The finest details... He who does not see the inner reality wanders in delusion

Dialogues

Whoever pays attention to the finest details of what he says and does, especially one who combines this trait with meticulous scrutiny of what he sees and hears in the world around him, will always be in a better state than someone who lives on the margins of life, neglecting details due to laziness—“He who does not perceive the hidden reality lives in delusion.” Among the subtle details that a discerning person must carefully attend to in today’s deceptive world, we mention the following:

- The finest details of precautionary measures: People adopt precautionary measures for various personal and social reasons. The wise person is one who continually reviews these measures, even if he has confirmed more than once the accuracy of his preparations for the future. The discerning individual is one who never stops thinking outside the box when it comes to his own safety and the safety of those he cares about.

- Attentiveness to details: A psychologically mature and wise person listens carefully to the subtlest details of the words directed at him, because a person’s speech reflects what is in his mind and what emerges from his tongue. In particular, calm speech reveals the meaning of its individual words, which should ideally carry only specific meanings and not admit interpretations different from those voluntarily expressed. True attentiveness reveals both the outward appearance and the inner reality.

- The finest details of the enemy’s mind and thinking: In today’s turbulent world, anyone who has no enemy is either intellectually absent-minded and weak in awareness, or a mythical angelic human being. In any case, every rational person must be extremely and continuously vigilant against both open and hidden enemies. He must, in particular, continuously identify the fixed and changing assumptions and biases of his enemy’s thinking, as well as the fundamental psychological motivations that fuel his hostility. Especially important are the hidden weaknesses in his enemy’s personality, and who openly or secretly assists him. Whoever does not perceive the hidden aspects of his enemy and take precautions against them may be a foolish human being deserving to become fodder for his enemy’s horses!

- Financial details: One who is careful with his money is not stingy, but financially astute. He knows what he is owed and what he owes others. Loose or unmanaged money can sometimes lead to theft, fraud, and embezzlement, even by those entrusted with one’s finances. May your hands be well-grounded through attention to detail.

A Kuwaiti writer