Absence and Presence

In Sufi terminology, ‘absence’ refers to ‘absence from self and the world’, while ‘presence’ signifies ‘presence with God’. Masters of the Path have considered absence and presence to be two separate stations, maintaining that absence is the result of presence and that until presence comes about, absence cannot take place.

Absence without presence is not the goal, for many a mentally sick person may be absent from himself and from the world but not be present with God.

In Sufism there are two kinds of presence: ‘presence of breath’ and ‘presence of heart’.

One who has presence of breath remembers God with every breath, never forgetting Him. Presence of this kind causes absence from the world. Presence of breath occurs through the Sufi’s own volition when fired by love for God. In this state, the rememberer and the Remembered are still distinct from each other. Presence of breath takes place at the spiritual level of nafs at a time when the commanding nafs has become transformed into the blaming nafs and the nafs-at-rest. At this level, presence of heart may also occur, although only in flashes or for brief moments.

Presence of heart comes about due to persistence in presence of breath. Although presence of breath is a necessary condition for presence of the heart, it is not a sufficient condition for it. For one to attain presence of heart, the favor and support of God is also necessary. For presence of heart to come about, the spirit must be drawn by love or divine attraction. The consequence of presence of heart is absence from self, and with the attainment of presence of heart rememberer and Remembered finally become one.

Presence of heart is exclusive to the spiritual level of the heart. At this level, presence of heart is permanent and undiminished.
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I have become so lost
          from myself in remembering
You
That I ask for news of myself
          from whomever I meet on my way.

—Anon