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36 AN INTRODUCTION TO SUFI DOCTRINE

the cosmicorder. The connection with the metaphysical
order provides spiritual psychology with qualitative
criteria such as are wholly lacking in profane psycho-
logy, which studies only the dynamic character of phe-
nomena of the psyche and their proximate causes.
When modern psychology makes pretentions to a sort
of science of the hidden contents of the soul it is still
for all that restricted to an individual perspective be-
cause it has no real means for distinguishing psychic
forms which translate universal realities from forms
which appear symbolical but are only the vehicles for
individual impulsions. Its ‘‘collective subconscious”
has most assuredly nothing to do with the true source of
symbols; at most it is a chaotic depositary of psychic
residues somewhat like the mud of the ocean bed which
retain traces of past epochs.

For profane psychology the only link between the
macrocosm and the w orld of the soul lies in the impres-
sions which reach the soul through the gateway of the
senses, but Sufi psychology takes account of the analogy
in constitution between the macrocosm and the human
microcosm. To this order of ideas belong such sciences
as astrology the symbolism of which has been used inci-
dentally by certain Sufi masters.

The Sufi path can be considered as a way towards
knowledge of oneself in conformity with the saying of
the Prophet : “He who knows himself (nafsahu) knows
his Lord.” It is true that this knowledge applies
ultimately to the Unique Essence, the immutable Self
(al-huwiyah) and so goes beyond any cosmolpgical or