abian Philosophy

Distinction in any endeavor means that the individual has surpassed the average drift of the "still-to-flower" person, and this requires extraordinary effort in the gaining. Such distinction often carries with it the burden of "breaking with the crowd," so to speak. Whether it is from the limitations of family taboos, from the bonds of a prejudiced culture, or the too-narrow  doctrines of a religious community, the person of distinction must decide for himself the "right" way. But rising above the level of the average citizen does not mean that we disregard them and leave them behind in their indistinctness. Just the opposite is true. If we are to be truly distinct, we must first learn the ways of our fellows so that our distinctiveness offers an opportunity for them to gain some measure of distinction. This is the meaning of the words of Jesus, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me."

Sabian philosophy teaches that the present life on earth is not a prison from which the earnest soul must escape in order to reach some eternal reward but a place of opportunity that provides the concreteness necessary for immortal consciousness.

This approach to creative living is based on Ibn Gabirol’s Fountain of Life Book V, Chapter 8. Here the Teacher explains that the intellectual soul cannot achieve its end (totally conscious existence) without some intermediary. This is so because the immortal intellect does not have the requisite faculties to directly grasp the things of the sense world. For this, the immortal soul needs an intermediary. That intermediary is the living personality of each of us.

A practical application of the concept of distinction would be to make a unique contribution to your fellows tomorrow. This might be a symbolic gesture, such as buying a friend a cup of coffee or making a small donation to a needy cause. For that moment, you will be distinct.