Ostad Elahi
Ostad Elahi | |
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| Born | September 11, 1895 |
| Died | October 19, 1974 |
| Occupation | Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals for the province of Mazandaran |
Born on September 11, 1895, in Jeyhounabad, a small village in western Iran, Ostad Elahi (1895-1974) was a contemporary philosopher, jurist, and musician. His father, Hajj Nematollah (1871-1919), was a charismatic mystic and prolific poet who was widely revered as a saint.
The Early Years
From early childhood, Ostad Elahi led an ascetic, secluded life of rigorous discipline under his father’s attentive supervision with a special focus on mysticism, music, and ethics. Aside from extensive religious and moral instruction, he also received the classical education of the time. It was during his youth, entirely devoted to study and contemplation, that he established the basis of his philosophical and spiritual reflections.
Transforming a Tradition
By the time his father Hajj Nemat passed away in 1919, Ostad had already reached the pinnacle of mysticism. Although revered by a large number of adherents, he concluded that the time for classical spirituality had come to an end, and that the quest for spiritual development could no longer take place in the tranquility of ascetic seclusion. Instead, Ostad believed that spirituality had to be practiced within the context of an active and productive life in the midst of society. Thus, at the age of twenty-four he left behind his prominent spiritual and social status to test his ethical principles in the crucible of society, parting with an age-old tradition that would have destined him to an entirely contemplative life. Eventually settling in the capital city of Tehran, he entered the civil service, cutting his long hair, shaving his beard, and replacing his mystical robes with a western-style suit in the process.
Judicial career
By his own will, the “Mystic of Mystics” was now an all but anonymous government employee starting out at the bottom of a vast bureaucracy. A few years later, as the country was undergoing extensive governmental reforms that included the establishment of an entirely new judicial system, Ostad enrolled in the newly formed National School of Jurisprudence. With only six months remaining in the three-year curriculum, he was able to finish his coursework through extraordinary effort and graduate with distinction in 1934. The remarkable transition from mystic to judge had been completed, and Ostad was ready to embark on a judicial career that would span the course of some twenty-three years.
Despite constant pressure from the influential families who played the role of lords in the quasi-feudal structure of the country and an environment rampant with corruption, it was not long before Ostad’s profound insight and judicious verdicts became apparent to others. Appointed to positions of increasing responsibility throughout the country, he culminated his distinguished career as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals for the province of Mazandaran. Throughout his tenure as a judge, he continued to devote a great deal of time to his personal studies and research, especially in the areas of philosophy and theology. Although little is known about the unfolding course of his thought during those years, it is clear that this period was filled with experiences that nourished his metaphysical investigations and helped him to formulate his later works.
The Post-Retirement Years
During the latter part of his life, Ostad was always surrounded by individuals from all walks of life with diverse backgrounds and interests: the atheist who came for a debate, the musician who sought advise on some technical point, the scholar who wished to broaden the scope of his research, the simple villager or seeker who sought spiritual guidance—he welcomed them all with the same warmth and simplicity, always taking time to patiently and compassionately address each of their concerns.
Ostad Elahi passed away on October 19, 1974 at the age of seventy-nine. A memorial, which continues to be visited by thousands each year, was erected in his memory in Hashtgerd, a rural town located on the outskirts of Tehran.
Philosophy & Works
It was not until 1957 when he retired from the judiciary that Ostad really began to reveal his system of thought. He wrote two scholarly works, both authoritative treatises in the fields of religious science and authentic spirituality, as well as an extensive commentary on his father’s writings. The practical aspect of his thought, on the other hand, was conveyed mostly in the form of oral teachings and instruction that he relayed to close friends and acquaintances who considered themselves adherents of his philosophy. Two extensive volumes of his sayings have been published to date on the basis of notes transcribed by these students. Revealing a profound knowledge of human beings, these inspired sayings demonstrate great erudition in the service of an innovative thought.
His universal philosophy addresses the eternal questions about our origin and nature as human beings, our role and responsibilities in the world, and our ultimate destination. His work highlights the duality of man as both a material and spiritual being, and reasserts the fundamental importance of our spiritual dimension. He believed that self-realization requires more than mere reflection, and that spirituality, like any science, must necessarily be grounded in verifiable experiences. What Ostad Elahi has passed on in his written and oral teachings is thus the direct result of his personal experiences and not just philosophical reflections.