Lataif-e-Sitta
special organs of perception in Sufi spiritual psychology
The Laṭāʾif (Arabic: اللطائف) are subtle organs of spiritual and psycho-physiological functioning in Sufi psychology.
Depending on context, the Laṭāʾif (plural) are also understood to be the experiential qualities or forms of those functions. (See "Disambiguation: Laṭā’if (organs) or Laṭā’if (experiences)").
The Arabic word Laṭīfa (singular) means “subtlety” and the phrase Laṭā’if-e-sitta means “six subtleties”, although the number of Laṭāʾif can differ depending on the specific Sufi tradition.
The Laṭāʾif are viewed as aspects of Man's spiritual “Organ of Evolution”, known as Qalb (Heart) (See "Disambiguation: Qalb (Heart) or Qalb (Laṭīfa)").
Explicit realization of the Laṭāʾif in Qalb is considered by some Sufi orders—especially the Naqshbandi—to be a central part of the comprehensive spiritual development that produces the Sufi ideal of a Complete Human Being (Al-Insān al-Kāmil).
Different understandings of the Laṭāʾif
Not all Sufi orders teach about the Laṭā’if. Of those which do, descriptions and understandings can differ depending on the specific Sufi lineage and exponent representing it.
In addition, individual Sufi teachers (see Sheikh (Sufism)) sometimes understand aspects of Laṭā’if theory and practice according to how the Laṭāʾif have been uniquely revealed to them.
In general, however, there are three major historical understandings of the Laṭāʾif:
(13th century) The Kubrāwī order, exemplified by Ala ud-Daula Simnani (1261–1336), views the Laṭāʾif as potential psychospiritual organs/capacities that can be realized as progressive stages in those undergoing spiritual development;
(17th century) The Mujaddidī branch of the Naqshbandi order, exemplified by Ahmad Sirhindi (1564–1624), views the Laṭāʾif as psychospiritual organs/capacities that are potential receptors of Divine energy when activated in those undergoing spiritual development;
(20th century) The Punjab tradition within the Naqshbandi order, exemplified by Idries Shah (1924–1996), views the Laṭāʾif as actual human psycho-physiological organs/capacities that are implicit in everyday life and made explicit in those undergoing spiritual development.
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