Short Explanation of Symbiosis
Pir Zia conducted meetings with various stakeholder groups within the Inayatiyya to discuss the features of our spiritual methodology which ideally express the essential principles of our message. He spoke of three themes that express the principle of symbiosis;
1.Perfect Nature is the integration of various aspects of the self, including the body, mind, heart, and soul. It refers to actualizing what is already in us without favoring one aspect of our nature over another; the importance of love, harmony, and beauty; and the Sufi path leading towards perfection. The soul, or meta-being, is not reducible to one thing or another, but rather encompasses multiple levels such as the physical body, energetic body, mental body, heart faculty, and the soul itself.
2.The “Cloud of Witnesses,” known as the Diwan, acknowledges the luminous emanations of awakened beings on all planes. The cloud of witnesses is a multidimensional network of guidance of awakened and awakening beings united in sacred service who transcend religious boundaries and work together to protect and inspire humanity to dispel illusions and support awakening. It is the collective awakening of ancestors, prophets, saints, and sages, guiding humanity which includes angels, jinns, and those who have lived human lives.
3. Syzygy represents the symbiotic relationships between individuals, species, and the earth, promoting ecological balance and collaboration for the well-being of the planet. Syzygy recognizes the centrality of relationships in one’s life and seeks balance in them, understanding that our roles within larger systems and the interconnections between them work together and form molecules of connection.
Symbiosis can be applied to organizational structures, emphasizing the importance of considering the whole and the interconnectedness of all parts, and the coherence and organicity in living systems. Symbiosis pervades all three of the principles; an ecology of selves (related to perfect nature), a symbiosis with illuminated souls (related to the cloud of witnesses), and a symbiosis of friendship (related to syzygy). The need for spiritual discourse to engage with the most updated insights in various fields, including biology, is important in navigating the Anthropocene.
