A: Complex-free soul is one which is free of all forms of negative thinking - prejudice, hatred, enmity etc. He who is able to free his mind of such thoughts is complex free. To make one free is not a mysterious formula, it depends on the act of introspection and contemplation. The following verse in the Quran,

An nafsul mutmaiynna (89:27)

This verse says how man becomes complex-free. If God gives favour to man, he thinks he is superior. On the other hand, when God withhold something which man has wanted he thinks he has been let down [89:15-16]. Both thinking are wrong. Man should be able to acquit him of both these thinking, only then will he be complex free.

A: Material attainments should be done for fulfilling needs and not for providing luxury. Man must know the difference between need, comfort and luxury. Sufis prescribe complete abstinence. I do not subscribe to complete abstinence. According to my understanding, materialism should be adopted so long as it fulfils the need.

Attaining luxurious living should not be the goal of striving for materialism. Here I would also like to clarify that comfort and luxury are not haraam (prohibited by religion) but they kills time, energy and money. Therefore, one who makes comfort and luxury his goal will do so at the cost of his intellectual development.

Speaking Tree| TOI | April 2, 2011

Adopt contentment. If you cannot increase national growth, decrease your needs; otherwise it will lead to problems. Tackling national issues is not just the task of the administration, it is every citizen's duty. We should develop the spirit of looking on it as our duty and do it with willingness.

This is something that each person knows himself. When you want more than need, it has a price and the price is that you cannot attain a great feat. You would remain engulfed in luxury. A man of mission likes simplicity and remains content on need. I once visited Rajasthan where I came to know about a person who had opened a new hospital for patients of Tuberculosis. The hospital was amidst lush gardens. I decide to visit him.

The hospital was well-built. When I went to him room, it had neither a table, nor couches. There was only a simple floor on which he was sitting and he used to speak very little. He was dressed very simply and was a complete picture of how someone who attains big feats leads his life. All scientists for example, lead very simple lives. Only those who have no other job but to eat, live and be merry, who talk like this.

Source: The Seeker’s Guide

The formula is to tell people to adopt contentment (qanaat). Man has unlimited desires and so even when he gets everything, it appears less. In such a scenario, only contentment can be the solution. People live in the psyche of greed (takassur) which is the root cause of tension. They should be extricated from greed-culture and brought to contentment-culture.

There is no limit, the only condition is sincerity. Let me explain with an example. Every Muslim reads 'Alhamdulillah' every day in the prayer but I have not found a single person who utilised his mind to understand its meaning.

I used my mind and understood that if I want to express my gratitude to God, then how a big thanksgiving will emerge when so many negative experiences come my way every day. Amidst these experiences, how will I thank God?

I realised that "Alhamdulillah" invites an entire culture to forget those things that lead one to negativity. There is no one in the world that does not undergo negative experiences. Everyone lives in the psyche of complaints. In such a scenario, how will he render big thanks to God unless he adopts this culture! He will have to forget negative emotions, hatred and losses so that he is able to thank God. Bernard Shaw said that, 'The most uneducated man is one who has nothing to forget!" I would say that to be able to thank God, you will have to forget! If I would not have used my mind, I would not have understood this meaning. I realised that 'Alhamdulillah' is a killer of all kinds of complaints, negative emotions and feelings. And when man prays as such, he will become a new person, devoid of negativity and hatred because he would realise that unless he purifies himself he will not be able to say true, 'Alhamdulillah'!

Source: The Seeker’s Guide

It is a matter of thinking; this is what determines your personality and actions. Your thinking process should be directed onto the right path.

Source: The Seeker’s Guide

Speaking Tree | TOI | October 31, 2010

Adopt a simple life style. A simple life leads to spiritual development. A simple life style means saving yourself from unnecessary distractions. These distractions come In the way of spirituality.

Speaking Tree | TOI | May 8, 2011

The main reason for negativity is our complex. People suffer from all kinds of complexes, such as prejudice and envy. Free yourself of these feelings and you will be able to come up with a positive response in all kinds of situations. A negative reaction is an emotional reaction, while a positive response is a rational response. A negative response pulls you down, while a positive response produces healthy results.

A: Objective thinking arouses universal approach. The more objectively a person thinks the more universal he becomes. Normally people think subjectively and are not able to think keeping the entire humanity in mind. They restrict themselves to their family, society and community. Each person therefore must introspect and get to know whether he has a self-centered or a universal approach. A man can get to know this himself and can also work on it himself.

Source: The Seeker’s Guide