Roots and Routes: Seeing Beyond the Form and Illusions
Not everything is as it seems. Power isn’t always where it appears to be, truth isn’t always visible, and real vision goes beyond just looking. Intelligence, not armies, holds a state together. A still mind, not scattered thoughts, brings clarity. A purified heart, not just open eyes, reveals the deepest truths.
Sufism speaks of basiret, the inner sight that perceives beyond illusion. Taoist wisdom teaches that emptiness gives meaning to form. José Saramago’s Blindness reminds us that seeing doesn’t always mean understanding. From Rumi to philosophy, these perspectives invite a deeper look at how perception shapes reality, and what it truly means to see.
From Politics: The Hidden Hand of Power
It is not the army but the intelligence services that keep a state alive. True power does not always reside in the visible structures (the military, the leaders, or the laws) but in the unseen networks of intelligence, influence, and control. Just as a body moves by unseen impulses of the nervous system, a state is shaped by the information it gathers, the narratives it controls, and the knowledge it keeps.
From Yoga: The Stillness Beyond the Mind
Yoga teaches that the true essence of practice is the stilling of the mind’s fluctuations. Beyond the physical postures, it is about quieting the restless tides of thought to perceive reality as it is, rather than through the distortions of emotions and mental chatter. The discipline of yoga aligns the body and consciousness, creating a space where perception is no longer clouded by the noise of the mind.
Basiret: Sufism’s Own Term for Clairvoyance
In many spiritual traditions, the ability to see beyond the physical world is referred to as clairvoyance; a heightened perception that transcends ordinary sight. Sufism has its own term for this: basiret, meaning inner sight, spiritual insight, or deep perception. Unlike conventional clairvoyance, which is often associated with supernatural abilities, basiret is rooted in spiritual purification and divine connection.
Basiret is not just the ability to foresee events or perceive hidden realities; it is the vision of the heart, an intuitive knowing that comes from divine guidance rather than logic or sensory experience. A person with basiret can see beyond illusions, beyond ego-driven perception, and into the essence of things.
This aligns closely with Rumi’s teachings, which emphasize that true sight is not with the physical eyes but with the awakened heart. One may have perfect eyesight yet remain spiritually blind, unable to perceive deeper truths. In Sufism, inner sight is cultivated through love, self-purification, and surrender to the divine, allowing one to see the world as it truly is, not as the mind distorts it to be.
The Mirror as a Path to Clarity
The mirror is a powerful metaphor in Sufism, representing the way the world, people, and experiences reflect our own spiritual condition. Only those whose hearts have been polished through love, wisdom, and humility can recognize these reflections for what they truly are. Without spiritual insight, one sees only distortions created by the ego.
Rumi captures this idea in his poetry:
"The soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand."
Just like a clean mirror shows a true reflection, a heart free from attachments and illusions can recognize the divine patterns present in life.
Blindness as a Test of Perception
In Saramago’s Blindness, the sudden loss of sight exposes more than physical limitations; it reveals how fragile human perception truly is. Stripped of vision, people are forced to rely on deeper awareness, yet many remain blind to the nature of themselves and others. Civilization collapses not because of blindness itself, but because people fail to see beyond their own fears and desires.
This mirrors Sufism’s concept of basiret, where blindness is not merely an absence of sight but a veil over the heart. Just as in the novel, spiritual blindness traps individuals in illusion, keeping them from recognizing deeper truth. Some of Saramago’s characters, like the doctor’s wife who retains her sight, gain a clearer understanding of human nature through crisis. Similarly, true vision is not about open eyes, but about perceiving reality without illusion.
Awakening the Inner Eye
The idea of an inner vision transcends cultures. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the Ajna chakra, often called the third eye, is linked to intuition and deep perception. Similarly, in Sufism, spiritual sight signifies an awakened heart that perceives beyond the material world. When the third eye is open, one moves beyond illusion; when the heart’s perception is clear, one moves beyond ego and false perception.
True vision comes not from the senses, but from transcending them, opening the eye of the soul.
From Taoism: The Power of Emptiness
In Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way) it says:
We join spokes together in a wheel,
but it is the center hole
that makes the wagon move.
We shape clay into a pot,
but it is the emptiness inside
that holds whatever we want.
We hammer wood for a house,but it is the inner space
that makes it livable.
We work with being,but non-being is what we use.
The unseen is what gives meaning to the seen. The material world exists, but it is the invisible forces that make it meaningful.
Spiritual sight aligns with this concept: to see is not just to observe, but to perceive the unseen within the seen. The world appears full, yet it is the space within things (the silence, the emptiness, the void) that gives them meaning.
Why Do We Need Spirituality?
Spirituality allows us to see beyond illusions; of society, media, relationships, and even our own minds. Without a spiritual perspective, happiness is often tied to external things: money, status, possessions. Spirituality teaches that happiness is internal and independent of material success. It helps in letting go of attachment, fear, and comparison.
With a spiritual perspective, we gain resilience against suffering. We find meaning even in chaos. We break free from the illusions that keep us chasing what does not fulfill us.
To develop inner sight is to see beyond material attachments, beyond fleeting pleasures, and into the essence of existence. Spirituality does not provide new eyes, it enables the vision of the soul.
How Can We See the Unseen
Across politics, spirituality, literature, and philosophy, one truth remains: the unseen shapes the seen. Intelligence sustains a state more than armies. A still mind perceives more than a restless one. A purified heart recognizes truth beyond illusion.
But true vision does not always emerge on its own. Guides, teachers, and wisdom traditions exist to reveal what we cannot yet see. A Sufi master helps a seeker polish the mirror of the heart. A spiritual teacher clears the fog of illusion. A philosopher, a poet, or even a great novel (like Blindness) forces us to question what we think we know. Just as a blind person navigates with the help of another, we often need guidance to sharpen our perception.
To truly see, move, and understand, we must learn to navigate both the visible and the invisible; not alone, but with the insights of those who have seen further.