an itinerant observer

Introduction In the realm of Sufi literature, a profound concept known as the Commanding Self, or Nafs-i-Ammara , reveals itself as a mysterious intermediary between objective reality and one's authentic self. As Idries Shah eloquently states in The Commanding Self, it is "the key to understanding my entire corpus of work." This captivating concept challenges Sufi teachers to communicate its essence effectively, despite facing accusations of maintaining authority and denying individuals access to higher levels of understanding. The purpose of this essay is to delve into the depths of the Commanding Self, explore its significance in Sufi teachings, and shed light on its relevance to personal transformation and self-realization. By unraveling the layers of the Commanding Self, we can gain valuable insights into the journey of the soul and the path toward inner awakening. The Commanding Self: A Closer Look "The Commanding Self thrives on convincing individuals that its...

As the year 2023 unfolded, I found myself standing at a significant crossroads—a milestone marking ten years since my relocation from Houston to Karachi. It was a moment of reflection, where the flickering ember of my muse reignited within me. As in the past, it beckoned me to embrace those very failures that had woven themselves into the fabric of my existence, for they had shaped my trajectory through academic rejections, professional setbacks, and personal stumbling blocks. Amidst those failures, I discovered the profound blessings of love, employment, research, parenthood, and caregiving—an epiphany that revealed success as nothing more than a redefined manifestation of failure. Guided once again by the gentle whispers of my muse, I found myself drawn deeper into the caverns of introspection, where profound growth was nurtured amidst pain. As I cast my gaze upon the retrospective lens, I acknowledged the inherent challenges and limitations it presented. It was in response to this...

“It’s time to put the kids in private school”, used to be Ayesha’s mantra, a few years ago. My companion and much better half of over a decade would have me believe that private schooling was exactly what the doctor ordered for our young kids. I, being somewhat twisted in logic, had a hard time coming to terms with that. I understand, thus believe, that the private versus the public school dilemma is not new and that it is faced by many people across a wide spectrum of our nation’s populace. I also feel that it is of particular interest to the über-competitive desi (South Asian) Diaspora in Houston, and elsewhere. In fact, it is of such significance that it makes for much conversation whenever there is a meet and greet, typically at a birthday party, baby shower, bridal shower, or even the fashionable  GNO  (Girls’ Night Out). The argument for private school goes somewhat like this: better teachers, better curriculum, more motivation, and more inspiration. If...

As the 1 st  year of relocation from Houston to Karachi drew to an end, I wondered what I could write to mark that milestone. As happened over the past, whenever faced with a writing conundrum, I would ask the muse.  “Write about failure, and put it in a relevant context”, said the muse this time around, without hesitation. “Who’s failed frequently enough and could be the protagonist of this story?” I asked her. No answer. And then it occurred to me that the person whom I needed to write about was closer than I'd envisioned. I am a story of failure.  I have failed a lot. In fact, I have failed so often that I will fail again just trying to quantify my failures. Below, somewhat chronologically, I relate my choicest failure stories: One of my earliest, and repeated, failing situations led to my inability to get into an elite, legacy-based school in Karachi that my older siblings and cousins had attended. I failed the entrance test for another private sc...

Pink Floyd in the 70s in the epic album ‘the wall’ came out with the famous lyrics sung by children ‘we don’t need no education, we don’t need no thought control.’ Delving a bit into the lyrics and the history of Roger Waters, the lead vocalist of the band, one realizes that this was a protest song pushing for social reform along the schooling domain. It was antagonistic towards rigid schooling prevalent in the Western hemisphere, primarily in the U.K. and the U.S. The deromanticizing of education was made all the more potent by reference to tyrannical teachers and pedantic pedagogy. Considering that education was merely ‘another brick in the wall’, the poignant lyrics of the song should have been an obvious reminder to educationists the world over. Intriguingly, also in the 70s, an energizing and exciting discourse on the deschooling of society was ongoing in Latin America. This was led by Ivan Illich (1926-2002) an Austrian by birth, who obtained formal training in philosophy...

I recently came across an article that listed ten common parenting mistakes. It got me thinking about my own parenting skills, or lack thereof. The insecurity about parenting likely stemmed from my biases that were challenged by that article. I think parenting is made out to be harder than it actually is or should be. The point I’m really trying to make is this: in parenting misperceptions abound. The so called mistakes simply reflect the struggle that exists within all of us as human beings, compounded by the fact that we as parents are liable to err. The conflict arises when we attempt to assure a fool proof successful future for our children. Because the alternative, that is a presumably unsuccessful future for the child, is simply unacceptable to us. But what is success really? Isn’t it a perception, or contrarily a misperception? For instance, many times I have been successful only to realize that in that success I’m unhappy, so it’s really a failure. Conversely, many times I...