Stations of the Soul
By John Herlihy

We are furnished with the mystery of the human soul,
Composed of ranks and stations to fill up every hole.
That exist as expressions of our ignorance or wisdom,
To free us from our lower nature’s implicit serfdom.
He who knows himself will come to know his Lord;
He who lifts up his heart will come to greet his God.

The lowest level of the soul is the nafs al-ammarah;* (12:53)**
Finite expressions of the ego in this world of samsara.***
Our willful Impulses fueled by the rage of human fires,
Then stoked by the lower urges of our human desires.
Traits include greed, lust, pride, envy and lack of trust,
A lower consciousness that grapples with what it must.

The next level of soul is the blame-worthy nafs al-lawwama; (75:2)
That whispers right behavior in the relative world of samsara.
It is the voice that tells us what we should already know;
It is the voice that will ensure us the proper place to go.
Who could imagine that the soul had a voice to speak,
A voice that listens to the mind and always attempts to seek.

The next stage of soul is the self-inspiring nafs al-molhama; (91:7)
Its ever-fluid spirit springs within the fountains of samsara.
Like a water spray, it embellishes virtue with all the virtues;
It peels back layers of experience to find secretly hidden clues.
Detachment offers perspective, while patience offers control;
Humility and perseverance will also win the day, so I am told.

The next stage of soul is the quiescent nafs al-mutma’inna, (89:27)
Drawn from earth and fostered by the waters of samsara.
The quiescent soul creates a new day of potential bliss,
Making select decisions that affect us all, with nothing amiss.
Generosity to the world and the all-abiding trust in God,
Devotion to duty and love of wisdom, with nothing flawed.

The next stage of the soul is the contented nafs al-radiyya, (89:28)
With the power to lift the spirit with its glimpses of forever.
This soul comes sparingly to life as we rarely stand on tip-toe;
We nurture life like weary farmers who reap what they grow.
The contented soul breathes deep with well-earned satisfaction;
It utters no unkind word to anyone; thus no need for retraction.

The penultimate stage of soul is the ‘in awe’ nafs al-mardiyya, (89:22)
An experience seldom felt on earth we partake almost never.
We catch the spirit of its breath should it fly near on the wing,
A feeling of sublime reverence and awe that has our hearts sing.
The soul finally experiences what it means to have God’s pleasure,
Wrapped in wreaths of wonderment and joy of this divine treasure.

The ultimate stage of the soul is the self-perfected nafs al-kamila, (16:91)
That wanders free in celestial gardens amid divine fauna and flora.
We spend a lifetime seeking a cure to the imperfections of the world.
If the world is our oyster, then the perfect soul is our perfected pearl.
The human soul has internalized the wisdom it came on earth to learn;
The perfected soul has finally achieved what it took a lifetime to earn.

The stages of the soul take all humans on the journey of a lifetime,
Through byways of shadow and sadness in silhouette to light’s shine.
Ask not a question of the soul that it is not capable to fully answer;
Steer clear of the lower soul that will surely your progress hamper.
The soul leads everyone thru the gate of destiny; this much is known.
The stations of the soul reveal its mystery as truth; this much we own.
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* Arabic terminology for the various designations of the soul
** Taken from the Quran, in parenthesis chapter and verse
*** In Buddhist tradition, the cycle of birth in the mundane world