Awakening That Every Individual Has Its Own Path May Help Humans Evolve Further

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 14 June 2024 Chale Hain Saath Jo Barson Toh Ye Khula, Sarwer Ke Humsafar Bhi Safar Aik Sa Nahin Rakhte Distinguished Urdu poet and critic Syed Sarwer Javed Rizvi (After walking alongside beloved for years, Sarwer / I realised even co-travellers don't embark on the same journey) Safar Mein Donon Saath Toh Thay Tajurbaat-E-Safar Donon Ke Alag Rahe Sadiq Layalpuri (Though both were together during the journey / Our experiences were different) "Despite travelling together towards the same destination, every individual's journey is unique." Robert Frost There's no denying the fact that every individual is alone and each one of us has a separate path. Every individual's fate is different. French existentialist Albert Camus put it so succinctly, "Existentially speaking, every individual is alone." In William C Chittick's masterful translation of Maqaalat-e-Shams-e-Tabrizi (it's in Persian) into English as Me & Rumi: The Autobiography of Shams-i-Tabrizi, Shams and Rumi eventually realised that both understood the divinity in their own respective manners despite being together and both may have been right until Rumi's son got Shams killed as he suspected that something fishy was brewing between the two. This awakening that every individual has its own path may help humans evolve further. However close two individuals may be and however identical they may appear, their thinking will always remain unique. In other words, no two individuals think alike. Once we understand this, our social and inter-personal relations can undergo a sea-change. In one of his short stories, famous Urdu raconteur Intizaar Hussain writes, "Do Logon Mein Jhagde Tab Hote Hain Jab Donon Zid Par Utar Aate Hain Ki Saamne Wale Ko Bhi Meri Hi Tarah Sochna Hai; Jo Mumkin Nahin Hai. Iss Baat Ka Ehsaas, Jise Main Irfaan Se Kam Nahin Samajhta Hoon, Ki Do Log Kabhi Ek Hi Dhang Se Nahin Soch Sakte, Taamaam Fasaadaat Ko Jad Se Khatm Kar Sakta Hai" (Two individuals fight when both are adamant and start insisting that the other person must think alike; which's not possible. Once you realize, I consider it no less than self-realization, that it's impossible for two persons to think alike, all problems and issues can be rooted out). All our differences begin from our flawed thinking that we (all) think alike. We don't and we cannot. Let every individual grow in his or her way. Never impose your thinking, views and ideas on anyone. In a marital bond, spouses must respect each other's individuality. They must never assert that my way is the only way. Parents should also not impose their faith and unfulfilled ambitions on their offspring. Give them open ends and a sprawling sphere to move around. Never restrict them. A Hindu must never raise his / her child as a Hindu. Raise your child as a human and an independent individual. Respect every person's way of thinking. Remember Amir Qazalbash's famous couplet, "Saath Raho, Muhabbat Karo Lekin Ye Bhi Yaad Rakho / Tumhara Hum-Qadam Kabhi Tumhari Jaageer Nahin Ho Sakta" (Stay together, love each other but remember/ Your partner can never be your property or a rent-free grant). ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/awakening-individual-path-humans-evolve/d/132505 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism