The Self we're asked to realize is our constant companion throughout life — it provides the key to understanding our relationship with the divine.

But it's not separate from you or something you need to attain or build. It's part of the process of discovering who you are in the world, but it's not limited to your personality or identity. So, if it's me but not “me”, you might be wondering what exactly is the nature of this self? Sufism suggests that it's like a dusty mirror that needs to be polished. Rather than add to what's already there, self-realization is a process of removing our conditioning to let us see what exists without all of our concepts of self — what we think we are.

Just as our bodies grow and evolve through life, our mind and soul go through various stages of evolution that lead us to this realization that we're more than just an ego. That doesn't mean we don't value the “small” self which serves an important role, helping us to navigate our lives in the world. There's something immutable and steady that we can feel if we turn our attention toward our inner being.

It's this expanded Self that can be rediscovered in meditation and spiritual practice. Realization doesn't require living in a cave or separating yourself from others. In fact, in Sufism the goal of self-realization is understanding who and what we truly are, why we're here, and bringing that to others in service to the world.

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