A Study of Self-Knowledge and Its Functions in Imam Khomeini's Viewpoint (A Qualitative Study Based on Grounded Theory)

Self-knowledge and its functionality has always been the focus of the scholars of humanities, especially in the field of philosophy. The objective of this paper is to study Imam Khomeini's approach to the subject of self-knowledge and its functions. Grounded theory has been applied in this qualitative study. The statistical population included all sources such as books, lectures, texts and letters of Imam Khomeini. The statistical sample included a total of 62 texts collected through purposeful method from different sources produced by Imam Khomeini related to self-knowledge. From source 48 onwards, the content within the text was repetitive and the data reached theoretical saturation. The data were analyzed through textual analysis within the framework of a conceptual model including the Causal conditions (causes and opportunities); Pivotal factors; Strategies; Underlying factors; Interference factors, facilitators (backers) and inhibitors (barriers), and ultimately consequences (results of self-knowledge). The findings show that a lifestyle consistent with true knowledge of the message of revelation and the program of primordial nature, turn of attention from acquired knowledge to intuitive knowledge and self-purification lead to self-knowledge. As a result of establishing a connection between knowledge of the self and the knowledge of the Lord, the potential talents inherent in human primordial nature are actualized. Hence, the rational soul will be attained and all the powers of the soul, including imagination, anger and lust, will surrender to the sane reason and the prophets’ messages and will turn to merciful armies, and eventually, the position of vicegerency of Allah and eternal happiness (felicity) will be achieved.