other than the sheikh. Spontaneously, we recognize certain thoughts, words and acts are his, nor ours; this is the business of merging in action, we identify aspects of who we have become as no other than the teacher. We do not look outside ourself for his guidance, his presence, we know he is already there, functioning within us. The identification can be complete when the transformation of qualities, ours into his, is complete. It is imperative that the sheikh, the teacher, the guru be a truly enlightened, truly perfected human being for the process to be valid, there is no reason for it other than merging with God. Merging with the sheikh who is merged with God, a being whom we can touch, see, hear and speak directly to, is an avenue which leads more easily to the oneness with God which satisfies that longing, that hunger of the soul.

To understand the urgency of this longing we have two primary images which are not in any sense metaphors, they are direct transcriptions of the reality our existence needs to encompass, creation and ascension. If we are to know God we have to know Him from the moment of creation, His creation of everything from Himself, the beginning of the beginning, and we have to know how to rise in ascension, to communicate with Him directly, no one in front, no one behind, no one above

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