Attention, Consciousness, and Self-Cultivation in Sufi-Philosophical Thought

The topic of attention and consciousness has been a constant subject of debate for scholars of various disciplines from neuroscience to Sufism. Islamic philosophical ideas concerning selfhood, consciousness, and attention, similar to those of other comparable traditions, have a direct bearing on a person’s ethical and spiritual formation. This is because our freedom to engage in moral decision-making is contingent upon the fact that we are conscious beings having a self. However, it is based on the knowledge of the true nature of the self that we hope to attain happiness, fulfilment in life, and better relations with others. Drawing on theories and practices of attention and consciousness in Islamic philosophy and Sufism, this paper argues that attention is not an isolated mental phenomenon, and hence it must be understood in light of the basic structure of consciousness. Moreover, it is shown that consciousness (in its most primitive form) is the defining feature of human subjectivity, without which it would be impossible to account for any mental events. The study then deals with Sufi meditative practices and the transformation of consciousness by showing how meditation trains our attention, redirecting it toward subtle forms of awareness that are laden with tranquility and inner peace.