moo`eed-The Restorer," The Names can make one feel quite buzzy.
"Al MooHyeey-With The Quality That Gives Life, Al Moomeet-The Bearer of Death, Al H.ayy-The Alive, Al Qayyoowm-The Self-Subsisting, Al Waajid-The Finder, Al Maajid-The Noble, Al Maajid-The Noble, Al WaaHid-The Unique, Al AHad-The Only One, ASSamad-The Eternal, Al Qaadir-The Able," The sound filled atleast me.
"Al Mooqtadir-The Powerful, Al Mooqaddim-The Expediter, Al MoowaKhir-The Delayer, Al Awwal-The First, Al AaKhir-The Last, AZZahir-The Manifest, Al BaaTin-The Hidden, Al Waalee-All Governing, Al Moota`alee-The Most Exalted, Al Barr-The Source of Goodness, " It was like a lullaby in its melody.
"Attawwaab-The Acceptor of Repentance, Al Moontaqim-The Avenger, Al `Afooww-The Pardoner, Maalik Ool Moolk-Owner of Kingship, Dhoowl Jalaali Wa Ikraam-Lord of Majesty and Bounty, Al MooqsiT-The Equitable, Al JaamiAe-The Gatherer, Al Ganeey-The Self-Sufficent, Al Mooganee-The Enricher," He continued humbly.
"Al MaaniAe-The Preventer, ADDaarr-The Distressor, AnnafiAe-The Propitious, Annoowr-The Light, Al Haadee-the Guide, Al BadeeAe-The Incomparable, Al Baaqee-The Everlasting, Al WaariTh-The Supreme Inheritor, ArraSheed-The Reasoner, ASSaboowr-The Patient, " Thus, I finished the invocation that evoked me!
Airy Water paused for a moment to see if he was done. "That was nice!" she cooed. "Aren't some of these things, I could or should be?"
Fiery Air replied, "We should identify with them all; in atleast the sense of servant, devotee, and slave of or `Abd. We manifest these qualities in limited ways. There are things we can't or shouldn't be. We shouldn't be proud. We should never call ourselves King of Kings or compete in Majesty. Our competition is primarily with ourselves in goodness. We should be more aware of how the Divine Emanations act upon us. That is how to learn their story in this world, and perhaps gain experience of them, thereby developing ourselves."
"Isn't that why alot of people pray to angels, saints and stuff?"
"Yes," He replied. "When we call upon The God alone, we don't need to call on any else to get our prayers answered, no matter how specific. All the manifestations, holy or mundane, are there if we call on them or not. When The God allows manifestation to occur, many people realize the spark of divine presence in it and worship it. God is in me and I am in God. This is what everything can say, but we forget."
Airy Water asked, "Why do people talk of god as being in heaven and no where else then?"
Fiery air responded, "It stems from two things: God is omnipresent and the awareness of The God Beyond is more primal. The God here is harder for most to believe in. The second stems from dogmas based on linguistic misunderstandings."
"So the heaven where they say God is is not the sky?"
"In a contextual way of speaking, generally yes. In the passage of Al Qooraan Soowrah 7 Aayaat 180 we have the word Al Asmaaa, refering to the names and qualities known as Laahoowt or The Realm of Direct Divine Manifestation. This is a realm closer to us then our Jugular vein (See Al Qooraan 50.16), yet extending further then time does. The exception to this is the Aramaic word ShM or 'name. This also has the meaning of heaven found with Assamaaa'i in Al Qooraan 67.16&17. That is the sky, but we shouldn't confine our idea of God to the sky. When we do that God may show us that out of which we love (See Al Qooraan 3.152). When we think of how God manifests in certain ways, our focus in life changes towards those ends."
"When I think of God and goodness, I'll know more of it in my life and you say after my life?"
"If The God wills if (InShaallah), a change in focus will cause the effects you truly should strive for."
Fiery Air and Airy Water bid eachother adieu. I hope this story will help you start anew.