A Review of Imam Khomeini’s Mystical Views on Spiritual Self-Enlightenment and Principles, Its Necessity and Obstacles

Imam Khomeini does not primarily consider man an actuality and describes him as an infinite creature that manifests his existential perfection by actualizing potential humanity. Until before contamination by material world, human nature was bright, and actualizing humanity means returning to human inborn nature and essence. In this research study, “spiritual self-enlightenment” means achieving first purity that leads to the renewal of human life. Self-enlightenment requires turning away from carnal desires and transitioning from carnal and non-divine life to divine and pure spiritual life. Imam Khomeini has argued this process in different ways. The starting point of self-enlightenment is the "self" of the seeker. This self, when conforms to the model of the original nature, will be an exalted and divine self that will have intrapersonal and extra personal fruits. Achieving this excellence is necessary in order to be similar to the Creator and achieve divine ethics. However, there are also obstacles in achieving these degrees that will be examined in this study.