The Language of the Future
Sufi Terminology
by Murshid F.A. Ali ElSenossi

jism
Physical body

(Jism). Man consists of a body and a spirit which governs that body. In being referred to as 'the great man' the cosmos is also a body containing a spirit which governs it. The spirit of the cosmos is the Perfect Man. The bodies of the Prophets of Allah (Peace be upon them) and His friends are not material bodies, but spiritual bodies. Their physical bodies are encased within their spiritual bodies, yet, this reality is not perceived by those who are spiritually blind, those whose inner eye has not been opened. It is said, 'If the reality of the Sufi was to be unveiled he would be worshipped'.


See also: Great Man Perfect Man Reality of folding space
(Insan Kabir). This term is applied to the universe, the macrocosm. The signs of Allah are on the horizons, in the macrocosm, and within ourselves, the microcosm. The universe is the great man (Insan Kabir) and man is the small world or universe ('Alam Saghir).
(Al Insan al Kamil). He is the viceregent of Allah, through whom Allah contemplates His Own Name-derived Perfection. The Perfect Man has actualized the divine form and in carrying the Trust has fulfilled his reason for being. It is through the Perfect Man that Allah enters the world. Al Insan al Kamil is also one of the names given to the Supreme Isthmus. Man consists of a body and a spirit which governs it. The cosmos also consists of a body and a spirit which governs it. Its spirit is the Perfect Man. Without him the cosmos is likened to a discarded body.
(Haqiqat at Tayy). The secret of this reality is revealed to the one who brings his physical body under control and encases it within his spiritual body. Allah gives this power only to the elect of His friends. It is the power to travel, at will, vast distances without actually covering those distances in the physical body. The elect travel within their spiritual bodies. The speed of such spiritual travelling is beyond comprehension.

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