Khatami's reference to this perspective provides " an interesting frame, and a spur to look for patterns that other accounts of the material treated in modern time were likely to miss . " In this matter, Khatami offers a hermeneutic reading of the conception of Man in the Persian illuminative philosophy.
32.
The painting expresses a sarcastic innuendo on the painter's own view of his style of work compared to those of his collaborators and apprentices, and is also a reference to the historical fact of tortoises having been employed for illuminative and decorative purposes, by placing candles on the shell, in evening outings during the Tulip Era in the early 18th century.
33.
The illuminative way (, " theMr�a " " contemplation " ) is that of those who are in the state of progress and have their passions better under control, so that they easily keep themselves from mortal sin, but who do not so easily avoid venial sins, because they still take pleasure in earthly things and allow their minds to be distracted by various imaginations and their hearts with numberless desires, though not in matters that are strictly unlawful.
34.
Not dealing with Heidegger's answer, but not disregarding it, Khatami suggests an otherwise notion of Man and Subjectivity by stepping back toward Persian illuminative thought within which he tries to glimpse a hint of a human subject which is the source of the world, and even created and in this respect he is nothing without God, yet he is eternal, absolute, prior to the world, master of the world, and all the things are manifested from his light.
35.
:Though the mysteries of the Passion belong to the illuminative way, especially in its highest degree, which approaches nearest to the unitive way, nevertheless, they are exceedingly profitable for all sorts of persons, by whatever way they walk, and in whatever degree of perfection they live; for sinners will find in them most effectual motives to purify themselves from all their sins; beginners to mortify their passions; proficients to increase in all kinds of virtue; and the perfect to obtain union with God by fervent love.
36.
This is seen as the culmination of the three states, or stages, of perfection through which the soul passes : the purgative way ( that of cleansing or purification, the Greek term for which is ????????, " katharsis " ), the illuminative way ( so called because in it the mind becomes more and more enlightened as to spiritual things and the practice of virtue, corresponding to what in Greek is called ??????, " theoria " ), and the unitive way ( that of union with God by love and the actual experience and exercise of that love, a union that is called ??????, " theosis " ).
