Neti Neti

neti neti (Sanskrit : नेति नेति) is a Sanskrit expression which means “not this, not that”, or “neither this, nor that” (neti is sandhi from na iti “not so”). It is found in the Upanishads and the Avadhuta Gita and constitutes an analytical meditation helping a person to understand the nature of the Brahman by negating everything that is not Brahman. One of the key elements of Jnana Yoga practice is often a “neti neti search.” The purpose of the exercise is to negate all objects of consciousness, including thoughts and the mind, and to realize the non-dual awareness of reality.

― wikipedia/en/Neti%20neti

The concept of neti-neti (“not this, not that”) is rooted in certain schools of Hindu Philosophy, particularly in the practice of negation within Hinduism. It seeks to identify truth or reality (Brahman) by rejecting everything that is not permanent or absolute. While this philosophical method emphasizes moving beyond material or temporal boundaries, it has limitations when analyzed empirically, rationally, and through the lens of Islamic teachings.

Let’s break down the claim and respond to it with reasoning, empirical analogies, and Islamic principles:

The argument claims that neti-neti—negating “this” and “that”—can help uncover the ultimate truth by transcending material reality or examining experiences. However, this process alone cannot serve as a proof of absolute reality because:

1. Negation Is Insufficient for Affirmation:

   • By continuously negating what something is not, you fail to affirm what something is.
   • For example: If I say, “The answer is not A, not B, not C,” I have only eliminated possibilities but provided no clear definition or solution.

   Analogy: Imagine searching for treasure by saying, “It is not under this rock, not in this cave, not in that field.” Without affirming its actual location, you will never find the treasure. Similarly, neti-neti lacks the ability to identify what is—it only describes what is not.

2. Empirical Reality Requires Positivity:

   • Scientific and rational inquiry always combines negation with affirmation. For example:
     • To prove the existence of gravity, scientists observed both what it is not (e.g., a visible force) and what it is (the force causing objects to fall).
   • Sole reliance on negation (neti-neti) results in skepticism or endless regress without offering a tangible, affirmative truth.

3. Reality Is Revealed, Not Discovered Through Endless Negation:

   • Humans are limited in intellect and perception. Reality cannot be reached by merely eliminating what it is not. Rather, it must be revealed by a source of ultimate knowledge—Allah, the All-Knowing.
   • Qur’an: “And no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”
     (Surah Luqman, 31:34)

The argument suggests using neti-neti to “travel back and forth in time” by examining experiences since birth. However, such a claim misunderstands the nature of time, memory, and human experience:

1. Memory Is Finite and Subjective:

   • Humans cannot truly “travel through time” because memory is neither perfect nor absolute. It is a subjective record influenced by emotions, perceptions, and forgetfulness.
   • Claiming to derive ultimate reality by examining experiences is flawed because human recollection is inherently limited and unreliable.

   Analogy: Memories are like blurry photos stored in an old album—fragmented and incomplete. You cannot reconstruct the entire reality of your life simply by reviewing them.

2. Time Is Created and Governed by Allah:

   • In Islam, time is part of Allah’s creation. Humans are bound by it and cannot transcend it. Only Allah has full knowledge of the past, present, and future.

   • Qur’an: “Indeed, We created everything in proportion and measure. And Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye.”
     (Surah Al-Qamar, 54:49-50)

   • Attempting to “travel through time” using neti-neti is futile because time itself is not subject to human manipulation.

3. Purpose of Experience in Islam:

   • Instead of endlessly negating experiences to find truth, Islam teaches us to reflect on our experiences to affirm the reality of Allah, the Creator and Sustainer.
   • Qur’an: “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of the night and the day, are signs for those of understanding—who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth…”
     (Surah Aal Imran, 3:190-191)

   Reflection (tadabbur) in Islam is not about negating reality but recognizing Allah’s signs through experience, time, and creation.

If reality were a cube or a book of experiences, the neti-neti method (negating “this” and “that”) would lead you into a loop of rejection without ever understanding the book’s content or purpose.

• Analogy:

  • Imagine reading a book and saying, “This sentence is not the main idea. This paragraph is not the conclusion. This page is not the end.”
  • By negating each element, you never grasp the book’s overall message.
  • To truly understand the book, you need to:
    1. Accept the author’s existence and intent.
    2. Study the content in its entirety.

  In Islam:

  • The “Author” of the universe is Allah.
  • The “book” is creation, time, and human experience.
  • The “message” is found in the Qur’an and the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

  Negation alone (neti-neti) fails because it rejects the reality of the Author and the message.

Islam provides a clear understanding of reality, time, and human existence without falling into abstract negation:

1. Affirming Allah as the Ultimate Reality:

   • Allah is the Source and Sustainer of all existence.
   • Qur’an: “Allah! There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence.”
     (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:255)

2. Purpose of Creation:

   • Humans are created to worship and know Allah—not to dissolve into a void or negate reality.
   • Qur’an: “And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
     (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56)

3. Time and Experiences as Signs:

   • Time and human experiences are tools to recognize Allah’s wisdom and power.
   • Instead of negating reality, Islam teaches us to engage with it positively:
     “And He shows you His signs. So which of the signs of Allah will you deny?”
     (Surah Ghafir, 40:81)

Reality is like a puzzle with interconnected pieces:

• Neti-neti focuses on rejecting pieces (“not this, not that”) without assembling the full picture.
• Islam provides the framework to assemble the puzzle:
  • The Creator: Allah.
  • The Purpose: Worshiping and knowing Him.
  • The Path: Following divine guidance (Qur’an and Sunnah).

Negation alone will leave the puzzle incomplete. True understanding requires affirmation of Allah as the ultimate reality and acceptance of His signs.