Lataif-e-Sitta

Laṭāʾif (Arabic: اللطائف) are special organs of perception, emotion, and psycho-physiological functioning in Sufi spirituality. Depending on context, the laṭāʾif (plural) are also understood to be the experiential qualities or forms of those perceptions, emotions, and functions.[1]

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).

When operational, the laṭāʾif are understood to be part of Man's spiritual “Organ of Evolution”,[2] known as Qalb (Heart) (See "Disambiguation: Qalb (Heart) or laṭīfa").

The integration of the laṭāʾif into 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).

  1. ^ Almaas, A. H. Essence. York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser, 1986, p. 143.
  2. ^ Shah, Idries The Sufis. Garden City, New York: Anchor Books, 1971, p. 342–343.

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