Thank you for your response. The Islamic Sufi tradition is simply an advanced level of traditional practice of Islam--a superbly intelligent interpretation that

Thank you for your response. The Islamic Sufi tradition is simply an advanced level of traditional practice of Islam--a superbly intelligent interpretation that never deviates from the core principles; both Arabs and Persians have contributions in this sphere. Sheikh Farid-uddin Attar, resident of Neshapour (ancient Persia), mentions in one of his works (I translate, but it will not be perfect): "Don't let the self (your soul) become familiarized with the Demons-- for once you do, you become one yourself." In the context of his poem, the Demons refer to the proteges of Satan who cause us to commit sin--the ugly side of the Human being. In other words, if you do something ugly, you will still have your good self, but also now develop a bad self; the more bad you do, the more varieties of bad selves you will develop. Philosophic psychiatry (that blends religion with psychology, as suggested by Maslow) supports this view as well: recent (2011) paper on the New Unconscious confirms that humans are objectively good: our good self is always there. But when we deviate from this objective goodness, (to the degree that we deviate) we slowly face dissociation--multiple selves emerge as an after-effect. Elsewhere Hakim Nezami, resident of Ganja (now located in Azerbaijan), writes: "O, Thou, from Whom the Whole Existence has come about!" "The weak soil, become able from Thy Mercy!" While on the surface it may refer to how soil produces food per decree of the Almighty, it also refers to human beings (as we were made from soil originally); the reference to becoming able is in contrast to being weak--when committing sin and doing wrong: the bad self--while becoming able implies no longer being weak: developing the good self. There can be more but off-hand this should do. :)