Huwa-Hwa: The Divine 'He' as Non-Dual Reality

Huwa, the impersonal divine pronoun used in Sufi poetry, points to reality beyond all conceptual categories and personal attributes. Rumi employs Huwa to indicate the transcendent dimension that cannot be confined to any name or form, paralleling the Hindu concept of Brahman as nirguna (attributeless) and Shiva as pure consciousness. This concept bridges personal devotion with impersonal realization: one loves the personal beloved while simultaneously recognizing the transcendent impersonal reality behind all forms. In Hindu tantra, Shiva represents this non-dual reality while Shakti represents the dynamic expression through form. Rumi's Huwa encompasses both dimensions—utterly transcendent yet intimately present in every moment of longing and union. The non-dual traditions use both personal and impersonal language not as contradiction but as complementary pointing to what exceeds all concepts. This framework allows practitioners to honor devotional intensity while resting in the recognition that ultimate reality transcends all limitation.