Among them are the following aphorisms...

Among them are the following aphorisms: "Self-recognition is the most beneficial of all recognition." "I am surprised at one who seeks what he has lost while he has lost himself (i.e., his identity and essence) and does not search for it." "I wonder how a person who does not recognize himself can recognize his Lord." "The ultimate point of Knowledge is for man to reach self-recognition." "The greatest triumph belongs to one who reaches self-recognition." The Imam is also related as saying: "The more the man gains knowledge, the more he endeavors for himself and strives in the way of being educated and reformed.”[^1] Necessary Explanations As in this discussion certain terms are used which might be used exactly or similarly in other discussions with different meanings, we will provide the following explanations to preclude (any form of) misunderstanding: (A) Self-recognition, as has already been pointed out, refers to recognizing the human being from the viewpoint that he possesses the gift and faculty for the attainment of human perfection.

As a result, a degree of speculative knowledge which any one has with respect to himself does not make us needless of this discussion. Likewise, here we do not intend to deal with the perfect speculative knowledge which is acquired in the midst of moral evolution and by which man openly observes his truth, because this is an outcome of self-cultivation and not a preliminary for it.

This hears no relation to our discussion, just as knowing the body organs and their functions which is used in physiology, is not related to our discussion. Here we are not concerned with knowing the soul and internal forces in man as discussed in psychology, even though some definitive psychological issues might be used as the bases for discussion.

(B) Self-cultivation and, on the whole, awareness of the self, is intended to mold and give direction to vital activities and not to limit and stop them. And, in other words, the purpose behind this discussion is for us to learn how to regulate our scientific and practical endeavors and how to direct them, so that they would be effective in reaching true perfection.