Author: Mr. Ebrahim Aslani
Educational Psychologist
Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker?
“Maturity,” in addition to being a psychological term, also holds a spiritual meaning in our culture. Maturity represents intellectual growth, reaching higher levels of humanity, perfection, and spiritual ascension. The most famous interpretations of maturity can be found in the verses of Hafez, Saadi, and especially Rumi: “I was raw, I became cooked, I burned.”
At what stage of life are we? How prepared are we for maturity? How much have we matured? Does maturity even matter to us? The answers to these questions depend on our interpretation of maturity. Some people consider maturity to be calculated and sometimes shrewd behaviors in various life decisions, such as social, economic, political, and interpersonal matters. This group can be left to reach their own version of maturity! But if we interpret maturity in its spiritual sense, the situation changes.
Many of us are “slow cookers,” even when we set out on the path to maturity! That is, even if we have a desire for maturity, it occurs slowly and gradually. Being a “pressure cooker” in terms of maturity means having complete mental and emotional readiness for perfection and spiritual elevation. This does not mean surrendering to any idea or conforming to any norm, as these can actually hinder maturity. How can we measure being a “pressure cooker”? There are some very serious questions:
– What is our perspective on life and its path and destination?
– What aspirations and values do we have in life?
– How do we interpret and understand maturity?
– Does maturity even matter to us?
– To what extent do we value personal and spiritual perfection and growth?
– Do we have the necessary readiness for maturity?
– Do we have the capacity to endure the challenges and consequences of maturity?
Perhaps we are not in control; perhaps we have taken the wrong thread in life; perhaps we lack the patience for effort and hardship; perhaps we have forgotten the essence of life itself; or perhaps we do not even know what maturity is, or we have never even thought about it! Perhaps we are deluded; a raw person who thinks they are cooked, but in reality, is very far from it! I believe the latter is more common among us!
Maturity not only refers to intellectual growth and the attainment of spiritual perfection, but it is also a journey in which some individuals progress slowly and gradually, while others advance more swiftly and readily. This inner restlessness and fervor can be a valuable gift if it leads to wise thinking and responsibility, but it can be harmful if it results in disorder and opportunism.
Restlessness
Some people are impatient in life and cannot wait for anything. Some are restless and cannot stay in one place. Some are passionate and seek excitement and adventure. And some are mischievous and poke around everywhere, causing trouble.
All these descriptions refer to people who, more or less, cannot sit still, and therefore, often stand out and are judged. If you are calm and quiet, you are usually less noticed and receive less attention. But if you create a commotion or your actions draw attention, you are seen, sometimes very much so.
I want to talk about a group of people who are not calm, but not due to impatience, hyperactivity, thrill-seeking, or mischief; some have a restless spirit, as if their thoughts are beyond their capacity. In most individuals, restlessness stems from high intelligence, heightened sensitivity, a creative mind, active philosophical thinking, and idealism; not all of these in one person, but each may be influenced by one or two factors.
Restlessness can be both good and bad. It is good when it drives a person towards wise thinking, responsibility, benevolence, and reformative tendencies. It is bad when it leads to scattered efforts, confusion, opportunism, and dictatorial behavior.
Restlessness is a beautiful gift if it stirs inner turmoil and leads to awareness and sensitivity. This verse by Hafez beautifully captures the essence of restlessness:
In my weary heart, I know not who resides,
For I am silent, but it is in agony and turmoil.
