The Truman Show

It’s a very interesting world, a person’s own world. The most beautiful serial is the one about a human being himself. There is a movie that I applaud. It is a very good movie. “The Truman show,” yes. I applaud it very much. What was it about? I will tell you the story.
They have made a studio and everyone is acting in it. It is a small city. There is a young man but he is not acting. They have put cameras everywhere. His life is a serial which everyone is watching every day. The only person, who is not acting and is himself, is Truman.
Then he becomes fond of someone. They want to marry. The director feels that if Truman marries, the appeal of the movie will diminish. He says, “We will break up this marriage.” He is a human being too. He says cleverly, “Oh, who is breaking it up?”
There is an old man, who is his father. Then he finds out that he is not his father. The suspense of the story starts here. He gets on a boat. He realizes that his environment is not normal. Everyone is acting. He goes until he runs into the wall of the studio. He looks around and says, “So all of this was a movie, this city where I have been living since my childhood?!” Yes, you were the Truman of this city.
You dear gentlemen are the Trumans of this city. Everyone around you is acting so that you may be tested. God’s video cameras are everywhere. It takes 50,000 years to show you your own serial in the Hereafter!
Now, who has this meeting been held for? Please answer me. Us? Me! We will repeat for our friends to answer correctly. Who has this meeting been held for? Who is Truman? On whom has the camera of this meeting zoomed? For whom is the speaker talking? After this meeting, God will go home with which one of us? You say, “We went to the meeting, and God saw us…” There is no ‘Us’. Me! Everything was because of ‘me’! When a believer passes away, he asks God, “Why did you bring me here without telling me beforehand?” God says, “I told you three times.” “When?”
“The first time was two years ago when your neighbour passed away.” “Aha! Was that for me?” “Yes, haven’t you heard the story of Truman?” “And the next time?” “When one of your relatives passed away last year.” “Aha! Was that the second notice for me?” “Yes. Another of your relatives passed away last year… You had recently seen him.” “Aha! Yes! Yes!” “Do we have to tell you more than three times?” “I didn’t pay attention!” O God, this person is so off! He is not paying attention! He is… (But, God says,) “No, we had informed him.”
Let’s read the tradition, “Whenever there is a funeral procession, imagine yourself to be in that coffin.” When everyone is saying ‘There is no god except for Allah,’ say goodbye to everyone. When they are putting him in the grave, beg God, ‘O God, return me! Please! I am not ready!’ When they have put him in the grave say, ‘God has told me to go and given me life again.’” This is a tradition. They have emphasized to participate in memorial processions. At least walk seven steps. “What is the secret behind these seven steps?” Nothing. Just think while taking these steps. There is no secret. It is obvious. (People say,) “But I was talking with my friends while I was taking these seven steps.”
You dear gentlemen are the Trumans of this city. Everyone around you is acting so that you may be tested. God’s video cameras are everywhere. It takes 50,000 years to show you your own serial in the Hereafter!

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Is the process more important or the standard?
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What are we supposed to gain from the divine tests?

The aim of the system of divine tests is one virtue, and not various virtues to list and say, “What about his patience? Patience? We haven’t taken the patience test from him. Or, what about his generosity, or stinginess? We haven’t taken a test from him on this other topic either.” Then suddenly, another angel says, “But, he doesn’t have any money. Take that test later too.”
The aim of the system of divine tests is one thing. It is trying to get us close to God. How? By increasing our capacity, tolerance, and harmony with our Lord. By increasing our capacity! Capacity, tolerance, and harmony are three descriptions for one state in a human being’s existence.
The tests may involve our patience, receiving blessings, gaining a position, or not gaining a position. The kind of test doesn’t matter. If a person gains the capacity and worthiness to meet the God of the universe with the test that God has determined for him, which is the ultimate goal of creation, that’s good. There is no need for everyone to be tested with wealth.
We have to accept the principle that human beings should be different from each other. Otherwise, we cannot live with each other. When the Almighty God puts these differences, each person should be tested with tribulations in accordance with his aptitude, capacity, and spirit, for this person’s spirit to expand. God puts him in a situation where he must decide to see whether he makes the best choice, or not.
I don’t know the exact characteristics of greatness of a person’s soul, or the behavioral goal that God wants. But, we must ready ourselves for meeting God. It is possible that you are patient, worship, and do many good deeds. But God forbid, perhaps in the main test you have turned yourself into an evil person. Did you know that if a person is a villain, Satan gives him a good mood for worshiping so that he won’t understand that he has failed all his tests? A tradition says, “If a person creates an innovation in religion, his humility in praying will increase.”
“Sir, so how can I realize whether I am doing well, or not?” “I told you that I don’t know where you should reach to. I only know that you should get ready to meet God. I didn’t say that you should pray very much! Did I say that? Did I say repeat God’s names very much? Did I say that you should become brave in the battlefield? What did I say should happen?”
“Nothing. You didn’t say any of these. You avoided saying it. You said that you should gain a harmony, a passion, and the capacity for meeting God. You said something obscure like this.”
“I swear to God, that it is obscure. One can’t easily name it.”
“What about striving hard in the way of God?!”
“No. that is not a criterion either.”
“Prayer! Praying the Midnight Prayer. Crying! Sir! Whoever cries in front of God is in a good state!”
“What am I telling you? I’m saying that sometimes Satan gives the ability to cry a lot in front of God to the most villainous people!”
We are to increase our capacity, tolerance, and harmony with our Lord through the divine tests. The aim of the system of divine tests is one thing. God puts him in a situation where he must decide to see whether he makes the best choice, or not.

Our Book Corner
Based on the book "Why does God command me?" by Ali Reza Panahian

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Wasn’t I wasted?

Imam Sadiq (a) said, “Disbelief has three roots: greed, arrogance, and jealousy.” Then he said that greed drove the prophet Adam (a) out from Heaven. Arrogance made Satan wretched. Jealousy tuned Cain into a murderer, and so on.
Shall I give another example? Shall I? I want to give a very bad example. Sometimes… What shall I say? Shall I not give this example at all? I’ll tell you what the example was, and then not use it. This is much better. Yes, then curiosity will bother you. I will tell you what the example was, and then I won’t use it.
A man and a woman get married. Before the marriage, the girl was wishing for a good marriage. Now that she has a good marriage, greed afflicts her. “There are more people who can pay attention to me.” They start behaving badly and arguing. According to the statistics, many divorces take place in the first, second, or third year of marriage. Most divorces.
Why? “Wasn’t I wasted?” Put your greed aside! Calm down. This (thought) enters the heart so subtly that suddenly she sees her husband’s bad traits and lacks. Suddenly she sees better options. The same things happen in a man too.
I usually don’t do counselling. But, when young couples have a problem I say, “What is it? You don’t have anything else to worry about?” It was a bad example, but this badness exists in our society. This evil (avarice) shows itself in marriage. This even drove Adam out from Heaven! They are not ideal. All of us have some problems. Satan is a swindler! Satan does this by saying, “Ms. Bride, weren’t you wasted in marrying him?” With just this, he drove Adam out from Heaven!
If the couple are not greedy, their love for each other increases daily. “My spouse is too good for me! Praise God. Praise God.” What a love and kindness grows for each other in them! Sometimes one of them becomes greedy, sometimes both of them. Sometimes this one. Sometimes that one. We can see various cases. When you get a position, greed comes with it and ruins everything. You get married, greed comes with it.
This is a tradition, “Whenever God opens a door in the world for you, He opens a desire to go with it.” This comes with it. What is it called when they give something along with a product? Greed is like this. This is human nature. Read the verse from the Quran, “Indeed, man has been created covetous.” He has been created in this way!
This (thought) enters the heart so subtly that suddenly she sees her husband’s bad traits and lacks. Suddenly she sees better options. The same things happen in a man too. Put your greed aside!



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How does it feel to be in God’s embrace?
I don’t feel secure!

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Do they feel secure from Allah’s devising? No one feels secure from Allah’s devising except the people who are suffering loss.” [Qur’an 7:99] This means that God says, “I have designed this world in a way that if you feel secure, this will be to your loss! Don’t feel secure!” “So what should I do?” “Come to Me.” This is the way to get close to God. See! This is the way to get close to God.
“Do they then feel secure from God's devising schemes?” O God, what do You mean by devising a scheme?! Do You truly have a scheme? Devising a scheme means a tragedy or a calamity happens to a person suddenly, and despite all predictions and precautions, a person is hurt from a place he didn’t expect it.
People asked, “O Ali bin Abi Talib, how did your knowledge about God increase?” He said, “I have come to know God by seeing Him break down people’s determination.” We determine to do something and plan out everything, but He destroys our plan. We determine and prepare to do it. But our plans are ruined and we don’t get results. Imam Ali (as) said God showed him His power in these situations, and he saw God and came to know Him better. How interesting! This factor of insecurity, not thinking that whatever you determine to do will take place, is a factor for gaining knowledge.
See how God ruins plans. That is why when you say where you want to go tomorrow, say, “God willing.” God told the Prophet that there is no security. If you want to do something tomorrow, say, “God willing.” There is no security. I must allow it! O God, why do You say devising a scheme? It makes me feel insecure.
Once a teacher was beating his student. The student said, “Sir, it hurts!” The teacher said, “I’m beating you so that it will hurt. I’m not caressing you!” God doesn’t want us to have an unreasonable feeling of security. Yes, feeling secure in God’s embrace is the best security. “Now surely the Friends of God, they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.” [Qur’an 10:62]
Children feel insecure about others and go into their parents’ embrace. If a person is trained by the Qur’an, he will feel insecure more than that child and he will take refuge in God. [You may say,] “Why are you trying to make us little before God?” This is such a good question, even if it’s an objection. The reason is that then you will become like God. You’ll become a superpower. You’ll be able to change everything. You’ll be able to move the universe, split the moon, and bring back the sun!
Why should you be small before God? Because if you become small before Him, you’ll go into His arms [like a child]. If you are little before Him, you’ll get strength from God! This is the reality of the world. “Servitude is a gem and inside it is Lordship.” [Misbah al-Shari’ah, p. 536] Why should you become small and stick to God? Is this a weakness? [No.] This will cause you to reach the peak of power, enjoyment, love and affection. Why do you want to live without these?! This is the way and there is no other way!
[You might say,] “You want to belittle us, make us afraid of God, and frighten us of other factors for us to stick to God. Let us stand on our own two feet.” When standing on your own feet, where will you get to? Go to God and be able to travel through the earth (tay al-ard). “I want to stand on my own two feet.” Stand on your own feet. Where will you get to? Will you be able to go to the moon on your own two feet? But you can explore the universe when you’re in God’s embrace.
Imagine if a tall father hugs his child. The child will suddenly move up 3 meters. What will he see from up there? Do you remember when they would hug you? We would suddenly look at everything from above, like a tall person. “Akh! I was bothered looking around from down there!” He will bring you above the crowd and hug you. You’ll move up and look at the whole universe from above.
This is the way. It is impossible for us to become powerful and have a broader outlook without connecting to the Lord of the universe. [One may say,] “God, give me something, then I’ll leave.” You’re not able to leave, not even now. If you’re cut off from God’s power and care, you’ll stop breathing. We are all connected to and provided for by the Lord of the Universe.
O God, I don’t feel secure. This world is completely in Your hands. None of the causes and effects will guarantee my interests. This is the way to get close to God.

It is this easy. As easy as making an intention.

Go find your own way.
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From the Series “The Secrets of Ashura,”
Part 5. [To be continued…]

How are you?

When people asked the Holy Prophet (s), “How are you?” he would say, “Thanks to God in all situations.”
The mood, which God has mentioned the most about human beings in the Qur’an, is being ungrateful. God’s biggest complaint about human beings is about them being ungrateful. The beginning of a person’s misery starts when he feels bad. God is severely sensitive about people’s moods.
Why are you feeling bad? If a person is not feeling good, it is as if he is saying he is an unbeliever. There is a God but he is trying to say that there isn’t any God. If you don’t want to say that, so why are you feeling bad? When a person sins, it’s because of his bad mood. He sins to feel better. Why did you feel bad in the first place?
God determines, changes, and ordains people’s destinies according to their moods very much. When a person feels good, God will prepare a good situation for him. When he feels bad, God will ruin his situation. Whoever senses that he is feeling bad and is not full of energy and vitality should say, “I have become ungrateful.”
The interesting point is that when Satan causes someone to sin, he ruins his mood afterwards. He doesn’t improve anyone’s mood with sinning. Satan incites him to sin, and then he says, “Ah! You won’t become a good person! What were you thinking? You thought God would forgive you that easily?! You ruined everything!” Then, the person feels bad.
However, God says, “Repent right now. If you repent right now, I’ll forgive you. But, don’t feel bad!” Satan wants us to feel bad, not to make our deeds bad. Satan even says, “Do good deeds. That’s not important. But, feel bad.”
The Prophet Ibrahim (‘a), who was called the “Friend of God,” was put on a catapult aimed towards a fire. The trustworthy Gabriel came and asked, “How are you? Do you want me to help you?” I’m saying it in my own words! He asked, “Do you want me to help you?” Ibrahim said, “I’m good. I don’t need your help.” Believe me, if he had felt bad, he would have been burned by that fire. Why didn’t all that fire burn him? Because he felt good. If he had felt bad, he would have been burned.
People asked a mystic, “What did you do that wisdom came to your tongue? What did you do?” The mystic replied, “I went to Mecca. I loved my oldest son very much. When I returned, I was told that my son had passed away. I was starting to feel bad. Suddenly, I controlled myself. I said, ‘God, since you wanted this, I’m satisfied with it.’ I didn’t feel bad. From the next day, wisdom flowed from my heart to my tongue.” This was the reward for him not feeling bad.
When people asked the Prophet (s), “How are you?” he would say, “Thanks to God in all situations.” We are thankful to God in any situation. I pray that God will make us thankful in all situations, and make us feel good.
[From the series of speeches under the topic of, “A human being’s moods, as stated in the Qur’an”]

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