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Islamic mystics called Sufis differentiate between glimpses, which they call "states," and permanent advances on the path, which they call "stations." The former are described as being not only temporary but also fragmentary, while the latter are described as bearing results which cannot be lost. There are three main stations along the path. The first is annihilation of the ego; the second is rebirth in the Overself; and the third is fully grown union with the Overself. The Sufis assert that this final state can never be reached without the Grace of the Higher Power and that it is complete, lasting, and unchangeable.

-- Notebooks Category 22: Inspiration and the Overself > Chapter 8 : Glimpses and Permanent Illumination > # 28 -- Perspectives > Chapter 22: Inspiration and the Overself > # 91