Thus, self-cognition is the fountainhead of all human perfection while self-ignorance is the root of all deprivation and humiliation of man.
According to Imam Khomeini, knowledge of the self is superior to knowledge of the world, and appears to be even more important than many religious sciences.
As such, this knowledge should be accorded its own separate place and be developed and expanded.
One should not be unduly confined to collecting and amassing terms of little use; rather, one should think of understanding one’s real self and the intricacies and subtleties of the soul, Imam pointed out.
Imam used to attach great significance to self-purification and decorating with divine virtues.
Imam Khomeini also puts emphasis that non-recognition of the self-springs from blindness of the heart and inner loss of sight, which is considered as the origin of all adversities.
Imam in this regard further defines as following:
Hence, “one must be very fearful of this inner blindness of vision which is the main source of all kinds of darkness and wretchedness. The blindness of the heart is the source of all misfortunes.”