In the Name of Allah

Perception
 (research from the scientific illuminations by esteemed philosopher, Ostad Seyyed Ali Mousavi on Idrak (perception
Perception is one of those philosophical issues discussed by Mulla Sadra in volume 1 of his book Asfar.
 When you see a flower and perceive it, here you are the Mudrik (perceiver) and the flower is the Mudrak (perceived) and the faculty which makes you perceive the flower is Idrak (perception). In fact, perception is that which causes the unknown to become known.
Some say that people’s power of perception is like revelation. But in reality the status of perception is lower than that of revelation.
Question: Where is the source of perception in our body? No one has yet managed to find the answer to this question.
 Some believe the source of perception is above the nose, between the two eyebrows. Physicians consider the main source of perception to be the nerve cells, brain and skull. Others say perception stems from the intellect or from the soul. However, it is fair to say that perception stems from the illumination of Almighty God. In other words, if there is no illuminative connection with God, perception cannot take place.
At the time of perception, an illuminative power is bestowed upon all humans who have bodies and faces and hence they are able to perceive. Therefore, the connection between the Creator and the created is through perception.
 But how does the illumination of God reach humans and enable them to perceive through seeing, hearing and understanding?The answer to thisquestion is through the divine soul that is similar to the illumination of God. In other words, the divine soul receivesGod’s bounty and transfers it to every particle of the body.
Some say primordial human nature (Fitra) is one of the roots of perception. Fitra is that which draws a thirsty person towards water without the person being aware.
The stages which should be passed in order to perceive a topic are as follows:
 First, the person pays attention to an issue. This remains with the person for a few moments and the person is drowned in it. Next, the person perceives the issue and is bewildered by it. This bewilderment is very valuable.
 In reality, for a person to perceive that which he/she sees, hears or that which moves towards it, whether the issue is right or wrong, the person loses him/herself because of the effect of the magnificence of the issue.
 This bewilderment (letting go of oneself and getting hold of the beloved) is what perception is.Perception arises from the primordial human nature (Fitra). This is very significant.
 Please pay attention. When one perceives that which is wrong or evil, when the eyes fall upon a corrupt thing or when the heart becomes joyful through evil, the evil effect is left in one’s soul.
Therefore, many men of God (Auwlia Allah) emphasize that the eyes should be prevented from watching evil pictures and the ears from hearing evil sounds. It is narrated in this regard that there lived a great gnostic and once the oppressive ruler of his time came to visit him while he was praying. The gnostic remained prostrating for such a long time that the ruler left the place. When the gnostic was asked about the reason, he replied,
 If the illumination of my eyes fell upon the oppressive ruler, the image created from him and me would ascend to the superior world and would cause me to become a partner with him in his oppressive acts; therefore, I continued with my prostration so that the illumination of my eyes would not fall upon him and my perception would not be affected by his oppression.  
 In order to further explain the greatness of this issue and to realize that the perception of beauty is beautiful and that of evil is evil we will answer the following question:
Is there unity between the Mudrik (perceiver) and the Mudrak (perceived)? Yes. The perceiver unites with the perceived.
 It should be stated here that perception sometimes occurs through the intellect and at times through the senses. For example, when you see your parents or master, this occurs through the senses. However, if the effect of this perception persists and has a divine effect, the perception takes place through the intellect and becomes real. One can even perceive divine manifestations.
It is said that when a person perceives the true secret of a thing, he/she becomes perplexed. In other words, such perception has such a brightening effect on the person that it engages the perceiver’s entire existence. Such perception melts down the person and saturates him/her. Whatever the person looks at, he/she sees only his/her idol and nothing else.
When a person who perceives the reality looks at this colorful world, listens to the sound of birds, watches trees and animals or sees water flowing in a narrow water stream (every particle of which are engaged in praising God) and listens to its sound, the good news is given to the person that all these which have been perceived by the person result in perceiving God. When the secret of these idols are manifested in the person, his/her entire life changes and his/her weeping, laughing, looking and travelling are not the same as before. This is when life becomes valuable.
On the contrary, if a person, God forbid, is in an environment of corruption, hypocrisy, anxiety and lies or deals with nonbelievers or those who are not strong enough in their beliefs, he/she gradually unites with the Mudrak (the perceived). Therefore, superior perception is that which moves one closer to God moment by moment.
 One of the greatest faculties of humans is perception because perception is one of the Secrets of God. When a person receives more from God’s bounty and favor, he/she will enjoy a greater degree of perception of realities. Perception is the connecting link between memory and certainty. Perception takes place through eight or nine stages:
1) Hafizeh, 2)Tawahhum, 3)Tasawwor, 4) Takhayyol, 5) Yaqin, 6) Tasdiq, 7) Shakk,  8) Zannand Guman