This work brings together Mehmed Ali Aynî’s studies on the Self, Education, Guidance, and the Spiritual Path. The first is a translation of the treatise titled “Risâle fî Me’âni’n-Nefs” (Treatise on the Meanings of the Self), originally penned in Arabic by Mestçizâde Abdullah Efendi. This treatise was published in the 14th issue of the Darülfünun Faculty of Theology Journal in 1930 under the title The Meanings of the Word Self. To complement the subject, the author's writings titled “Education and Guidance” and “The Spiritual Path” from his work titled History of Sufism have also been added to this translation as a separate section.

“The purpose of education is to eliminate evil traits if they exist in our nature, to strengthen our good qualities, and in any case, to reinforce our power of will so that we may overcome our carnal self and ensure that we act with contentment only in accordance with what the blessed Sharia commands and what reason recommends.”

“As for guidance, it is the ability to show a person, to the extent of their aptitude, the light of truth for which they yearn and are devoted. In other words, it is to teach the answers to the questions, ‘Where did we come from and how, where are we going, and how can we attain our origin?’ and to ensure the realization of this purpose…”