abian Philosophy

The foundational concept of Sabian Philosophy is health. It was chosen as the word most representing the universal characteristic of anything that exists. The fact that anything—a person or a rock—exists means that it has "health," or persistence in being. This concept has significant implications for us as we live our everyday lives.

Sabian philosophy teaches that having health does not mean that the individual is supposed to be free of any and all limitation—whether that limitation is in the form of physical disorder, emotional or mental upset, or economical difficulty. Health, as understood in our philosophy, is touch with source such that ill health is never a limiting factor in the pursuit of higher purpose.  It is this centering in source that enables us to function in every essential way in spite of these limitations. The underlying psychology here is that the challenge presented by the limitation spurs us on to uncover workable solutions from within ourselves thereby creating a life that is purposeful and rewarding . A life without limitation would be a life of stagnation. We are healthy as we persist in the accomplishment of our chosen goals despite superficial upsetments. Healing becomes a matter of garnering the mental perspective and emotional fortitude to continue on a chosen path. You can see this pattern in the life of any person of great accomplishment.

This approach to creative living is based on Ibn Gabirol’s Fountain of Life Book 1, Chapter 10. Here the Teacher posits a "universal matter" as underlying everything that exists. Because this universal matter is, in effect, a potential seeking positive expression, it forms the underlying "stuff" of us all. It is this potential, inherent in every being, that is the "health" or creative power providing us the opportunity to live a self-directed life.

A practical application of the concept of health would be to find something positive in the next unpleasant situation in which you find yourself thus finding value, or health, in even the worst of situations.