Introducing the Book “From Suffering to Liberation” by Sasan Habibvand

About the Book

Who am I? Why do I think this way? To what extent are my beliefs the result of my culture and upbringing? If I had been born elsewhere, would I still insist on what I insist upon today? Or would I believe in different things? In what culture have I grown up, and how has this culture shaped my way of thinking? Could one not think differently or have different goods and bads? What are my feelings and inclinations, and how have these inclinations shaped my view of the world? Are there not conflicts and contradictions in my thoughts and beliefs? Is my way of thinking more a source of joy and comfort for me, or a cause of suffering and trouble? How can I free myself from the suffering of disturbing thoughts and feelings? Have I chosen my life's path myself, or have I been led down this road by the indoctrinations of my environment? These are the questions we address in self-knowledge. Answering these questions can clarify our view of the world and give our lives meaning and clear direction. In self-knowledge, we are freed from the suffering of doubt and contradiction, and we walk through life confident and at ease. Self-knowledge is not the accumulation of knowledge and information; self-knowledge is the attainment of insight and wisdom. "From Suffering to Liberation," in a simple and intimate language, takes the reader along to place before them fascinating and thought-provoking points about the self, the mind's deceptions, the meaning of life, and the roots of suffering and failure.

Here we want to make sure that the flaw we see in many things does not stem from our own perspective, that the suffering we endure does not arise from within ourselves, and that the sorrow or resentment we bear is not due to a defect in our own judgments. For it is clear that if, as Rumi says, "the world's appearing blue is from the blueness of the glass that is before our own eyes," the matter is quite different. Then it is that, instead of raging at this or that or trying to reform the world, we must reconstruct our inner world. Instead of painting the whole universe, we must remove the "blue glass" from before our eyes.

You had a blue glass before your eye, therefore the whole world seemed blue to you.

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Purchase in Iran:

"From Suffering to Liberation" has also been published in a paperback format and in 240 pages by "Sayeh Sokhan" Publications. "Sayeh Sokhan" provides the books to enthusiasts through in-person or postal purchase.

Contact and ordering addresses:

Enghelab Ave., 12 Farvardin St., Behesht Ayin Alley, No. 19, Ground Floor

66962456 - 66495280 - 66496410

Purchase Outside of Iran:

"From Suffering to Liberation" is available for purchase worldwide through online book sales websites, including Amazon (the purchase link is at the bottom of the text).

In the continuation of this introduction, after a look at the book's table of contents, we will present you with excerpts from several chapters of the book. At the end, we will have a brief acquaintance with the author.

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Table of Contents

A Word to You

Chapter One: What is Self-Knowledge?

Chapter Two: We and Choosing the Path

Chapter Three: The Important Role of the Mind

Chapter Four: "The Force of Inclination"

Chapter Five: Imaginary Problems

Chapter Six: The Conscious and the Unconscious

Chapter Seven: What to Do with Worry and Anxiety?

Chapter Eight: What to Do with Past Sorrow?

Chapter Nine: Communication and Dialogue (The Tale of the Deaf Man's Visit to His Sick Neighbor)

Chapter Ten: What to Do with "What People Say"?

Chapter Eleven: What to Do with Feelings of Blame and Unhappiness?

Chapter Twelve: Is the Neurotic Person Guilty or Sick?

Thirteenth Discourse: The Parrot and the Merchant

Fourteenth Discourse: What Is Language?

Fifteenth Discourse: Question and Answer

Final Word

First Discourse: What Is Self-Knowledge?

“Self-knowledge” seeks to explore the meaning of life and untangle spiritual and relational sufferings. Self-knowledge addresses important questions in knowing oneself and liberating the human being from suffering and conflict, a liberation that will be achieved mainly by realizing the obscure and mysterious content of one’s unconscious. When the grim idol of tyrannical and inculcated beliefs is shattered in our minds, a great window will open toward self-belief and flourishing. In self-knowledge, we will see that inner freedom and happiness are the result of knowing oneself. Among the rare features of this approach is its reliance on the findings of modern sciences such as psychology and sociology alongside the utilization of ancient philosophical and mystical wisdom, especially the mysticism of Rumi.

Fifth Discourse: Imaginary Problems

The soul is all day trampled by imagination, by profit and loss and by fear of decline,

Neither purity remains to it, nor grace and glory, nor a way to journey toward the heavens... (Rumi)

One of the most crucial points in the process of self-knowledge is having a correct understanding of the nature of our problems. Until the nature of the things that cause us suffering becomes clear to us, reaching an effective solution for them is impossible. It must be noted that we have two kinds of problems: one is objective or real problems, the other is subjective or imaginary problems. And it is necessary to understand their difference well. One category of problems is objective problems, meaning real problems. We call such problems real because they exist in the external world and their existence or non-existence is independent of our thought and mind. In other words, objective problems are problems that exist whether we think about them or not, and the sufferings or difficulties arising from them are also real. For example, if my tooth is decayed and hurts, my pain and suffering is a real problem that will become more severe day by day if I ignore it. Likewise, tooth decay is a real problem that, even if I do not think about it, still exists and can endanger my health (although futile thoughts like “Why are my teeth so weak?” or “All misfortunes befall me!” can intensify this pain). But mental problems are problems that do not exist in the world outside the mind. In truth, the existence of these problems is solely due to the incorrect activity of thought. The locus of such problems is only and only inside our skull, and what creates them is our own mind, not something real and objective...

Seventh Discourse: What Should We Do About Anxiety and Worry?

First, let us see what worry is. I think we use the word worry for a kind of feeling of fear or anxiety. This fear comes upon us when we imagine that an undesirable event is about to occur. For example, I have one month to prepare for an important exam. Looking at it now, I see the volume of material I must study to pass that important exam is large… But what is the function of worry as a feeling within our being? If we pay attention, when a challenge is before us, our unconscious mind wants to use the lever of the feeling of fear or worry to compel us not to be indifferent to a problem that might arise and to do something about it. Since we know that worry is a distressing feeling, in order to rid ourselves of this feeling, we are forced to take action as soon as possible to prevent the anticipated event from occurring....

Unfortunately, the system of societies and their relations is built upon fear and intimidation. Our educational system, at home, at school, or in society, instead of providing the joy of discovery and learning accompanied by entertainment and happiness—which is the most effective form of education—imposes a sense of threat and fear upon the child's spirit. The fear of being late for school, the fear of not doing homework, the fear of punishment, the worry of exams, and so on. In truth, our becoming anxious stems mostly from the fact that, from childhood, attempts have been made to frighten us—a form of psychological torture—in order to so-called educate us or push us toward what they called "success."

I recently read a quote attributed to the late English composer and singer John Lennon, who had said: "When I was five years old, my mother always told me: happiness is the most important principle in life. When I went to school, they said: write what you want to be in the future. I wrote: Happy! They said: You didn't understand the meaning of this assignment. I said: You didn't understand the meaning of life!"...

Chapter Eight: What Should We Do with the Sorrow of the Past?

People are the steeds of thought, therefore they are weary-hearted and sorrowful by trade.

When a person gains insight into the functioning of the mind and discovers its degree of fallibility and deceptiveness, they are filled with astonishment at how much they have been trapped in the errors of their own mind until now. When one realizes how much of the suffering and misery they have endured was the result of their own mind's misguidance, they experience an unprecedented state. At the moment of deeply realizing such a truth, a feeling of lightness and an indescribable peace comes over the person. It is as if a heavy, old backpack has been lifted from their shoulders and they have been released to go wherever they wish, unburdened. And this unprecedented feeling is the fruit of awareness and insight.

Chapter Nine: Connection and Dialogue

The Deaf Man's Visit to the Sick Man (a story from the Masnavi)

In the story of "The Deaf Man's Visit to His Sick Neighbor," Rumi beautifully depicts the mode of communication of "self-deluded" people. He says: A deaf man had a neighbor who had been gravely ill for some time... The deaf man thought it was his duty to visit the sick man, but he thought to himself: I cannot hear anything, how shall I converse with the patient? Finally, he decided to guess the questions and answers that would be exchanged in his own mind. Then he practiced for a while on what to say.... The next day, after much practice, the deaf man set off for the sick man's house. When he entered, he greeted him and sat down. Then came the turn for questions and answers. Unfortunately, contrary to the visitor's predictions, the patient was gravely ill and distressed, and as a result, all his calculations turned out wrong! The deaf man asked: How are you feeling? The patient said: Don't ask, I am dying. The man replied: Good, thank God! The patient stared at him, bewildered and furious. The deaf man asked: What food are you eating? The patient, deeply offended, replied: Snake venom! The man said: May it nourish you, that is the best food for you. The sick man was inflamed with rage and tongue-tied. The deaf man asked: Who is your physician? The patient shouted: Azrael! The deaf man calmly replied: Good for you, he is an excellent physician! For whomever he visits, he finishes the job in two days...

Chapter Ten: What Should We Do About "What People Say"?

Aside from the imposition of a vague and contradictory mindset by the environment, perhaps the entire problem of the human being can be summarized in one sentence: the greatest obstacle to our peace is the fear of others' judgment, or captivity in the bonds of this or that person's approval and admiration...

But an important point that we, as seekers of liberation, must remember is that what torments us and what has taken us captive is not "the judgment of those around us," but rather the "importance" that we ourselves give to their judgment. In other words, our problem is the fear that we ourselves have of what this or that person says.... It has been instilled in our minds (especially those of us raised in more traditional cultures) that others' judgment of you is very important and decisive. You must be very careful about what people say about you. If there is a negative judgment about you, woe is you!

Chapter Eleven: What Should We Do with the Feeling of Blame?

One of the most destructive results that a blaming gaze imposes on human existence is the feeling of deficiency and defectiveness. The result of such a gaze is a state of constant guilt and fault-finding. The blaming mind tells the person: "You are defective, and until your defect is resolved, you have no right to be happy. First fix your flaw and defect, and then enjoy life." With this mentality, no matter how hard a person tries, the feeling of deficiency and fault still accompanies them. They are unaware that with the mindset that has taken root within them, reaching a feeling of satisfaction is never going to happen at all! It is for this reason that a feeling of unhappiness always exists in the background of the human psyche and causes them suffering…

Chapter Thirteen: The Parrot and the Merchant

Rumi has a story in the Masnavi that beautifully depicts the captivity of human beings in the bonds of social approval and shows us the path to liberation through allegorical language.

There was a merchant, and he had a parrot / A beautiful parrot, imprisoned in a cage...

In my belief, Rumi in this story has beautifully depicted the saga of human captivity in the bonds of societal approval and the value judgments of this person and that. The merchant, who is a symbol of an oppressive and exploitative society, inculcates his teachings into the mind and tongue of the parrot, that is, the individual, to make them a domesticated and trained creature...

Chapter Fifteen: Questions and Answers

1- What is self-confidence?

2- How can one get rid of negative thoughts?

3- Why am I often worried?

4- Is there a God or is there no God?

5- The behavior of others bothers me; what should I do?

6- Romantic failure

7- What is the importance of self-knowledge?

8- Is our chronological age our real age?

9- The human being, a plaything of their own mind

10- ...

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About the Author:

Sasan Habibvand is a teacher, writer, and researcher in the two fields of psychology and self-knowledge. He completed his master's degree in English Language at Allameh Tabataba'i University in Tehran and, alongside other activities, has worked for many years as an English language instructor and translator. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Philosophy and Mysticism at Western Sydney University in Australia. Habibvand has spent nearly twenty years of his life researching the fields of linguistics, culture, and psychology, and his particular area of interest is self-knowledge. In his research, he strives to illuminate the connection between the culture and environment of human development and a person's self-confidence and happiness, and by increasing understanding of human issues, to contribute, to the best of his ability, to untangling the intellectual, emotional, and behavioral problems of human beings. The theory of "Rationalist Self-Knowledge," first introduced in his books, is the result of this very effort. Among the rare features of this researcher's working method is the integration of the precision of modern sciences with the depth of the mystical perspective. He endeavors, with the help of sciences such as sociology and psychology on one hand, and mystical and philosophical insight on the other, to open a path toward a happy and flourishing life. Sasan Habibvand's other work is a novel called "The Tightrope Walker," which, in the form of an intimate story, takes the reader on a fascinating and unprecedented journey into self-knowledge and the roots of their own sufferings and contradictions.

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Link to access the works of Sasan Habibvand:

From Suffering to Liberation

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Az+ranj+ta+Rahayi

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Tightrope Walker

https://www.amazon.com/Bandbaz-Safari-be-Donya-Persian/dp/1522968296

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“From Suffering to Liberation” (Important Questions in Self-Knowledge)

Sasan Habibvand

Bibliographic Details of the Work

Book Title: From Suffering to Liberation (Important Questions in Self-Knowledge)

Author: Sasan Habibvand

[email protected]

https://t.me/sasanhabibvand

First Edition: Sydney, Australia – Spring 2015

Second Edition: Amazon Website – January 2016

Cover Design: Mohammad Pak

ISBN: 978-1522784425

Number of Pages: 184

Price: 14 US Dollars

Link for Viewing and Online Purchase:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Az+ranj+ta+Rahayi

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Related Content:

Introducing the Book “Tightrope Walker” by Sasan Habibvand

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