COMPLETE WORK S

OF
PIR-O-MURSHI D
HAZRAT INAYAT KHA N

ORIGINAL TEXTS : LECTURES ON SUFIS M

1923 I : January-June
 * _s

4NIcza'.
COMPLETE WORK S
OF
PIRO-MURSHI D
HAZRAT INAYAT KHA N

ORIGINAL TEXTS : LECTURES ON SUFIS M

1923 I : January-Jun e

Source Editio n

4
East-West Publications
London/The Hague
Previous volumes in this series :
Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan (East-West Publications - 1979)
Authentic Versions of the teachings of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan on Sufism - Sayings
Par I
t Auth e ntic Versions of the teachings of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan on Sufism - Sayings
Par 11
t (East-West Publications - 1982 )

© 1989 Nekbakht Foundation .

Edited by Mrs . Munira van Voorst van Beest . Published by East-West Publications, 78
Anna Paulownastraat, 2518 BJ The Hague in collaboration with the Nekbakht Foun-
dation .

This book is copyright under the Berne Convention . Enquiries should be addressed
to East-West Publications .

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, by photoprint,

microfilm or any other means without written permission from the copyrightholder .

ISBN 90-70104-80-6
 " Time ! I have never seen thee ; but I have heard
thy footsteps. Time ! in my sorrow thou creepest,
in my joy thou runncst, in the hours of my patient
waiting thou standest still . Time ! thou art the
ocean, and every moment of Life is thy wave. "
-INAYAT KHAN .

1923 .
JANUARY. FEBRUARY. JULY. AUGUST.
s . . 7 14 21 !8 s „. 41118 25 s 1 8132229 s - 5 It 19 26
b 1 813 4f 29 M . . . 512 1926 Id 2 9162330 M ... 6 13!0 27
Tu ! 9 16 2330 74 ..
. 6132027 Tu 3 1017 24 31 Tu 7 1421 28
W 3 10 17 24 31 W 7142128 W 4111825- W 1 8132229
1D 4111825 ... 7L 1 8152! .« T6 3121926 ... TA 2 9162330
F 6121926 ... P $ 91683 ... F 6132027 ... P 31017 24 3 1
S 6132027 . .. S 31017 24 .. . 3 7 14 2128 ... 3 411 1835 . ..
MARCH. APRIL EPTEMBE OCTOBER.
8 . . . 4 18 2 9 1 8132329 8 ! 9162330 3 7142128
M . . . 5 12
1 1926
1 5 ![ 2 9162330 1d 3101724 „ . ![ 1 8132229
.M 61320V To 3 1017!4 . . . Tu -4111823 . . . Tu 2 916233 0
W 71421!8 W 41118 23 .. . w 5141926 .. . W 31017 24 3 1
TL 1 8 15 *2 29 .711 5121926 . . . Tb 613 20 27 .. . 11 411 18 !3 ...
P 2 9 16 0 30 P 6132027 . . . F 714 2128 ... F 51! 19 26 ..
S 3 10 17 24 31 S 7142128 . . . S 1815!9!9 ... S 6132027 ...
MAY. JUNE. NOVEMB DECEMBER.
8 . .. 6132027 8 ... 31017 24 8 .. . 4111823 3 1 9 16 233 0
1d 7 1421 !8 M ,,, 41118 25 M . . 5181926 N - 3 10 17 U31
T. 1 8 15 2 2 !9 Tv ... 61! 19 E6 Tu .„ 6152027 'ra - 411 18 25 _
W 1 916!330 W ... 61320!7 28 W . .. 7142128 W -3it1926 . . .
'11 31017!4 31 71 . . 7142t 'lb 1 815 2229 73 - 6132027 .. .
P 4111825 . . . F 1 8132229 P 2 916 23 30 F -7142138 . . .
S 51! 926 S 2 9160 30 S 31017U . . . 3 1 8 15 23 29
Hook Dep6t for Sufi Literature -S4, Above Bar, Southampton.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Sharif Graham has become an enthusiastic and most dedicated col-

laborator in the work of presenting Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan's original
words, and while lecturing at Pima College in Arizona in the United States,
every year he gives up his long summer holidays and spends his time mostly
in Suresnes where this work is being done . The presentation of the play
"Una" from the old manuscripts is entirely his work . Also, he gave shape to
all that had to be said and explained in the preface and in the introductions
and gave his attent ion to many more details .

I feel grateful also to the members of the Editorial Committee, Dr .

Rubab Monna and Shaikh-al-Mashaikh Mahmood Maheboob Khan, for the
careful attention given to the manuscript before publication and for their
very constructive criticism, which has contributed considerably to improv-
ing the quality of the book .
 CONTENTS

pag e

Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Explanation of abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xix
dat e
(all 1923 )

Divine Grace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . first week January 1

Innocence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 (?) January 3
Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 January 7
How to Progress in the Spiritua l
Path in Everyday Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 January 9
The Coming World Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 January 11
Fate and Free Wi I I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 January 25
Man, the Master of His Destiny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 January 29
The Word that was Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 January 35
Mureeds'Class, "On the spiritual path . . . " . . . . . . 16 January 43
The Spirit of Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 January 46
Sufism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15/17 January 53
The Power of Silence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . befo re 18 January 59
The Sufi Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . late January? 69
The Life, a Continual Battle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 February 73
Life a Continual Battle (continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 February 78
"Ideal among nations . . ." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 February 87
Newspaper article, "The great need . . ." . . . . . . . . 27? February 90
Newspaper article, "When I was here . . ." . . . . . . . early March 91
Newspaper article, "I believe that . . ." . . . . . . . . . . 9? March 93
Newspaper article, "I am not coming . . ." . . . . . . . 9/10 March 94
Newspaper article, "Man's trust i n
preacher . . ." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11? March 96
Newspaper article, "Sufism has no creed . . ." . . . 25? March 97
Newspaper article, "The intel I igence of . . ." . . . 26? March 98
Newspaper article, "True spirituality . . ." . . . . . . 26 March 99
The Science andArtof HinduMusic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 March 100
The Universe in Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 March 10 6
Poet and Prophet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Apri 1 10 8
The Psychic Influence of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 April 11 7

The Spirit of Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 April 12 2

The Healing Power of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 April 12 7
Revel at ion when Awake and when Asleep . . . . . . 12 April 13 3
Newspaper article, "Day by Day . . ." . . . . . . . . . . . . 13? April 14 0
Jai lal-u-Din Rumi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 April 14 1
Spiritual Development by the Aid of Music . . . . 18 Apri 1 14 8
The Word that was Lost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Apri 1 15 3

NewspaperArticle, "My coming to th e

United States . . ." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 April 16 1
ShaikhMuslih-ud-Din Saadi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 April 16 2

The Mystery of Sound and Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Apri 1 16 9

The Solution of the Problems of Today . . . . . . . . . . 26 April 17 5
Newspaper article, "What isSufi?" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26? April 18 5
Khwajah Shamsu-d-Din Mahomed Hafiz . . . . . . . . 1 May 18 6
The Music of the Spheres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 May 19 3
The Coming World Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 May 19 8
Farid-ud-Din Attar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 May 20 6
"My prayers rose . . ." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring 21 3
"Representatives of the Press" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring 21 5
Gita Dhyana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring 21 5
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 9
I: 1 . . . .. ... ... ... ... ...... ... .. . .. . .. ......... . . . . .. ... ... .......... 22 3
1 : 1A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 5
I: 2 .. ........................... .. . . . . .. ....... .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. ... . 22 7
1 : 2A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 9
1: 3 ................................... .. . . . .......... ...... .. . . . . . . . 23 1
1 : 3A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 3
I: 4 ........................................ . ..................... .. . 23 5
1 : 4A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 7
I : 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 9
1 : 5A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 1
I: 6 . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . ... ... .. . .. . . . . . . .. . ......... .. . . . . .. . .. . .. ... ... . 24 3
1 : 6A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 5
1 : 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 7
1 : 7A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 9

-vi-
 I: 8 .......................... . .. . .. . ... .. . .. . .. ..................... 25 1
1: 8A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 3
I: 9 ............... ... .. . . . . .. . ... ...... .................... ... .. . .. . 25 5
1: 9A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 7
I: 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 9
1: 10A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 1

II : 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
II : 1A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
II : 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
II : 2A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
II : 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
II : 3A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
II : 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
II : 4A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
II : 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
II : 5A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
II : 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
II : 6A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
II : 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
II : 7A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
II : 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
II : 8A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
II : 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
II : 9A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
II : 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
II : 1OA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 1

III : 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
III : 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
III : 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
III : 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
III : 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
III : 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
III : 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
III : 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
III : 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
III : 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 1

Newspaper article, "The phiIosophiesof . . . . . . . 30/31 May 323

Newspaper article, "Commercialism i s
ruling . . ." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 May 329
The Path of Initiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 June 325
Self-Realization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 June 33 4

-vii-
Una (a Play )
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Manuscript ( reproduced in type ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
List of Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Act I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Act II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Act III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Act IV (first version ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Act IV (second version ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 7

Appendices
A . Program from Paul Elder Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . 381
B . Classification of Lectures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ... .. . . . 387
C. L ist of missing Lectures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . .. . . . 391
D . I I I ustrat ions of documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ... .. . . . 39 9

Glossary of Foreign Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409

L ist of Persons , Places and Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 3
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 5

-viii-
 PREFAC E

General information on the contents

and on the authenticity of the lectures .

This volume includes alI the lectures of Pir-o-Murshid InayatKhan

that have been preserved from the first half of 1923, and information con-
nected with them, taken from the source materials available in the
archives .
The history of the textsof this period is quite different from that de-
scribed in the Preface to 1923 II : July-December . Most of the texts pub-
ished in that volume were based on shorthand records taken down by
SakinaFurnee while Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan spoke . In thisvolume, there
appear only two lectures taken down"in shorthand by Sakina (February 5
and 12), and for the majority of the lectures at our disposal, given in the
United States, the earliest and best text istypewritten and already some-
what edited . Therefore, the "original texts" presented in this volume are
almost all less close totheir source than the texts fromthe second half of
the year . Furthermore, in the second half of 1923 there was only a small
number of lectures known to have been given of which we had no records in
the archives, whereas for the first half we know about a great many lectures
of which no records have yet been discovered (see Appendix Q . This is
partly due to the fact that the Pir-o-Murshid was travelling very exten-
sively, and partly because he was not being accompanied by one of his
secretaries . An American mureed, Khushi (Marya) Cushing, did take down in
shorthand many of the lectures in NewYork and the Eastern United States,
but her notebooks, if still in existence, have not been located, and we have
her transcriptions of only a few lectures from the latter part of that tour .
Nevertheless, we do possessa large number of lectures given when
the Pir-o-Murshid stayed in San Francisco for seven weeks, by far the
longest sojourn during his travels . Even though these texts do not fully have
the special quality of the precise words as actually spoken by him, they
certainlydo contain many passages very close towhathesaid, andinsome
cases textswhich have never before been published or widely distributed .
The tone of these lectures indicates that the enthusiastic response which
his teachings received in America greatly inspired Pir-o-Murshid as he
spoke . Despite the textual problems, this volume presentssomeof the most
important and least-known partsof his teaching .

Backgroun d

General background information regarding the texts appeared in

the Preface to the volume 1923 11 . There was I ittle need for an explanation
of the context in which most of those lectures were given, as a great majori-
ty was delivered at the Summer School in Suresnes, near Paris, at and
around Fazal Manzil, Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan's home since 1922 . In th e

- ix-
first half of 1923, however, the Pir-o-Murshid travelled widely, passing
only a short period at his home . In order, therefore, togive the reader a
clearerpicture of the context inwhich the lectures in this volume were de-
livered, in the following paragraphs a brief sketch will be given of the
places and personalities visited by him during this period .

Holland, Belgium, England : January

The earliest records presented in this volume come from the Nether-
lands,around the end of the first week in January . The first material isfrom
a notebook of Baron van Tuyl I van Serooskerken, whose Sufi name wasSir-
dar, who evidently arranged the Pir-o-Murshid's lecture tour in that country
with the help of the Theosophical Society, of which hewasa member . The
texts from Sirdar's notebooks are fragmentary, but during the tour various
mureeds took down the lectures in longhand as well as they could . Of
course, the lectureswere given in English, a foreign language to the writers
albeit a fami l iar one ; and even though they were pronounced slowly, it was
impossible to catch every word . Nevertheless, we have good and nearly
complete texts for the several lectures given in various Dutch towns up to
the eighteenth of January . Thenthe Pir-o-Murshidwent onto Belgium, but
we have neither title nor text for any of the talks he gave there . From Be l-
giumheproceededtoEngland ;while we have the titlesand dates of some of
the lectures given there, we do not have the texts themselves . One lecture,
however, published asa booklet called The Sufi Order, has here been as-
signed to this period in London .

France : February .

At the end of January Pi r-o-Mursh id Inayat Khan returned to his home

at Suresnes to stay for some time with his wife, the Begum (nee Ora Ray
Baker, an American), and his four children before leaving for an extended
tour of the United States . He gave only two lectures in Paris during this
time, one week apart, the second a continuation of the first, on the subject
of "Life, a Continual Battle ." These were taken down in shorthand by his
secretary, Sakina Furnee, who had learned shorthand for this purpose . A
running translation into French, sentence by sentence (see Appendix D),
was given by a translator aswel I .

Possibility for a lecture tour throuszh the United States .

The tour of the United Stateswas undertaken at the urgent and re-
peated request of Murshida Rabia Martin of San Francisco . Mrs . Martin was
the Pir-o-Murshid's first mureed (initiate) in the West in 1911, and she had
continued Sufi work during his long absence from America (since 1912) . Of
course, first of all World War I had made travel impossible, and afterthat
the Pir-o-Murshid's residence changed several times, only becoming per-
manent in 1922 when a Dutch mureed, Mrs . "Fazal Mai" Egel ing, put at hi s

-x-
disposal a large house, then renamed "Fazal Manzil" (house of blessing), at
Val d'Or- St . Cloud, later incorporated in Suresnes . Having at last settled
his family suitably, he then felt free to answer the many requests of Mur-
shida Martin and his otherAmerican pupils for a return to the United States .

Journey and arrival in NewYork : February .

Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan sailed toAmerica aboard the White Star

iner Pittsburgh, which left from Bremen (Germany) via England . Newspaper
articles from the time reveal several ethnic incidents during the stormy
voyage, but the Pir-o-Murshid in his account only mentions that in the end
he had become the friend of almost all the passengers, and that this en-
hanced his sense of the possibility of brotherhood (Biography, p . 168) .
When a newspaper reporter asked him what he thought of the battling na-
tionalities, . "he smiled and was silent ." However, Pir-o-Murshid figured in
the newspaper accounts mainly because he was detained by the immigra-
tion authorities at Ellis Island, the quota of Indians for February having
already been filled . This delay, along with the already late arrival of the
ship due to the weather, necessitated the cancel I at ion of the first two lec-
tures .
The Pir- o-Murshid ' s universalistic answers to the questions of the
immigration tribunal ( From what nation do you come? "All nations ." What is
your birthplace?"Theworld ." What is your rel igion ? "All rel igions ." and so
forth, cf . Biography , p . 169 ) interested them , yet did not answer the re-
quirementsofthelaw . Hewas ultimately rescued from this situation by Mrs .
Marya Cushing , known by her Sufi name , Khushi, a formidable young woman
who had already become a mureed in 1922 , attended the first Summer
School at Suresnes in that year , and assisted in the editing for publ ication
and typing of the manuscript of Pir-o -Murshid' s first book of sayings and
prayers , theGayan . She was in charge of making the arrangements for Pi r-
o-Murshid Inayat Khan ' stime in New York City, where she was l iving . What-
ever she said to the immigration authorities , they seemed " much impressed
and embarrassed, and immediately exempted me from the law of geographi-
cal expulsion .' The last day on board , February 26, Pir- o-Murshid had
recited a poem he addressed to America , " Ideal among nations . . .", and had
given a lecture about the purpose of his trip , " to awaken in soulsthe con-
sciousness of brotherhood ." The irony of his subsequent detention seemed
only to amuse him .

Lecturing inNewYork, Boston, Detroit and Chicago : February/March .

The Pir-o-Murshid remained a few days in New York, giving several

lectures, and then went on to Boston, which reminded him of Edinburgh in
Scotland, where, in addition to lecturing, he met the eminent art historian
Ananda C . Coomaraswami, "the only Hindu . . . who occupies a fitting posi-
tion in the States ." He was himself. often taken for a Hindu by newspaper
reporters, to whom "Sufism"was apparently an entirely unknown word (i t

-xi-
appears once a "Sabism") . From Boston he went onto Detroit, where there
was a good response to his teaching, and then to Chicago where no ar-
rangements had been made (they were left in the hands of someone who
gave I ittle attention to the matter) . During this whole part of the journey,
Pir-o-Murshid had been accompanied by Khushi Cushing, who later men-
tions in a letter to him that she had taken down the lectures in shorthand, of
which, however, no records have come down to us . Mrs . Cushing remained
behind in Chicago to attempt more suitable arrangements for the Pir-o-
Murshid'sreturn from California ; he proceeded by train from Chicago to Los
Angeles .

Short stay in LosAngeles and arrival in San Francisco on 19 or 20Marc h

The beautyof nature inCalifornia again impressed him deeply, as

he was driven in a motorcar from Los Angeles to San Francisco along the
Pacific coast by hismureeds,Mr . and Mrs . Wolff . On the day of his arrival in
San Francisco, Murshida Martin had scheduled private interviews with the
mureeds she had initiated in the years of her Murshid's absence . Among
those who encountered Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan for the first time on that
day were : Mrs . Rebecca C . Mi l ler, who became a Khal ifa and Cheraga ;Mr .
George Baum, whowasmade a Shaikh and Cherag ; Mr . Samuel Lewis, later
known as Sufi Ahmed Murad Chishti, who remained active in Sufi work
throughout his long life (he passed away in 1971) ; and Mr . Earl Engle, who
was initiated that day and given the name Fatha .

Lecturing in San Francisco : 19/20 March to May 8 .

The period in San Francisco, about seven weeks, was the most suc-
cessful of the tour, the arrangements having been made carefully by Mur-
shidaRabia Martin, "whose joy in receiving me in her home was boundless .'
The Pir-o-Murshid gave several series of well-publicized lectures in the
gallery of the Paul Elder bookstore, at the time the leading such establ ish-
ment in San Francisco . MissHayat Stadl inger, who first encountered Pir-o-
Murshid there, recalls vividly how he greeted each person who came,
serenelysitting in a vestibule . In addition he gaveclassesfor the initiates
and many private interviews . There is no certain record of the classes for
initiates ; however, the series of papers known as "Githa Dhyana" without
any doubt dates from this period . The complex history of these papers is
given below in a separate introduction (p . 219) . Aweekly service was in-
augurated, and it would appear that San Francisco was the first place where
the Pir-o-Murshid's concept of a universal religious service came to be
known asthe "Universal Worship," which became the accepted name . His
lectures were verywell attended, and the audience was enthusiastic . He
also gave a talk on the radio on April 2, and so positive wasthe response
(numerous "letters of appreciation") that a second one was broadcast the
following week . Some arrangements were made to take down the lectures
(no details are known), andthusthe bulk of the materials presented in this
volume derives from thistime in San Francisco .
-xii -
Encounter with Luther Burbank .

While in San Francisco, the Pir-o-Murshidwas taken one day north

to Santa Rosa, where he met with the famous horticulturist Luther Burbank .
They felt an immediate empathy, and when Luther Burbank mentioned that
he was working on eliminating the thorns from the cactus, Pir-o-Murshid
lnayatKhan replied,"Mywork isnotvery different from yours, Sir, for lam
occupied taking away thorns from hearts of men" (Biography, p . 172) .

Mrs . Eggink joins Pir-o-Murshid .

An interesting side) fight to this period is found in the account of a

Dutch mureed, Mrs. Eggink-van Stolk, whom Pir-o-Murshid lnayat Khan had
asked to accompany him on the trip . Family and health problems had, how-
ever, prevented her from accepting that offer at the time of departure .
Apparently Pir-o-Murshid thus travelled without secretarial and adminis-
trative assistance . However, she was able to join Pir-o-Murshid in San Fran-
cisco . When he first saw her there, he said, "So you have come ." He
instructed her to write several pages each day of an eventual lecture on the
Sufi teachings, but she apparently wrote much more than he had asked, and
when he saw what she had written, he laughed and was pleased . In her
manuscript account of those days she mentions some of the th i ngs he sa id to
her on different occasions, such as : "I am a mystery to myself" and "Twelve
days in the presence of the master are like twelve years of meditation . "

Prepa rations for a visit to Chicago .

The arrangements which Khushi Cushing had initiated for the Pir-o-
Murshid's return to Chicago col lapsed in confusion upon her own departure,
so he sent Mrs . Egg i nk ahead to make new arrangements . She was instructed
to speak herself to pave the way . When she arrived in Chicago, she found
that those who were supposedly making the preparations, a Theosophist
professor and a Kabbalistic teacher, had not done anything definite ; she
then tried to establish contact by attending the Kabbalistic meetings,
where some interest was eventually awakened for the Sufi teachings . She
was thus able to prepare for a more successful visit .

Lecturing in Santa Barbara and LosAngeles : May .

While Mrs. Eggink was in Chicago, the Pir-o-Murshid concluded his

stay in San Francisco and proceeded south to Santa Barbara, where Mr .
E .P .A . Connaughton had a rare book-shop . He had gone to England in 1919 to
study with Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, having already been initiated by
MurshidaMartin . The Pir-o-Murshid found him an apt mureed and at the end
of his stay in England had initiated him asa khalif . During a four-day stay in
Santa Barbara the Pir-o-Murshid delivered one lecture each day, of which
only the titles are known . He also apparently was taken up by society, a s

-xiii-
newspaper cI ippings from the time announce several teas and a I unch given
in his honour . He then made the few hours' journey to Los Angeles, where a
program of six lectures had been well organizedandpublicized byMr . and
Mrs . Wolff . The program for the lectures, some of which were given at the
Ambassador Hotel , is in the archives ( see Appendix C), but no other records
have been found .

Lecturing in Chicago and Detroit, and back to NewYork : May .

FromLosAngeles, Pir-o-MurshidreturnedtoChicagobytrain,where
Mrs .Eggink had made preparations . Whereas hisscheduled talk in March at
the Theosophical Society had been virtually unattended, he now had a
small but appreciative audience for a few lectures . Accompanied by Mrs .
Eggink, he went onto Detroit,where he spoke forthree days, in theafter-
noon and evening, at the Unitarian church . Although the Pir-o-Murshid had
had some misgivings about returning to Detroit, everything proved satis-
factory . He further found himself again in the social columns, one of which
headlines : "Sufi Mystic as Sensation of Society ." On May 26, they travel led
from Detroit to NewYork bytrain . Mrs . Eggink recalled that atone point a
serving man entered the compartment and showed a look of resentment at
seeing a dark Oriental accompanied by a light-skinned European woman .
Noticing this, the Pir-o-Murshid looked at him with such a devastating
glance that the man stumbled backwards out of the compartment and Mrs .
Eggink felt he must have been cured of his prejudice for ever . Of course,
such incidentswere common during the Pir-o-Murshid's travels in the West .

Lecturing again in NewYork and also in Philadelphia : May/June .

InNewYorktheyweremet by Khushi Cushing, who had been busy or-

ganizing the lectures and finding quarters in which to establ ish a centre .
The Pir-o-Murshid had a small room inthe apartment Mrs . Cushing had re-
cently rented, but the weatherwas stifling . Many lectureswere given and
presumablywere taken down in shorthand ; we are only able to give textsof
two from early in June, one of which probably representsa compilation of
several talks . On May 30 and 31 the Pir-o-Murshid made a short trip to
Philadelphia, where he gave four lectures, meeting with a good response,
and was interviewed by the local newspapers . Having concluded the series
in NewYork, on June 9 he sailed for Europe onboard theS .S . Olympic . He
was accompanied not only byMrs . Eggink, but had also been joined by the
young initiate from San Francisco, Mr . Fatha Engle, whowent to live and
work at the Pir-o-Murshid's residence at Suresnes . He wasgiven the task of
organizing the Summer School, and during the year and a half he stayed
there assumed many other duties, including overseeing the care of the
grounds, driving and maintaining the motorcar, and scheduling all per-
sonal interviewswith the Pir-o-Murshid . In this way he came to knowmost
of the European mureeds, and after returning to NewYork to lead the centre
there, provided a I ink between Europe and America in the Sufi work .

-xiv-
Return journey : Jun e

In her memories of the voyage, Mrs . Eggink mentions that on board

ship Pir-o-Murshidhadsome leisure for the first timeinseveral monthsand
that one day, to her delight, he sang to her (he had been a celebrated musi-
cian in India earlier in his life, but had by this time almost entirely aban-
doned his music in favour of spiritual teaching) . He also gave to her the
name of Bhakti, meaning "devotion," and beganwriting a play by the same
name about an idealistic young woman devoted to the art of sculpture . He
asked Bhakti Eggink to play the lead role, but the character's name and the
title of the play were later changed to Una .

Return to Suresnes for the Summer School .

By the time the Pir-o-Murshid and Mr . Engle arrived at Suresnes, less

than two weeks remained before the opening of the Summer School . The
first talks there were given on the second of July, and in this series of books
appear in the volume 1923 II : July-December .

Press-articles about P i r-o-Mu rsh id's visits .

Because so many lectures have failed to reach the archives, it

would seem appropriate to provide whatever evidence there is as to what
Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan may have said on those occasions . During this
time in America, press coverage was particularly full, and copies of many
reports and articlesare preserved ina separate collection in the archives .
In some cases, the reporters appear to be quoting from lectures they at-
tended ; in others, the words or thoughts they attribute to Pir-o-Murshid
Inayat Khan appear to have come from interviews . We have extracted from
the newspaper articles everything that appears to be a direct or indirect
quotation from Pir-o-Murshid, and have inserted the results in the chrono-
logical sequence of the lectures . It should clearly be realized, however,
that these quotations often represent the reporters' understanding of what
the Pir-o-Murshid said ratherthan his exact words, even when cited as his
own in quotation marks . Pir-o-Murshid eventually became quite dissatis-
fied with the way his words were reported in the American press (cf .
Biography, p . 176) .

Mention of the first publication of a text in the notes .

When a lecture has been published for the first time in the series The
Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan (from 1960-1982 : 13 volumes), this is
mentioned in the notes . In those volumes, however, the texts have been
editorially adjusted to such an extent as to render word-by-word compari-
son infeasible . Publication in these volumes is alsomentioned if the only
previous publication had been a translation in another language . The pub-
l ication history of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan'steaching is a complex sub-

-xv-
ject which deserves ful I treatment, but obviously does not properly belong
to this presentation of the original texts from the extant source materials .

Indication of alternative words in the notes .

The language of the lectures, given as extempore addresses, clearly

is a spoken Ianguage, and it sometimes happened that Pir-o-Murshid Inayat
Khan repeated aword or useda different wordwhich better expressed his
idea . To avoid any confusion, we have indicated in the notes "instead o , P
or "in place of" whenever there could arise any doubt, to indicate that a
later editor replaced the originally spoken word with another .

First and second Headquarters' stencil and the original text .

A close student of the notes to these basic texts will occasionally .

observe that the second, revised version of a Headquarters' stencil (Hq .st .)
comes closer to the shorthand or other earliest version than did the first
Headquarters' version of a lecture . Where that occurs, it clearly indicates
a revision at Headquarters intending to return to the original text .

Earlywork on the original texts .

Two documents mentioned in the notes and in the Explanation of Ab-

breviations require some further description . These are "Sr .Sk ." and
"Sk .l .t .", both of which came into existence comparatively recently, dur-
ing the 1950'sand 1960's .
"Sk .I .t ." (Sakina's later type) isSakina Furnbe's new transcription of
apart of heroriginal shorthand reportings . Heroriginal transcriptions were
sent by her to international Headquarters in Geneva, from 1922 to 1926 .
She kept no copy of these in the archives . Over the years, many changes
appeared in the texts of the lectures in various versions, which prompted
her some thirty years laterto undertake the difficult task of making a new
transcription soasto restore the text as taken down while Pi r-o-Murshid was
actually speaking .
"Sr .Sk ." (Sirdar/Sakina) is an extensive list of errata, in which
Sakina Furnee and Sirdar van Tuyll exchanged comments about the revi-
sions which had been made in the texts of the Gathas, Gathekas and many
other papers, and especially of those lectures of which Sakina had made no
second transcription . The purpose of both--"Sk .l .t ." and "Sr .Sk ."--was the
same : to bring back the texts to the oldest possible version, wh ich was in-
tended as a critical preparation for publication of source materials . The
work presented in these Complete Works,Original Texts brings out and con-
tinueson a larger~scalewhat Sakina and Sirdar had already initiated in the
past .

- xv i -
Additional Information .

Appendix A shows a copy of the original program of the lectures

given in 1923 at the Paul ElderGallery in San Francisco .
Appendix B explains some facts about the classification of the lec-
tures in general . Then, as in volume 1923 11, appears a list of the classif ied
lectures inthisvolume, in the version in which they are known in the Suf i
centres, along with these same lectures as in theiroriginal form, with indi-
cation of the page numbers . Athird itemwith AppendixB isa document in
the handwriting ofMahtab van Hogendorpabout the classification of pa-
pers at the time of Pir-o-Murshid's death .
Appendix C gives the titles, dates and places of del ivery of lectures
which have not yet reached the archives .
Appendix D shows the original handwritings and shorthand of some
of the texts, from which documents the basic texts presented in this volume
have been copied .
In additiontoa glossaryof fdreignwords, noteson persons, places
and works occurring in the texts have been listed separately .
An extensive analytical subject index isadded, in most cases iden-
tical in its wording to the wording in the texts, in which the different
aspects of one subject have been arranged alphabetically .

Conclusion .

The object of this book, asof the whole seriesof which it is part,
maybe summed up as threefold :

- To safeguard for posterity the teachings on Sufism of Pir-o-

Murshid Inayat Khan as gathered in the Biographical De-
partment ;
- To provide as authentic as possible a groundwork for the
edition of future publications and translations ;
- To make the earliest source materials of Pir-o-Murshid
Inayat Khan'swords available to scholars, researchers, stu-
dents and all those interested in finding sourcesof genuine
spirituality .
Munira van Voorst van Beest,
Staff Member of the Foun-
dation "Nekbakht Stichting . "
34, rue de laTuilerie .
92150 Suresnes, France .
1985

-xvii-
 EXPLANATION OFABBREVIATIONS

After 1927 - refers to a communication in the handwriting of Mahtab van

Hogendorp in her capacity as secretary of the Sufi
Movement at International Headquarters, Geneva . See
Appendix B .

Ann . - annotation(s )

A .p . - preparation of an article (lecture) for publication in a

magazine .

Archives - archives of the Biographical Department, Suresnes, France .

B .D . - Biographical Department, an independent body set up by

Pir-o-Murshid InayatKhan, containing acollection of Sufi
documents etc ., to which he appointed Sakina Furnee
(Nekbakht) as keeper . It has now been incorporated in the
Nekbakht Foundation .

Bk . - book, first edition .

Bk .p . - book preparation by Sherifa Goodenough .

C. - copied text .

Ca . - circa .

Corr . - correction, corrected .

D .tp . - draft of a typescrip t

Gd . - Sherifa Goodenough .

Gd .t . - a typescript, made on Sherifa Goodenough's typewriter, dis -

tinguished by large type .

Gr . - Sophia Saintsbury Green .

Hq . - International Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, which

was the administrative and coordinative centre for the dif-
ferent sections of the Sufi, Order, which was named Sufi
Movement in October, 1923 .

Hq .p . - preparation by Sherifa Goodenough of the text of a lecture

or other teaching to be multiplied at Headquarters, and dis-
tributed among mureeds .

-xix-
Hq.st. - a cyclostyled copy of a Gatha, Gita, Gatheka, Religiou s
Gatheka or Social Gatheka, made at Headquarters ,
Geneva, of a lecture or other teaching meant for dis -
tribution among mureeds, also prepared by Sherifa Good -
enough .

Hwr . - handwritten, handwriting .

Ibid . - ibidem, i .e . in the document(s) just cited .

I .K . - Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan .

Kf . - Kefayat LLoyd,Kefayat L Loyd's copied text .

Km . - Kismet Stam .

Kr . - Miss Kerdijk, an early Dutch mureed .

Lb . - Mrs . E . Leembruggen .

If. - Miss H . Lefebvre, a French mureed from Paris .

Lh . - longhand .

M. - Magazine .

Ms ./MS . - manuscript .

Mt . - Mahtab van Hogendorp .

N. - note(s) .

Nbk . - Leaves of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan's notebooks .

O .C. - copy of an old typescript, available in the archives only o n

a microfiche made at Hq .

O.t . - an old typescript, probably made from the original docu -

ment .

Ox . - The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford Universit y

Press, 1973) .

Q .a . - question(s) and answer(s) .

R. - reporting, here to mean taken down in shorthand or in long -

handwhile Pir-o-Murshidwasgiving the lecture .

Sd . - Saida van TuylI van Serooskerken-Wi I lebeek Le Mair .

-xx-
Sh . - shorthand, shorthand reporting .

Sk . - Sakina Furnee, in 1926 renamed "Nekbakht" by Pir-o-

Murshid Inayat Khan .

Sk .t. - Sakina'stypescript .

Sk .I .t . - a new transcription of Sakina's shorthand reportings, made

by her at a much Iater date .

S . L . - Samuel Lewis, an earlyAmerican pupil of Mu rsh i da Mart i n's ;

an old typescript from a collection of Sufi papers used by
Samuel Lewis .

S .Q . - Magazine The SufiQuarterly .

Sr . - Sirdar van Tuyll van Serooskerken ; Sirdar's copied text,

made from notes taken down by him during the lectures .

Sr .Sk . - an extensive errata I ist (referring to the Gathas, Gathekas

and many other lectures), on which Sk . and Sr . exchanged
comments on revisionsmade in the texts . Sometimes a copy
of a Hq .st . was used for this purpose .

St . - stencil led (cyclostyled), a stencil led copy .

T . - - tp . when used with the name of a person (e .g . Sk .t .) .

Tp . - typewritten, typewritten copy, typescript .

Tr . - transcription .

V. - vide, see .

ZI . - Zuleikha van Ingen -) elgersma , an early Dutch mureed .

-xxi-
 Sirdar's longhand rep or ting in his copybook of January/February
1923, copied by the compiler .

2January 1923 .

Divine Grace isa loving impulse of God, which manifests in every

form, in the form of mercy, compassion, forgiveness, beneficence and reve-
lation . No action however good can command3, no meditation however
great can attract it . It comes naturally as awave rising from the heart of
God, unrestricted or unlimited by any law . It is a natural impulse of God,
when it comes, it comeswithout reason ; neither its coming nor its absence
has any particular reason, it comes because it comes . It does not come be-
cause it does not come . It is in the4 grace that God's Highest Majesty isman-
ifested, while pouring5 his Grace he stands on such a6 pedestal which ?

Documents

Sr.lh.r.
Sd.hwr.c. (a copy in Sd .'s hwr . made from Sr .lh .r . with some additions and alterations by Gd.)
Sk .hwr.c.
Bk .p.
Bk . (The Unity of Religious Ideals )

Notes :

1 . Sd.hwr.c. : Gd. added "Gatha . Tassawuf " above ;

Bk .p. : "Divine Grace' added above;
Bk .: Part II The God-Ideal, chapter XVII
2. It is not known on what occasion Pir-o-Mirshid said these wards about Divine Grace ; the sequence in
Sr.'s notebook indicates that it was in the first week of January 1923 (in Holland) .
3 . Sr.lh.r. : • it" added by Sr .;
All other docijnents: "it"
4. Bk .p., bk . : "the" omitted
5. Sd.hwr.c. : "out" added by Gd .;
Bk .p., bk . : "out"
6. Sr.lh.r. : "high" added by Sr .;
All other documents : "high '
7. Sd.hwr.c. : 'which' changed to "that" by Gd.;
Bk . : "that" instead of 'which'
2
neither law, cause 8, reason can touch9 . Every blessing has a certain aspect,
but grace is a blessing which is not I imited to a certain aspect, but it10man-
ifeststhrough al I aspects .

"Grace is alI-sided i ; .means-peace-+n--youf-heart , health12, provi-

dence , love coming from al I those around you, inspiration , joy, peace .

8. Sr.lhr.: Sr. crossed out "cause" and wrote 'nor a' above ;
Sd.hwr.c., Sk.hwr .c.: 'nor '
9. Sd.hwr.c.: 'it" added by Gd. ;
Bk.: "it' added
10. Bk .p., bk.: *it* omitted
11 . All other documents have this last sentence immediately following "aspects' . The way Sr.lhr. has it, it
could be the answer to a question .
12. Sr.lhr.: Apparently another ward was originally written where the wad "health" now appears ; the end of
this original ward still appears, crossed out and illegible.
 Dictated by Sidar to Saida from his longhand reporting, and writ-
ten down by Saida in Sidar's blue school-copybook from the
beginning of 1923.

Holland , beg inning (7?) January 1923 . 1

The way of attaining spiritual knowledge is quite apart 3 4toattain

the knowledge of the world . As the sky stands5opposite direction to6earth,
so'the source of 7spiritual knowledge7stands8 opposite9 knowledge of the
world . As man becomes more intel .10 he knows morel' of the world, but
that12 does not mean that he 13grows in spiritl3, 14he goes further from
15spiritual knowledge15 in16 his thought1718he understandsl8worldly things,
19he is able to understand spiritual thingsl9 .What isthebest wayof attain-
ing spiritual knowledge? 2OThe answer is2° 21tofirst21 develop at22 nature

Documents :

Sd .Ih. (written down by Sd. in telegraphese, dictated by Sr. from his Ihi.)
Tp . (a version made by Gd from Sd.Ih. )
Hq .t .
Hq .st.

As the texts of Tp., Hq.t, Hq.st are identical, only the Hq.st is mentioned in the notes .

Notes :

1 . From Sr .'s copybook, in which Sd . wrote down the lecture dictated to herby Sr . from his Ihr ., the se-
quence shows that the date of the lecture is probably 7th January 1923 .
2. Hq .t, hq .st : 'Gatheka. Number 28' added
3 . Hq.st. : 'opposite' instead of 'apart '
4. Ibid. : Rendered and completed: "to the way by which one attains worldly knowledge"
5. Ibid. : "is in the' instead of "stands "
6. Ibid. : 'the' added
7. Ibid. : 'knowledge of spittual things ' instead of "spiritual knowledge"
8. Ibid. : Ns' instead of "stands "
9. Ibid. : 'to the' adde d
10. Ibid. : "intellectual' instead of "mare intel.' [intelligent? intellectual?]
11 . Ibid. : "things" instead of "more "
12. Ibid. : "this" instead of "dial '
13 . Ibid. : "becomes spiritual" instead of "grows in spirit"
14. Ibid. : "on the contrary' added
15. bid. : 'spirituality' instead of "spiritual knowledge"
16. bid. : "by" instead of 'in '
17. Ibid. : a colon after ' thought '
18. Ibid. : "I understand" instead of "he understands "
19. Ibid. : omitted, "he is able to understand spiritual things"
20. Ibid. : omitted, 'The answer is '
21 . Ibid. : 'Fist, one must' instead of "to first"
22. Ibid. : "in one's" instead of "at"
4

that little spark23 divine and 24that what24 shining in25 infancy, showing
something pure, 26 some sign26 of heaven, 27something spiritual27 . 28What is
it in the infant that attracts most? It is its innocence gives impression of
pure of heart28 , 29 understandsby namesand formscalled learning29 .One30
must not understand this wronfIy, the31 knowledge of the world 32the
knowledge of names and forms 2 is necessary,33 necessary to live in the
world, necessary 34 to make 35one best in life35, 36know to make othe r
36 34 37happy, necessary to serve God and humanity, not necessary to attain
spiritual knowledge . Innocence is necessary-18 . 39Apart from child39 one
sees among one's friends 40and family40 something which attracts41 most
42the side showing innocence 42 43Often you see 43 people forgive44, 45toler-
ate '6, 47by seeing, yes,47 he iswrong, but he48has innocence' . 49A purity
divine that attracts49 .50Clever person attracted to innocentpersons .50 In-
nocence is51 a spring of water52 in which heart and soul bathe, purifying
and mak ing it new52 53How to attain quality of innocence?53 T.he•a. swer-+s-

23 . Ibid. : 'which is' added

24 . Ibid. : 'which was" instead of 'that what'
25. Ibid. : "one's" added
26. Ibid. : "some sign" omitted
27. Ibid. : "something spiritual" omitte d
28. Ibid.: 'What attracts us most is innocence, it is innocence which gives an impression of purity.' instead
of "What is it in the inf ant that attracts most? It is its innocence gives impression of pure heart "
29. Ibid.: omitted "understands by names and forms called learning"
30. Ibid.: 'But, we' instead of 'One '
31 . Ibid.: 'the' omitted
32. Ibid.: omitted "the knowledge of names and farms'
33 . Ibid.: added "more than necessary, it is "
34. Ibid.: "necessary' omitted
35. Ibid.: 'the best of one's life' instead of 'one best in life'
36. Ibid.: "know to make others happy "
37. Ibid.: "it is" added
38. Ibid.: "for that" added
39. Ibid.: "Apart from child' omitte d
40. Ibid.: 'relatives' instead of 'family'
41 . Ibid.: 'one' added
42. Ibid.: ', perhaps this is the side of the nature which is innocence' instead of 'the side showing inno-
cence "
43 . Ibid. : 'Often you see' omitted
44. Ibid. : 'those who are dear to therm" added
45. Ibid. : 'they" added
46. Ibid. : "ther faults" added
47. Ibid. : ' They say:" instead of "by seeing, yes,"
48. Ibid. : 'is innocent" instead of 'has innocence '
49. Ibid. : "There is a purity which is divine, and which attracts everyone" instead of "A purity divine that
attracts "
50. Ibid. : omitted "Clever person attracted to innocent persons .'
51 . Ibid. : 'like' added
52. Ibid. : 'purifying all that is f areiign to heart and soul' instead of 'in which heart and soul bathe, purifying
and making it new "
53 . Ibid.: "How can one attain innocence?" instead of 'How to attain quality of innocence?"
 5

54We a I I were innocent, it is in us54 . By being conscious of this55we develop

.
it ; in admiring that55 %and in taking notice in others56, appreciating57
58You wi l l see-58 those who have-59 bad nature, 60they are observant of bad i n
others and in time turn their nature6° . 61Those who admire innocence get
that impression in themselves6 l

During62travel I ing in India63on the purpose of paying63homageto

the sages64 , 65what appealed65 was 66not the power nor the radiance66,
67greater was the soul67, the greaterwas the innocence . One sees in them
innocence6but not simpleness68, 69that isthe difference69 . The one who is
simple does not understand . 701n everyday I ife there is one person who no-
ticessome way about him and he says, "I understand your way, I catch you ."
Noblehearted understands but closes eyes .70 Innocence is to understand and
rise above 71common understand ing7l . 72lnsight that gives man that power
to see clearly and rising above .7273For average person :73 every person sees
another person74 with75 own glasses, 76opinion that he has76 . 77Men, they
have a colour standing between77 . Necessary over insight is neutral ity78,
79comesby innocence79 .80Whenanyone smilesata chi Id, it does not know
if it isfriend or enemy, only smile .8081When that is developing in man, h e

54 . Ibid . : "Innocence is not foreign to our nature, we have all been innocent" instead of "We all were inno -
cent, it is in us "
55 . Ibid . : "nature" added
56 . Ibid . : omitted "and in taking notice in others "
57 . Ibid . : added "it, we also develop it. All things which we admire become ingressions "
58 . Ibid . : omitted "You will see "
59 . Ibid . : "a" adde d
60. Ibid . : omitted "they are observant of bad in others and in time turn their nature "
61 . Ibid . : "but who have collected good impressions, will in time turn her nature" instead of "Those wh o
admire innocence get that impression in themselves "
62 . Ibid . : "my" adde d
63 . Ibid. : "the purpose of which was to pay" instead of "on the purpose of paying "
64 . Ibid. : "of that land" adde d
65 . Ibid. : "the thing which appealed most to me" instead of "what appealed "
66 . Ibid. : omitted "not the power nor the radiance "
67 . Ibid. : "the greater the soul was" instead of "greater was the soul "
68 . Ibid. : "rat simplicity" instead of 'but not simpleness '
69 . Ibid. : "that is the difference" omitte d
70. Ibid. : "We see this in everyday life, he closes his eyes ." instead of "In everyday life there is one per -
son who notices some way about him and he says, 'I understand you way, I catch you.' Noble hearted
understands but closes eyes . "
71 . Ibid. : "common understanding" omitted
72. Ibid. : omitted, "Insight that gives man that power to see clearly and rising above . "
73 . Ibid. : "Fa average person:" omitted
74 . Ibid. : "person" omitte d
75. Ibid. : "through his" instead of "with "
76. Ibid. : omitted, "opinion that he has "
77 . Ibid. : "prejudice stands of ten between" instead of "Men, they have a colour standing between "
78 . Ibid. : "Fa insight unity is necessary" instead of "Necessary over insight is neutrality "
79 . Ibid. : "comes by innocence" omitted
80. Ibid. : omitted "When anyone smiles at a child, it does not know if it is friend or enemy, only smile . "
81 . Ibid. : "When that attribute is developed one has attained spirituality" instead of "When that is develop -
ing in man, he has taken spiritual path"
has taken spiritual path8l . 82What is lacking in life is the lack of
People think it issimpleness, but great difference, child innocent,8283wise
innocent of being intell ., risen above to state of innocence83 . 84The little
knowledge so important is nothing .84 He sees cause behind cause, 85he
judges and tolerates al 185, 86he understands al1 86 . 87For him is innocence .87
881s it practical to act8according to this principle? 89No, principle is not to
guide, to use, not to . 89 90If principle restricts, instead of virtue is sin, it
takes freedom .90 91Whenever person makes principle, captives .91 Life
means92 freedom, 93developin nobleness93 .949SWhen one arrives at stage,
may show itself out in action . 5 96Sign of sagel iness, of piety?96 97No better
sign than innocence .97

82 . Ibid . : omitted, 'What is lacking in life is the lack of . [probably the ward "imocence" was missed]
People think it is simpleness, but great difference, child innocent, "
83 . Ibid . : "Man becomes wise after having been intellectual, he rises above the intellect" instead of "wise
innocent of being intell . [see note nr . 10] , risen above to state of innocence "
84 . Ibid . : 'The little knowledge so important is nothing .' omitted .
85 . Ibid . : 'he judges and tolerates all' omitte d
86. Ibid . : 'and understands the way of his enemy'
87 . Ibid. : omitted "Fa him is innocence. '
88. Ibid. : 'Would it be practical to live altogether' instead of ' Is it practical to act "
89. Ibid. : 'A principle is to be used, not to guide our life", instead of 'No, principle is not to guide, to use,
not to
90. Ibid. : omitted, 'If principle restricts, instead of virtue is sin, it takes freedom . '
91 . Ibid. : "When people make of principle a chain, it becomes captivity" instead of 'Whenever person
makes principles, captives . '
92. Ibid. : "is' instead of 'means '
93. Ibid. : "developing nobleness' omitte d
94. Ibid.: added, "One cannot face oneself to innocence . '
95. Ibid.: omitted, 'When one arrives at stage, may show itself out in action . "
96. Ibid.: 'Can there be any sign of piety or spirituality?' instead of "Sign of sageliness, of piety? "
97. Ibid.: "There is no better sign than innocence with all understanding." instead of "No better sign than
innocence."
 7

An old typescript from Sii dar' s c ol lection of lecttres, of which

no original text is available ('0.1') .

Influenc e

Perhaps you have read the story of Daniel in the I ion's den, there-
fore you can understandthat there is nogreater sign of spiritual advance-
ment than man's personal influence ; this isan example of advancement in
spiritual life . People want to know whether they are progressing or going
back . One need not see how much one has read or learned to find out if one
has advanced . The principal thing is : if one attracts people or if one repels
them, if one is harmonious or inharmonious . This can tell us howfarwehave
advanced . No doubt3 one day is not the same as the other . One day one may
perhaps have more influence than the other . Life is like water, and itwill
have its waves rising or falling . Sometimes there are conditions or influ-
ences which are contrary . By keen observation we can find out ifwe are
advancing . Another sign of advancement is that we must become modest,
kind, and respectful to others . Another sign is that we must have wisdom and
power ; if one has both these things one wi I I create beauty in I ife .

Now a question is how to attain this advancement . Practices and

exercises are the main things . We must have faith and trust in the practices
we do . According to our faith we wi l l succeed . Mind and body must be kept
in a proper tune . For instance, one moment of excitement takes away the
advancement of six 4months t ime4 . It is l ike a person who is making a neck-
lace of pearls ; if the thread breaks, he must do it allover again . If we get
excited and our mind and body are out of tune, we spoil the practices of six
months5time . Forthosewho walk inthespiritual path it isof greatvaluet o

Documents :

O.t
Ski (copied f rom the 'O.t' Sk. added 'not in handwriting " over it.)
Hq.st
Hq .t

A f ter 1927 the Iechre was made into a Gatheka .

Notes :

1 . Hq .st, hq.t: added'Gatheka rxnber 29. "

2 . Althagh the lechre bears no date, f rom a newspaper article it is knoNn that it was given in Holland on
8th January 1923.
3 . Hq .st, hq.t: 'Of curse" instead of "No doabt'
4 . Sk .t, Hq .st: " time " omitted;
Hq .t . : 'months' tmre'
5 . Hq .t : " months' time'
8

keep themselves6 tuned in7 the pitch which is necessary . The difficulty is to
endure aI I the time many things which upset one, conditions which excite
and exhaust one's patience . We must have the power of endurance i n spite
of all . Life isa continual battle tofight ; and in orderto keepfit onemust
keep one's power reserved andpreserved . Thisis doneby keepingtranquil
and equable in mind . Practices, concentrations, meditations and prayer
will win the battle of your life .

6. Hq.st .,hq .t . : 'oneself" instead of "themselves"

7. Hq.t .: "to" instead of "in"
 9
A typewritten preparation by Ahrshida Goodenough for the
Headquarters ' stencil.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love

Harmony and Beauty, the Only Being,
united with All the Illuminated Souls,
who form the Embodiment of the Master,
the Spirit of Guidance .

How to Progress in the Spiritual Path in Everyday Life .

In the first place one must keep one's heart tuned . Intuition becomes
closed when the heart is out of tune . Every individual is meant to have a
certain pitch . One cannot be too good, and one need not be . The question is
that one hasto be harmonious, friendly and pleasant . You wilI alwaysfind
as asign of evolution that3agrees easily ; if there is lackof evolutionone
will ag ree less . The more one is evolved the more one can agree . This shows
that someone who is out of tune cannot agree . To agree one must have hap-
piness4 within oneself . Depression, ill-luck, bad influences are removed
just by keeping oneself in tune . If one is tuned one agrees ; disagreement
shows a lack of tune . If one is in tune one wi l l have health of mind and body
both ; it isthe greatest healing . There are difficult natures and people of
different gradesof evolution, but we must try to agreewith all . Some say
that one cannot remain really honest if one wants to please all . But one
need not be dishonest in agreeing5with another . The difference is that it is
more difficult for a person of a lower state of evolution to understand a

Documents:

Hq.p. (a typewritten preparation by Gd. for the Hq.st. with a few changes in her hwr .)
Hq.s t
Sk .c. (a copy of the Hq.st made under Sk .'s supervision )

This lecture has been made into Sangatha I, 82 .

Notes :

1 . It has been discovered from other sources that this lecture was given in Holland on 9th January 1923 .
2. Hq.p. : added by Gd.: "In order to progress in the spiritual path in everyday life," ;
Hq.st, Sk.c.: "In order to progress in the spiritual path in everyday life,"
3 . Ibid. : "one" added
4. Hq.p. : "happiness" replaced by Gd. with "hamrony" ;
Hq.st, Sk .c.: "harmony "
5. Sk .c.: "agreement" instead of 'agreeing'
10

person of a higher evolution . By harmony one can hold oneself . The most
important thing is to be in tune . When one person is in tune he will tune all
others in time . Someone who is advanced and whose opinion is counted, is
responsible to keep himself in hand . Then he will rise above all conditions,
he wi I I tune the others .

Sometimes it is difficult to get on with people ; the best thing is to

endure . The endurance of gold, for instance, makes gold precious . Flowers
are beautiful for some time, but they soon fade away ; they have no en-
durance . If a person has al l good qualities but he has no endurance, then he
hasno control of himself . Achild is helpless, but a6sig .nof being grown-up
is that one is independent . An unevolved person is in the hand of con-
ditions . Freedom comes with true evolution . Freedom is an illusion as long
as a person is not evolved ; it can be attained by evolution . Man begins as a
machine, he worksby influence . As he evolves there develops in him the
faculty of the creator, the faculty of the maker7, to make his own destiny .
The greater master he becomes the greater the faculty wi l I be . First he is the
slave of destiny, but in the end man becomesmaster of his destiny . One has
no choice when in being8 the slave of destiny, but afterwards, when one has
become masterof destiny, one has choice . Our motive is that the soul may
evolve every moment of the day . The stage of the master is the fulf i Iment of
destiny .

6. Hq.p.: *a' changed by Gd. to "the' ;

Hq.st., Sk .c.: "die '
7. Hqp .: Gd. changed ' maker' into ' master" ;
Hq.st., Sk.c.: 'master '
8. Hq.p .: "in berg" changed to "one is' ;
Hq .st., Sk.c.: 'one is'
 11

In the handwriting of Miss Kerdijc, probably copied from her

longhand repo rting. This is a copy made by the compiler of the
handwritten MS.

Holland, January 1923 .

The Coming World Religion .

(Uncorrected Verbatim Report) 1

Beloved ones of God ,

My subjectof2this evening is the coming reIigion . There isagreat

deal spoken in the world about the coming religion or therreligion
e of the fu-
ture . But it is not only spoken3 to-day, but4 it is avery old story . 5ltwasspo-
ken in al I issues of history and in alI issues of the past traditions . It was
especially spoken6 when therewas7 need of a spiritual awakening, when
there was a8 need of a moral reform, when there was a8 need of a social re-
vival . And whenever there has been a need, the answer has always come,
only not always in the same form that9 man has expected . And that itself
shows that the religion is an outward form of the truth which is hidden
behind it . There can be many forms, but one spirit ; there can be many re-
ligions, but one truth . Therefore inwhatever agea religionwas given, it s

Documents :

Kr . (Miss Kerdijk's hwr. version, which. seems to be a somewhat revised and completed version of her
Ih .r. of the lecture) .
Kr.Gd . (equals Gd .'s hwr . car ., add. and alterations made on 'Kr.") .
Tp. (a typewritten copy, made from "Kr.Gd.", over which was added " Verbatim Report, corrected by Mir-
shida Goodenough", and which is nearly identical to the "Kr. Gd." ; it has some car . in Sk.'s hwr.) .

From a newspaper article in the Nieuwe Rotter damse Courant of 13 January 1923, it appears that Pir-o-
Mirshid gave this lecture in Amsterdam on 12 January .

Notes :

1 . Kr.Gd.: "(Uncorrected Verbatim Report)" replaced byGd .with "(Corrected verbatim report)" ;
Tp.: 'Verbatim report . Corrected by Mirshida Goodenough" added in place of "(Uncorrected Verbatim
Repart) "
2. Kr .Gd. : 'of " crossed out,
Tp . : "of" omitted
3 . Tp . : 'of " added by Sk.
4. Kr .Gd . : "but" crossed out,
Tp . : "but" omitted
5. Kr.Gd . : rewritten to read : "It was spoken of at all epochs and in all the4raditims ages" ;
Tp. : "It was spoken of in all epochs and in all ages "
6. Kr.Gd. : "of " added ;
Tp. : "of "
7. Tp. : "a" added, but crossed out by Sk .
8. Kr.Gd. : "a" crossed out;
Tp.: "a" omitte d
9. Kr.Gd.: "drat" changed to "as" ;
Tp .: "as"
 12

formwas suitable to10thepeople of that particulartime, itsform wastoan-

swer their needs, its form was akin to the development of the people at11
that time . But the spirit wasoneand the same . As the truth is unl imited and
perfect in itself, with the evolution of humanitythe truth cannot evolve,
the truth need not evolve . The ways how it is expressed have been differ-
ent . But what have been the consequences of this difference? Conflicts
among the fol lowersof different religions, one considering another pagan
or heathen, black12or kafir, one considering the faith of another foreign or
elementary or strange or something which was not right . The same truth
which stood behind every religion as its life, as its spirit, was ignored by13
the differences of form .

When we come to study the history of the world, 14a11 the great wars
which have been caused from time to time were most often caused by the so-
called differencesof religion . Thereligion in reality, which came as the
religious or social or moral reform, the central theme of which has been the
brotherhood of humanity, the spirit of which has always been the spirit of
uniting mankind, in the understanding of reality, in the realization of that
oneness that unites one person to another, that religion was abused and was
made a means of hatred to15one another, of division between human beings
whose happiness only depended upon their unity, upon their sympathytol6
one another, upon their progress, which could have been united 17 . And the
result18of this hasl9been the disastrouswarsof all ages . And even nowwhen
the world seems to have lost the importance of religion, still the shadow of
religious differences, still the horrors20 that have risen remain, and there
is21 al I the time the cause for 22 the differences that arise in nations and in
the world quarrels . So in education, so in social life, so in the international
attitude, there still exists the idea of religious difference, which keeps the
nations apart and backwards23 from that advancement and progress which
could be made by unity .

10. Kr.Gd. : "to" charged to "for" ;

Tp. : "for'
11 . Tp. : 'of * instead of "at "
12 . Kr .Gd. : 'black' replaced with 'MlechI which is a Sansait ward for outcast or barbarian ;
Tp . : "Mlech "
13. Kr .Gd . : 'by' changed to "because of " ;
Tp . : 'because of "
14. Kr.Gd . : 'we find that' added;
Tp.: 'we f ind that'
15. Kr.Gd.: 'to' changed to 'of' ;
Tp.: 'of '
16. Kr.Gd.: "to' changed to 'toward' ;
Tp. : 'toward '
17 . Kr.Gd. : 'united' charged to "a united progress" ;
Tp. : 'a united progress '
18 . Tp. : "results'
19 . Tp . : 'have '
20. Tp . : 'of' added
21 . Kr.Gd . : "is" changed to 'lies" ;
Tp . : 'lies '
22. Kr.Gd . : 'for' changed to "of " ;
Tp.: 'of '
23 . Kr.Gd.: 'keeps them back' in place of 'backwards' ;
Tp.: 'keeps them' instead of 'backwards' . Sk . added 'back" to it.
 13

What has it aI I come from? ItwouId24 not have come even if 25there
were a thousand times more religions in number2s . It has come from the
ignorance of the followers of the different religions . When the26 religion
was 27made as27a means of ruling the world, when 28 they became as a means
of getting gain28, then natural Iy the spirit of the religion was lost and the
form remained . There is no magnetism in the dead form ; the corpse, how-
ever beautiful, is taken 2to its grave . The whole charm of 30the individ-
ual30 is in its life . The form 31of rel igion31 is something, but the secret of the
beauty of form is hidden in that individual ity32which is the spirit, which is
the life . So is33religion . It is form, it is beauty ; when3lost in3the spirit34,
then there was35 only the 36form outside36, its beauty could37 not remain
longer38, it has lost not only its charm for the2 others, but 39the charm39 for
those who follow it . This is not only the state that humanity has ex-
pressed40 for the first time, but41 age after age, period after period in42th e

24. Kr.Gd.: 'would' charged to 'need' ;

Tp.: "need "
25. Kr .Gd .: rewritten to read: ' religions were a thousand times more nume rous' ;
Tp. : 'religions were a thousand times more numerous '
26 . Kr .Gd .: "the" aossedout;
Tp. : "the" omitted
27 . Kr .Gd . : "made as " charged to "takeRaormade" ;
Tp . : "as" omitted
28 . Kr .Gd . : rewritten to read: " it became a means of gain" ;
Tp . : "it became a means of gain "
29 . Kr.Gd. : "taken" changed to "carried' ;
Tp . : 'carried"
30. Kr.Gd. : 'the individual " changed to "a being" ;
Tp . : "a being "
31 . Kr. Gd. : 'of religion' crossed out ;
Tp . : "of religion" omi tte d
32. Kr. Gd. : ' individuali ty' changed to " being" ;
Tp. : "being "
33 . Kr. Gd. : 'is" changed to 'it is with" ;
Tp. : "it is with "
34. Kr. Gd. : 'lost in' changed to "is lost ' and placed after "spirit" ;
Tp.: 'spirit is lost'
35. Kr.Gd. : 'was ' changed to 'is* ;
Tp.: "is "
36. Kr .Gd.: 'f rom outside' replaced with 'outer form" ;
Tp.: "outer farm "
37. Kr .Gd .: 'could ' changed to "can" ;
Tp. : "can "
38 . Kr .Gd .: "longer " changed to* very long" ;
Tp. : "very long '
39 . Kr .Gd .: 'the charm' changed to "also" ;
Tp . : 'also"
40. Kr .Gd . : rewritten to read: " This state humanity has not exp erienced" ;
Tp . : 'This state humanity has not experienced "
41 . Kr .Gd . : 'in' added ;
Tp . : "in'
42 . Kr.Gd . : "in' changed to "of " ;
Tp . : "of"
14

history of the world, one finds there came times when the religions were
forgotten, when the spirit was lost, its form only remained, and whatever
be4 the religion, and whoever had given it, when once it44 lost its spirit,
the form wasof45 not much importance to humanity . The consequences were
that even in the same religion, Christian or Moslem or any other religion,
when that spirit got lost, divisions came . The followers of the same book
became divided, those who esteemed the same Teacher, their churches
were different, their faith different . Even those who bel ieved in the same
book, who had esteem for one Teacher, those 46divided in46 thousand
churches .

And what does this show? It shows this, that47 the spirit which is
working behind , andwhich is the life of religion 48 , when thatspirit 48 be-
comes lost, then again49the need of religion is49felt . It is just l ike the rain .
When there is rain and people have sufficient water for their farms, then
there is a crop ; but when there is the absence of rain , and when the soil is
dry, when there is necessity , there comes the need , there comes the anxiety
in the heart of the farmer . It is not only the farmer that thinks of rain at that
time, but every tree , every plant , every atom of the earth, it50seems to be
waiting for the call, for the same rain that hasgone51 before, not new, al-
though it is aga in fresh water , it is the same rain . As Jesus Christ hassaid : "I
have not come to g ive a new I aw, I have come to fu I f i I the law . I have come
to give you the same which you had before ." Moses had given the law, after
that the law must be given again . You may know that it is the same law, it is
given differently according to the needsof the day . The way how the mes-
sa .ehas come from timeto time to a section of humanity , to a large section
or 2 a smal I section , 53has been put in the same way before53 . If you read the
life of Jesus Christ and if you study the life of Krishna in IndiaM, the 26

43. Kr.Gd.: "be" changed to 'were' ;

Tp.: "were "
44. Kr.Gd.: "had' added ;
Tp.: 'had '
45. Kr.Gd.: 'of " placed after "not' ;
Tp.: "of" after 'not"
46. Kr.Gd.: 'divided in" changed to were divided into a" ;
Tp . : 'were divided into a "
47. Kr.Gd.: 'when' added;
Tp . : 'when '
48. Kr .Gd.: % when that spirit" crossed out;
Tp . : ', when that spit' omitte d
49. Kr .Gd. : "again' placed before 'felt" ;
Tp . : "again' before "felt'
50. Kr .Gd . : "it' aos sed out;
Tp . : "it' omitte d
51 . Kr .Gd . : 'gone' changed to 'come' ;
Tp . : 'come '
52 . Tp . : 'to' adde d
53 . Kr.Gd . : rewritten to read: 'has sometimes been told in the same marner' ;
Tp . : "has sometimes told in the same manner' to which Sk . added 'been' bef are 'told'
54 . Kr.Gd . : added, "you will f ird this likeness" ;
Tp. : "you will find this likeness'
 15

Krishna who55 was given by his parents to a woman who lived in the woods to
take care of the child . For at that time there was a king consort who
wanted to k i l l any child born at that t ime on that day . Then how th is ch i l d
grew in that wi lderness, and then He gave the message, the words of wh ich
message are still living,sothat they could live till now after the constantly
blowingwindof destruction, which never allows things to stand inthismor-
tal world . And one sees again the difference, 57that there have been great
poets, there had been great writers in al I times of the world58 history, with
great capabilities, with great brains, but these simple words that Jesus
Christ has said, when- if one does not see them with59a scientific point of
view, if one does not see themwith59 an artistic point of view, but 60asone
takes60them assimple61 as they are, 62puts them into practice, one will find
that they are l iving words . And however simple, the more you think of them,
the more I ight will open before you . This is the meaning of living words .
They63 can be64beautiful words64, 65they can be dead words65 ; they come
and fade away . And there can be I iving words, which come with I ife, which
give Iife, which live, and those who hear them, those who contempl ate
upon them, those who assimilate them, those who realise their meaning,
they become immortal also . And however greatly67 humanity lives, the
beauty of atruthwill always be hidden in simplicity . At this timeofevolu-
tion itseems the multitude is trying68after complexities, but after all the
searchmade in complexityonewill come toa pointwhere hewill be led by
a simple truth . If one sees the great scientists of the day, the great scientists
of Europe, you wil I find among them some who have gone into a great man y

55. Kr.Gd. : "who' crossed out

Tp. : "who" omitte d
56. Kr.: 'consort' was heard instead of the name of the king : ' Kansa" ;
Kr.Gd. : 'consort" changed to'Kansa' ;
Tp. : "Kansa"
57 . Kr.Gd. : "in" added ;
Tp.: "in"
58 . Tp. : 'world's '
59 . Kr.Gd. : 'with' changed to 'from' ;
Tp.: 'from "
60. Kr.Gd. : "as one takes" changed to "if taking" ;
Tp.: 'if taking", charged by Sk . to "if one takes'
61 . Kr.Gd. : " simple" changed to'sinply" ;
Tp.: "simply" changed back by Sk . to 'simple'
62 . Kr.Gd.: "one' added;
Tp.: "and" added
63 . Kr .Gd.: "They" changed to "There" ;
Tp.: "There "
64 . Kr.Gd.: "wards' placedbefae "beautiful" ;
Tp.: 'wards beautiful '
65 . Kr.Gd.: "they can be dead words" changed to "but yet dead" ;
Tp.: "but yet dead '
66 . Tp.: 'which live' omitte d
67 . Kr .Gd.: 'greatly' replaced with 'elaborately' ;
Tp.: "elaborately "
68. Kr .Gd.: 'trying ' changed to "seeking" ;
Tp . : 'seeking"
16

complexities and in the end have come69 at a simple truth, extremely sim-
ple . Sometimes they have taught 70it as70 a newthing they have71 discov-
ered, sometimes it wasa thing that is72 known to everyone . But what has
struck them is73mosttimes73something most simple, and they call74wonder-
ful . For an75 instance, a great scientist, after his whole discovery andtalk-
ing about his creation, has come to a76 conviction that I ife is a77 movement .
He thought that he has78 discovered something very new, but what does
movement mean? It means vibration, and vibration means79 word . Do you
not read in the Bible that "first was the Word and the Word was God"?Arran
may have read this sentence and passed it over and has never before
thought about it . Something simple, not very striking . Aperson 80goesover
it80 and thinks nothing about it . For the general tendency of man isto go
after complexities, when he cannot understand simplicities . What is not
clear before him f ives him a desire to understand it . What seems to him sim-
ple, hethinks it8 is something which isnothing . But in realitytruth isnot
something which is foreign to man . The soul of man itself, it82 is truth . All
that he learns isby truth, al l that he collects in his mind as a77 knowledge,
asa77 learning, isa kindoftruth . Inrealityman in himself is truth,forGod
is Truth . Man istruth, and83man real ising84 himself perfectly, at that tim e

69 . Kr .Gd . : "come" changed to "arrived" ;

Tp . : "arrived "
70. Kr .Gd . : "it as" changed to "that it was" ;
Tp . : "that it was "
71 . Kr .Gd . : "have" changed to "had" ;
Tp . : "had "
72 . Kr .Gd . : "is" changed to "was" ;
Tp . : "was "
73 . Kr .Gd . : "most times" changed to "mostly" ;
Tp . : "mostly "
74 . Kr .Gd . : 'it" added;
Tp . : "it "
75 . Kr .Gd . : "an" aos sed out,
Tp .: "an" omitted
76 . Kr .Gd . : "a" changed to "the" ;
Tp .: "the "
77. Kr .Gd . : "a" crossed out;
Tp .: "a" omitted
78. Kr.Gd. : "has" changed to "had" ;
Tp .: "had "
79. Kr.Gd. : "the" added;
Tp .: "the "
80. Kr.Gd.: "goes over it" changed to "passes it over" ;
Tp.: "passes it over "
81 . Kr.Gd.: "it" put in parentheses ;
Tp.: "it" omitted
82. Kr.Gd.: ", it" crossed out,
Tp.: ", it" omitted
83. Kr.Gd.: 'when' added;
Tp.: "when "
84. Kr.Gd.: "realising" changed to "realise" ;
Tp. : "realises"
 17

truth manifests through man85 in his86 fulness . Those who have awakened
humanity in itstime of need, what were they? God-real ised men, in other
words, truth-realised people, those who had the knowledge of themselves
and out of that knowledge of themselves, they 87 understood and had the
knowledge of others . The wrong method that man takes in I ife, in the search
for truth, is that he seeks after truth outside himself . It is just like the88
seeking for the moon on the earth ; the moon is in the sky . Man always seeks
for the ultimate truth in things, in the objects that he has before him, but
the first way of knowing the truth is toseek that within oneself, to find out
the truth of one's own being . Whatever religion, whatever79 philosophy,
whatever 89cult of mysticism89, once a person has touched the knowledge of
his innermost self, then he has been90able to understand the knowledge of
ife outside, then to him God, so to speak, begins to speak, for God who is
hidden in his own heart has then found us91 a facility, found an opportunity
to express Himself .

Friends, is there anyone in thisworldwho is 92 d i v i ded of92 the Word

of God? In every heart God speaks, and when one93 does not hear, it is not
because God does not speak to him, it is because he is hearing' outside .
Self-knowledge is being in95 oneself . One's meditation, one's concentra-
tion, one'smanner of silence and prayer and every kind of retirement, it82
all helps man to find out that which is constantly coming from his heart .
There is One far away in the highest heavens, that One, he begins to
realise, is nearer to him than even his own body . It issuch souls, whatever
you call them, prophets or saviours of or Lords of humanity, or great
Avatars, who have from time to time come on earth to awaken man97, who
came with the earsof their heart open . The Word of God that from time to
time was spoken within their hearts, they interpreted that Word in thei r

85. Kr.Gd.: "man' charged to 'him' ;

Tp.: "him '
86. Kr.Gd.: 'his' changed to "its' ;
Tp.: 'its '
87. Kr.Gd.: 'they" crossed out ;
Tp.: 'they' omitte d
88. Kr.Gd.: "the' cos sed out;
Tp.: 'the' omitted
89. Kr.Gd.: "cult of mysticism" replaced by "the mystical cult" ;
Tp.: "the mystical cult"
90. Kr.Gd.: "been"changed to 'become' ;
Tp.: "become '
91 . Kr.Gd.: "us' crossed out,
Tp. : "us" omitte d
92. Kr.Gd. : "divided of "replaced with "separated from' ;
Tp. : 'separated from '
93. Kr.Gd. : "one" charged to *anyone' ;
Tp. : 'anyone'
94. Kr.Gd. : "hearing' replaced with "listening' ;
Tp. : "listening"
95. Kr.Gd. : 'in' vossed out;
Tp. : "in' omitted
%. Kr. : 'is' changed Ware" ;
Tp . : "are'
97 . Tp . :'men"
18

language, in their way, to humanity . And when they have spoken, people
have considered74 or taken it as a Scripture, and very often that what they
have spoken, people have called this9truth . But in reality truth is some-
thing ta.-whichwordscannotspeak . How can one fill99 the whole ocean in
a bottlet What can a word express? Can you express in a word your grateful-
ness if you are really grateful? Can you express in words your devotion if
you are really devoted?Can you express your love in words, if you 100are
really in love100? Can one express one's disappointment, if one is really
heartbroken? What can words say? There isso much behind it . Life is so vast .
Its feelings, its sentimentsare so fine and so great and so complex, the 88
language isnot sufficiently101 adequateto express all things . Weall find
102our Jiff icuIties102 in expressing our feelings . How then can the truth, the
origin and the goal and source of the whole I ife, which is the I ight and I ife
and love itself, which is God Himself, be expressed in words? What they
have done is that the hidden law, that is useful for man, a103 man cannot
say104 and cannot understand, they have spoken of it . They have told him
how he must live, what wil l be good for him, how they105 can live harmo-
niously, how they105 can be conscious of some one 105a about them106, how
they105 can recognise Him, how they105 can be conscious of Him, how
they105must worship Him, howthey10'must learn the lawof honesty107, that
will bring 10Bintheir liveshappiness1OB, and that the welfare of their109 life
depends upon such morals . It is these things that they have tried to say in
their language, and it is out of that that Scriptures have been made and
given to humanity from time to time . Man, taking those Scripturesandcon-
sidering them sacred, said : "Now that such words are110 spoken tome once, I

98. Kr.Gd. : 'this' crossed out

Tp. : 'this' omitte d
99. Kr.Gd. : 'fill" charged to "pour' ;
Tp. : 'pour "
100. Kr.Gd. : 'are really in love" charged to 'really love' ;
Tp.: 'really love'
101 . Kr.Gd.: 'suf f iciiently' crossed out;
Tp.: 'suf f iciiently' omitted
102. Kr.Gd.: 'our dif f iculties' charged to 'diif f iculty" ;
Tp.: "difficulty"
103 . Kr.Gd.: 'a' changed to 'that' ;
Tp.: 'that '
104. Tp.: "speak' instead of 'say'
105. Kr.Gd.: 'they' changed to 'he* ;
Tp.: 'he '
105a. Kr.: 'one' changed by Kr . to 'One' ;
Tp.: 'One '
106. Kr.Gd.: 'therm' changed to * him' ;
Tp.: 'him '
107 . Kr.Gd.: fist 'honesty' replaced with 'rec' ,rocity', then changed back to "honesty" ;
Tp.: 'honesty'
108. Kr.Gd.: "in their lives happiness' changed to 'happiness in his life' ;
Tp.: 'happiness in his life '
109. Kr.Gd.: * their' charged to 'his" ;
Tp. : "his '
110. Kr.Gd. : 'are' charged to "have been" ;
Tp. : 'have been'
 19

am not going to listen again, because in this Scripture they are g iven ."And
as111 the I iving Scripture comes, he can and wi I I not I isten . The prophets
came in the past one after another and brought the life and the message
whenever it was necessary, but many have always said : "112What can I do
with the book112? Here it is right113 in clearwords, there is nothing more you
can tel I me, al I that is right113 here ." it is just I ike the114 farmer saying :
"Last year's ra in115 I have kept in my tanks, if this year's rain comes, I don't
want it . 116lt is not my need116 ." But really speaking, last year's rain was for
the88 last year, the rain for this year is for this year . The difficulty is,
friends, that people consider their belief as truth, they do not know that the
belief is astaircase, the differentstairs117 of astaircase are different be-
I The wisdom is to climb from one belief to another . In thisway from be-
low he goes upstairs . But when a person sticks after taking one step, he
might just as well be dead as a living man, for life means progress, and
death means the denial of life . When a . person stands on a staircase, that is
not the place for him to stand, he must goon . So peoplestickingtotheirbe-
lief instead of getting the spirit of religion to go forward, they87take the
burden of religion upon their shoulders and stand there . And in thiswayhu-
manity has kept back from advancing spiritually . The consequence has
come 118, that at thismoment the88 materialism has increased to such an ex-
tent, that even the form of religion could not resist very much .

From education religion has been absolutely taken away . Man is

given an education in order to qualify himself to be119 able to serve his in-
terests in life bestlZO, that is al l education fef- does for him . And the ideal
that is before him is that his success depends upon what money he makes ;
whatever his 121spirit of121 I ife, his success depends upon how much h e

111 . Kr.Gd .: "as" changed to "when" ;

Tp . : "when"
112. Kr.Gd .: rewritten b read, "I have it in my book" ;
Tp . : "I have it in rry book "
113 . Kr.Gd . : "right" changed to "written" ;
Tp . : "written "
114 . Kr.Gd .: "the" changed to "a" ;
Tp . : "a "
115 . Tp . : "rains "
116 . Kr.Gd .: "It is not rrryneed" changed to "I don't need it" ;
Tp . : "I don't need" . 5k . added "it" after "need" .
117 . Kr.Gd .: "stairs" changed to "steps" ;
Tp . : "steps "
118 . Kr.Gd.: "come" changed to "been" ;
Tp. : "been "
119 . Kr .Gd.: "better" added;
Tp.: "better "
120 . Kr .Gd.: "best" aossedout;
Tp.: "best" omitted
121 . Kr .Gd.: " spirit of " changed to *work in" ;
Tp.: "work in"
20

makes . If he is a poet, he must prove that 122from every work122 there is a

demand for his books, that they are sold . The musician must sel I his compo-
sitions, he must get money in order to prove that he is a great man . How
couldl"music, howcouldl23 art or literature or anything progress, when it
is not for the sake of the ideal, or for the sake of the work itself, but only for
what it brings in material gain? And at thistime, there is the greatest need
for religion, now124 the eyes of different people are set upon different
things, the eyes of some are set on a certain church, or a certain religion, or
faith, that some OnewilI come, whowilI givetheMessage, who will give a
new religion . And every person th i nks that perhaps if He comes from a par-
ticularsociety, hissocietywillauthorizeHim :when mysociety shaff-will
say : "this is the person," then we will takel25 Him . Others th ink thatl26per-
haps someone will come from the sky, directly descending, of a different
nation, of different features, of a different faith, someone who is unlike us,
whowill work wonders, that we shall listen to him . Now in this conflict has
come the questionly : many persons once wanted that before the time of
Moses, and they have wanted it before the time of Jesus, before the time of
Mahomedl26, they will want it and st i l l want it for ever . Whenever God has
given HisMessage, He hasa thousand forms inwhich He gives it . He gives
His Message through the kindl29 mother to the children, through a kind
father to his children, He givestheMessage asa brother, as your friend ; He
gives the Message as your colleague130, as someone like you, to give His
truth to enlighten man in whose heart He himself lives ; He does not need to
make a special form, He is everywhere in al 1, and from al l sources He mani-
fests andwill enlighten His beings . Therefore if theMessage wasgiven to
one-or totenor toasection of humanityor toa multitude, as131 long asthe
Message of truth is g iven, it is always the Message of God . For God and truth
are not two . The hearts that are created to receive Hiswords, tomaintain132
Hiswords, to give Hiswordsout, will always give it . And it is not necessary
that anyclaimor any particular showofthat bemade . We all in our lives ,

122. Kr.Gd.: ' from every work* crossed out;

Tp.: 'from every wak" omitted
123. Kr.Gd.: ' could' charged to 'can" ;
Tp .: 'can '
124 . Kr .Gd. : 'that" added;
Tp .: "that '
125 . Kr .Gd . : "take' changed to 'accept' ;
Tp .: 'accept '
126 . Kr .Gd . : "that' replaced with a Comm and the whole sentence put between quotation marks ;

127 . Kr .Gd . : "question" changed to 'message" ;

Tp . : 'Message'
128 . Tp . : 'MohanTned '
129 . Kr.Gd . : "kiid" changed to "loving" ;
Tp . : 'loving '
130. Kr.Gd . : 'colleague' replaced with 'f ellowrnan' ;
Tp. : 'fellowman "
131 . Kr.Gd. : 'as' changed to'so" ;
Tp. : "so*
132. Kr. Gd. : "maintain' changed to 'retain' ;
Tp. : 'retain"
 21

whatever I ittle thing we do, 133we carry out133 HisMessage . 1MWhat we do

for our brother and sister, for our friend in the way of service, in the way of
advice, we all 135serve, when we serve135 for Him, either consciously or
unconsciously . The principal thing that is needed to-day is not 136just
like136 many dream, that there will be one church and in that church al
wi11137follow their particular church, theirparticular Scripture, theirown
prophet, and all wi11137admirethat particular prophet . It is just likethink-
ingthatall will have the samefaithl38 . If all had the samefaithl3', itwould
be very uninteresting . The human being hasa great imagination . And very
often many go further139 than what God created . Therefore in the I ife of al
the prophets and servants of humanity, whenever140 man's ideals always
reached further than their limited person ; theirmessage isalways refused
and always opposed . They have stood throughout l ife as every person who
wishes to do some good, whowishes to be in this selfish world a little un-
selfish141 . He who does good to his friends, to those around him, gets the
worst of it . Still142 those who consider their reward143not in appreciation,
nor in thanks, nor in any other form, their reward lies in the work itself . For
it does not matter, for an144 instance, for Jesus, 145it does not matter145
whether all appreciatedl46 Him or whether they do not appreciate Him .
Or147 those who have come from time to time, "theirmessagel48wasnotfor
a person, or fora section of humanity, or149 for the whol a worl d ; they have

133. Kr.Gd.: 'we carry out" changed to "carry" ;

Tp.: "carry"
134. Kr.Gd. : 'In' added;
Tp. : 'In '
135. Kr.Gd. : "serve, when we serve" replaced with 'do' ;
Tp. : 'do "
136. Kr.Gd . : 'just like" changed to "as" ;
Tp . : 'as '
137 . Kr .Gd. : 'will" changed to 'shall' ;
Tp . : 'shall "
138 . Kr.Gd.: "faith" changed to " f ace" ;
Tp.: "face "
139. Tp.: "farther"
140. Kr.Gd. : 'whenever' aos sed out;
Tp.: 'whenever' omitted
141 . Kr.Gd. : "must stand' added;
Tp. : 'must stand '
142. Kr.Gd. : 'for' added;
Tp . : "fa "
143 . Kr.Gd. : 'is' added;
Tp . : 'is '
144 . Kr .Gd .: "an" crossed out
Tp. : "an' omitte d
145 . Kr.Gd.: 'it does not matter" crossed out;
Tp.: 'it does not matter' omitte d
146 . Kr.Gd. : "appreciated" changed to "appreciate" ;
Tp.: "appreciate "
147. Kr.Gd. : "Cr" changed into "The message of %
Tp.: "The Message of '
148. Kr.Gd. : "their message' crossed out;
Tp. : 'their message' omitted
149. Kr.Gd. : "a" changed to "but" ;
Tp. : 'but'
22
done it for the sake of the work itself, and not for the sake of any150appreci-
ation or gratefuIness151 .

But what is the necessity152 of the world just now? It is not one
particular 153church, religion153, one does not need one particular Scrip-
ture, one does not need to adhere even one particular man . What is neces-
sary in this world just now is the awakening of the spiritual ideal for
mankind, the real ising of humanity 154of the Scriptures" . The eyes of man
today must open to read the Scriptures in the whole I ife ; the whole nature is
the Scripture of God, if one only could read it . Look at the sky and see the
beauty of the cosmos, the sun and moon and stars . Look at thisworld and see
the beauty of thisworld ; seethe88 human nature, its simplicities andcom-
plexities,the variousmoodsof human beings, his'55 love, his155hate, his155
aspirations . If one could only study I ife, only observe it, its every mood,
life would become the reading of the most sacred Scripture . Those who
have given to humanity Scriptures, they were readingl56 of this living
Scripture, they 157read from this Scripture157 their interpretation158 and
gave it in the form of Scripture .

Today what 159one needs159 is, of whatever faith they160 are, just to
help them to come out of that narrow 161 to awaken tolerance to one an-
other, a simple attitude to one another, goodwill to one another ; that162
what is needed today is the religion of the heart, to find that163 our rea l

150. Tp.: "any' omitted

151 . Kr .Gd.: 'gratefulness' replaced with "gratitude" ;
Tp.: 'gratitude '
152. Kr .Gd .: 'necessity' charged to 'need'
153. Kr.: 'rel igian' was written above 'church", without 'church' being crossed out ;
Tp.: 'church' omitted
154. Kr .Gd: "of the Scriptures' changed to "as the Scripture' ;
Tp.: 'as the Scripture'
155. Kr.Gd .: 'his' changed to 'their' ;
Tp.: 'their"
156. Kr.Gd .: 'reading' charged to 'readers' ;
Tp.: 'readers '
157. Kr.Gd.: 'read from this Saiptire' changed to "made" ;
Tp.: 'made '
158. Kr.Gd.: 'of this Scripture* added;
Tp.: 'of this Scripture '
159. Kr.Gd.: 'one needs' replaced by "is needed' ;
Tp.: 'is needed '
160. Kr.Gd. : 'they' changed to 'people" ;
Tp.: "people '
161 . Kr. : one ward undecipherable,
Kr.Gd. : "conception' ;
Tp. : 'conception '
162. Kr.Gd. : " ; that" crossed out;
Tp. : ' ; that' omitted
163. Kr.Gd. : "that' crossed out;
Tp. : 'that' omitted
 23

church is" in the heart of man, that165 every person that we--tottc4, we
meet, in our everyday life, whether friend or foe, whether inferior or su-
perior, that163we have a166regard for his feel ings167 by our actions, by our
movements, by our glances, that163we do not hurt his feelings ; to consider
that the God Whom one worships in a temple, in a church, in a mosque, is in
the heart of everyman, whatever be his position in life, whatever be his
outward appearance, butl68still there isGod in him . A real worshipper of
God will respect man . What is169today necessary" is the overlooking of
that which one does not understand in the faith of the170 other ; to under-
stand that we need the forgiveness of the other . How many actions171
throughout the day 171one does171 that 172one needs 173ask forgiveness of the
other 73 . And it is only forgiving from morning till evening .Everybodycan-
notthink 1741 ikewe174, not175 176everybody can act176 aswewish them177to
act . Those around us, those who come into178 contact with us, cannot be
179the same1 79 aswe wish them to be . Who knows that they are180 better than
we ourselves . Only what we can do, is to keep that spirit of forgiveness
alive in us . The only religious moral isto have regard for the heart of man as
the real child181 of God . Once a person has realised this, his church is
everywhere, his religion is from morning till evening, hisprayer becomes
his daily bread .

164 . Kr .Gd.: 'is' aossedout;

Tp.: 'with '
165 . Kr.Gd.: 'with' added;
Tp.: 'with '
166 . Kr.Gd.: 'a' crossed out;
Tp.: 'a' omitted
167 . Kr.Cd.: ' ; that' added:
Tp.: ' ; that '
168 . Kr.Gd.: 'but' crossed out
Tp.: "but' omitted
169 . Kr.Gd.: 'today' placed after 'necessary' ;
Tp.: "today' after 'necessary '
170. Kr .Gd.: 'the' charged to 'an' ;
Tp.: "an '
171 . Kr .Gd.: 'one does ' placed after ' actions' ;
Tp.: 'actions one does '
172 . Kr .Gd.: "that' charged to 'for which' ;
Tp. : "for which "
173 . Kr .Gd .: rewritten to read, "to ask the forgiveness of another" ;
Tp. : 'to ask the forgiveness of another "
174 . Kr .Gd .: 'like we' changed to "as we do' ;
Tp.:'aswedo'
175 . Kr .Gd.: 'not' changed to 'nor' ;
Tp. : 'nor '
176 . Kr .Gd.: 'can everybody act ' instead of 'everybody can act" ;
Tp. : 'can everybody act '
177 . Kr.Gd.: 'them' charged to 'him' ;
Tp.: 'him '
178 . Kr.Gd.: ' into' changed to 'in' ;
Tp.: "in '
179 . Kr.Gd.: 'the same' crossed out;
Tp.: 'the same ' omitte d
180. Kr.Gd.: 'no' added;
Tp.: 'no '
181 . Kr.Gd.: 'child' changed to'clxrch' ;
Tp.: 'dxrch'
24

If there is any Message that the Sufi Order182 has to g ive, if there is
any service that the SufiOrder182 has to render, it is only this : to waken in
the hearts ofrman- humanity that consciousness that the divine spirit is in
the soul of man . It is 183out of183regard forman and his feelingsthat isthe
only religion there is .

184

182. Kr.Gd. : 'order" charged to ' Movement' , which became the of f icial name only in autumn 1923;
Tp . : 'Movement "
183 . Kr.Gd. : "out of " replaced by "the" ;
Tp . : "the"
184 . The f Blowing note was added by Sk. at the bottom of the last page of the lecture in the document
' Tp " :
"This lecture has appeared in Dutch translation in Boodschap en Bood schap per - Soef i Serie no. 1
[as a booklet]. But the part between p. 5, 2nd par.: From education . . . and p . 6 : But what is the need . .. was
omi tted."
 25
Only a typewritten copy of this lectue has been fotnd in the ar-
chives to date.

Amersfoort, 13th January 1923 1

Fate and Free Will . Man. the Master of His Destiny . 2

Fate and free will .3 This subject can be seen from two different
points of view : observing the l ife as one perfect whole, and observing the
life of an individual . In order to get a perfect idea of this, you must be con-
sidering the one life which has unfolded itself into a limited creation, but
at the same time a creation which g ives the proof of a perfect wisdom work-
ing behind it . One can learn that it isfrom consciousnessto unconscious-
ness and aga i n that from the unconscious state of being l ife grows aga in to
consciousness, in other words, the source and the goal is intelligence it-
self .

It is Intel I igence, cal led in Vedantic terms 4, in the terms of the

Sufis "nur"5, which has developed out of itself ameans in this universe to
express itself through it, and to experience its own perfection through this
means making the realisation concrete and distinct . Therefore, just like for
an engineer his machine is his instrument, it works according to the plan
the engineer has made, for the mechanism is planned to fulfil the purpose
wherefore the engineer has made it . In thiswaythe engineer experiments,
constructs and reconstructs and runs the whole, having his perfect wisdom
behind . Therefore if the religionsof the past have acknowledged more or
less the ideasof fate and destination,6have seen7 by looking at the8 lifeas
the9whole manifested out of God's own Being , being constructed, moulded
and being worked by His own wisdom . By the knowledge of this his ow n

Documents :

Tp . (an early inaccurate typescript, possbly made by Mahtab van Hagendap) )

Corr . (a list of editing-corrections in hwr. Sk . )
C . (a copy of "Tp." in which corrections have been made in Sk : s hwr. acccrdu to Sk.'s list of car-
rections: "Con' . )

Notes :

1 . Tp., C .: Erroneously the year 1922 was written above instead of 1923. Amersfoort is a town in Holland.
2. Ibid.: The title of a second lecture, " Man the Master of his Destiny' (14th January 1923 ) was added, as
both lectures were presented in one document.
3 . Tp., C . : In both documents the tide was repeated in the text to make it clear that this is the lecture on
" Fate and Free Will' and not the one on "Man the Master of his Destiny' .
4 . C . :'Gnani (?)" ;
Corr. : "}rani" instead of "Gnani " ( see Glossary: )nana)
5 . C . : a question made in pencil of ter "rxr "
6 . Corr ., C . : 'they' added
7 . Ibid . : "h" added
8 . Ibid . : •t-e " omitted
9 . Ibid . : 'a" instead of "the"
26

wisdom, and by the contemplation of God and His perfection, they have ar-
rived at a state if not more, at10some extent11 they can grasp the reason that
is working behind thewhole scheme and they attain to that contentment
and resignation which brings to the soul that happiness and peace that is
the yearning of every soul . 12AII that seems to him good or bad, right or
wrong, he hasa limited standard with which he wants to grasp the scheme of
God that13 is perfect and unlimited . Byl4trying to15this, it14 is trying to put
the sea in a bott le . It cannot be done . And those who by the grace of God be-
gin 16to look atl6that wisdom that is working behind thiswhole schemeof
nature, they in time develop that insight into life . They rise to become
keen, they begin to notice the justification of all things at10 a smaller or
greater degree . And 17 at I ife by18 this realisation and19 become resigned
to the will of God, Z0alsoseekthe pleasure and displeasure ofthe21perfect
wisdom21 behind, in al l thingsthey do in life .

There isanother pointof view,of observingthe lifeof an individ-

ual . Often one wonders if man has any freewi l 1, or if he isonly made to act
as a mach i ne to the wi l l that is behind . And man that has not yet grasped the
knowledge of the relation between man and God, he is seeing the injustice
why God should deprive man of the free will, for there is an inclination, a
natural tendency in every soul to seek for freedom . And when one observes
the life of individuals, one finds proofs forthe22 belief . The onewho be-
lieves in fatality, hewill find sufficient proofs to make his doctrine true .
They are many who are capable in their own direction of work, still2 al-
ways meet with failure . Others with little qualification get their chance
and meet with successwith less effort . Also those who do not believe in fa-
tal ity but in the perfect freewill, wi I I have many proofs to24 it .

In order to understand the mystery that I ies between these opposite

beliefs, and the chain that links these opposite beliefs of free will an d

10. bid.: "to' instead of 'at'

11 . Ibid .: ', where' added
12. Ibid .: *Fa' added
13. Ibid .: 'that" changed to 'Who', which makes it 'God' instead of "the scheme of God' to be perfect
and unlimite d
14. C . : 'By' and ' it' were ptt in parentheses in pencil
15. Ibid . : 'do' added
16. Car ., C . : 'to see' instead of to look at '
17. Tp . : later written in 'they look," in uiidentif ied hwr ., where fist was a blank;
C . : a blank ;
Carr . : 'looking' ;
C . : written in by Sk . : 'lookirg'
18 . Car ., C . : 'with' instead of "by'
19 . Ibid. : "they' instead of 'and'
20. Ibid. : 'and' adde d
21 . C . : "Perfect Wisdom '
22 . Car., C . : "this' instead of "the'
23 . Ibid. : 'yet" instead of "still "
24 . Ibid. : ' for' instead of 'to'
 27
fatal ism25 can be understood by studying the physiology of human evolu-
tion . We cannot imply one rule for al I men . There are many more degrees of
human evolution than noteson the piano, although at the present time this
fact is much overlooked . However it cannot be denied . There isa certain
part in man's I ife through his evolution when man acts as a tool in the hands
of the plan which isworking behind . There is another part through the8 I ife
in the evolution of man where man acts as a master of his destiny . One can
see the example of this in the life of a helpless infant in his growing to
childhood, andinthe lifeof agrown-upperson whotakes uphislife in his
own hands .

Now is the question,where can one draw the line? When does the
first aspect end and the second begin? I say you cannot even draw the I ine
in asmall child ; as helpless as it is, it wantstodo this or that, has the ten-
dency to act without being interfered with . Often parents let him do and
still look after him . They do not alwaystel I it how to act . So it iswith every
soul . Man has not yet arrived at that grade of evolution when26 he can do al
things at his freewill . Still 27he has the illusion often2that he does, though
it is often not true, as heperhapswill be acting underthe influence ofoth-
ers or c i rcumstances . Still he has the illusion he acts on freewill . And under
this impression and while he is advancing, there iscoming a time that he
really does it, just as a child2when becoming olderhe thinkshis parents
are not guiding and he does it himself still2he comes to30own responsibil-
ity . In this way God Himself hasacted with the whole nature : sea, rivers,
plants, through all this He Himself experiences life and getsthe satisfac-
tion out of I ife . But the main purpose of all this creation, He best real ises in
man,so tosaythe tool . It is thisideawhich isexpressedina poeticformin
the religion of the old, when you read "We have created man in our inven-
t ion31 . if you want to see Us you must see Us i n the form of man because we
recognise Ourselves in man ."AlI the lower creation surrenders to the will of
man . It meansthat God is experiencing life fully in man, all correspond-
ing32 to His will, fulfilling His wishes . But every man is not necessarily
tuned to t hat p I ane when33 God fulfils His pu rpose . Neve rt he I ess the soul of
every man, independent of the state of evolution, is continually longing
and working to arrive at that state of evolution when33 it can fulfil the pur-
pose of God . In order to hasten the evolution of man, the prayer that Christ
has given was prescribed to the souls, that "Thy Wi I I be done on earth as it i s

25 . Car.: "this" added;

C .: ", this" added
26 . Corr., C .: "when" changed to "where "
27 . Ibid.: reordered to read: "he of ten has the illusion"
28 . Ibid.: a comma added
29 . Ibid.: "till" instead of "still"
30. Ibid.: "his" added
31 . Tp . : 'invention' changed to "image" in unknown hwr .
32. C . : "corresponding" changed to "responding" in penci l
33 . There seems to have been a discussion among some mreeds about whether "when" should be
changed to "where", resulting in a letter of 8th November 1964 from Sd . to Sk., in which the conclusion
was that "where" would limit the meaning of the fulfilment.
28
in Heaven ." What does it mean? What has to be fu l f i l l ed by this 34 ?That
by praying man tunes himself to fulfil the purpose of his life . It isthe ig-
norance of man when we say : why Thy W i I I, why not mine? For he does not
know what is His . And the whole process of spiritual evolution is to realise
what is man ' s innermost being , whether he is God's Being Himself or if he has
a separate being . If the Iast , from where does it come? But if he comes from
the Self of God, how can he say, I am not of Your Be ing , or I am not from Your
Source?

The difference between the leaf and the tree . The leaf is I imited,
the tree perfect . Sti I I the leaf is of the tree itself . But when it drops, the
tree still exists . This cannot be studied intellectually but it must be I ived as
an inner realisation, and that becomes the means of that perfection of
which stands in the Bible "Be perfect asyourFather in Heaven . "

34 . Tp ., C . : an ertpty space
 29
A copy in the handwriting of M s . J .H . van Voorst
van Beest - van Son probably of a longhand reporting .

Amersfoort, 14th January 1923 1

Man . the2 Master of His Destiny .

In this platform3 of the world where4 man is made5 6helpless and

little 6 amidst influences7 and conditions that, whatever may8 be his oc-
cupation in life, 9whatever may be9 his position in life, he finds himself
helpless .

The kings in the history of the world, who have fought and con-
quered most of the part of the world, have found themselves at10 the end
helpless . We don't need to go far back search ing11 for this in the history of
the world, only we need reflect on the life of Napoleon,12 in what
helpfulness 13 this14 ended . The Iifeof the Tsar, 15also16the life of 17Emperor
Wilhelm17, where 18 command19 was takenZOif itwere21 a command of God ,

Documents :

W . (a copy in the handwrituig of M s. J.H. van Voorst van Beest - van Son, probably of a longhand
reporting) .
Tp. (an early inaccurate copy in types cript, possibly made by Mahtab van Hogendorp , with many additions
and alterations) .
Car. (a list of editing-corrections in Sakina' s handwriting) .
C . (a copy of " Ip ." in which some corrections have been made in Sakina's handwriting , according to
Sakina's listof corrections: 'Carr.") .

Notes :

1 . Tp ., C .: date omitted. Amersfoort is a town in Holland .

2 . Tp . : "the' omitted
3 . Tp ., C .: 'phase' instead of " platf orm"
4 . Corr ., C.: "where" crossed out
5 . Tp ., car., C .: "so" added
6 . Tp ., C .: "limited and helpless' instead of 'helpless and little'
7 . Ibid. : ", powers" adde d
8 . Ibid.: "may " omitte d
9 . Ibid.: "whatever maybe" omitted
10 . Ibid.: " in" instead of 'at"
11 . Ibid.: "searching" omitted
12. Ibid.: "the victor of the world" adde d
13. Ibid.: " helplessness " instead of 'helpfulness " (possibly a copying error by v.V.)
14. Ibid.: " it" instead of "this "
15. Ibid.: 'the most powerf ul emperor in his time" added
16. Ibid.: 'also' omitted
17. Ibid.: "die emperor of Germany" instead of "Empero r Wilhelm"
18. Ibid. : "whose " instead of 'where "
19. Ibid. : "there was a time " inserted
20. Ibid. : "as' added
21 . Ibid. : 'was' instead of "were"
30

22when we see the picture 23 the later part24 of the25 I ives, 26which ended
in2 utter helplessness . How27 in one moment all 26the power2629upon which
it depended29 left them in such30 despair that even 31in body and mind31
they found no power of control .

This idea 32deeply thought out32, suggests that when man, in33
seeking for power to master, to govern34 , to rule, he most often seeks it only
in a35wrong direction . 36For a while' he wishes to hold tocontrol37 and38
39rule all which is outside of39 himself, he loses so to speak that power
which is hidden in himself, to hold himself, to control40and to rule himself .
In thiswayman becomesthe possessor41of adomain42 which is not hisown
and which can easily43 be snatched 44away from him44 when occasion
arises . And in the pursuit of the45 domain which46 not does really47 belong to
him, he becomes4soabsorbed48, that he neglects his first duty, to control,
to49 hold and rule himself .

In reality every man has the possibility of being the master of his
destiny . Whatever50 be 51his condition, occupation51 in Iife, it52 cannot b e

22. Ibid.: "And' added

23 . Ibid.: " of " added
24. Ibid.: " pa rt s '
25. Ibid.: " their" instead of "the '
26. Ibid.: ' how it all ended in nothing as ' instead of 'which ended in"
27. Ibid.: " now' instead of "how "
28. Tp.: " the power of them' ;
Corr. : "their power" ;
C .: 'the power of them", changed to "their power'
29. Tp., C .: 't on which it depended" omi tted
30. Ibid.: 'a' added
31 . Ibid.: 'an themselves, on her own body and mind", instead of 'in body and mind'
32. Ibid.: " when one thinks about it deeply' instead of 'deeply thoaght out "
33 . Ibid.: "is' instead of "in '
34. Ibid.: " togoon' insteadof "togovem'
35. Ibid.: " the' instead of "a '
36. Ibid . : 'While' instead of "Fa a while'
37. Tp . :' himself" added;
C . : "himself " added, but crossed out
38. Tp ., C . : "to" added
39. Tp . : omitted " rule all which is outside of"
40. Tp ., C . : "himself" adde d
41 . Ibid . : ' and the controller' adde d
42. Tp . : ' tbat•dees notcaeadybeleng to him
43. Tp ., C . : "easily' placed after "be'
44. Ibid. : "from his hands " instead of "away from him"
45 . Ibid. : " that" instead of "the'
46 . Ibid. : " that" instead of "which"
47 . Ibid. : "clearly" instead of 'really'
48 . Tp. : ' absorbed so "
Carr. : "so absorbed' ;
C . : 'absorbed so', changed back by Sk. to "so absorbed'
49 . Tp., C . : "to' omitte d
50. Ibid. : ", whatever' instead of " .Whatever '
51 . Ibid. : " his position, his occupation, his condition" instead of "his condi tio n, occupation'
52. Ibid.: I . It" instead of ", it'
 31

otherwise for the reason that God, the 53Ruler of the universe53 is in man .
This quotation will help to understand this-54 idea better : "When that55
glimpse of Our image is caught in man , when heaven and earth are sought in
man, then what is there in the world that is not in man, if one only
56 explores them56 , there is a lot in men57 . "

58 It is not the life of wealth that makes a man58 . It is the poor opinion
of man for manhood, it is this that makes him poor . Man conscious of health
has health in store for him . Man who has wealth within the reach of his
aspiration has wealth with59 him . Man who aspires to60 wisdom, there is
wisdom for him ; 61who realizes power, there is power for him . It is the lack
of man's belief that brings him the lack of the object he wants . Man sees the
lack outside, but the true lack is 62in himself62 . 63Who says that others64
don't love him, 65heat the endwill find65that he himself 66has lost it from
his own heart66 . He67who says there is no beauty, 66he must know that he has
lost beauty fromhimself .66 69 If amanhas no mindtowork, nosuccesswill
come by70 itself at71 his door . If one has no faith to rise 72to prosperity72,73,
noone can help him72toprosperity72 . If one feels74feeble in hisown heart ,
even theAlmi!hty cannot give himthat75 power , for thesource76 is in him-
self . Man must see78 how deep down he has gone . For the true source of all
mastery79 80can be80found in his own heart .

53 . Ibid.: "King-niter of the whole" instead of 'Ruler of the universe"

54 . Ibid.: 'the' instead of 'this '
55 . Ibid.: 'a' instead of "that "
56 . Ibid. : 'explored him' instead of "explores them"
57 . Ibid. : 'man' instead of "men "
58 . Ibid. : "It is not the lack of wealth and condition that makes man poor" instead of "It is not the lif a of
wealth that makes a man '
59 . Ibid. : "for" instead of "with"
60. Ibid. : "to" omitted
61 . Ibid.: "man" added
62 . Ibid. : 'inside' instead of 'in himself'
63 . Ibid.: 'The man' added
64 . Ibid.: 'men' instead of 'others "
65 . Tp .: 'will f ind as end of examination' instead of "he at the end will find" ;
Corr.: ' at the end" instead of as end' ;
C. : 'will find as end of examination", charged by 5k. to 'will find at the end of examination'
66 . Tp ., C.: "has no love" instead of "has lost it from his own heart '
67 . Ibid.: "Man" instead of 'He '
68 . Ibid.: "in the world he has no beauty in himself ; the world is full of beauty .' instead of "he must know
that he has lost beauty from himself . "
69 . Ibid.: three sentences which do not appear in vV.: "This all shows that the mastery can be gained from
within. The source of all is to be found in oneself . I f a patient has no are in his heart, no doctor will
are him. '
70. Ibid.: 'of * instead of "by"
71 . Ibid.: 'to' instead of "at '
72. Ibid.: 'to prosper' instead of "to prosperity"
73. Ibid.: "through life' added
74. Ibid.: 'weak and' added
75. Ibid.: "that' omitted
76. Ibid.: 'of all" added
77. Ibid.: 'pick up himself," added
78. Ibid.: "see" omitte d
79. Ibid.: 'mastershp* instead of "mastery"
80 . Ibid.: • is to be' instead of • can be"
32

Friends, we all have our81 own domain in life . Our family, ourwork,
all that we possess, all that is connected with us, all that we are relate d
with, constitutesone82 domain . Therefore each person has his domain83 ,84 .
Even his own world85, his mind, 85comes out of85 his kingdom . When he falls
beneath his kingdom, he abdicates himself from kingship . So long87 he
holds the reins of his kingdom in his hands, he rules and governs8himseIf .
Every little success in any direction of life, is caused by the mastery of
onesel f89, to a smal ler or a90 greater extent .91 Every loss is mostly caused by
the lack of it . Very few in thisM world know towhat extent 92the influence
of one's condition and personality has92 upon one's affairs in life . 93Man
whose factory isgoing94, working on, and who is a hundred milesoff95%and
gives the factory%in the hands of responsible workers, and then97man is
resting 98 , moving away from his factory, 99his influence is there,
work ingl00 . If hisspirit is not up tothework101, the factory is either running
badly or lacking success102 . If one only understoodthe103 working of the
spiritof man inthedomainofhislife104,one would105certainlycometothe
conclusion that capability 106means personality106, which seems107 so
important in 108 everyaffair108,109 .

81 . Ibid .: "own" omitted

82. Ibid.: "our" instead of 'one '
83 . Ibid.: "kingdom" instead of 'domain'
84. Ibid.: "large or small" added
85. Ibid.: "body" instead of 'world '
86. Ibid.: 'come under" instead of 'comes out of "
87 . Corr.: "as" added
88. Tp., C .: "masters" instead of 'governs'
89. Ibid.: "one's self '
90. Ibid.: 'a' omitte d
91 . Ibid.: ", and" added, full stop omitte d
92 . Con. : "one's motion and personality have influence" instead of "the influence of one's condition
and personality has '
93 . Ibid. : 'A' adde d
94 . Ibid. : 'going' omitte d
95 . Ibid. : "away from it' instead of "off '
% . Ibid. : "a factory that is given" instead of 'and gives the factory"
97. Ibid. : 'this' instead of "then"
98. Ibid. : 'resting' omitted
99. Ibid . : 'still' added
100. Ibid . : "in the f actary" added
101 . Ibid . : "mark" instead of 'wak '
102. Ibid : Not found in vV . : 'a drif twig away from his hands . For it is not outward waking that is all, not
through mind and body but through the spirit too. '
103. Ibid. : "psychical" added
104. Ibid.: 'mind' instead of 'life '
105. Ibid.: "would" placed before "come "
106. Ibid.: ",means and perseverance' instead of "means personality"
107 . Ibid.: "seem '
108. Ibid.: 'all of fairs" instead of ' everyof fair '
109 . Ibid. : added 'are but secondary things compared with the power of one's own spirit"
 33

It is a great pity that humanity seems110 drifting111 away from the

realization of the inner life . Depending only upon112 the outer113 things
114that are114 I iable to destruction, a I ife which in115the end of examina-
tion,116after he has analyzed it,116proves117tobe nothingthan117illusion .
It isthis which118has caused the pain119and the120unrest that one seesto-
day 121in the world121 . With all the122 industrial and commercial123
progress, has there come any greater happiness? The peace124 125is dis-
turbed125, 126misery isgreater126 than at anytime in the history of the world .
127Distrust consideration for the feeling of man, virtues seem to
have been lostly . People in this world are inclinedl28 fora change by a
kind of reconstruction of I ife . There are129 simple believers who are hop-
ing130 some blessing 131one time131, others 132who think by political or
commercial reconstruction a better doingwill come132 . It is good133to be
optimistic rather134 than pessimistic, 135but the direction that the Sufi1'
has sought to work for God and 137for life137 is136 awakening in man that
spirit which118brings himthe139 conviction of the divine spark in hissoul,
140thedivine in man, which ennobles one's sou I and which is theone141aim
142in life 142 and upon which depends the happiness and143 peace of the
world .

110. Ibid . : "to be" added

111 . Ibid . : "further and further" added
112 . Ibid . : "on" instead of "upon "
113 . Ibid. : "outward" instead of 'outer"
114. Ibid. : ", things' instead of "that are"
115. Ibid.: "at' instead of "in "
116. Ibid.: "af ter he has analyzed it," omitte d
117. Ibid.: "but to be nothing but" instead of "to be nothing than"
118. Ibid.: "that' instead of "which '
119. Ibid. : 'pains '
120. Ibid. : "the" omitte d
121 . Ibid. : "in the world" omitte d
122. -ibid. : "this so-called" instead of 'the'
123 . Ibid. : "social" instead of "commercial"
124 . Ibid. : "of the world" adde d
125 . Ibid. : "is now more distubed than ever" instead of " is disturbed '
126 . Ibid. : "The misery in this world is much greater" instead of "misery is greater "
127 . Ibid. : "The coldness that one finds existing between man and man . It is in the pursuit of outer things
that man has lost his inner virtue, the real gold, about which depends his happiness' instead of the
incomplete passage in vV .: "Distrust [a blank] consideration fa the f eeling of man, [a blank] virtues
seem to have been lost" . (The ward "about" was charged by 5k . to 'upon' . )
128 . Ibid . : "trying" instead of "inclined"
129 . Ibid . : "other' added
130. Ibid .: "and expecting" added
131 . Ibid .: 'to come sometime' instead of 'one time '
132. Ibid .: "think that by the economical or industrial or social reconstruction the betterment will come' in-
stead of 'who thank by political or commercial reconstruction a better doing will come "
133. Ibid.: 'better' instead of "good"
134. Ibid.: "rather" omitted
135. Ibid.: added, 'and every thing one tries, is always a success if it is done heartily optimistic"
136. Ibid.: "Movement" added
137. Ibid.: "humanity" instead of " f a life'
138. Ibid.: 'by' adde d
139. Ibid. : "to" instead of "the "
140. Ibid. : added, " . It is the realization of "
141 . Ibid. : 'only" instead of "one'
142. Ibid. : "of man' instead of "in life"
143 . Ibid. : "the" added
34

The matter144 that one145 Movement takesl46 to accomplish the i r147

obj ect "causes that they do not148 accept one particular scripture, nor by
inviting people to unite in particular dogmas149 . Forthis we leave 150the
choice to150every individual, 151considering that151 152every individual152
must be free to follow his life's vocation . Only the Sufi153 gives 154the
warning of the time that is to come154 . 155lt reminds the same truth that
always has been brought155 . Sufism does not mean any particularwisdom ;
any means of unity, understanding of East and West, where the broken
trades of nations can be restored .

Man and wife cannot better understand each other than by knowing
themselves .

Murshid I nayat Khan . 1 %

144 . vV. : 'matter' probably miscopied for "method" ;

Tp ., C . : "method"
145 . Tp ., C . : 'the Sufi' instead of "one' which may have been misccpied for 'our'
146 . Ibid . : * in order" added
147 . Ibid . : "this' instead of 'their"
148. Ibid. : 'is not by asking humanity to" instead of "causes that they do not'
149. Ibid. : 'or needs" added
150. Ibid. : 'to the choice of' instead of " the choice to"
151 . Ibid. : 'because" instead of 'considering that'
152. Ibid. : 'everybody' instead of 'every individual'
153 . Ibid. : "Message' adde d
154. Ibid.: 'a warning for the time to come '
155. Ibid.: "It brings the reminder of the great tniths of all religions' instead of *It reminds the same truth that
always has been brought "
155. These last sentences are not to be found in the lp . and C .. In vV. they were written on a new page in the
copybook, which may have been overlooked in making the type.
The sentence 'Man and wife . ..' could be an answer to a question after the lecture .
 35
Mrs . E . Leernbnggen' s longhand reporting, copied by the com-
piler.

15 January 1923, Arnhem . Hollan d

Beloved ones of God ,

My subject this evening is"The word that was lost . "

This idea belongs to the inner cult of all ages and to1 the secret
teaching there is this teaching about the word that was lost . Very few 2k now
atpresent2, 3at least seem to knowthe meaning of it . There is4 difference in
belief between the mystic and the materialist ; there is not5very much dif-
ference in the ideal . For instance, the scientist, the materialist, 6the physi-
cal man6 who seeks for? source of the whole creation, comes to the same
conclusion, that there isonly one source of 81 ife in the8 variety the compos-
ing9 and decomposing 10 of atoms . And 1lthese two11 come on12 the end of the
path tothe samething, Truth . Principally13 in the ideal bothl4differ . The
materialist thinks all this consciousness and intel l igence15one sees in man
is the natural development of I ife . Whether16 of7 rock or7 stone, of a tree
or17 plant, or7 consciousness of men18, aI I is the same . The mystic says that i s

Documents :

Lb . (a Ih. reporting by Mrs . E. Leernbnpgen) .

Lb .Gd . (- Lb . with corr ., alterations and additions in Gd.'s hwr.) .
Tp. (a typescript in which Gd.'s car. etc. have been included and which shows also a few corr. in Sk.'s
hwr . )

As "Lb .Gd ." and "Tp." are almost identical, the latter will be mentioned in the notes only where it dif f ers
from "Lb .Gd ." .

Notes :

1 . Lb .Gd . : "to" changed to "in"

2. Ibid. : "at present know "
3. Ibid. : "a" added
4. Ibid. : "not much" added
5. Ibid. : "not" crossed out
6. Ibid. : fist "physical" was changed to "material", then the three wads were crossed out.
7. Ibid. : "the" added
8. Ibid. : "the lif a of" instead of "life in the "
9. Ibid. : "composition" instead of "composing "
10. Ibid. : "decomposition" instead of "decomposing "
11 . Ibid. : "both the mystic and the materialist" instead of "these two"
12. Ibid. : "at" in place of "on "
13 . Ibid. : "Principal ly' charged to "It is chiefly" ; the context indicates that Pir-o-Ni rshid used the ward
'Principally" here in the etymological sense of "in the begiming", L . : in p rinci pro.
14. Ibid. : "both" changed to "that the two"
15. Ibid. : 'that' added
16. Ibid. : added, "it is the consciousness"
17. Ibid. : "a" adde d
18. Tp. : 5k . charged "men" to "man"
36

not so . The consciousness and intelligence i s the same as the i l l imited19

consciousness or intel I igence, it20 is only21 put in different channels, and
of22 that intelligence that existed in the beginning the rest has risen23 .
24Picturing the consciousnessor intelligence of man to the illimited con-
sciousnessor intelligence as of a drop to the ocean24 .

Therefore the materialist sees the intel I igence of man25 as the natu-
ral development of humanhood2whi le the mystic sees it as7 divine Essence,
asone, astheSourceofallthings . In7 bel ief of the mystic it is not only man
that isseeking forsomething, it isthe plants, the animals, even the rocks
and mountains, all look for something . Man who analyses life dividing27
one object as athing, another entity asa being, in2 thisway he29divides
life into30many aspects, so many things . But in reality it is one . Therefore
he sees intelligence in l iving beings3 . But32 it is especially developed in
man ;33 there is34also mind in animal35, in plant36, in a tree etc .37 38Mind is
only39 a part40of the itIimited19intelligence . Often4l animal thinks more
than man, only one can say that animal is not so42 developed . According to
the mystic 43it is as well43 in plants and trees ;44 in rocks and mountains45
mind is hidden somewhere . T 4r Mind is working in everything, 47'48no t

19. Lb .Gd . : "unlimited "

20. Tp . : "it" omitted but reinserted by Sk .
21 . Lb .Gd . : "only" placed before "it '
22. Ibid . : "from" instead of "of"
23. Ibid . : "risen" changed to "come "
24. Ibid . : rewritten to read, "Picturing the unlimited consciousness or intelligence as the ocean, the con-
sciousness or intelligence of man is like a drop compared to the ocean "
25. Tp . : 'men,' changed by Sk . to "man '
26. Lb .Gd . : "humanhood' changed to "humanity'
27. Ibid. : "dividing" changed to "distinguishing"
28. Tp .: "in" omitted
29. Lb.Gd . : 'he' omitted
30. Ibid.: "so" added
31 . Ibid.: "only" added
32. Ibid.: "though" added;
Tp .: "thought" instead of 'though", charged back by Sk . to "though"
33 . Lb.Gd. : the semi-colon charged to a coma
34. Ibid.: "mind also" ;
Tp.: "a mind also"
35. Tp.: "animals"
36. Ibid.: "plants '
37. Lb.Gd.: 'etc." crossed out
38. Ibid.: "Each" added;
Tp.: no addition of "Each"
39. Lb.Gd.: 'only' aos sed out
40. Ibid.: "part" changed to "particle"
41 . Ibid.: 'an' added
42. Ibid.: "much" added
43 . Ibid.: "it is as well" charged to "mind exists also"
44 . Ibid.: the semi-colon changed to a comm a
45. Ibid.: added a full stop after 'mountains ', and "mind" written with a capital M;
Tp.: - Lb.'s version
46. Lb.Gd.: "everything" changed to "all things'
47. Ibid.: "though' added, then again crossed ou t
48. Ibid.: "not perceptble" changed to ' imperceptibly'
 37
percept ible48-49 . Man only distinguishes hisobjects49 . Comparison between
two minds 50gives vast differences50 but it is difficult to distinguish51 it .
52Those that52 have experienced in life howthat53often54 plants respond to
influences, especially to7 human beings around them, how they often
55dried up55 in a houses6 where there is distress or disturbance, 3inharmony,
and often keep57 longer' there is harmony, and when their masters59can60
understand plants, they become 61respondent with61 love and harmony and
sympathy ; often plants feel7absence of these qualities . The condition of
that62 person's mind, 63its effect can be found63on the plants in his surround-
ing64 . 7Humanbeing isso 65accustomed to65his own affairs that he sees no
further than he sees . Generally mankind is too unaware of the condition of
others, very often66 does not know even7 condition of those67 near and
dear68 . If it were not so, there could not be some nations being69 happy and
comfortable whileother70people inother countrieswere71 starving and dy-
ing by mill ions, 72 as can be found 72 in7ancient fables . 73There oncewas74a
discussion74 between man and17 lion, whose fate75 was more important,
man's76 or7 I ion's . When they voted, 77opinions proved, al I said, that man
was more worth than lion77 . This fable proves that the very78 reason is15 ma n

49 . Ibid .: " . Man only distinguishes his objects" changed to " ; in all things that man only recognises as ob-
jects "
50 . Ibid .: "gives vast dif ferences" changed to "shows a vast difference between them"
51 . Ibid .: "distinguish" changed to "define "
52. Tp.: "Those that' changed by Sk . to "Some will"
53. Lb.Gd.: "that" crossed out
54. Ibid.: "often" placed after "plants"
55. Ibid.: "dried up' changed to "wither"
56. Ibid. : "house" changed to "home"
57. Ibid. : "keep" changed to "live"
58. Ibid. : "where" added
59. Ibid. : "masters" changed to "owners"
60. Ibid. : "can" crossed ou t
61 . Ibid. : "respondent with' changed to "responsive to"
62 . Ibid . : "that" replaced with "a "
63 . Ibid . : "its effect can be found" changed to "can be seen in its effect"
64 . Ibid . : "surroundings "
65 . Ibid . : "accustonxd" changed to "much absorbed in"
66. Ibid . : 'man' added
67. Ibid.: "who are" added
68. Ibid.: "to him" adde d
69. Ibid.: "being" crossed out
70. Ibid. : 'other' crossed out
71 . Ibid. : "were" changed to "are "
72. Ibid. : "as can be found" changed to "This can be seen"
73 . Ibid. : "There is a f able which tells that" adde d
74 . Ibid . : "a discussion" changed to "an argument"
75 . Ibid . : "fate" changed to "life "
76 . Ibid . : "fate" added
77. Ibid.: "opinions proved, all said, that man was more worth than lion" charged to it proved that each had
his own was more irrpotant" •
Tp. : Sk . added "said' after "had"
78. Lb.Gd.: "very" crossed out
38

being79 unaware of7 secret of his own being, what he wants80 is to interest
himself in the life of the8182other classes of development82 before he can
come to this83,84 basis, the consciousness of his own'being . If you have ever
been far away in the woods85 or the mountains, far away from8 population,
87consciously or unconsciously there comes87 a feeling of romance, the
wind that is repeating88 the sound that is coming89 from the trees,90 the
rock, the murmurof the water running, all arewanting to get back some-
thing thatwas91 lost . This particular9 feeling comesto humanbeings93 in
the pleasure94 of everyday life . Then there is a joythat opens something in
us ; then there comes this yearning, and that feeling one feels on every side
in thewilderness 95ofthe wood95 . There comes thefeeling of longing, the
deep yearning of the heart, the searching for something that has been lost .
When we look at the beings living around us we see the same th ing . Form-
stance, look at the birds and contemplate on% their restless flying97, the
constant98 roaming of animals in the forest . The first thought that might
come, 99one might think" that they were100searching for food . But he who
has a deepersight101 into nature certainly will feel the restlessness sooner
or later, the searchingof102 that which is lost . There isthe same tendency
contains103 human being104, although7 human being has much interest in
Iife by105 the106 various occupations, various moods, he finds17 thousan d

79. Ibid. : "being" changed to "is '

80. Ibid. : "wants' changed to 'needs'
81 . Ibid.: 'beings in' . added
82. Ibid.: 'other classes' changed to 'another phase of evolution' ;
Tp.: 'phase of evolution' replaced with 'class of development", then again changed back by Sk ., as in
the "tp." Gd.'s corr . etc. are given. In a separate annotation, however, Sk. indicates that it should read,
'beings in another class of development' .
83 . Lb.Gd.: "this" replaced by "the'
84 . Ibid .: "fundamental" added
85 . Ibid .: "woods" changed to "forests'
86 . Ibid . : 'all' adde d
87 . Ibid . : rewritten to read, 'you will know that there comes, consciously or unconsciously,'
88 . Ibid . : "repeats' instead of 'is repeating '
89. Ibid. : 'comes' instead of 'is coming'
90. Ibid. : 'and" instead of a cone a
91 . Ibid. : 'was' changed to 'has been'
92. Ibid. : "particular" crossed out
93. Ibid. : 'even" added
94. Ibid. : 'pleasures '
95. Ibid. : "of the wood' changed to' in the forest'
96. Ibid. : 'on' crossed out
97. Ibid.: " f lying' changed to ' f light '
98. Ibid.: 'constant' changed to 'ceaseless'
99. Ibid.: 'one might think' changed to " is'
100. Ibid .: 'were" changed to "are "
101 . Ibid . : "sight' changed to * insight'
102. Ibid . : ' fa" instead of 'of '
103. Ibid . : * in' instead of 'contains'
104 . Ibid . : 'beings '
105 . Ibid. : "by" changed to Iftough,
106 . Ibid. : 'the" changed to 'his'
 39

and one excuses for his restlessness, for his depression, 107for his depressed
restlessness107 . An108 it lusionl09 developed in man is110, that17 reason always
comes at his demand"' . There is alwayssomeone that will say to a poor man
"112Sad for you that you are not rich ." Someone comes and says "You look de-
pressed, I know there is so much sorrow, that is the reason ." But reason is a (-
ways at113 command and 114outSide engaged114 and s 0 115 can not find the
real reason, that is inside116 . That reason is suppressed behind117 all the
reasoning . Human118seeksmorethan7animal kingdom119, togetbacksome-
thing that was91 lost . Nowadays life never g ives man a moment to be tran-
quil12°, that he may121 have a122 time to breed12 upon124 true cause of113
continual125 unhappiness, alsol26 keeps him in41 illusion, always looking
outly, and he can never find itl2Boutsidel29 . It is as if hewere looking for
the moon on the earth, butl30moon is in the sky .

But then you131 ask, "What has man lost?" and the answer is, "132God
Himself,"132 that perfect intel I igence that is in every being, that intel I i-
gence what133 the Vedantist134 135says is called 135 "light," the verses of
Koran say 136is "l fight,"136 "nur,"which means137 l ightl38God139 immanent i n

107 . Ibid.: "fa his depressed restlessness" omitted

108 . Ibid.: "An" changed to "and '
109. Ibid.: "is so much" added
110. Tp.: "is" omitted
111 . Lb.Gd. : "demand' charged to "commar d"
112. Ibid. : "It is" added
113 . Ibid. : "his" adde d
114 . Ibid. : "outside engaged" changed to "is employed without" ;
Tp . : 'outside" added in parentheses of to "without", then crossed out by Sk .
115 . Lb .Gd . : "man" added
116 . Ibid . : "inside' changed to "within"
117 . Ibid .: "behind" changed to "beneath "
118. Ibid.: "And man" was misread for "Human" .
119. Ibid.: "does" added
120. Ibid. : "tranquil" changed to "quiet"
121 . Ibid. : "may" changed to 'might'
122. Ibid. : "a" omitte d
123 . Ibid. : "breed" changed to 'ponder"
124 . Tp. : 5k . added "the "
125 . Lb .Gd . : "continual' changed to "constant"
126 . Ibid . : 'it' added
127 . Ibid .: "out" changed to "outward"
128 . Ibid.: "it" changed to 'the cause"
129. Ibid.: 'himself" adde d
130. Ibid.: "though the" instead of "but"
131 . Ibid.: "may" adde d
132. Ibid.: the quotation marks were crossed out .
133. Ibid. : "what" changed to "that"
134. Ibid. : "Vedantist" changed to "Vedanta"
135. Ibid. : "says is called" charged to "calls"
136. Ibid. : "God is light" instead of "is 'light,"
137. Ibid. : "that the '
138. Ibid. : 'of" added
139. Ibid . : "is" added
40

the world of names and forms, in aI I that consists140 in this world of variety .
Various141formsofactivity giving142various143 results,144men18 in this145 il-
lusion keeps146 the same intelligence, 147to find147 its perfection in that
state of consciousness where he can feell48 hisown perfection . The reli-
g ious149, the mystics, the philosophers of all ages give the key to the secret .
That is what Sufism150151wil l bring back151 to humanity . Christ has said it so
beautifully, "Be Thou152 perfect, as Thy153 Father in Heaven is perfect ."
154and the yearning in155 every soul is in 1% the realisation of that perfec-
tion,157 of everything,138 every being in thisworld, 1-58consciously or un-
consciously" .There 159has been kept159 one thing in the whole creation to
bet 0 I ike an alarm clock, set on161 a certain time, 162that it wi 11162 make a
sound30that one may 163wake up163 . That clock sounds through al 17 activity
164in all164 evolution,l" when this is touched 165men wake up165 by the
alarm . That was the word that was lost and it has its echo in the longing .

And now you wi l l ask "How can one listen, how can one f i nd it?" That
word rises from one'sown heart, re-echoing in 166all mystics ofl66this uni-
verse . If it 167is not rising167 from one's own heart it cannot be heard in the
outer world . And you131 ask, "What isthe sign?what makes it rise? who can
hear it?"Andthe answercomes "assoon as thisword rises inyour own heart
you touch God, you touch perfection, 168what is in al l beings . In al l beings
the soul rises to pick it up16B and169 begins to understand the divine tongue,
the secret that was shut170out171 so long seems to be revealed .

140. Ibid. : 'consists" changed to "exists "

141 . Ibid.: "Various' changed to 'In this world of variety dif ferent"
142. Ibid.: "giving' changed to 'are producing "
143 . Ibid.: "various' changed to "different"
144. Ibid.: 'and" added
145. Ibid.:'lifeof" added
146. Ibid.: 'keeps' changed to "has yet '
147. Ibid.: 'to find" changed to 'which he can realise in'
148. Ibid.: " f eel" changed to 'be aware of "
149. Ibid.: 'religious" changed to "religions '
150. Ibid.: "Suf ism" changed to 'the Sufi Message '
151 . Ibid.: "will bring back" changed to "is brir*Fgbac-rec tering, is bringing back"
152. Ibid.: 'Thou" changed to "ye "
153. Ibid .: 'Thy' charged to "your '
154. Lb.: an enpty space, which may show an omission in the r . ;
Tp. : instead of the empty space it has a new paragraph beginning with "And"
155. Ib .Gd . : "in' changed to *of '
156. Ibid . : win' charged to "for "
157. Ibid . : added "that is, the longing consciously or unconsciously'
158. Ibid . : omitted "consciously or unconsciously "
159. Ibid . : "has been kept" changed to "is"
160. Ibid . : "to be" changed to "which is'
161. Ibid . : 'on' changed to "fa "
162. Ibid . : "that it will' changed to "to"
163. Ibid . : 'wake up' changed to "awaken"
164. Ibid . : "in all" changed to 'of '
165. Ibid . : 'men wake up' changed to 'man is wakened'
166. Ibid . : 'all mystics of ' changed to 'everything in'
167. Ibid . : 'is not rising' changed to "does not rise '
168. Ibid . : fist 'what' changed to "that", then the passage 'what is in all beings . In all beings the soul rises
to pick it up' crossed ou t
169. Ibid . : a new sentence begins with 'And', 'then one' added
170. Ibid . : 'shut' changed to "closed "
171. Ibid. : 'out' changed to " for"
 41

In172 ancient stories, in172 the stories of173 the Bible 174it is writ-
ten174, men speaking with trees, with running water, 175that repeats175
sounds coming from the rock . A man without patience wi I I not stop to listen,
he hurries on, he is ready to laugh at such a th i ng . But there is nothing sur-
prising or impossibletherein176 . Thisworld which is 177goingon177 178isthe
inheritance of man . 179This word only got true to the picture179 . It180 re-
echoes in al l things . Only man must be aware of this181 privilege, of this182
oneness 183which is hidden183 . The whole treasure of the universe is184 the
understanding of the mystical idea .

Friends, this lack of religion, this increasing of materiality185,

186what is it caused by? It is187bythe lack of knowledge of religion ; it isthe
spirit of religion that is lost . Humanity18cannot be turned al I one way . The
form does not matter, 189is nothing without the spirit . What is wanted?What
is wanted is 190understanding of'90 each other's fate191, to respect each
other's ideal, toworship192 thatwhich isdear toourfellowman'93 andof'94
the othercreatures . 195This effort195to make thewhole world believers of
one faith would be 1%as if the whole humanity'%, as if al 1197the people197
had the same facesl98, it would become a very uninteresting world .

172. Ibid . : "In" crossed out

173 . Ibid . : "of' charged to "in"
174 . Ibid. : "it is written' charged to "tell o f
175 . Ibid.: "that repeats" crossed out and "of " added
176. Ibid.: 'therein" changed to 'in this '
177. Ibid.: "going on' changed to 'around us'
178. Ibid. : `sounds continually' added;
Tp.: "sounds" charged by Sk . to "resounds '
179. Lb.Gd. : " This ward only got true to the picture" charged to It is a he picture"
180. Ibid. : "It" changed to "The ward "
181 . Ibid. : "this" changed to "his"
182 . Ibid. : "underlying" adde d
183 . Ibid . : "which is hidden' crossed out
184 . Ibid .: 'in' adde d
185. Ibid .: 'materiality" changed to 'materialism"
186. Ibid.: 'by' added
187. Ibid. : "caused" inserte d
188. Ibid. : "Humanity" changed to "AMankind"
189. Ibid. : "it' adde d
190. Ibid. : 'understanding of " changed to 'to understand'
191 . Tp . : Sk . charged 'f ate" to "faith "
192 . Lb .Gd . : "worship" charged to "regard"
193. Ibid .: "fellowmen "
194. Ibid.: "of " changed to "to"
195. Ibid.: "This effort" charged to ' The attempt'
1%. Ibid.: "as if the whole humanity" charged to "if it could succeed"
197. Ibid. : "the people' changed to "men "
198. Ibid. : "face"
42

The work, therefore, that the Sufi199 hasto accomplish, is to bring

that idea of the mysticZ00 that it is the spirit, not the form that matters, and
to201 leave the belief of anotherZ02 out of the question, to understand their
belief, 203 to come to the realisation of the word that was lost, the
seeking of every soul, that menZ04may be enabled to reflect that picture of
oneness, and so to hear the word that was lost, to hear it again205sounding
inone's own heart .

199 . Ibid . : "Sufi" charged to "Sufi Message"

200. Ibid. : 'mystics "
201 . Ibid. : 'to' changed to "that one should'
202. Ibid. : " another ' changed to "others"
203 . Lb. : an empty space;
Lb.Gd., tp.: the next sentence follows after " belief ", as part of the previous sentence .
204. Ibid .: ' man "
205 . Ibid . : " again" placed after " sounding"
206 . Ibid . : " one's " changed to 'his'
 43
A typescript of a lecture of which no original document has been
found in the archives to date.

Nijmegen , 16 January, 192 3

Mureeds' Class .

On the spiritual path the preparation that is most necessary is to

make a location for the knowledge of God, God in one's own heart . If you
ask me what I mean by location, the answer is that in the ear for instance
there is a location for sound that comes from outside . The reason is, the ear,
in it is the space for accommodation, not only for sound, but for every letter
and syl Iable . If it were not for the location that man has in his ear, he could
not hear, and so location must be created in one's own heart . This construc-
tion of the ear is a perfect picture of the location that is in the heart . Out-
side, the ear is a hol low, its shape is its receptacle and th is is produced by
response . The tendency is to take in al l that comes ; it seems as if some part
of the ear has been cut out in order to make a hollow . Some part must be
taken out of the heart in order to have capacity . Of course the difficulties
of life make al l the time this capacity . Then again there isa cover beforel
the ear which helps the sound to be retained in order to become distin-
guishable . In the heart this is produced by the power of concentration . The
thoughts of love, sympathy must become distinguished . It istheconcentra-
tion which allows itto be distinguished . Intuition isthe distinction of all
that comes to the heart . The heart must allow it to become clear . An inside
organ of the ear is the vibration, this distinguishes every word . In the heart
there is an intuitive faculty ; every feeling that comes in the heart vibrates .
This makes things distinct to one's view . Many consider the heart apicture
of the eye, but I consider the heart is more the picture of the ear that hears .
The actual sense is located in the centre of the head, that can be pictured
Iike the eye . The work of the intuitive faculty is the perception and con-
ception . There are two ways of knowing, one by the head, the other by the
heart . Knowing by the heart is I ike hearing, and (the)2 knowing by the head
like seeing . Seeing no doubt gives satisfaction, but hearing gives greater
satisfaction still . All that is audible touches the depth of one's being and
what is visible becomes reflected on the surface of one's heart . The prac-
tice of Zikar ismeant to make that capacity in the heart in orderto turn the
heart into the ear . Every repetition of Zikar is I ike carving with a chise l

Am.Sk . : Some annotations in Sk.'s hwr on a separate paper.

Notes :

1 . Am.Sk . :' in f ront of instead of 'bef ore'

2. Ibid. : '(the)' omitted
44

something . By carving a part of the heart it may become hollow, and it has
the capacity to receive al I that comes . The sound has power upon heart and
soul . When you are given an exercise, its power is the same asthe word or
the meaning of theword . Therefore one must cut out the part that hinders
the heart to do its proper work . The power of the word is such that all things
can be accommodated by it, ifone does it rightly . Wonders can beworked
by the help of the word . Therefore a mantram is more powerful than a
weapon ; this is the experience of my whole life .

30f course before one does a deeper practice of Zikar one must con-
trol one's thoughts and feelings . If not, one may do a great harm to oneself
or others . We must not direct ill-will, anger to anyone, not even to our
worst enemy . If one creates compassion, we wi I I tolerate, forgive and take
life easy . Then power increases . There are two things, one is to receive in-
spiration, the other is to gain power, Jemal and Jelal . Jemal ismercy and
compassion, Jelal is self-discipline and mastery over one's self . 3

Another quest ion 4is for mymureeds4 that they must know that they
are not alone in the spiritual path . They have a guide, not in imagination,
but living on the earth, whose happiness and whose sorrow are your happi-
ness and your sorrow . He is someone who is a human being, and hastroubles
and struggles with h imself and others . Therefore we must feel safe in tread-
ing the spiritual path . Our guide is in the same world, he has gone through
the same l ife of human being . We must not feel foreign with Mursh id, but we
must feel nearness and brotherhood . There is someone who understands you
and your difficulties . What is necessary are three things :

1)Trustand confidence inMurshid, in hisfeeling of interest in your

happiness and your wel 1-being .

2) To consider the work that may be interesting to you (meditation,

etc .) as the kind of the most necessary thing to fulfil your duty . If you did
not do it with al l your trust he cannot help you in the direction where your
effort is necessary . Murshid knows the diff iculties of the Western world and
therefore he gives you much less work compared with people of the East
(none of you has six hoursof silence, nor three days' fasting) . In the East it is
the usual thing . Still we are more privileged than theEast . We have not
only spiritual teachings that are given, but the Message of God is given
here and will re-echo in the East . It begins in the West and goes to the East .
We are receiving the Light, which is beyond meditation or studies . The
outer meaning isamessageof words, the inner meaning isthesameasisrep-
resented in the Sacrament, as the wine (the blood) and the bread (the
flesh) . Life itself is Light . A proof is not necessary for sincere mureeds,
faithful toMurshidand the Cause ; the very fact makes sincere . Our fifteen
minutes' meditation is much more than six to ten hours' practice in the East .

3. In and around this paragraph several sentences, spoken by Pir-o-Mvshid, seem to have been omitted,
as it was expressly asked by him not to take down that part of the Iectue . See the note added to the
Iechre at the end. See also Appendix B.
4 . Ann.Sk . : ' for my mireeds is'
 45

3) Your part of responsibility in the application of the Message,

what you get from the teachings, in everyday life, of which you must give
the proof yourself in everyday life . You must be workers of the Cause ac-
cording to ability and capacity .

5Partswere not written down, asMurshid specially asked a few times

not to write down what he said, especially about what he said about the
harm that could be done to others and oneself .

5 . This amotation was added by the unknown person who took down this Iechre; see footnote 3, above.
46

Ivts . E . Ler"br ggen' s longhand reporting, copied by the

conpiler.

16 January 1923, Nijmegen, Holland .

Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan delivered the
fol lowing subject .

Beloved ones of God My subject of this Evening will be

The Spirit of Guidance .

According to the idea of the mystic this whole creation is a kind of

journey of the infinite being from the innermost planes tothis2 earth and in
this journey sotospeakGod Himself travels through different planesofex-
istence and after numberless years arrives in the existence of human
beings . God Who is one in his original State of being becomes manymani-
fested in various namesand forms . But the nature of creation of this variety
is intoxicating . And this intoxication keeps all creatures in a kind of mist
where they cannot wel I see ; where they do not know what to do, where they
do not knowwhat is their duty, what istheir real want, what istheir pur-
pose, and so it is not onlywith the lower creatures, but even mankind has
thissame feeling of being in theorist . Mostlyman isperplexed bythat idea
why he ishere, why he issent onearth?What ishis mission in life? Howhe
can accomplish it? What is h is duty . What is nature's secret? What is the best
thing in life todo . Besides these perplexities, man has ambitions, he has
needs of life, he has needsof his physical existence, his mental existence
has needs, his heart feel's that it needssomething and there is that need in
the3 soul .

Then every man has his4 occupation in life, from morning till
evening differing from5 another, absorbing from morning till evening . Th e

Docurnents :

Lb. (a Ih. reporting by Mrs . E. Leembnggen) .

Tp. (a typewritten copy of Lb . with a f ew altera tions and corr .) .
Lb.c . (a copy in Lb.'s hwr, not an exact copy either of "Lb ." or of " Tp.' ) .

Note s

1 . Lb .'s r . was taken down without her being able to grasp the meaning of the sentences concurrently as
her knowledge of the English language was limited Consequently, her r . shows many spelling mistakes
and the punctuation is not clear. Besides, as in any lhx ., words and sentences are missing .
Although the present text is a copy of the "Lb .", spelling mistakes have been corrected and the pinctu-
ation has been adjusted by the compiler . In this exceptional case, however, a facsimile of the oldest
document (Lb .) is added to the copied text .
2. Lb .c .: "the' instead of "this"
3. Ibid . : "his" instead of 'the'
4. Ibid . : "some" instead of "his"
5. Ibid . : "one" added
 47

earningof one'slifegives absorbing, striving after thethingsof theworld,

to think and to understand that he may know how to accomplish the purpose
of I ife ; but there come hours or days or moments that some suffering comes .
There comes a great trial, a strong blow, at such momentsman feels awak-
ened and thinks about those things, then he asks why he is here, what is his
duty and about the changeabi I ity of I ife and he real ises6 less importance to
that which he has attached such great importance to . Such moments rarely
come into I ife . Often those moments are I ike passing waves7 . They throw7
around I ife and he forgets soon after . So is man . Having a glass of wine,
soon after he is no longer sober ; and so it iswith al I aspects of I ife . God rep-
resenting8 His own being, within a tree, in a plant,within the rock, the
mountains9, the germ, the worm, in all things that have names, they are rep-
resenting God, Who is perfect in wisdom,10 . . . in this journey finds ob-
scurity . But the plan of the Creator iswonderful .

As11 a farmer has to journey at night in darkness, he takes a lantern,

for he wants I ight to travel with . He I ights his lantern in order to take12with
him through his journey, knowing that he has totravel thereat night . 13So
theCreator isalmighty in his journeyon13this world, in hisown immanence
so to say . In order that he may see in thisobscurity, in order that He may see
the road He lights his lantern13 . And that is cal led the Spirit of Guidance .

Inall ages this lantern which has shown thewayclearlytoillumine

the path of thosewalking through the darkness of the nifht . This lantern
was carried by someone, whoever happened to be haver this lantern, he
was the bearer, and whoeverwasthe lantern, his heart has been the server
of humanity to showthe lost souls theirway through the darkness . As you
read in the Bible "Knock at the gate then there is an answer . "

6. Lb.: part of the sentence is missing ;

Lb.c., IQ.: the sentence is incomplete .
7. Lb.c.: ", thrown" instead of " .They throw "
8. Tp.: "representing (represents?)" . Afterwards Sk . cancelled 'representing", replacing it with
"represents" . The same car. appears in Sk .'s separate annotations of corrections to be made in the dif -
ferent sets of lechres made by her.
9. Lb.c.: 'mountain'
10. Tp.: a full stop of ter "wisdom" and a dotted line show that here the fist part of a new sentence was
missed in the' b." .
11 . Lb.: "As" changed by Gd. to "When" ;
Tp.: "When "
12. Lb.: " it" added by Gd .
13. Ibid.: The following passage ("So the Creator .. . his lantern") was crossed out by Gd., who wrote
"incorrect" over it,
Tp.: "( ... So the Creator is almighty in his Jamey in this world, in his awn immanence so to say . In order
that He may see in this obscvity, in order that He may see the road, He lights his lantern . . . .) "
14. Lb.: "be", charged to "have", probably in lb .'s hwr. while Pir-o-Murshid was speaking, or soon of ter-
wards ;
Lb.c., tp.: "have'
48

So this lantern which is the Spirit of Guidance, whoeverwas the

bearer, it has been15the answer to individuals and to the multitude 16 in the
times of need, to thosewho17were in want of Iight in the time of darkness .

But then it is not always night . There is a part when it is day, and at
that period when it is day, the lantern is not necessary, that period is I ight .
But then there comesthe period of darknessand at that time the lantern is
looked for .

And the lantern has shown the way, and whether the bearer of the
lantern was called Abraham or Solomon or David, whether it was18Mosesor
Jesus or Mohammed, whether it was called Buddha or Krishna or Shiva or
Rama . Itwas the bearer of the lantern in the time of theworld's need . The
heart of the person that brought it, people did not see . They saw the face
and they saw the names and forms . They did not see the flame but the
lantern . Consequence was that after he had shown the way, then the lantern
disappeared, the people forgot the lantern and its light . But they remem-
bered the name . Sticking to that name , imagining that it was the light, be-
lieving in it, being faithful to it, and they fought period afterperiod, for
the same reason that some had seen a particular form and heard a particular
name and others were sticking to another form and another name for the
same lantern they remembered different names and forms .

For an instance after Moses had been the bearer of the lantern wh ich
was to guide humanity in times of need, when he had passed away and when
then came again night and darkness and there was the need of showing the
way again, and to I ight the lantern again, the lantern was brought by Jesus
and when he came people said, this is a different name and a different im-
age . Those among whom he brought the lantern said it is not the same, it is
not Moses, it is not the one we look for, it was not the authorised one . He
does not come from ourpart icuIarSynagogue, he is not the one our people
proclaim . "

There were some, however, that saw the I ight . Some only followed
it and some among those that fol Iowed the light, again fol lowed the name
and the form instead of remembering the I ight, the I ight which had so many
globes of different colour, the outer colourwas seen . Some only fol lowed
the I ight . That were the mystics, who through al I agessaw it was the same
ight and cal led this I ight the spiritual I ight . To them thiswasthe thing that
mattered and I ittle mattered the personality who brought the I ight if it was
only seen . The I ight matters, not the lantern, not the person . So it was in the
time of Zoroaster, and so it isstill .

15. Tp.: " the" stressed by underlining

16. Ibid.: Sk . added an "s" to " multitude"
17 . Lb .c. : 'that" instead of "who "
18 . Ibid.: " called" added , but crossed out by Gd.
 49

The more people can see thisTruth, the19 more force, the more I ight
can be given, which now is lost . But so it hasalways been, when the I ight
was brought . It was always refused and the divine I ight wasZO lost to them .
Always humanity has shown whatever period of civilisation, however21,
that the workersof22 the Cause in their faithfulness often worktodisadvan-
tage of the divine I ight . When it was brought, it was refused when the need
was felt . Every t ime that it happened the l fight was brought, that l ight was
refused and by whom was it refused . Always by those, that were more inter-
ested than the multitude through their organisations, institutions social
workers that were occupied to welcome it when it was on the earth . They
looked for it to come from heaven, perhaps in processions of angels with
drums and show. Butwhenever it came Bit cameB just the same as in the
time of Moses, it came as every mortal, human mortal24 comes on earth, not
with extra publicationsor noise or honour . As the one light that isin any
mortal man, subject to follies, to mistakes, to learn to understand what
earth has to teach, so came the bearer of the lantern . His purpose was to
bring the I ight, of giving I ight at time of need . Imagine the Jewish people
even nowadays, less in the West than in the East, 25waiting for the Bearer of
the I ight, even now ; how many came and went and how many times it wil
bestill26 . Still they wait fixing their eyes oncertain27 prieststhat it may be
recommended by them in order to be the authentic bearer of the Iantern . So
it has been many times and wi I I be after that the I ight was shown in time of
need . And when this has been done it has not been of a smal I effect ; mi I I ions
have been guided . Think of how many souls in Islam were enlightened, how
many by Krishna, think ofMoses and Jesus, byZoroaster, stil I retaining love
and esteem for their prophet . And if you ask anyone, "do you accept the one
you2 know?" then there is always the same answer, and the answer is "It is
only the one I know . If you,do worship another you insult the one we
honour ." This same way al I said the same thing . Consequence has been that
there were worse struggles going on time after timebetween30 followers of
different races, different creeds .

19. Ibid. : "to' instead of " the" ; probably a copying error

20. Ibid. : " is' instead of 'was '
21 . Tp. : afterwards 5k . crossed out 'however' . The same carr. appears in Sk .'s separate annotations . See
note 8.
22. Lb., Lb.c ., Ip. : "of " may have been omitted
23 .Lb. c . : 'it came' omi tte d
24. Lb., tp. : Sk . replaced " mortal" with "being"
25. Tp. : "(are)" added
26. Lb. c . : "still" omi tte d
27. Ibid. : added, ' families , an certain synagogues, others look to ce rtain'
28. Lb . : ' (1) " added by Gd. ;
Tp. : 'you' changed by Sk . to ' I' . In Sk.'s separate arvx tats ns ' you' charged to "I' . See note 8 .
29. Lb . : 'to' crossed out, probably by Gd .;
Tp. : "(to), later crossed out by Sk .;
Lb .c . : to,
30. Lb .c . : 'between ' omitted
50

The purpose of bringing the lantern with the I ight, was therefore not
fully accomplished . It was not the purpose that the name was to be fol-
lowed . So came worse wars and worse sacrileges . Even now that feeling of
hatred against one another exists, and does it bring I ight? It only attracts
obscurity and creates ignorance . If a person whatever could fathom the
depth of hisown religion, if he pondered on it he would find Truth in every
existing religion, and he would certainly understand . Does Truth belong to
particular creeds or no31?God is Himself Truth . God is not one section of
humanity . Truth is in al I creatures, is created in al I . His divine intel I i-
gence, His I ife, where it comes from it does not matter . It is al I one source,
it is God, it does not matter which name orform . All different Teachings
from one time to another time divided in many sects .

But for the bearer of the lantern, it was his duty to give human
beings I ight . Is that light in a particular lantern?No, but in time of darkness
the lantern is the Source, the source of light is in the lantern . The light is
not only in the lantern for I ight is everywhere vastly spreading . Therefore
the personality is the lantern and the I ight is in it . Cal I it Christ, but in it
Jesus must be taken as lantern . But the I ight that appeared was spread, and
that He meant when He said, *1 am alpha and omega ." He would have said
otherwise "I have been born in a certain year, not before and not after . The
first and the last, that I was not, I was in themiddle ." He mentioned th e
ight which He brought when He mentioned it in alpha and omega ; and it is
this I ight, that in the terminology of the mystic is cal led the Spirit of Guid-
ance . In reality it is God's own light . Or it may be said that it is the eye of
God, the sight of God which sees . Truth though even in perplexity 32 in
every soul ; no one iswithout th is light smal ler or greater33 . For an instance,
as some objects in the room reflect more light other objects less, so it is also
with different hearts : according to34the one hearth, there is response .

The most difficult part of humanity has always been man's nature is
proud, recognizing God35 rather in an object than in a person, rather than
in hisbrother . When the36 light wasborne37 in the bearer, and He studied
man, He found that man is too proud to give that sacredness to his brother ;
therefore He said "Here is a God bow before Him ." 38What is it? It was an
idol of stone or rock, "bow before Himl" And don't you think, it was in th e

31. Lb . : 'no', changed to 'not' afterwards ;

Tp . : 'not' ;
Lb .c . : 'no"
32. Lb . : later Lb. added 'is' ;
Tp. : 5k . added "is "
33 . To. :'(?)" after 'greater' was aossedoutbysk.
34 . Lb., Lb.c., tp.: ' one's heart ' may have been said.
35 . Lb.c.: 'God' omitted by mistake
36. Ibid.: 'the' omitted
37 . Lb., Lb.c., p .: 'bam '
38. Tp.: this passage was omitted, but added by 5k. in type at the bottom of the page.
 51

ancient days, itwas in the past . It was nowalso still just the same . Some
have a particular39thing of wood and say this is magnetic, this issomething
to put in a shrine, something to think about . To listen to his brother? No .
Man40 I istens rather to the dead rock than to H im whom he would l ike ; don't
you41 think there is a small number, there are many, 42there is42 a large
number .

Once I was in a place in England in a vi llagewhere l wasto visit a

certain circle for meditation and to speak to43some learned people . When I
went in that room, they led me to my place and there was someone that
came to me and said "I can trust you and now I wi I I show you a secret," and
then he- brought me to a chimney 44 and said "now look here, now you wi
understand ." But therewas nothing extraordinary there . Now I waswonder-
ing, you will understand, 45whatwas meant45 . I think I was too material to
see the thing . I did not see the Sacredness of a mantelpiece . My advantage
depended on that place of the mantelpiece . But now after al I, in the end, I
found out the Truth of the whole story, what was at the bottom of it . A Iady
had dreamt a wonderful dream and her dream had had that effect . And it is
this effect that worldly I ife has on men . He cannot f ind4 anywhere but in
mankind, whose body is the only temple to worship in mind, God . The
beauty of God and of His nature if seen anywhere it is to be seen in
mankind's beautiful personality, in what they thought what they brought in
their personality is so much greater . It is the living God they brought
therein . It isfarmore difficult to imagine the unseen than to imaginewhat
manifests in personality of men .

What is47 in the Sacrament of wine as blood, and bread as f lesh : It is

not the Service, it is the feeling of the personality that isa reflecting4of
God as the perfect mirror and if anything can teach, it is this reflection of
God in humankind . If ever seen, it is always seen in personality of men .
After thousands of years of49 Buddha was on earth, it was left here in the per-
sonal ity remembering that perfume which is left in the world . What about
Christ, how many hundreds of years' legends that came down by St . Paul
form a Book, but what was left? it was the impression of his personality, the
atmosphere of what represents Iight that50 is left us at present . But what
people asked was wonders, and whenever the lantern was brought an d

39. Lb.c. : 'peculiar" instead of "particular"

40. Ibid. : "he" instead of "man "
41 . Tp., Lb.c. : "you" omitted
42. Lb.c. : 'there is" omitted
43 . Ibid. : "with" instead of "to '
44 . Ibid. : "mantel piece" instead of 'chimney'
45 . Ibid. : 'what was meant' omitted
46 . Ibid . : *it* added
47 . Ibid . : 'taut" adde d
48. Lb . : afterwards 'reflecting' was changed to "reflection", probably by Gd .;
Tp. : "reflecting (reflection)" . Afterwards 5k . crossed out "reflecting" and replaced it with
"ref lectian" .
49. Lb .: "of " changed to "that" by Lb. ;
Lb .c .: 'of * instead of ' that'
50. Lb .c .: "that" omitted
52

tested it was the asking for wonders, and then the stories were taking the
place of the Iight . Everyone was interested in wonders . But the natural kind
of logical wonderwas51 the presence of those that brought the lantern, it
was not only belief but it was the I iving God before those who spoke of God .
It was not the I iterary work . If there was anyth ing, it became living I ight,
ife itself . The wonder has always been this, that their presence mad e
things clear even difficult problems . They spoke in their simple words and
their presence made people understand Truth . But there is no proof of this
Truth,52it belongs to every sou l .53Butwho cannot see it clearly? They that
do not see the lantern, the same I ight over the whole world .

It is not a new thing that you can get, it is there always . They think
they can see it . It is a great wonder . Words are nothing, they are the out-
ward garb of the Spirit that brings the I ight and I ife at the moment mankind
goes astray . It isthe lack of realisation of the I ight of which, when it is
given, sufficesthe need of its time . MThework of the Sufi mainly isto make
understand that there may come a better t ime . They can unite in this com-
mon cause . 54

51 . bid. : ' that" added

52. Lb.: one or more words seem to be missirw
Lb.c.: ' Tnith is [empty space]' added
53. Lb.c.: added, " How can you give Truth which is property of every soul?
54. Ibid.: the last two sentences omitted
 53
Ms . Sirdar as found in one of his copybooks of 1923.

4 . . . S . represents the form of Islam ,

ideal ofChr .S,

6mysticism of Vedant a
6 ph i I osophy of Buddhism,
6tradition of Judaism ,
and the sense of Zoroastrian ism .

Now asto the question 7in what way7, Bin what manner .8The metaphysics9in
matter of S . cult9 is in the realm of Islam, since the10S .11 was taught mostl y

Documents:

Sr .lh.r. ( Sidar's longhand reporting, of which the fist part is missing) .

ZI. (a hwr. copy made from Sr.lhx. by Zuleikha Jelgersma , Sird ar's f kst wif a (1910-1920), who later mar-
ried Yusuf van Ingen. Possbly she completed the longhand reporting with the help of her awn amo-
tations of the lecture.) .
ZI.Gd. (- 'ZI .' with car. and add. in Gd.'s hwr.) .
ZI.Sr. (- 'ZI .' with corr. and add in Sr.'s hwr.) .
Tp. (a typescript made by Sk . from "ZI .Gd.' and 'ZI .Sr.') .

Notes :

1 . The date on which this lecture was given can only have been the 15th or 17th January 1923 , the days
when Pir- o-Murshid was lecturing at Ni ) negen in the Netherlands.
2. Tp. : In Sk .'s hwr . is written above the lecture , " Incomplete report, handwriting unkrm"" . Now it has
been found that the handwriting is Zuleikha's , and that an original reporting exists in Sr .'s hwr.
3 . ZI ., tp. : 'Suf ism' added
4. Ibid . : the f rst part of the lec ture filled in by ZI . as follows:

'Beloved ones of God a

I would like to speak this evening on the subject of Suf ism . At this hour of b world's
great upheaval the fist question that comes from an intellectual m ind is thatc dwhat can be done to
bring about a better feeling in humanityd , and the next question f how can it be acconplishedf , andg
the answer of h the fist question would be that the principal thing that one can do etc bring the dii f f er-
ent religions together . For do not think that the day of religion has passed Even today for the order
and peace of the world religion is the principal thing. Answering the next question how to accomplish
it, I should say not by a new rel igion but by bringing together different religions . The thud ques tion will
be in' what will these various religions united). The answer will be ins Wisdom, the essence of reli-
giond Sufism therefore answers the present demand of the world for the very reason that all wild's
great religions are reflected in Suf ism. As to the question howk I will say that "
a . ZI .Gd. : these four wards were crossed out
Tp. : omitted
b. Tp . : 'the' added
c . ZI .Gd . : "that' vossed out;
Tp .: "that' omitted, and replaced with a comma
d . ZI.Gd., Ip. : quotation marks added and a capital W for 'what'
e . ZI.Gd.: 'is' added;
Tp.: "is '
f. ZI .Gd.: quotation marks and axe vgation mark added and capital H for "How" ;
Tp.: "How ...? '
g. Z I .Gd.: capital A for ' And' ;
54

in the Mosl imworld, the12terminologyof the expression of the S .13 philoso-

phy 14and method 14 isborrowed from' Islam, therefore in6world'shistory no
doubt the authority of Islam opposed S .11 but in16 the same time the S .13
teaching 17mostly appealed17 to the world of Islam, for the very reason that
the form of 1 .18 has been the i r19 own form .

20,21Why has it judaistic tradition .2122The esoteric school of 5 .11 is traced

back from the time of Abraham, the great patriarch of judaistic23 tradition .
All the prophetsof 13 .1 .24, whatever religion they25 taught, 26were initiate d

Tp. : "And "

It ZI .Gd.: "o ; " charged to "to" ;
Tp. : 'to '
i. ZI .Gd.: "in' changed to ", in" ;
Tp.: ', "In '
j ZI.Gd .: 'united' changed to " be united?" ;
Tp.: 'be united? "
k. ZI .Gd . : "how" changed to "How?" ;
Tp. : "How? "
5. ZI.,Ip . :'Ckist'
6. Ibid .: "the" added
7. Ibid . : omitte d
8. ZI .Gd., tp. : In what ma nn er?'
9. ZI . : "of the matter of Sufi alt" ;
ZI .Gd. : 'of the matter of ' crossed out, "the ' added ;
Tp . : "of the Sufi cult "
10. Tp. : " the" omitted
11 . ZI ., tp.: " Suf ism"
12 . Ibid. : "The "
13 . Ibid. : " Sufi "
14 . Ibid. : " and method" omitted
15. ZI .: "of" instead of ' f rom' ;
ZI .Gd.: "of " charged back to " f ron"
16. ZI .Gd.: "in' changed b 'at' ;
Tp.: "at '
17. ZI.Gd. : 'mostly appealed' charged to 'appealed most' ;
Tp. : "appealed most'
18. ZI., tp . : 'Islam'
19. ZI.Gd . : ' thee" changed to 'its" ;
Tp . : "its "
20. ZI ., Ip. : " Now as to the question' added
21 . ZI . : 'why has Sufism judaistic traditio n" ;
ZI .Gd., tp.: " ", Why has Suf ism the Judaic tradition?" "
22 . ZI ., tp.: " In answer I will say that' added
23 . ZI .Gd.: " Judaistic" changed to ' Judaic ' ;
Tp.: "tic "
24 . ZI .,1p.: " Ben-Israel"
25. ZI ., tp.: " have" added
26. ZI .: "they" added;
ZI .Gd .: "they" crossed out;
Tp.: "they' omitted
 55

in 27 S . order27 . 26The holy Ka'aba, which is placed in the sacred place of

Mekka, has been the place of initiation of the S .13 order29, until from the
time of M .30it becamethe place of pilgrimage for all31of Islam . The eso-
teric schools which existed among Chaldeans, were of 27the S . order27 . The
sacred names of God which were used as mantras by the mystics of 8 .1 .32
were the same which have always been used by the S .33 in their method of
inner cult .

34Zoroastrianreligion34 : 35thesense which teaching ofZ .36 representsisthe

same as37 understood by the 38Suf i o .-18 If you rea d

39works of the great Sufi, Shams Tabriz, especially the metaphysics, which
he explains in hissimple way, how the world was created, how the source of
all creation was oneand the same, and40 whichwas light . 41Light within'
and without was the same I ight, only 42the difference42 of aspect . It was not
a43sun-orfireworship . But it'wastheworshipof light, which Ssm45 under-
stood by the teaching of Zarathustra .

Now coming to the idea of Chr .47 , which 5 .11 represents, the ideal of S . has
always been the life of Christ . His looking up to the source, and calling the
source by the name48 Father, still exist4 as a custom among Sufis . A Suf i

27. ZI ., tp . : "the 5uf i Order"

28. Zl . : "And" added;
ZI .Sr . : "And the" changed to * The'
29. ZI ., tp . : "Order"
30. ZI ., tp . : 'Mohammed"
31 . ZI . : "belovers" ;
ZI .Gd., tp. : 'believers '
32. ZI ., p. : "Israel"
33 . Ibid .: 'Sufis '
34 . ZI . : 'Now comirg to this most ancient religion of Zaroaster' ;
ZI .Gd., tp.: 'Now coming to the most ... '
35. ZI ., Ip.: "there" added
36. Ibid .: "Zoroaster"
37 . ZI .Gd: 'is' added;
Tp. : 'is '
38. ZI ., tp. : "Sufis "
39. ZI . : "the great" added;
ZI .Sr . : 'great" crossed out;
Tp. : "great' omitted
40. ZI .Gd. : "and" crossed out
Tp. :'and• omitted
41 . ZI ., tp . : "That" added
42. Ibid . : "different"
43 . ZI .Gd :'a" aossedout;
Tp. : "a" omitted
44 . ZI .Gd : "h' crossed out
45. ZI ., Ip . : 'Shams Tabriz"
46. Ibid .: "Zmoaster"
47 . Ibid .: 'Christianity'
48. Ibid .: 'of" added
49. Tp . : 'exists'
56

dervish in the East, whowaIkswith a50stick, 51the handle of which is asign

of52 course53, andwho recognises in all5he meets the divine Father, and
so55 cal Is everybody he comes in contacts "bawa57" meaning Father . Then
renunciation in the path of charity which Christ has taught isthe lesson 58
59whichSufi thinks this principlefordaily Iife .-9960Thisprinciple is for60
the seeker after truth 61 i .e . moral of Christ :6 1
Beginning62 lesson in Sufi morals63 is the same lesson, Mwhich65) . Christ65
has taught in his Sermon on theMountain66 . Before seeking for any occult
powers or for wonderworkings67 the Sufi seeks first to become humane68,
69asto give happiness to the70others, with whom he can71 come in contact,
considering every72 soul is73exposed to the constantly pinpricks of human
nature73 .

50 . ZI ., tp. : "his' instead of 'a'

51 . Ibid. : 'in' added
52 . ZI .Gd : 'the' added;
Tp . : 'the'
53 . ZI . : "course" car. to 'cross" ;
Tp. : 'cross '
54 . ZI .tp. : 'whom, added
55. Ibid.: "so" omitted
56. ZI .Gd : 'with' added;
Tp.: 'with '
57. ZI .Sr.: 'Baba' instead of 'bawa" ;
Tp.: "Baba "
58. ZI ., Ip.: "Suf ism learns' added
59. Ibid.: This incomplete sentence in Sr .lhx . was completed by ZI . and reads as follows : The Suf i thinks
that this principle is not a suitable pr'mcple for the seeker of ter the world "
60. Ibid.: "This must be followed by' instead of 'This principle is fa "
61 . ZI.: "As the moral Christ has taught that turned you f ace to him who beats you, is the' ;
ZI.Gd .: "The moral Christ has taught.-If one smite you on one cheek, turn also the other cheek, is the" ;
ZI.Sr.: ' The moral Christ has taught to turn you other cheek to him who beats you, is the"
62. ZI., tp .: "of the' added
63. Ibid . : ' . It' added
64. ZI.: 'in' added;
ZI .Sr . : "in' crossed out,
Tp . : "in' omitted
65 . ZI ., tp. : 'Jesus' instead of "J. Christ"
66 . ZI .Gd. :'Mountain' charged to 'Mal' ;
Tp . : "Mant" a
ZI .Sr. : changed back to ' mantain'
67 . ZI .Gd. : plural "s' crossed out
Tp. : 'wonderwcrking'
68 . ZI ., tp. : 'human' instead of "humane'
69. ZI .Gd. : 'so' added;
Tp.: "so "
70. Zl .tp.: 'the' omitted
71 . Ibid.: 'may' instead of "can'
72. Ibid.: "that" added
73. ZI.: a blank in place of the sentence in Sr .Ihr. ;
ZI.Gd., tp.: 'an egression of God"
 57

Now coming to the mysticism of Sufism it is74 no way different of75 mysticism
in76 Vedanta . There are 6n met ods courses, which every mystic in76
Vedanta has to go through : 78jap, Tap, Asan 78
So there are 6 77 courses in 5 .11 79Namaz, Wazifa, Zikar, Fikar, Kasab,
Shackar .79 There is a I ittle difference in their methods, but their real isa-
tion of theirwhole course of76spi ritual journey is the same . Yes of course76
Sufi and76Yogi differ in their temperaments, but they are never opposed
to each other, in81 the contrary, most attracted . The difference of tempera-
ment is such that it might show one, two contrary objects . For the Yogi jour-
neys in his sp .82 path with indifference, independence, renunciation 83 ,
seeks solitude, practises the70 princ .84 of self-denial . The 5 .13 on the con-
trary develops first in him friendliness, giving and taking sympathy, shar-
ing one other's burden through Iife . Enjoying to its full extent alI that is
beautiful in form85, colour, line, movement, in sense and in manner . In-
stead of going to the cave of the mountain, instead of looking for a desert,
he seeks divine beauty even inthe86 crowd . That does not at a 1187 mean
that765 .13 cannot see from76Y .8889p . of v . 89 and' apprec .91 his l ifetoo .92So
does the Y . 88 Even with their most contrary ways they understand and appre-
ciate93another .

94Buddhism , the religion of reason, 76philosophyof wisdom . TheS .13hasthe

same1goal , the s .95object which the%B . cal ls96 Nirwana , and the wordNajat
in S . terminology is exactly the same asNirwana . The verbal meaning of
Nirwana is colourless , the sense of the meaning of thisword is about dif-

74. ZI ., tp. : ' in' added

75. Ibid. : 'of ' changed to 'from"
76. ZI ., tp. : ' the' added
77. ZI .Sr. : '6' charged to '7' ;
Tp. : '7 '
78. ZI . : 'Jap, Tap, Asan, Dharma, Jasna, Samachi' ;
ZI .Sr ., Ip. : • Jap, Asan, Ramayan, Dhiana, Dama, ivt c a, Samadhi"
79. ZI . : this part of the sentence was omitted;
ZI .Sr ., tp. : ' Nimaz, Wazif a, Zikar, Fikar, Kasab, Shagal, Amal .'
80. ZI .Gd .: the plural 's ' crossed out
Tp. : 'temperament '
81 . ZI .Sr., 1p.: 'in' car . to 'on'
82. ZI ., tp .: " spiritual '
83 . bid. : 'rencnciatan ' omitted
84 . Ibid. : 'principles '
85. [b id. : ' fam" omitted
86. Ibid. : " the' changed to 'a'
87 . Ibid . : " at all" omitted
88. Ib id. : 'Yogi "
89 . Ib id . : " point of view "
90. Ibid .: ' that he carrot appreciate. He can see from Yogi p oint of view and' inse rted
91 . ZI ., tp.: 'appreciates '
92 . Ibid .: 'And' added
93 . ZI .Gd., tp.: 'one' added
94 . ZI ., tp.: added, "Now coming to"
95 . Ib id .: ' same'
96 . Ibid .: '&ddhists call'
58

ferences and distinctions . Every wise man at the end of his search of human
life must arrive to97 the same conclusion, 'there is a plane of con-
sciousness, where76 soul rises above all distinctions and differences 99it
realises that plane of consciousness" . Where the realisation is100, thatall
is one, and one is a11101 . There is no difference 102of a sa int and a sinner102,
103there is103 no distinction of a104 wise and a104 fool ish . 1011s it adream?105
1061t is above dream106, for76 dream is the reproduction of our I ife on the
earth . The life in107captivity fixed and divided under108different names
and forms . Whenever it was necessary that a109 community should awaken,
a reform was given to that community, when nationswere to be awakened,
in those nations110 new religion was taught . When world demands a new
ight the answer is given to that demand .

The S .13-message isthe answer"' to theworld's cry to-day . An answer not

only to 112thecryof112 a particular sect, race3 or nation, but an answer to
the cryof76wh .114 humanity . It is no115new religion, nor115system of116re-
form born by117 human intellect, it is the message of118 the time . For the
wakeful to receive, and for thesleep119 still asleep 120it is the to help
them in sleep on12° .

97. Ibid. : 'at' instead of 'to'

98. bid. : 'that' added
99 . Ibid. : 'it realises that plane of consciousness' omitted
100. ZI .Gd. : 'is' crossed out
Tp.: 'is' omitted
101 . ZI .Sr., t,.: added "is there, then "
102 . ZI .Gd., p.: "between saint and serer'
103 . Tp.: "there is' omitted
104 . ZI .Gd., p.: 'a' omitted
105. ZI .: "It is a Beam." instead of "Is it a dream? "
106. Tp.: 'Realisation is above the dream of distuxtions' instead of "it is above dream"
107. ZI., tp.: "of" instead of 'in '
108. ZI.Gd.,tp . : "uder• changed to'irlo"
109. ZI.: "the" instead of 'a '
110. ZI., tp . : "a" added
111 . bid.: 'answering' instead of "answer'
112. bid. : "the cry of " omitted
113. Ibid . : 'race' omitted
114. Ibid . : 'whole '
115 . Ibid. : 'not a'
116 . Ibid. : "or" instead of 'of "
117 . ZI .Gd.: "by" changed to 'of' ;
Tp. : 'of '
118. ZI.,p.: "for" instead of 'of "
119. Ibid.: "soul" instead of "sleep" which may have been written down by mistake
120. ZI.: "to keep lion asleep" ;
ZI.Gd ., Ip . : 'ID let him remain asleep'
 59

In the handwriting of Miss Kerdiijc, probably copied from her

longhand reporting. This is a copy, made by the compiler, of the
handwritten W .

(Uncorrected Verbatim Report) 2

Beloved ones of God ,

My subject of3this evening is : "The Power of Silence ." Silence in

the work ofamystic is not necessari I y stillness . Silence toamystic isself-
control . The definition of life that a mystic gives is movement, in other
words vibration . And control of movement means control of life . In the con-
ception of a mystic silence does not mean only the closing of the l ips or the
closing of the eyes ; silence for a mystic is suspension of every activity,
which he gains by different degrees, by control I ing the movement, by con-
trolling the words, 'by controlling the breath4 and by controlling the
thoughts . The mystic attains mastery over himself,which he considers the
only mastery worth having, by the practice of silence . Silence does not
mean a few hours meditation, sitting quiet, talking to no one, but it means
the work of control continued throughout one's daily life from morningtill
evening . If not, a few moments5silence every day do not suffice the pur-
pose . Ifone was6to count7 howmany uselesswords onespeaks throughout
the day, wordswhich are unnecessary, and thusspends8 energy and vigour ,

Documents :

Kr. (Miss Kerdi*'s hwr. version, which seems to be a somewhat revised and conpleted version of her Ih .
r. of the lecture) .
Kr.Gd. (- • Kr." with corr., add., alterations, etc . in Gd's hwr.) .
Cr. (a typescript over which has been added, " (Corrected verbatim report)' and which is nearly identical
to the "Kr.Gd.I ) .
Tp. (a typewritten copy of "Kr." partly with Gd .'s corr. as in "Kr.Gd.", partly with other alterations, and a
few car. in Sk .'s hwr.) .
Sk. (a separate list with annotations by Sk .) .

Notes:

1 . Tp.: 'Holland, January 1923" added

2 . Kr.Gd.: " (Uncorrected Verbatim Report)' replaced by Gd with " (Coaected Verbatim repot)
Tp. : no mention is made of an 'uncorrected or corrected verbatim report" ;
Cs. : added under the title, " (Corrected Verbatim report) "
3 . Kr.Gd . : 'of" aossedotA,
Cr . : "of" omitted
4 . Cr . : 'by controllirg the breath' omitted
5. Kr .Gd . : "of " added
6. Ibid. : 'was" changed to "were' ;
Cr., Ip. : "were"
7. Kr .Gd. : "one would f rend" added;
Cr., tp. : "one would f ird '
8. Kr.Gd. : "spends' changed to "one expends" ;
Cs. : 'one expends ;
Tp. : 'am spends'
60

the centre of which is the breath, in this way wasting his9breath by speak-
ing the9awordsthat are of no use either tohimself10orto11theother" .Many
times a man talks because he thinks it is good to be pleasant, and being
pleasant means speaking uselessly . If there is nothing to speak about, then
he wishes to grumble against12 the weather . Once a person begins to think
that he can amuse others, and he can make the moment pleasant by speak-
ing with others, he then begins to make his conversation as pleasant as pos-
sible . And there is no end of I ies, and no end of exaggeration . When once a
person means wishes tomake13 his conversation as interesting and amus-
ing as possible, he does not consider anything except making it sufficiently
amusing . Besides a talkative person loses in time the value ofhiswords .The
magnetism, theweightthat theword carries, is lost by making use of it al l
the time for nothing . And the14 art of understanding the situation and the
moment, the art of understand iniwhat to say and what not to say, when to
speak and when not to speak, 1 before he has understood this art, which
16is a16 1 ifelong practice, a I ifelong study of I ife and of17 humanity, be-
fore one18 has studied or known this, when19 oneZ0 wants to 21occupy h im-
self in talking21toothers, howeverwell-meaning rand good-willing22 h e

9 . Kr .Gd .: 'his' changed to 'one's' ;

C .r., pp. : 'one's '
9a. Kr .Gd .: 'the" crossed out
C .r., tp.: 'the' omitte d
10. Kr .Gd .: "himself" charged to "one's self' ;
Cr., Ip.: "one's self '
11 . Kr .Gd .: "the other' charged to "others' ;
Cr., Ip.: 'others '
12. Kr.Gd .: "against' charged to 'about" ;
Cr., Ip.: 'about '
13. Tp.: 'to make' omitted
14. Kr.Gd.: ' the' charged to 'there is an" ;
C .r., Ip.: 'there is an" ;
Sk.: a suggestion to leave this sentence unchanged: "And the art'
15. Kr.Gd.: added, 'And when a man' ;
C r., tp.: "And when a man' ;
Sk.: a suggestion to leave this sentence unchanged : "to speak, before'
16. Kr.Gd.: 'is a' changed to 'needs' ;
Cr.: 'needs" instead of Is a' ;
Tp. : 'needs' instead of 'is'
17. Tp. : "of' omitted
18. Kr.Gd.: "one" charged to "he' ;
Cr., tp.: 'he "
19. Kr.Gd.: "when' crossed out;
C .r. : 'when" omitted
20. C .r., ip.: 'he' instead of 'one' ;
sk.: 'he '
21 . Kr.Gd.: 'occupy himself in talking" replaced with "busy himself talking' ;
Cr. : 'busy himself talking' ;
Tp. : 'talk', completed and altered in sk : s hwr.: 'busy himsel f intalki g'
22. Kr.Gd.: "and good-willing" crossed out;
Cr.: 'and good-willing' omitted
 61

maybe, we1123, he often offends peopI e, we1123, he often says things that he
may24 not have said, and afterwards he repents . Very often he creates
disharmony 25 , which he could have avoided by not saying26 . VA person
who has not yet mastered hismind, his thoughts, opens his l ips in a moment
of excitement, ina moment of emotion, 28before anyone,givesout hisse-
cret29 which, perhaps, afterwards he repents30, he30 beginsto feel31 that
at that moment it was just a ,conversation to pass32 time ; but after that
moment has gone, hewould33 feel that he 34would have34 never35 said it ;
but +t he36has given37in38 the handsof that person37his head37for the39
whole life . He th i nks : "i n40 that person 41beyond there is41 my secret ." What
a terrible situation42 then . Besides, you will see43 personswho enjoytalk-

23. Kr.Gd. : 'well" crossed out;

Cr., tp. : "well" omitte d
24. Kr.Gd. :'she .44d-miight, instead of "may" ;
C .r., Ip. : 'might'
25. Kr.Gd. : "disharmony" changed to ' inhamiony" ;
C x.: ' inhamiony '
Tp.: 'dishamiorry' ;
Sk.: 'disharmony '
26. Kr.Gd.: ' saying' changed to 'speaking';
Cf., Ip.: 'speaking '
27. Tp. : "If' added
28 . Kr.Gd.:'and' added;
Cr . : 'and" ;
Tp . : 'before anyone, and gives'
29 . Kr .Gd .: 'of' added;
C .r ., tp . : 'of '
30. Kr .Gd . : ', he' changed to " . He' ;
Cr. : ' . He '
31 . Kr .Gd . :'to feel' changed into 'by feeling' ;
C .r. : 'by feeling' ;
Sk . : to feel '
32. Kr.Gd. : 'the' added ;
Cl., Ip . : 'the'
33 . Kr.Gd. :'would feel' changed to "feels" ;
C .r., tp. : ' f eels '
34. Kr.Gd. : 'would have' changed to "had better' ;
Cr. : 'had better' ;
Tp.: 'could better'
35. Kr.Gd. : "have' added;
C .r., lp. : 'have"
36. Tp.: 'it" instead of 'he'
37. Kr.Gd. :'his head' placed af ter 'given" ;
C .r., tp.: 'his head' after 'given'
38. Kr.Gd.: * in' changed to ' into" ;
Cr.: 'into "
39. Kr.Gd.: 'the' changed to 'his' ;
Cx., tp.: 'his '
40. Kr.Gd.: "in' crossed out
Cr., 1p.: 'in' omitted
41 . Kr.Gd.: 'beyond there is' charged to 'over there has' ;
Cr., 1P.: 'over there '
42. Kr.Gd.: 'he is in' inserted;
Cr., Ip.: 'he is in '
43. Kr.Gd.: 'that' added;
Cr., Ip.: 'that'
62

ing often give a headache to those who hear them, besidesmaking them-
selves so exhausted in the end, that they cannot understand why . Often
they think" because the others made them so ; they don't know that it is
their own talking which hascaused it . Many disagreements are caused by
excessive talking . And many a misunderstanding can be avoided if only a
person had45 the4control over hiswords . Very often to talk to some people
without consideration, without thought, is like giving in47 their hands a
sword or a handl ing48 'that they maybe abl a to move the one who to l ks to
them in the way they like .

There is an amusing tale49 in India . It is told that a housewife50went

to a magnetiser51and asked him if he52had anything tosay52, or53to help
her with her trouble at home . The magnetiser51 asked 54what was the
trouble-'A . The housewife50 said, "Every daywhen my husband comes home,
he is in a bad mood, and there is every daya quarrel ." The magnetiser51
said : "It isveryeasy . Iwill give you some magnetic sweets . What you must
do is to keep one in the mouth, especially55at the time55 when he comes
home ." She was very happy to think that these magnetic sweets may56help
her i n57 I ife . And so it happened . The man who used to become nervous and
excitable when he came home, and found no answertohis irritation50, he,
after being a little uncomfortable, became quiet, for there was no stimulus
to his agitation . When two or three days passed-59 he began to value hiswife
so much, he thought : "What a great improvement!" He began to see h is ow n

44. Kr.Gd.: ' it is' added;

Cr., tp. : "it is '
45. Kr.Gd. :'had' chargedto'has' ;
Cr., tp. : 'has '
46. Tp. : 'the' omitted
47. Kr.Gd. : 'in' changed to "into" ;
Cr. : "Alto "
48. Kr.Gd . : "handling" changed to 'handle' ;
Cr., tp. : "handle "
49. Kr.Gd. : 'tale' changed to 'stay told' ;
Cr., tp. : "story told '
50. Kr.Gd. : 'housewife' changed to 'woman' ;
C .r., lp. : 'woman *
51 . Kr.Gd. : 'magnetiser' charged to "healer' ;
Cr., tp. : "healer '
52. Kr.Gd. : 'had anything to say' changed to "could tell her anything" ;
Cr., tp. : "could tell her anything"
53 . Kr.Gd. : 'give her arching' added,
Cr., tp. : 'give her anything '
54 . Kr.Gd . : the ird'rect speech charged to direct speech' : What is the toaWe?
Cr., Ip. : "What is the trouble? "
55. Tp. : 'at the tune' omitted
56. Kr.Gd. : 'may' changed to 'might' ;
Cr., tp. : 'might ,
57 . Kr.Gd . : "her' added,
Cr.,1p. : her.
58 . Cr. : "invitation" read for 'irritation '
59 . Kr .Gd. : "passed' changed to 'had passed' ;
Cr., p . : 'had passed'
 63

faults and began to blame himself,60 how foolish he was himself and how
good was 61this housewife61 . After a few days the wife had finished the
sweets, she went to the magnet iser51 to thank him and said, "I wi l l give any-
thing if you would62give me a lot of that63 sweet, it is such a wonderful
sweet . It has brought harmony in our home, he is so kind and good to me
now, all things are changed because of the64 sweets, I wi I I give 65 anything
for it ."The wise man said : "My-good lady, it is not the sweets, it isthe lesson
which was behind it . The secret was in keeping the lips closed . "

We have aI I a thousand troubles . Do we not find in our everyday life

how many different temperamentswe have to meet with, 66those who are
67more worldly67 than we,, others who are lessworldly 68 ; those who are
tolerant, others who are not ; those who easy69 understand69 and otherswho
can70 and wi I I not understand, the more we talk to them the worse they be-
come . How very often very worthy people tell their friends to be very wor-
thy and talk to them of their belief . But just because of theirtalking the
others cannot accept it, otherwise they would have become very worthy
themselves . How very often there are people of such temperaments that the
very fact of talking to them over71 anything, causes them to take the oppo-
site view . If you say : "It is very good," they say : "Why is it good, it is bad ." If
you say : "It is bad," they say : "It is good, why is it bad?" They have always
the opposite attitude . There are others who take this attitude : because you
say this is right, it is wrong . If you 72shouId not have72 said : it is w ong,
then perhaps it could73 have been right . They themselves could73 have
found it out .

60. Kr.Gd .: 'thinking' added;

Cx., tp.: 'thinking '
61 . Kr.Gd. : "this housewife" charged to "his wife" ;
Cr., tp.: "his wif e '
62. Kr.Gd. : 'would" changed to "will only' ;
Cr., tp.: 'will only '
63 . Tp. : 'those sweets" instead of 'that sweet"
64. Kr.Gd. : 'the' changed to 'those' ;
Cr., tp.: 'those'
65. Tp.: "you" added
66. Tp.: omitted, "those who are more worldly than we, others who are less worldly'
67. Kr.Gd. : 'nee worldly' changed to "worthier" ;
Cx.: 'worthier '
68. Kr.Gd.: 'worldly' changed to'warthy" ;
Cr.: ' worthy '
69. Kr.Gd.: "easy' crossed out and "easily" inserted after 'understand" ;
Cr.,tp.:'easy" omitted and 'easily' placed after 'unckrstand "
70. Kr.Gd.: "not' added ;
Cx., Ip.: "not "
71 . Kr.Gd.: "ova" charged to 'about' ;
Cr., tp.: 'about '
72. Kr.Gd.: 'should not have' changed to 'had not' ;
Cf., tp.: "had not ,
73. Kr.Gd.: "could" charged to "might" ;
Cf., qP. : "night'
64

If you only study human nature from morning till evening, you will
be amused to seethe different temperaments, the different attitudes, the
different grades of evolution, the different examples of human nature . It
would be sufficient to keep one's lips closed and just to look at theworld,
just to see how it isworking,to see how people talk together and how they
become friends in74 any moment, in75 another moment they become fiends76
over an unimportant truths . What does it show? It shows that man remains a
child in his nature in some part orthe46 other . He isnot only78child in his
infancy, but he is79 child through hiswhoIe Iife, most80 insome81 part of his
personality . Some part of a82 personality remains as83 a child's . And the bet-
ter 84 you think84, the better85you feel85, the more advisable it is to keep86
1 ips closed, and to observe l ife with open heart . Remember that when the
ips87 are opened, the senses' become closed . In otherwords, the sense tha t
sees more than the eyes, is capable of seeing when the eyes are closed . In
that way words that come from the soul of man, become audible when the
ips are closed . The whole89 mysticism, thewhole 89 esoteric philosophy, is
built on this principle, that there isa kind of mechanical closing anddis-
closing of the different senses, which is related with the closing and
disclosing of the centre of different faculties . In short, it is the90self-con-
trol or self-discipline which isgained by the powerof silence, which helps
man to the attainment of a higher or a greater I ife . 91How our I ife to ex-

74. Kr.Gd . : *in any' changed to "at one" ;

CI., tp. : 'one '
75. Kr. Gd. : "in' changed to 'at' ;
Cf., tp. : 'at '
76. Kr.Gd. : "fiends " changed to " enemies
Cf., tp. : 'enemies '
77. Kr.Gd : "truth" changed to 'matter' ;
Cf., tp. : "matter '
78. Kr.Gd.: 'a' added;
Cx., 1p.: 'a '
79. Tp.: 'a' added
80. Kr.Gd: 'mosdy" ;
Cs., tp.: 'mostly '
81 . Kr.Gd.: "some " changed to 'one' ;
Cs., tp.: 'one "
82. Kr .Gd.: 'a' changed to ' the' ;
C .r., tp.: " the '
83. Kr .Gd .: 'as' changed to "like" ;
C .r., t,.: 'like '
84. Kr .Gd .: "you dunk " charged to "you drought" ;
C . .: *yo r dxxgM"
85 . Kr .Gd .: "you feel" changed to 'your feelirg" ;
Cs . : "yar feeling '
86 . Kr .Gd .: "the' added;
CI ., Ip.: "the "
87 . Kr.Gd .: "lips* charged to "eyes%
Cr ., tp.: 'eyes '
88 . Kr.Gd .: "senses" changed to " inner sight' ;
C .r ., Ip.: 'inner sight"
89 . Kr.Gd .: 'of " added;
C .r ., tp.: 'of '
90. Tp . : " the" omitte d
91 . Kr.Gd .: 'How otr life to expand" changed to 'How can ou life be expanded?' ;
Cs ., tp.: "How can our l i f a be e xpanded? "
 65

pand91, how92 the sages in the East practise silence, in order to attain what
is called self-discipline, in other words, in order to gain mastery? In the
first place they gain mastery over movement . A person is always Iiable to
make movementswhen they are not necessary, and he shows nervousness, in
otherwords : lack of control . There is always93a tendency in man93 to be do-
ing something . If there was nothing, he will be playing with a paper or pen-
cil, ordrawing, hewill be moving someth i ng or beat i ng t ime or doi ng some-
thing . When this tendency grows and 94no one corrects94, 95no one
controls95, in the end he96 becomes more and more nervous, and it beg ins to
speak97 upon a person's96 health, because the energy which should be con-
trolled, is being spent in every movement . And this the sages in the East
attain by exercising99 what they call postures . There are certain ways
that100 the mystic sits, certain ways that100the mystic stands, certain ways
that100 the mystic moves, not only the mystics of India or of Persia but also
the ancient101 Egyptians and Greeks . By studying the ancient arts, the dif-
ferent ways inwhich the ancient kings and monks and sages and ascetics
used to sit or stand, we see that every way had a certain meaning, a certain
secret, a certain power behind it . That secret, it seems that these ages102
have lost, but yet it is not Iost, it still remains among those who follow the
innercult .Then bytakin a vowof silence forcertain hours in the day, and
by speaking to no one, a 03 mystic develops the power of breath and mag-
5
netism . The monk of the104 ancient times, the Christian monks, they10

92. Kr.Gd : 'do' added;

C .r., tp. : 'do'
93. Tp. : *in man a tendency"
94. Kr.Gd . : 'no one corrects' changed to 'one does not cared it ' ;
C .r., tp.: "no one corrects it '
95 . Kr.Gd: "no one controls" changed to 'one does not control it ' ;
Cr .: 'one does not control it'
96 . Tp .: ' he', charged by Sk . to 'one '
97 . Kr .Gd: "to speak" changed to 'to tell' ;
Cr., tp. : " to tell "
98. Kr.Gd.: " a person's" changed to "his" ;
C .r. : 'his" ;
Tp. : 'his', changed by Sk. to ' one's '
99. Kr.Gd . : 'exercis ing' changed to "practising" ;
C .r., tp . : 'practising '
100. Kr.Gd . : 'that' changed to *in which" ;
Cr., tp. : "in which '
101 . Tp. : ' ancient' omitted
102. Kr.Gd : 'ages' changed to 'times' ;
Cr.: 'tones '
103. Kr.Gd : 'a' changed to 'the' ;
Cr., tp.: 'the'
104. Kr.Gd: 'the ' crossed out
Cf.,1p.: 'the ' omitte d
105 . Kr.Gd .: 'they' crossed out,
C .r., p.: "they' omitted
66

106used to practise silence aIso106 . 107The Brahmans of ancient India, they108

used to practise si I ence .107 The Moslem saints of 109 the Arabs, they105 used to
keep silence for certain hours of the day . But that is not sufficient . When
the11° movement is suspended and when111 lips are closed, still the mind
may be pondering on different thoughts . For the mind is most difficult to
control . Now the control of one's movements and the control of one's speech
gives man a greater power in controlling111 mind . And those who do not
gradually develop the powerof control by controlling their movement'12
and speech, and who at once wish to control their mind,they105 find it very
difficult . Therefore meditation or concentration is considered in theEasta
cult which is more important than religion, for this is the essence of reli-
gion . Religion isthe form but this is the spirit .

One may say, "But what can we do in the West, where the activity is
so great, where the I ife is so heavy and ful I of occupation and ful I of
responsibilities, that it seems almost impossible to attain to113 that power of
silence ." But in answer tothis question Iwill always saythat forthe very
reason that life in the Westkeepsman more occupied and very active, it is
necessary for the Western person to g ive some of h is t ime to the stilling of
the activities of his body and of his mind . He spends his energy more, so he
requires energy more . 114This is part of the energy or115of the115activity114
which food 1 6nor nourishment can116 give . The material foodwhich only
gives a certain amount of nourishment to117 flesh and blood is not really suf-
ficient for man, who is not only118 made of flesh and blood118 . For in man
there are greater possibi I ities and many different capacities, and therefore
he does not only need food or drink or sleep, but he needs something besides
it, to make his I ife normal or ful I . In what we consider the present progress
with all its intellectual progress, industrial and commercial, there seems to
be no progress of what may be cal led individuality, a full expression of per-
sonal ity . And you see that feebleness from time to time, if119 thingswentl2 °

106. Kr.Gd.: "also" placed before "used" and crossed out at the end of the sentence ;
Cr., tp.: " also" before "used "
107. Ci.: this sentence (*The Brahmans ... silence.") was leftout.
106. Kr.Gd: "they" at ssed out;
Tp. : 'they" omitted
109. Kr.Gd.: "of" changed to "among" ;
C .r., tp. : " among "
110. Kr.Gd : "the" crossed out
C .r., tp. : " the" omi tted
111 . Kr.Gd : "the" added;
Cr., tp. : " the"
112 . Tp. : " movements"
113 . Tp. : "to' omi tted
114 . Kr.Gd. : "This ispartof the energy ar of the activity " changed to " It is energy or activity" ;
Cr. : "It is energy or activity "
115. Tp. : "of the" omitted
116. Kr.Gd . : ' nor . . . can' changed to "ar ... carrot" ;
Cr. : 'or . . carrot"
117. Kr .Gd . : "the" added
C1 .: "the "
118. Kr .Gd : "only" crossed out and placed of ter " blood" ;
C.r ., tp .: "only" after "blood"
119. Kr .Gd . : "if " changed to "when" ;
Cr ., 1p .: "when"
 67

asthey are going just now ; in music, in poetry, in art, in science, ineduca-
tion, a kind of feebleness121 from time to time arises121, for the very reason
that little attention is being paid to the advancement122of personality, to
the progressof individuality . Besides there is nothing impossible . Even af-
terl23the whole day's work a person does in hisoffice or in his factory, or in
the midst of the world, when he comes home, if he considered that as he re-
qu i res food, as he requires sleep, so it is necessary that he must have a cer-
tain hour for hissilence, for his meditation . If 124onewished124 it, it cannot
be difficult . It isdifficult because one does not count it as a certain impor-
tant thing in his everyday life, ashe countshis dinner . How1u busy he is,
dinner isan importantthing forhim . lfhe consideredthe samething ofsi-
lence, that it is an important thing, that it126isthe dinner of the soul, then
he couldfindsome time .There aremanypeople whomay beableto finda
fewminutes even in the midst of the day, in the midst of the hours they give
to their businessor theirwork, to go in retirement in a cornerwhere they
can get their senses concentrated, their breath being put into rhythm, their
nerves stilled, their mind and body gainedl2' in hand again after the work
of certain 12 hours .

The work of the Sufi Movement in the Western world is to give facil-
ity to those seekers after truth, those who wish to learn the cult of life, to
give them the opportunity . It is not an activity which answers immediately
those who are seeking afterwondersor looking for superstitions . For unhap-
pi ly today there seems to be inthe spiritual awakening oftheworld akind
of wishing for wonderseeking, wonderworking, and a seeking after phe-
nomena . This is not what we bring . We bring 129simple thingsl29 as have
been sa id before, simple thingsof life, how life can be lived ful ly, and how
happinesswhich is natural, and which isalso a part of these-be4Ns one's 130
being, can be expressed by a better understanding of I ife and by its prac-

120. Kr.Gd.: "went' changed to " may be going" ;

C .., lp. : " maybe going" ;
5k.: 'go' instead of 'maybe gong"
121 . Tp.: "arises" placed after ' feebleness '
122. Kr.Gd.: " advancement " changed to " development' ;
C .., Ip. : ' develq nient '
123. Tp.: " after" omitted
124. Tp. : ' he wishes " instead of "one wished"
125. Kr.Gd.: 'How" changed to 'However' ;
Cr., tp. : "However '
126. C .r. : "it" omi tted
127. Kr. Gd. : "gained" changed to "got" ;
C .r., tp. : "got" ;
5k . : "got"
128. Kr. Gd. : 'certain' changed to ' several" ;
Cs., IQ. : " several "
129. Kr. Gd. : "such' added ;
Cr. : 'such' ;
Tp. : "such" placed of ter 'things"
130. Tp. : 'man's' instead of 'one's"
68

tice .And really, although people seem to be hankering after complexities,

people are looking for something which they cannot understand . Ifyoutell
them some storiesor certain things, they cannot understand for which rea-
son cannot be given, they think : "there is something, it is really something
occult, because we cannot understand, it is too deep to understand ." Some-
thing which makes a person confused, about that he thinks : "that is really
worthwhile ."And in thisway this re-awakening of the spiritual truth will be
blown up131 by the wind, and no real fruit 132isto be got132 .

The centra I theme of the Sufi Movement therefore is to answer the

problems of the day, to provide for the simple needs of133 daily spiritual
Iife . A13persona I advice on these subjects is given or training is given on
such subjects in order to make man practise for himself and see for himself
when135 he himself thinks of life and its mysteries .

131 . Kr.Gd.: 'Lp" charged to "away" ;

C,r., tp.: 'away "
132. Kr.Gd.: ' is to be got" changed to "will be had" ;
C.r.: will be had" ;
Tp.: 'will begot'
133. Kr.Gd. : 'the' added ;
Cs ., tp .: "the "
134. Kr .Gd . : 'A' crossed out
C .r ., tp .: "A" omitte d
135. C1 .: Sk . suggested to change 'when ' to " what' ;
Tp . : 5k . changed ' when' to "what"
 69
No reporting of this lecture has been found in the archives to
date. The present text is from the magazine Sufism of March
1923.

The Sufi Order . 2

3Report of a Lecture by Inayat Khan . 3

Beloved ones of God ,

I wish to speak a fewwords this evening on the Sufi Order and its
work in the world . In the first place, people often wonder if it is amission
from the East . I answer that neither is it from the East or from the West, it is
from Above . It is for the work of God and the service of humanity, in which
people of the East and the West, of the North and the South, have al I joined
together as their sacred task . The word Sufi is easternaswell as western ; it
comes from the Greek word Sophia, and in the Persian language is Sufia, so
the word should be acceptable both in the East and in the West . It is not the
name of a certa in sector religion, but it is the name used for the essence of
all religions . No doubt very often people confuse the word wisdom with the
word intellect, but inpointof factwisdom is something springing out of the
heart of man . The source of wisdom is God Himself, while intellect is
knowledge gained in the world, the knowledge of names and forms ; worldly
cleverness cannot be compared with wisdom . Many are clever, but are they
wise? Their wisdom lasts for moments ordays and ends in nothingness . All
success acquired by worldly cleverness is limited, and when the limited
time has passed, it comes toanend . Truewisdom isthedivine essence hid-
den deep in the heart of man, andwhich every man is seeking, some con-
sciously, others unconsciously . Sophia or Sufism is the name for the real
wisdom, springing from the heart of man as a divine stream . In al l ages those
who haverealized thisdivine spring, which is theheritage of every soul,
have called it Sophia orWisdom . It has been known byother names, 4such
asVedanta, Bible orScripture4, but wisdom in all its forms and at whatever
time it has been g iven to the worl d is i n fact Suf ism . No doubt the name wa s

Notes :

1 . Although the lecture is undated, it may have been given in the latter part of January 1923, when Pir-o-
Mirshid was in England.
2 . In October 1923 the official name became "Sufi Movement", and only the Esoteric School of the Suf i
Movement was from then on called the "Sufi Order . '
3 . This sentence appears in the Table of Contents on the cover of the magazine .
A copy of leaf let no . 11, obtained from Sirdar's collection of lectures, and which is a reprint of the ar-
ticle ' The Sufi Order' in the magazine Suf ism of March 1923, has a few corrections made in the
handwriting of Mirshida Goodenough . It is not known if these are her own corrections or if they were
taken from an older version of this lecture.
4 . Added by Gd . on the printed leaf let: ' i.e.' before "such", and 'Bible or Scripture' crossed out .
70

adopted to distinguish institutions where the students devoted themselves

to the study of metaphysics and the inner cult, to the contemplation of God,
and to works of charity ; and the people who belonged to these institutions
were the firstwhenevera Divine Messenger came, in whatever country, to
sympathise and to understand . Their heartswere broad enough to receive
the new Message, and they were the great supports of all the Messengers . If
we study the traditions of reI igiouswars, we shall find that everywhere and
in every period there has always been opposition to the message which has
been given as an inspiration to men, people fighting against one another,
and saying "OurGod is different to your God ; our Church isdifferent ; the
Messengerwhom you esteem is different ." But to theSufisin all agesdiffer-
ences do not exist ; the one thing they fought against and opposed was that
which divided humanity into so many sects and creeds, that the nations
should fight one another instead of harmonizing with and understanding
one another by the help of religion . No prophet, no Messenger, has ever
brought the message to the world with the idea that his fol lowers should be
exclusive, that they should look on the followers and disciples of other
faithswith hatred and contempt, or that they should say that thei rswasthe
only true message . How many wars and battles in the history of the world
have been causedby religious differences? Thatwas not the will of God,
nor the motive of the prophets, nor of religion ; it was the abuse of religion,
made by the authorities of religion for the sake of their own power and con-
trol over the followers of that faith . One can trace back through the history
of the Hebrew prophets, that Sufism existed in the time of Abraham, who re-
sponded to the call of God, and when he came back from Egypt after h is in i-
tiation itwas the Sufis who gathered round him, and an association of the
wise was formed .-So with Jesusand Mohammed, the Sufis were the first to
recognize the Divine Message, and to welcome the Messenger, to sym-
pathise and to understand . The sympathy of the Sufis was great, because
they knew how difficult it was fora human being with goodness to l ive in
this false world, and so they realized how much greater the difficultywas
for those who bore the Message of Truth . After the passi ng of the prophet
Mohammed, one finds the Sufisexisting, and having their institutions in all
the civilized parts of the East--in India, China, Persia, Egypt, and Arabia .
How couldthe Hindusand Muslems have ever existed so long side by side
with their great difference of religion but for the light of the Sufi wisdom,
which taught them to respect one another? Wherever in the East one finds
peace among the followers of divers faiths it is by the efforts of the Sufis
who I ived in contemplation of Truth, and the realization of the source and
goal of all beings whom wecall God . When we consider the condition of
the world to-daywe find that it is not very different from the daysof the
past ; hatred, prejudice, bitternessstill exist between races and nations and
the followersof different faiths . All efforts in different directions towards
reform, social, commercial or pol itical, have their limitations ; they have
their selfish side, but no means can be greater than the realization of the
Truth, in which all human beings can unite . It is this object which has
caused those interested in the service of God and humanity to forma nu-
 71

cleusor Brotherhood which we call the Sufi Order--an Order which consists
of membersof different creeds and nations . Those who constitute the Sufi
Order have their own religion, their own churches, their own Scripture,
their own Master whom they esteem, and to whom they offer their devotion .
The Sufi Orderdoes not ask them to changetheir religion, rather it helps
them to understand the i r own religion better . It teaches them that religion
cannot be confined to one creed, and that not only in religion but in every
aspect of life, tolerance, love and sympathy must be developed . This is the
main teaching that the Sufi Order brings to the world ; that and the real iza-
tion of God, not only having belief in God but knowledge ; the knowledge
ofGodwhich isthefulfilment of our life in the world . Belief alone doesnot
give the full satisfaction for which the soul longs . Often great believers in
God, after some deep sorrow or disappointment, after some crisis in I ife
when they feel they have been left alone, and no notice hasbeen taken,
lose their faith ; for instance, how many believers in God have lost their
faith after the Great Wars, because bel ief in God is not sufficient? Knowl-
edge of God is necessary, and that knowledge cannot be acquired by study
only, but by a certain method which iscalledthe InnerCult . The Suf i Order
is not a secret society ; it has no secrets ; if it has any, the secret is God and
His realization ; only this way of attainment cannot be trusted to every-
body, and therefore there is an initiation, and this initiation means a
reception, when the member is al lowed to enter for the study of the Inner
Cult . Initiation into the Sufi Order is not given that it may be talked about
and discussed everywhere ; it is an entrance to be kept quiet and in humble
guise ; for the object of the Sufi Cult is to understand, and not to make a
showof understanding--to know but not to talk . The Sufi idea isthat before
the awakened eyes theworld is asleep ; people moving about andworking
but at the same time asleep, and according to the teaching of the prophets
it is a great crime to awaken a person who has not yet completed his sleep .
The work of the Order is to give a helping hand to those who are now begin-
ning to awake ; who have been blessed6 and are changingthemselves7 . By
uniting and working together they can be helped, and the entering into this
help is cal led initiation .

Some enter the Order with the idea of the benefit they may gain by
its teaching, by meditation and by the blessing that comes from joining
with others who are not only interested in the culture of the soul, butwork8
to serve God and humanity by devoting their I ife, time and thought to the
furtherance of the cause .

There are three aspects of work in the Sufi Order . The main aspect is
the Esoteric side, which one enters by being received into the Order by a n

5 . Wald War I, 1914-1918 .

6 . "blessed" changed by Gd . on the printed leaf let to "roused "
7 . "themselves" changed by Gd . on the printed leaf let to • sides"
8 . "work" changed by Gd . on the printed leaf let to "want"
72

initiation ; this is for those who are seeking afterthe deeper realization of
Life . Another aspect is the Exoteric side of ourwork, which is often cal led
the "Church of All" ; it is not only the Church of Al I, it is in reality Al
Churches ; where the Scriptures of al I religions are held in esteem ; where
the Teachers of all faiths are respected, where we learn not only to offer
our prayers to God but to offerour homage to Wisdom in all the aspects in
which it has come to the world in al I ages, through al I the Teacherswhether
known or unknown to the world, and which has been given in al l Scriptures .
We observe the form of al I the rel igionsof the world which have fol lowers
to-day, so that no one attending the service of the Church of Al I may feel
that his religion is not respected in the Church which has no limitations,
which acknowledges no differences, the Church which is the Church of the
day, and which before long wi I I be the Church of the World .

The third aspect of this movement isthe work of promoting the ideal
of Brotherhood which isso much needed everywhere to-day . Leaving the
East aside, even if we think only of Europe, of the hatred and prejudice ex-
isting ; so much that if it goes on one cannot th ink what wi l l be the end, for
it is already paralysing social, political and commercial life . Imagine
what is the psychic effect of the Great Wars resulting in mi l l ionsof deaths,
and of the deaths from the famine in Russia, what poisonous vibrations have
been set going ; for life is creative--if one sowsweeds, weedswill grow ; if
corn, then corn .

The Sufi Message istherefore the answerto the call of humanity ; it

isservice to God and man, with no distinction of caste, creed, race, nation
or religion .
 73
Sakina's shorthand reporting, transcribed by the compiler.

Winter 1923 1

My subject ofdiscoursethis eveningwillbe, "The4LifeaContinual

Battle ."

No one in thisworld, whateverbe his position or experience in Iife,

will deny the fact that life means a continual battle . And therefore one's
success, failure, happiness or unhappiness mostly depends upon one's
knowledge about this battle . Whatever be one'soccupation in Iife, what-
ever be one's knowledge, if one lacks the knowledge of the battle of I ife,
one lacksthe main knowledge which is most important in life .

Now the question ariseswhat that5 knowledge of6 I ife's battle con-
tains . It contains the knowledge of warfare : howtobattleand howtomake
a7 peace . And as human nature has8, it is usual, or very often, has one mis-
take, and that isthat ittakesone side, eitherthe side ofwaror9 the side of
peace . And if you will study the history of nations and races, you will find
that it is thismistake which has10caused the failure of nations and races .
For an instance there have been times when nations and races have devel-
oped in their character the knowledge of peace . For an instance people
such asthe Hindusof the mostancient civilization . But it could not bring
that satisfaction which was necessary, for the reason that one side of huma n

Documents:

Sk.sh.
U . (an incomplete reporting in the hwr. of M .IIe Lef ebvre of a simultaneously given French translation of
the lecture) .
Sk .l .tp.
Tp. (a typed copy of Sk .l .tp . with a few changes) .

This lecture was fist published in the magazine Soufisme of December 1927 in a French translation . In
1%2 it was published in The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume VI.

Notes:

1 . Lf .: added "16, Av. Victor Emmanuel" , the house of Barame d'Eichthal in Paris where the lecture was
given, and the date "5th Febniary" ;
Although the lecture appears in Sk .sh. in her copybook " Sumner 1922, Winter 1923', in Sk .I .tp . by mis-
take the year 1922 instead of 1923 was written above.
2. Sk .sh., Sk .l .tp. : added above the lecture ' Life a continual Battle'
3 . Ski 4 . : 'Beloved Ones of God, "
4. Tp. : "The' omitte d
5. Sk .I .Ip . : " this" instead of "that"
6. Ibid. : "in", changed back by Sk . to "of "
7 . Ibid. : "a" omitted, but reinserted by 5k .
8 . Ibid. : 'has' omitted
9 . Tp . : "of " mistyped for "a"
10. Ibid. : 'has" omitted
74

nature was neglected and not understood . Now at this present age it seems
that the knowledge of battle has developed, but on the other side the
knowledge of peace is absent . For the full knowledge of warfare is the
knowledge of battle and the knowledge of peace . And this can be learned
according to the idea of the mystics by battling one's self and by bringing
about peace with one's own soul .1 1

The I ife of an individual being is not much different from the I ife of
the world . An individual person 's home is not different from the world, and
individual ' s body andmind and spirit make12 the whole universe .

An individual I ife can fil I the gap between the dawn of creation and
the last day .

Man does not realize how important is his own I ife , hisself . And it is
the study of his own life and his self13 is the study of the greatest impor-
tance . For an instance , a healthy person has waiting at his door several ill-
nesses, several diseases, waiting the opportunity when they can attack
him .A person with wealth has many waiting athis door to get the occasion
to take away from him what he possesses . A person about whom good is said,
how many there are awaiting a chance , a moment that something bad may
be said about it . A person who has a power , a position, how many awaiting
the opportunity to pul I him down and to see him slide down from the place
where he stands . And what does it show? Often one may ask the reason,
14"Why is it so?"14 You may give a thousand reasons and you cannot give one
proper reason . The best explanation15 isthat life is one continual battle .
The processof creation has begun I ike this . According to the science, th e
ight comes from the friction . It is one power against the other power fight-
ing,and by those16 two different forces striking , there comes out an effect .
And that effect real ly speaking may be cal led l ife . And in this l ies the se-
cret of love and hate both . One sees therefore in the animal creation that
the animals have as their instinct the first tendency to fight one another .
And this tendency becomes modified, and it is itsmodification and its re-
duced force what17 produces18 them what we cal I virtues .

11 . Sk .sh. : Here follows an empty space, nearly half a Ike. It is uncertain if something has been omitted, or
if just a new paragraph begins;
Sk .l .tp . : The empty space was disregarded and a full stop added after 'soul'
12. Sk .sh . : In sh . 5k . uses the same sign for 'make' and for *makes" ;
Sk .l .tp. : 'makes '
13 . Sk .sh., Sk .l .tp. : a small empty space, where 'that' or 'which' may have been said
14 . Sk .I .tp. : "Why is it sod' lacks quotation mark s
15 . Sk .sh. : 'that you can give' inserted by Sk . in sh . ;
Sk .l .tp. : 'that you can give'
16. Sk.l .tp.: 'that' read by Sk . for 'those' ;
Tp.: 'those '
17. Sk.I.Ip.: 'that' instead of 'what'
18. Ibid.: 'in' added
 75

As it is said in the19Qur'an, the world was created out of darkness . So

one can see that wisdom comes out of ignorance . And the best knowledge is
not only the knowledge of al I that is good and beautiful, al I that is harmo-
nious and peaceful, but knowledge of the causes that are behind al I con-
fI icts and al I the battles that one has to face in I if e . And the reason why man
generally lacks this knowledge is because when he is faced to a battle, he
wants to battIe instead of wanting to learn it . And the one who without at-
taining the knowledge of warfare goes in life's battle, both he in the end
loses . But the one ZOwho all this warfare of life first learns, learns its
reason,20 learns its cause, he becomes more capable of fighting the battle
of his life . It is pointing to this secret that Christ has said that, "Resist not
evil ." This21 means that if at every time something that appears to you
wrong or unjust in anotherperson, you will resist it oryou will fight your
battle, by that you will always lose your power . For the competent general
is not the one who always attacks . The competent general is the one who
stands in defence more fi rm . His success is more secure than the one who
continually attacks . Very often one sees in one's everyday life that by los-
ing one's temper with someone who has lost already his temper, one does not
gain anything, except striking the path of stupidity . The one who hasself-
control enough to stand fi rm at that moment when another person is in tem-
per, he in the end wins the battle . It is not the one who has spoken a hundred
words aloud who has won . It is the one perhaps who has spoken one word .
Muf fed-weird&a;e4tot-h4og-

Nowfor thisbattle in lifethe firstthingthat isnecessary istokeep

the army in order . And what is thisarmy? This army isone's nervouspower .
Whatever be one's occupation, one's profession, one's walk in life, if one
has not the control of one's own nerves, one wi l l be unable to control one's
work22in life . Today people are seeking for the study of political economy,
and different kinds of ec .23, but the most essential economy is economising
the forceswhich make one healthy and strong through life . Now this army
must be dri l l ed and must be made to work at the command . And one wi l l find
its proof that when one can sleep at one's wi l 1, when one can rest24, work at
one's wi l 1, then real ly that army is at one's command . Now, then there are
the officersof thisarmy, and these officers are the facultiesof mind . Now
these faculties of mind are five : the f . 25 of retaining thought, the f .u of
thinking 26 , the f .25of feeling 26 , f .25of reasoning 27and judging27, an d

19. Ibid. : " the" omitted;

Tp. : 'the '
20. Sk.l .tp. : Rewri tten to read: 'who learns this warf are of life, first learns its reasons,'
21 .Ibid. : "That" instead of 'this '
22. Ibid. : Sk . read 'walk' for "work "
23. Ibid. : " econorny", abbreviated in Sk .sh. to'ec.'
24. Sk.sh. : added " and eat' in Ih. ;
Sk.I .tp. : "and eat'
25. Sk.I .tp. : " faculty", abbreviated in Sk .sh. to If ."
26. Sk.sh. : an empty space;
Sk.l .tp. : a comma
27. Sk.I .lp. : "and judging' omi tted, but reinserted by Sk .
76

that f .' in man which is the principal f .u, the feeling of "I" or ego . Even
with a body with strong nerves, when these five f .'which work as the gen-
erals of the army, if they29 are not working in order, if they are not clear,
then when- one cannot expect a success in I ife'swarfare . And there is a fur-
ther study, or the practice in the art of tra ining these generalsof the army
i n one's own body .

But now the question comes that even with an army and with compe-
tent generals, that one must have the knowledge30 that against what one is
battling . For very often man isbattling with hisown real interest . During
the battle it is an intoxication, he is battling, he does not know where he is
going . But at the end of the battle, even if victorious, he finds in his victory
his loss .

Now today that31 there seems to be a great seeking and enthusiasm

everywhere to be found . There seems to be a kind of new interest aroused in
humanity, to understand I ife and truth more . There is a very large number in
humanitywho are looking for the bestway of gaining the power in orderto
battle through life, andthere is asmall numberagain whoare looking for
some way of bringing peace to themselves and toothers . But both these in
their pursuit lack that balancewhich can be only brought about by under-
standing, by studying, and by practising the knowledge of war and peace
both together . Without knowing about the war, one cannot know thor-
oughly about the peace . Without understanding the peace, one cannot
know thoroughly about the war . What is necessary at the present is the
study of life in general,and inthat studythe knowledgeof such questions
as the purpose of life, what is really beneficial in life, what is nature and
where is the goal . it is no use trying to practise something before studying
it . What doesworld-wise mean? It means expert in thiswarfare of I ife, who
knows how to battle, how to make a peace, why to battle, and what aim is
accomplished by a peace .

And this must be understood, that the battle with oneself is peace
and battle with another is war . And once a person has not practised with
oneself, he cannot be32very we1132 competent to battle with others . Per-
hapsall this creation, when one finds out the secret that is hidden, it is only
this : that out of one life asthe origin and the goal of all, this life of variety
has come . Therefore the nature of that life from which this21 world of vari-
ety has come, is peace, and the nature of th is l ife of variety is war . There-
fore neither one can be without war, nor one can be without peace .
Therefore to say that the war in life must end, one may say it, but yet i t

28. Ibid.: "faculties", abbreviated in sk .sh . to "f ."

29. Ibid.: "these" instead of "they"
30. Ibid.: "of " added
31 . Sk.sh.: "that" crossed out by sk . ;
Sk.I.IQ. : 'that" omitted
32. Sk .sh.: "very well" added in sh.;
Sk .I.Ip . : "very well" omitted
 77

makes no meaning . One might just aswel I say that the world of variety must
not exist . Where there is plurality, there must be a confl ict . And although
c .33 seems a tragedy, but the true tr .M isthe ignorance . And therefore in-
stead of wanting to end the battle of life, or instead of opposing the peace,
what one must do is the35 get the knowledge of life and attain to thatwis-
dom which is the purpose of I ife .
36

33. Sk.I .tp. : 'conflict', abbreviated in Sk .sh. to "c ."

34. Ibid.: 'tragedy", abbreviated in Sk .sh. to "tr."
35. Sk.sh.: "the" in sh., apparently a mistake ;
Sk.I.tp.: "to "
36. Sk .l.tp.: "God bless you'
78

Sakina ' s shorthard transabed by the compiler.

Suresnes , Winter 1923 1

i wish to continue this evening the subject on which I have spoken :

"Life a Continual Battle" . 5

In this continual battle of life, the one who stands through it all
comes6 in the end victorious . But with a I I power and understanding, 7if one
givesoneself7 up by the Iack of hope and courage, 'has fai led .

What brings bad luck in this life, in this battle?9Pessimistic atti-

tude . And what helps man to conquer10the b .11 of life, 12however difficult it
is?An optimistic attitude12 .

Documents :

Sk .sh .
Sr. (Sidar' s Ihx. w ith several omissions, sometimes words taken down from the sinxiltaneous translations
into French after each sentence spoken in English) .
Lf. (an incomplete r. in the hwr. of Mlle Lefebvre, of the simultaneously given French translation of the
lecture) .
Sk.lh. (a hwr. copy of " Sk.sh." ; with car. by Gd.) .
Sk.l .tp. ( a later typescript, made from "Sk.1h.", without most of the car. by Gd .) .
Tp. (a typewritten c. of "Sk.l.tp." with a few changes) .

This lecture was f irst published in the mag azine Soufisme of December 1927 in a French translation. In
1%2 it was published in The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Vol . VI .

Notes :

1 . Lf .: added, " 16, Av . Victor Emmanuel", the house of Barcme d'Eichthal in Paris where the lecture was
given, and the date '12th February" ;
Sk.Ih.: "? 1922 ? 1923, ? Paris Reputed by Sakina Fumee" added above the lecture in Gd .'s hwr. ;
Sk .l.tp.: although the lecture appears in Sk.sh. in her copybook "Summer 1922, Winter 1923", by mistake
the year 1922 instead of 1923 was written above .
2. Sk.sh.: Sk . added "Life a continual Battle (cant .)" in Ih. above;
Sk .lh.: Sk . added "Life a continual Battle II" ;
Sk .l .tp. : added, "Lif e a continual Battle. (Cont.) "
3 . Sk .1h.: "Beloved Ones of God,", crossed out by Gd .
4 . Sk .sh.: Sk . added in the margin '(sent to H .q.) "
5 . Ibid.: this sentence was crossed out by Gd.
6 . Sr. : "becomes '
Sk .Ih. : Gd. put 'canes' in parentheses and wrote "is" above
7 . Sk .Ih. : fist charged by Gd . to "if he gives himself ", then charged back by her to 'if one gives one-
self "
8 . Ibid. : Sk. added 'he' ;
Sk .l .tp. : "one" added
9 . Sk .Ih. : Gd. added "The", then crossed it out and wrote "A" instead .
10. Ibid.: Gd. changed 'conquer" to "win "
11 . All other documents : "battle" . 5k . used the abbreviation "b ." in her sh.
12 . Sk .I .tp. : repinctuated to read, "however difficult, it is an optimistic attitude"
 79

There are some in this world who look at I ife with pessimistic view,
thinking that it is clever to seethe dark side of things . 13So far it ist3 bene-
ficial that one sees also the difficult side, but the psychological law14 is
such that once thespirit15 impressedwith16 the difficulty of thesituation17
loses its hope and courage . Once a person asked me if I was look ing18 at life
with a pessimistic attitude or if I was19an optimist . I said, "20Optimistwith
open eyes ." Optimism is good as long as the eyes are open . But once2l eyes
are closed, then the22 optimism can be dangerous .

In this battle a23 drill is necessary and that24 drill is the control
over25 one's physical organs, a control upon the facultiesof mind . Because
if one is not prepared for this battle, however much' courageous andopti-
mistic 27 , eee he cannot succeed . Another thing isto know something about
this warfare . It is knowing to 28make a28 retreat and tomake29 advance . If
one doesnot knowthe making of the retreatand onewishes alwaysto ad-
vance, he30will always be in danger and become31 victim to32 I ife's battle .

There are many people who so to speak in the intoxication in life's

battle, goon battling, go on fighting ; in the end they will meet with fail-
ure . People young and strong and hopeful 33in I ife33, who have had less dif-
ficulties, they34 think35nothing but tobattle against all that standsbefor e

13. Sk .Ih.: reordered by Gd to read, "It is so far"

14. Ibid. : "drought", changed by Gd to "condition"
15. Ibid. : 'is * added by Gd .;
Sk .l .tp. : "is "
16. Sk .Ih. :'by" instead of 'with'
17. Ibid. : 'it" added by Gd.;
Sk .I .tp. : 'it' added
18. Sk .lh. : first Gd. changed 'was looking' to 'kook', then put back "was looking'
19. Ibid. : f ist Gd. changed "was' to "am', then again put 'was '
20. Ibid. : Gd. added "An"
21 . Ibid. : 'the' added
22. Ibid. : 'the" crossed out by Gd .
23. Ibid. : 'a" crossed out by Gd
24. Ibid. : 'this' instead of 'that '
25. Ibid. : Gd. changed "over" to 'of "
26. Ibid. : Gd. crossed out "nxuh "
27. Ibid. : Gd. added 'one is '
28. Ibid. : Gd. fist aos sed out "make a', then again put it back
29. Ibiid : Gd. f 1st added "an" after "make', then crossed out 'make an", but finally changed it back to
'make an'
30. Ibid. : 'one' instead of "he'
31 . Ibid : Gd added 'a '
32. Ibid. : Gd changed "to' to "in "
33. Ibid. : Gd f irst crossed out "in life", then pit it back
34. Ibid.: "who", changed back by sk . to 'they '
35. Ibid. : Gd added 'of '
80

them . They do not know that it is not always wise to advance . What is nec-
essary is 36to make the place first fort if ied36, and then37 advance . The same
thing one can see in friendship, in business, in profession . A person who
does not understand the secret of the law of warfare cannot succeed . Be-
sidesthis, to protect one's own from all sides . Very often what one does is in
that intoxication of the battle , 38he goes on,' forward and forward and
forward , not protecting what belongs to him39. How many people in the
courts and in the 40 cases atthe40law41 for a very little thing perhapswill be
spending and spending a lot of money . In the end the loss is greater than the
success . Again how many in thisworldwiI I only because for42their fancy or
pride , 43will perhaps43 lose 44 than45 gain . There are times when one must
give in , there aretimes thatonemust let things loose a little bit , andthere
are timeswhen 46 one must hold fast the rein4 of48 life . There are moments
when49 one must be persistent and there are moments when one must be
easy .

Friends50, I ife is such an intoxication that although everybody

thinks that he is working for his interest, but51 hardly you will find one
among thousands who is really working for his interest, and the reason is
that they become so absorbed in what they are trying to get, that they be-
come intoxicated by it, and they so to speak lose the track that leads to real
success . Very often people, in order to get one particular benefit, sacrifice
many other benefits because they do not th ink of them . The th ing is to look
all around, not only in one direction . It iseasyto be powerful, it is easy to
be good, but it ismost difficult to be wise . And it isthewisewho istrulyvic-
toriousin life . And the success of those with power and with goodness, per-
haps it all has its limitation . If I were to tell you how many people bring
about their failures52 themselves, you will53 be surprised Mthat there i s

36. Ibid . : Gd. fist reordered the sentence to read, 'fist to fortify the place', but changed it back
37 . Said . : Gd. added 'to'
38. bid . : Gd. charged 'he goes on," to "one goes"
39. Ibid . : Gd. changed 'him' to 'one "
40. Ibid . : Gd. crossed cut 'cases at the'
41 . Ibid . : Gd. added 'suits '
42. Ibid . : Gd. changed ' for* to 'of "
43 . Ibid . : "perhaps" omitted, but reinserted by Sk ., and "will" crossed out by Sk .
44 . Sk .lh ., sk .l .tp . : 'mare' added
45 . Sk .lh . : Gd. added "they"
46 . Ibid . : 'that" instead of "when'
47 . Sk .I .tp . : 'reign' instead of "rein"
48 . Sk .lh .: "in,• changed back by sk . to 'of "
49 . Ibid. : "that', changed back by 5k . to "when'
50. Ibid. : "Friends" crossed out by Gd .
51 . Ibid. : Gd. charged 'but" to "yet"
52 . Sk .l .tp . : "failure'
53 . Sk .lh .: Gd. changed 'will' to "would "
54 . Ibid . : Sk . wrote in the margin, 'repetition' (see the beginning of this paragraph)
 81

hardly one person amongone55 hundred who really works for his real bene-
fit, although everyone thinksthat he isworking forhis benefitM . The dif-
ference is that he does not think where is his real interest . The nature of Iif e
is illusive56 . Under again, a loss is hidden . Under a Iossagain is hidden .
And under this illusion first it is very difficult for man to realize what is
really good for him . And even for a wise person much of his wisdom is
asked57 by l ife and by its battle . You cannot be enough gentle, you cannot
be sufficiently kind . The more58 you give the-me#e to the I ife58, the more
then life asks of you . There aga in is a battle . Yes, no doubt the ga in of the
wise is greater in the end, although he has many apparent losses . When59 an
ordinary person will not give in, thewisewill give in a thousand times . This
shows that the success of the wise very often is hidden in his60 apparent
failure . But when one compares the success of the wise with that of the or-
di nary person, the success of the wise ismuch greater .

61In this battle, a battery is needed, and that battery is the power of
will . In this62 battle of life, arms are needed . And these arms are the
thoughts and act ionswhichwork psychologically towards one's success . For
an63 instance, there . is a person who says to himself every morning :
"Everybody is against me, nobody Iikes me, everything is wrong, every-
where is injustice, all is failure, forme there is no hope ." When he goes out,
he takes that64 influence with him . Before he arrives at any place, business,
profession, orwhatever he does, he has sent his influence before him, and
he meets with all wrong and all fatal65, nothing worthwhile, coldness
everywhere . There is another one, yes, who knows what human nature is,
who knows that one has to meet with al I selfishness, all inconsideration all
over66 . But what does he think of all this? He thinks it is a lot of a1167
drunken people . He thinks they are all(afalling upon each other, fighting
each other, offending each other . And naturally a sober person with some
thought will not troublewith the drunken . He will helpthem, hewill no t

55. Sk .Ih ., Sk .l .tp . : "one" omitted

56. Sk .Ih . : Gd . changed 'illusive' to 'illucling *
57. Sk .sh . : before writing the sh .- sign for 'asked', Sk . seems to have written another wad , which could be
"demanded " . Afterwards Sk . crossed out 'asked" and wrote "demanded " instead in Ih.;
Sk .lh ., Sk . l .tp. : "demanded "
58. Sk . Ih . : Gd . charged " The more you give to the Iif e" to ' The more to life you give '
59. Ibid. : Sk . wrote the Dutch ward "terwip " meaning "whereas " in parentheses above 'When', explainrg
what the wad 'when' h ere means.
60. Ibid. : "an' instead of "his '
61 . Ibid. : althagh in this document no new paragraph follows, Sk . wrote in the margin, " new paragraph'
62. Ibid. : " that', changed back by Sk . to "this "
63. Ibid. : Gd. vos sed out "an'
64. Ibid. : " this' instead of "that'
65. Sk .sh. : Sk . wrote " fatal " in Ih. ;
Sr. : "fatal" ;
Sk .I .tp . : "failures " instead of "fatal "
66. Sk . Ih. : Gd. changed " all over" to "everywhere"
67. Ibid. : " all" crossed out by Gd.
68. Ibid. : 'all' omitted
82

take seriously what they say or do . Therefore naturally in this world of

drunkenness a person who is drunken has a greater fight than69who is sober,
for he will always avoid it, forhewill tolerate, hewill give in, hewill un-
derstand, for he knows that they are drunken . You cannot expect 70from
thembetter70 . Besidesthisthe wiseknowsa secret of this nature, andthis7l
secret is that the22 human nature is imitative . For an63 instance, a proud per-
son will always revive the tendency of pride in his surroundings ; before a
humble person, even a proud person wi l l become humble, because he vivi-
fies the humbleness in that person . Now, then you can see that in this l ife's
battle you can fightwith the proudwith pride,72 and you can fight with73
the pride with humility, and sometimes gain . Besides this from a wise
p.o.v.74 human nature is childish . If one stands in the crowd and looks at it
as aspectator75, onewill see alot of childrenplaying together . They are
playing and they are fighting and they are snatching things from each76
other's hands, and they are bothering about very unimportant things . One
finds their thoughtssmall and less important, and so theirpursuit through
ife77 and the reason of the I ife's battle very often is very smal I when it is
looked at w44the- in the light of wisdom . And this shows that the knowl-
edge of life does not always come by battling . It comes by throwing I ight
upon it . He is not a warrior who becomes impatient in one moment, who
loses his temper in one moment, who has no control on78 his impulses, who is
ready to give up hope and courage . The true warrior is he who can endure,
who has a great capacity in him to tolerate, who has depth enough in his
heart to assimilate all things, whose mind reaches79 far enough to un-
derstand al I things, whose every desire is to understand others and to make
them understand . It must be understood that sensitiveness is no doubt a hu-
man development, but if it is not used rightly, it has its80 great many disad-
vantages . Asensitive person can lose courage and hope much sooner than
another .person81 . A sensitive person can be quickly friends, and can run
away quickly from his friends . As .82 person is ready to take of f ences83 84and
ready to takeTM aI I th ings that come to him, and the22 I ife can become un-
bearable for him . And if a person is not sensitive, then he is not fully I iving .
Therefore the idea is to be sensitive and not to abuse it . Abusing sensitive-

69. Ibid.: Gd. added "one "

70. Ibid.: reordered by Gd. to read, "better from them"
71. Sk .l.Ip .: 'that' instead of 'this '
72. Sr . : 'and you can lose;'
73. Tp .: "with" omitte d
74. All other documents : 'point of view"
75. Tp . : "speculator" instead of "spectator"
76. Sk .Ih . : 'the' charged by Sk . to 'each'
77 . Sk .l .tp. : "life. And'
78 . Sk .lh. : Gd. charged 'an' to 'over "
79 . Ibid. : 'seeks' instead of 'reaches', but charged back by Gd . to "reaches"
80. Ibid. : Gd. aossedout "its '
81 . Ibid. : Gd. crossed out 'person '
82 . All other documents: "sensitive" . Sk. used the abbreviation "s ." in her sh.
83 . Sk.lh.: Gd. crossed out the "s" of the plural.
84. Ibid.: Gd. crossed out 'and ready to take' and added "in" .
 83

ness is yielding to every impression and every impulse that attacks one .
There must be a balance between sensitiveness and between85 the22
willpower . By willpower one must be able to endure all influences, all
conditions, all attacks that eome--to one meets with86 from morning to
evening . And by sensitiveness one must be able to feel I ife, to appreciate
and to I ive in the beauty of I ife .

In conclusion to what I have said just now, I would I iketo tell you
that the most advisable thing in life is to be sensitive enough to feel life
and its beauty, and to appreciate it, but at the same time to consider that
your soul is divine, 87andall else is a foreign thing for it87, and that aII that
belongs to the earth isa foreign thing foryour soul . It must not touch your
soul . Al l things come before the eyes . When the 88 objects come88 before the
eyes, 89 they come89 in the eyes . When they are gone, the eyes are clear,
and therefore your mind must retain nothing but all beauty, all that is beau-
tiful . For one can search God in His beauty . All else must be forgotten . And
by making that practice every day, forgetting all that is disagreeable,
90which is91 ugly`° 92 and to remember 93only a1193 that is beautiful,
which gives happiness 94onewill attract to oneself all happinessthat is
in store .

Question: By the cultivation of willpower does one not sometimes wrong-

l y95 persuade oneself? One is not infallible .

Answer : Yes, there is that danger, but there is danger in everything .

There is a danger in being healthy even . But that does not mean
that one must be i 11 . But what I have said is that we must ac-
quire balance between power and wisdom . If the power is
working without the light of wisdom behind97, the power al-
wayswill fail,becausethe powerwill prove tobeblind inthe
end . But now, you wi I I tel I me, what is the use of the wise per-
son without the use of his hands and .feet, one who has no powe r

85. Ibid.: Gd crossed out 'between' .

86. Tp.:'wilh' omitted
87. Sk.lh.: Gd crossed out 'and all else is a foreign thug for it' .
88. Ibid. : 'object comes' charged back by Sk. to "objects come' ;
Sk .l .1p. : 'object comes '
89. Sk .lh.: • it comes', changed back by 5k. to 'they come .
90. Sk .l .tp. : 'which is ugly' omitted
91 . Tp. : 'is' omitted
92. Sk .sh and Sk .I .tp . : an empty space;
Sr. : * in the past and present' ;
Sk .lh. : a comma instead of the empty space
93 . Sk .lh. : "all only", charged back by Gd. to 'only all' ;
Sk .l .tp . : 'only' omitted, but reinserted by 5k. bef ore 'all'
94. Sk .sh. : an empty space;
Sk .lh ., Sk .l .tp . : a comma in place of the empty space
95. Sk .lh . : 'wrongly' omitted
%. Ibid. : Gd . wrote 'mislead' above "persuade' .
97 . Ibid. : Gd . crossed out 'behind' .
84

of action, no power of thought? This shows that the22 wisdom di-

rects, but by power one accomplishes . Therefore for the battle
of I ife both are necessary .

Question : In what measure can free will counteract a condition of karma

such as ill health ?

Answer : 'This I must tel I you, that a99 difference between human and
divine is the difference of100 two ends of the same line . Now
one point represents limitation, the other point represents the
unlimited . One point represents imperfection, the other per-
fection . But if we take al I human beings of this world, they
al l101 do not stand near the same point . They f i l l the gap be-
tween the one extreme and the other . Although 102j ust now the
world102 is going through such a phase of the idea of what they
call equality, that the nobi l ity of the soul even to103 itsdivin-
ity is ignored . The whole arrangement of I ife is just now I ike
this . When there isone vote for everybody in the state, then
the same thing in the home, the same thing everywhere . But
when we come to understand the spiritual life of things, we
shall always realize that just l ike1(' in the piano al l105 notes
are not the same, so all the souls are not the same souls . Man
starts his I ife as a mechanism, a machine, and can develop to106
the state where he is the engineer . Therefore the restriction of
a107 karma is for the machine . No doubt every soul has to be a
machine once, in order to bean engineer later, and that10B one
does not turn out109 at once into an e .110 But one gradually
changes out of a m .111 into an e .110 Therefore the influence of
then k .112on every soul is not the same . And at the same time
one must realize that it is after al l the ignorance of the divine
part of one'ssoul that keeps one away from God, not only fro m

98. Ibid. : Gd. added "Fa" before "This" .

99 . Sk .lh., Sk .l .tp.: 'the' in place of 'a'
100. sk .lh. : Gd charged "of" ir 'between the'
101 . bid.: Gd. placed wall' before "stand "
102. Ibid.: ' the world just now', charged back by sk . to "just now the world"
103. bid.: Gd. crossed out "to" .
104. bid.: Gd. changed "like" to 'as' .
105. Ibid.: Gd. added "the' .
106. Tp.: 'to" omitted
107. Sk.lh.: Gd . aossedout'a" .
108. bid . : Gd . crossed out 'that' .
109. Ibid . : Gd. crossed out *out' .
110. All other docirner-4s : "engineer" . 5k . used the attreviatan 'e.' in her sh.
111 . Ibid . : 'machine' . Sk . used the abtxeviatan "m ." in her sh.
112. Ibid . : 'karma" . sk . used the abbreviatan 'k.' in her sh.
 85

God, but from the birthright of his113 power . But 114when one114
becomes conscious of the divine power, then one rises above
being the m .111, then one becomes the e .11 0

Question : Does not sensitiveness bring surprises for us, which come upon us
too quickly for us to avoid the evil they cause ?

Answer : What iss .115?S . 115 is Iife itself . And as life has its good and evil,
so s . 115 has its good and evi I . And if one expects al I its experi-
ence116, so from s .115 al I experience116must come . However, as
I have said thatl°8 s .115 must be kept in order to know and under-
stand, and know and appreciate al I that is beautiful . And not to
attract all depressions and all sorrows and all sadness and all
the woes of the earth117 .Once a person has become so s .118 as to
become offended with everybody, and to feel that everybody
is against him, trying to wrong him, then he is abusing119 his
sensitiveness . He must be wise together with being s .118 He
must realize before being s .118 that he is in this world among
children, among drunken men . And asone would take the ac-
tions of the children and the drunken ones, in that120way all
that comes121must betaken . Then s .nessl22can bebeneficial .
If with s .nessl22 one has not developed one's willpower, it is
certainly dangerous . No doubt, spirituality is seen in a person
who iss .118 to feel others . No one can 123spi ritual ly developl23
without being s .118

Question: How can one distinguish between the difference of the wisdom of
the warrior and his want124 of courage in the battle of life ?

Answer : Everything is distinguished by its result . There is a very wel (-

known saying inEnglish : "All iswell that endswell ." If in the
end of the battle the one who was apparently defeated has
really conquered, of coursethat was hiswisdom, thatwas no t

113. Sk.lh.: Gd. charged 'his' to 'His' ;

Sk.l.tp.: 'one's' instead of 'his '
114. Sk.lh.: 'one when", charged back by 5k . to 'when one'
115. All other documents : 'sensitiveness' . Sk. used the abbreviation 's.' in her sh.
116. Sk.l.tp.: 'experiences '
117. Sk.Ih.: "world", charged back by Sk . to "earth '
118. All other documents : 'sensitive' . Sk. used the abbreviation 's .' in her sh .
119 . Sk.lh.: Gd. changed 'abusing' to'misusrg' .
120 . Ibid. : 'this' instead of 'that '
121 . Sk .sh .: afterwards Sk . added ' from all sides' in sh .;
Sk.lh., Sk .I.tp . : 'from all sides' added
122 . All other documents : 'sensitiveness' . Sk. used the abbreviation 's .ness' in he sh .
123 . Sk .lh. : 'spiritually develop' changed to "develop spiritually' by Gd . ;
Sk .l .lp .: "be spiritually developed'
124 . Sk .l .tp .: "lack' instead of "want"
86

his lack of courage . Very often that apparent courage leads to

nothing but disappointment in the end . Bravery is one thing,
the knowledge of warfare is another . Brave is brave, but not
victorious always . The one who is victorious knows, under-
stands ; he knows the l aw of I i fe .
 87
From one of Pr-o-t&rshid Inayat Khan ' s notebooks of 1923.
The poem was also found in an old typescript in a somewhat
different vers ion , as an introduction to a lecture known to have
been given on board the sh ip "Pittsburgh* of the White Star Line,
in the Bay of New York, on 26th February 1923.

2ldeal among nations2, Sin principle free,

4Ch i ld but wide awak e
5America blessed be5 .
Thy heart is open to al I, 6old and young6 al ike
4High note of brotherhood ,
indeed thou dost strike .
Thou hast inherite d
the 7knowledge from al 17
And thou g ivest8 the9 same
to those10on thee cal I .
110 deli re11 of nations, in thee we al I meet .
BlessedAmerica, thee I humbly greet .

Beloved ones of God :

My comingtothe UnitedStates atthistime whenthe worldhasnot

yet arrived at its normal state, after the great strain of war, is to awaken in
soulsthe consciousness of brotherhood, on the principle of which this great
nation was founded . The central theme of the formation of the Constitution
of the United States of America, and the undertone of Abraham Lincoln's
noble reform, was brotherhood .

Documents:

Nbk . (leaves of Pir - o-M rshid' s notebooks of 1923, given here as the origin al version) .
O.t. (old typesapt with a later version of the poem than the one found in the
Hq.t .

A f ter 1927 this lectze was made a Gatheka ( no. 40) .

Notes :

1 . O.t., hq.L: added "My greetings to America!" above the poe m

2. Ibid.: "The desire of all nations' instead of 'Ideal amo g na tions'
3. Ibid.: "and' added
4. Ibid.: 'a" added
5. Ibid.: "blessed America be' instead of 'America blessed be"
6. Ibid.: " to friend and foe" instead of 'ol d and young "
7. Ibid.: "sense of nations all' instead of "knowledge from all"
8. Ibid.: "bestowest " instead of 'givest'
9. 0.1.: "the" omitted
10. 0.1., hq.L: "who" adde d
11 . 0.1.: " Ohl Ideal" instead of "O desire' ;
Hq.t. : "Ideal"
88

The nation which was nursed with the milk of the ideal of broth-
erhood from its infancy, is the one to be attuned to its predisposition at this
time of the world's greatest need .

In spite of the wonderful phenomena that science has produced

through the modern civilization, if asober minded person reflectson the
question if we are really progressing, an answerwill come to him, not alto-
gether . if we ask ourselves what is missing, we shall realize without diffi-
culty that it is the ideal which expands the limited soul to perfection,
which raisesthe mortal to God .

It is the all-prevailing12materialism and the flood of overwhelming

commercialism which has drowned the ideal . The nations of today stand in
the quest of their own material benefit regardless of other nations, in the
same way as an individual today who is called a practical man, proves to be
best qualified in guarding his interests in life . This has made theworld a
battlefield of continual struggles where life is nothing but a chaos ; the
world which was purposed to be the place of aspiration, rest and peace .

The education today tends to teach the youth the best way to ac-
quire, own and possess all the goods of thisearth, and naturally the more
souls become qualified by this education, the greater the struggle of I ife
becomes. The competition which exists today in trade and profession seems
to lead man to the tendencies of the primitive man . As relations between
nations are only based upon their material interests, so in the samewayre-
lations between individuals exist . It has blunted all the fineness and
beauty of unselfish, friendly devotion .

In order to bring humanity to the realization of the law of benefi-

cence, it is not necessary that a new religion be taught . It is the l ight of
truth thrown upon every religion that will bring to human perceptionwis-
dom, which isthe underlying stream behind all the great religionsof the
world .

The good tidings that the Sufi Message brings to the world, is the
recognition of the Divine in the soul of man . The knowledge of living right
isthe only religion which will answer the need of the world . The effortsof
the Sufi Movement are directed to bring mankind to understand that the
real well-being of each depends on the well-being of al 1 . The whole hu-
manity isas onebody, all nations its different members, and thepain and
injury caused to one nation, in time develops into the disorder of the
whole .

12 . Hq .t. : "all pervading' instead of "all-prevailing"

 89

The Sufi Message is the answer to the cry of humanity for it warns
souls to unite beyond all differences and distinctions between caste,
creed, nation and religion .

May your ideal of I iberty expand to the I iberty of nations . May your
principle of freedom rise to the height of freedom of souls . May the message
of God reach far and wide, illuminating and making the whole humanity
one brotherhood, in the Fatherhood of God .
90
From a New Yank newspaper, The Evening Telegram,
13 March 1923

New York, February 1

"The great need of America, and of humanity, is that men understand

one another . Humanity is prone to forget reality, because the life of the
world isso absorbing . It is a lack of the knowledge of reality that leads to
misunderstanding .

"I do not say it is America ' s duty to lead the world . That is not a duty,
but conditions in the world today have placed America where she can lead,
and if she leadsotherswil l follow . "

When asked if he thought America was living up to the things she

should be doing . . . "I would have to studyAmerica before I could feel qual i-
f ied to answer that question . But I can say that America has always meant to
do her best .

"I am not concerned with politics at all . I am interested in the

humanitarian side of theworld . If the general attitude develops, humanity
will think and act better and the effect will be seen in politics aswell as in
education, social relations and religion .

"The day humanity awakens to the need of brotherhood, conditions

will be better in all the affairsof theworld . It matters notwhat religion a
man professes . This is not the time to advance any particular sect, church,
or bet ief . We have too many sects . They are only the outer forms . The things
that really matter are deeper .

"I have always hope . Hope is my greatest strength . I do not require

that my hopes be fulfilled as fuel to keep the fire burning . My hopes are
kept alive in my faith ."

Note:

1 . Although this article was not pthlished until March 13, Pr-o-INtrshid Inayat Khan was in New York
only from February 26 through March 5, when he went on to Boston and then Detroit . As his Iect res are
indicated as in the f tare in this article, it is assured to be from early in his stay, perhaps Felxuary 27 .
 91
From a New York newspaper, The World , March 18, 192 3

New York, March 1

"When I was herein 1911 and 1912 Americawas not ready formy
religious message . I returned to India to wait for conditions to change .
They have now changed . The World Warwas responsible for that . Not only
isAmerica now hungry for religion, the entire world isseek ing the truth and
the peace of God .

"If I plant only a little seed it will grow ; it will spread like the
waves from the dropping of a pebble into the sea . "

Asked to tell something about his religion, he said.

"The doctrine of the Sufis has been set forth in a great number of
treatises . God alone exists . He is in everything and everything is in Him .
All beings emanate from Him, without being really distinct from Him . The
world exists for eternity ; the material is only an illusion of the senses . Suf-
ism isthe true philosophy of Islamism [sic), but religions have only arela-
tive importance and serve but to guide us toward the reality .

"God is the author of the acts of the human race ; it is He who con-
trols thewill of man, which is not free in its action . Like all animals man
possesses an original mind, an animal or I iving mind, a mind instinctive :
but he hasalso a human mind, breathed into him by God, and of the same
character as the original and constructive element itself .

"The soul, which existed before the body, is confined in the body as
in a cage ; death, then, is the object of the Suf i's desires, since it returns h im
to the bosom of the Divinity . This mete.mpsychosis permitsthe soul, which
has notfulfilled itsdestiny here below, to be purified andworthy ofa re-
union with God .

"The Sufi, during his sojourn in the body, is uniquely occupied in

meditating upon his unitywith God, and the progressive advancement in
the journey of life up to his unification with God . Human life has been
ikened to a voyage, where the traveller is seeking after God . The aim o f

Note :

1 . Although this article was not pthlished until March 18, this article is based on Pir-o-M,.rshid Inayat
Khan's stay in New Yogic from February 26 through March 5, and, as the article mentions the large au-
diences at the lectures, seems to come from late in that visit The material quoted in the latter part of the
article does not seem characteristic of Pir-o-Mirshid Inayat Khan's teaching, and may have been partly
derived from more traditional sources . The reporter has apparently misunderstood what Pir-o-Murshid
said about returning to India also, although there are other indications that he desired and planned to do
so.
92

the voyage is to attain to a knowledge of God, for human existence is a

period of banishment for the soul, which cannot return to God until it has
passed through many successive stages ."
 93

From a New York newspaper, the Detroit Free P ress,

10 March, 1923

Detroit, March e

"I believe that the whole of humanity is as one body, and that if a
part of that body is hurt, the pain wi I I have its effect, sooner or later, on the
whole body . Therefore, man must awaken his sympathy for hisfellow man
beyond the boundaries of caste, creed or nation, and recognize the fact
that the happiness andwell being of all depends upon the happiness and
wel I being of every one . Sufuism [sic] sees in truth, the underlying stream of
alI religions, and the mission of the Sufi isto awake in the consciousness of
humanity, the divine, which is in every man .

"Caste is forgotten among those who are in the order . I recognize no

caste, no nationality, no creed . We are al I brothers, and in every man is a
spark of the divine . Perfect international unity and harmony isour aim .

"So far, in my 10 yearsof lecturing, I have found none who disagree

with our bel ief . Our troubles in thisworldwill remain with us, however, un-
til the human conscience is raised above hates and discords . Our mission is
towarn al I men and to bring them to sane consideration of their duty one to
another .

"Through al I channels, wisdom must flow . "

Note :

1 . Pi-o - MLrshid Inayat Khan armed in Detroit from Boston an March 9. Because this article was published
on March 10, it was p ro bably based on an interview of March 9. The f irst sentence is similar to one in
the lecture 'Universal Brotherhood of Humanity,' believed to be of March 11, below .
94

From a New York newspaper, the Detroit News,

(11 March 1923?) 1

Detroit, March '

"I am not coming with anything new . The Sufi philosophy isalmost
as old as consciousness, and it is based on tolerance, natural life, simpl ic-
ity, self-realization, friendship, benevolence, forgiveness, and God . No
reason exists fora follower of any faith to change--all that is required of
him is that he search his own heart for the truth, his own religion for its
truths, practice tolerance and demonstrate hisfaith in humankind .

"I was born at Baroda, India, and received a thorough training under
my grandfather, Moula Bux, who conducted a musical academy there . I be-
came somewhat of a master of the'vina,' an ancient Indian instrument of the
guitar type . In addition tomy musical studies and activities (took up that
of religion, going deeply, even asa child, into leading systems, and under
noted Oriental scholars . I studied deeply, a characteristic of my race . In
the Sufi school of philosophy I eventually found what my soul craved--
perfect wisdom combined with freedom . The faith is that which inspired the
ancient Persian poets Rumi and Hafiz, and influenced Omar Khayyam .

"The Sufi philosophy aims to express life in termsof love, harmony,

and beauty . So thoroughly has this ancient mystic faith taken possession of
me that I find every moment of my time taken up in spreading it . My first
visit totheUnited Stateswaswithmy twobrothers anda cousin in 1910 . 1
sought to harmonize the East and West through music . It did appeal to those
with imaginations, but I felt the need of the spoken word to reach the multi-
tude . I had to give up my beloved 'vina .'And now I find my time so taken
with more important matters that I rarely even put on my turban, which
cannot be arranged quickly . Nor do I findtime to continue mywritingswith
the assiduity some of my friends believe they merit .

"My purpose in making this visit toAmerica is to delivera few lec-

tures on my way to and from San Francisco where Ishall visit the Sufitem-
ple, and then I shall return to Europe and in Paris conduct summer classes in
Sufi philosophy . On the continent I speak in English, employing a translator
when necessary . I am not an Indian, nor do I recognize such a thing as
caste . I am a cosmopol ite, and a brother to al l man-kind . Had there been a

Note:

1 . Although the existing copy of the newspaper article has written an it (not printed) 'March 11-1923',
Pi-o-m rshid Inayat Khan gave his fist lecttres in Detroit on that day, and the article seems to indicate
those lectures as in the f uhre . Therefore the article may have appeared earlier, and in any case seems
to be based on an interview of March 9 or 10 .
 95

clearer and better understanding of the Sufi doctrine and its mystic, but
thoroughly understandable and simple, philosophy, there would not have
been any world war, nor even another similar conflict between peoples .
There would be the peace of understanding growing out of tolerance and
forgiving .

"Is it possible for theworld to be brought under one great religion,

and made to accept one al l embracing thought? No, not one dogmatic rel i-
gion ; yes, one all-embracing thought . Sufism offersa message of spiritual
iberty which possessesa universal appeal .

The situation in India as it concerns the natives and Great Britain? I

have nothing to do with that . I am not ad iscip I e of strife, or a disseminator
of violent propaganda, but a humble philosopher from a Iand that was old
while the remainder of the world was in its swaddling clothes, who seeks to
establish in the western world the Sufi truths, and to lead, or direct, human-
ity through an ancient door way to where the One Light, shining in all
directions, maybe seen illuminating many roads that lead to the one Goal ."
96

From a New York newspaper, the Detroit Free Press,

March 12, 1923

Detroit, March '

Man's trust in preacher, in riches and in dogma and his I ittlet rust in
self makes him more or less a machine most of his days, with few exceptions,
said Inayat Khan....

Yet at birth, he said, no soul is without the spark of mastery, "an heir
of the divine substance . "

The object of the Christian, the Buddhist, the Moslem and the Con-
fucian is one and the same--the freedom of the soul . Yet each in turn misses
hisobjective . The work of living issogreat that man can think only of how
he can I ive and he takes smal I time to ponder the prospect of his soul .

"If he gets sufficient to I ive, he is content . If he has a roof, he is

satisfied, yet he holdswithin him the spark of expansion which flamesonly
when death tearsaway the false self that he has built in life about hissoul,
a false self which in I ife has kept him from realizing the Kingdom .

"Man pursues the material ends and ultimately they are to him the
same prison as the web to the spider . He becomes a machine . If God I ives
anywhere in man it is in his heart, and it is only by man reaching into his
own heart that hewill ever enjoy the oneness of Iife . "

Note:

This article seems to be reporting on the Iectixe, "Man, the Master of His Destiny?" given on March 11
at 3 pm at the Unitarian Chinch in Detroit No other reporting of this lechre is known .
 97
From a San Francisco newspaper, the journal,
26 March, 1923

San Francisco, March '

Suf ism has no creed or even special doctrine, said Murshid . . . It is a

desire and a striving for spiritual advancement and its name is derived from
the Greek word meaning wisdom . It teaches that spiritual progress andma-
terial progress are concomitant, and that there can be no genuine or lasting
material progresswithout the spiritual quality .

Questioned as to spiritual advancement in Europe . . . he decl ared that

the world is" hungry for aspi ritual awakening . "

Note :

1 . This article seems to be based on a personal interview, perhaps on March 25 .

98

From a San Francisco newspaper , the San Francisco Chronicle,

27 March 1923

San Francisco, March '

The intelligence of American women whose hearts always are open

to truth and the spiritual qualities they are bringing into business and world
affairs, according toPir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan . . . constitute the only hope
of successfully combating the wave of materialism that is sweeping over
the world . He asserts that avarice and greed are the cause of world unrest
today, and that the hope of the future restswith the women .

Note:

1 . This it diect quotation appears in an editorial, and must have become known from some talk of Pi-o-
Mirshid the preceding week, perhaps the otherwise unreported lecture on The Coming World Religion"
of March 25.
 99
From a San Francisco newspaper , the Call- Post,
27 March 1923

San Francisco , March e

"True spirituality is not necessarily a fixed faith or belief--itisthe

ennobling of the soul by rising above barriers of material I ife . "

He speaks . . .of Indian I iterature, and music, with its base in the an-
cient days when Sanskrit was the medium for expressing the thoughts of the
Indian poets in their lovely, haunting beauty .

Now, he says, art, with the subtle coloring that the Moguls brought
to it, ismore complete . It ismystical stil I, but it touches al I sidesof I ife . He
creditsTagore with the achievement of bringing before the world the love-
iness that is hidden in literature of the Orient, but he callsAmeer, Dagh
and Hal i the foremost writers .

"We distrust thosewho talk, talk, talk . We do not say whatwe feel
deeply, we Sufists [sic] . Our love is something to understand, to feel ; some-
thingthat is too beautiful to discuss . "

Note :

1 . This article may reflect material from Pir-o-Mirshid Inayat Khan's Iectues during his first week in San
Francisco, from March 21 .
100
A typescript of a lecture handed down by Mrs . Prebble (a pupil
of Murshida Martin's) to Martha Burk, and inherited f ram the latter
by Miss Hayat Stadlirger, an American nxreed, initiated in
Suresnes in 1926, who passed it on to the Biographical Depart-
ment in Suresnes .

I
The Science and Art of H indu Music .

Music, literature and philosophy are akin to our souls, whatever be

our faith or belief or our way of looking at life .

This morning our subject is The Science and Art of Hindu Music ."
India, in the history of the world, representsa country and apeople who
engaged themselves in the search for truth through the realm of music, ph i-
losophy and poetry, at a time when the rest of the world had not yet begun
its search for truth . Therefore it is necessary to study Indian music, philoso-
phy and poetry in order to see the foundation of words . The I inguists of the
day state that the Sanscrit language was the origin or mother of all lan-
guage . The origin of the science of music isto be found in Sanscrit . It is an
undeniable fact that not only art, but even science, has itsorigin in intu-
ition . This seems to have been forgotten lately, when man isso busywith his
search through matter . Undoubtedly even the scientist is helped by intu-
ition, although he may not recognize the fact . Scientistswho have touched
the depthswill admit that science has its source in intuition .

Intuition working to answerthe need of mind and of body and in-

venting through matterthings of use, and gaining a knowledge of the na-
ture and character of things, is called "science ." And intuition workin g

Documents: ( No or iginal MS has been found in the archives to date. )

Tp . (received from Miss Hayat Stadlinger in 1983) .

01 (very similar to the tp., from papers in Gd.'s possession . Both these documents, "tp ." and 'o-t' seem
to have been copied from the same document But then, handed down over the years by different
lines of nxreeds, they underwent some separate changes . Prcbably the '1p." kept nearest to the origi-
nal text.) .
Gd.'s car. (corrections made by Gd., in the "o.t." copy, of which a microfiche was made) .
Sk.tp. (a typescript made by 5k . from the "o.t." ; the "tp." at that time had not yet been added to the
archives . )

This lecture was published in The Sufi Messageof Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume II (1960), Music,
chapter V.

From an a rt icle in the San Francisco Call and Post of 31st March 1923 , it appear s that this lecture was
given on 28th March 1923 in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S .A .

From a program issued by Paul Elder (see Appendix A) of three series of lectures, which Pir-o-Murshid
Inayat Khan gave in San Francisco at that time, it can be seen that this lecture was the fist one in the
series on Music .

Notes :

1 . Sk.Ip. : added by Sk.: "America, Spring 1923"

 10 1

through the beauty that is produced in the form of I ine and color and the
form of rhythm, is cal led "art ." Therefore the source of science and art is in-
tuition . Realizing thissource, the Hindu music was based on intuition, and
the practice of Indian music has been a culture in stimulating intuition and
awakening the faculty which appreciates beauty and afterwards expresses
itself in beautiful form .

The science of Indian music has come from three sources : astrology,
psychology and mathematics . We find this in Western music also, that the
whole science of harmony and counterpoint is derived from the science of
mathematics . And so the science of Hindu music is called by a Sanscrit word
(Prestara) meaning "mathematical arrangement of rhythm and modes . "

In the Indian system of music there are about 500 modes, and 300
different rhythms, which are used in their everyday music . The modes of
Indian music are called "Ragas ." There are four classesof ragas ; one class
has seven notes, such as you have in the music of the West in the natural
scale . Then there are the modes of six notes (omitting one note from the
seven note raga) that gives2 quite another effect to the octave and has a
different influence on the human mind .

Then there are the ragas of five notes, omitting two notes from the
scale (any two notes) . In China they also use the scale of four notes, but not
in India .

Some say that the origin of the scale of four notes or f ive notes, is i n
the natural instinct that man shows in his discovery of instruments . The first
instrument was the flute, symbolical of the human voice . It seems natural
that after taking a piece of reed from the forest, and making in the heart of
that reed four holes in the placeswhere he could naturally place the tips of
his fingers, ther-etheir3 distance apart corresponding to the distance apart
of the finger tips, and then making one hole below, that made the raga of
five notes .

It was afterward4 that scientists came with knowledge of different

vibrations . But this scale comes naturally when one placesthe5handonthe
reed, and a great psychological power seems attached to it . It has a great
influence on human nature . And this shows that al I thingsthat have been di-
rectly derived from nature, their power is much greater than when man has
changed and turned and altered them to make a new form of art .

2. Tp. : "gives* changed to "give '

3. 0.1, Sk .tp. : 'there" instead of 'their '
4. O.t. : 'afterward" changed to "afterwards" ;
Sk.tp. : "afterwards "
S. O.t., Sk .tp. : 'his" instead of 'the'
102

Now, from the astrological point of view . The science of astrology

was based on the science of Cosmic vibration . All depends on vibratory
conditions ; also the position of the stars, the planets, of individuals, na-
tions, races and all objects . A great deal of the secret power which the
Hindus have found in thescienceof music has been derived by6thescience
of astrology . Every note of Indian music hasa certain planet ; every note has
a certain color ; every note denotes a certain pitch of nature ; a certain
pitch of the animal world .

The science that7existed in the ancient Vedas was the science of

elements : fire, water, air, ether ; but these words shou I d not be taken as one
takes them in everyday language . Element of water signifies I iquid state ;
fire signifies heat orwarmth . Through this science the Hindus have been
able to fix ragas or modes to be sung or played at a certain time of day or
night, or a certain season . After these songs have been sung for thousands of
years, the race has developed such a sense of appreciation of these ragas,
that even an ordinary man of the street cannot bear to hear a raga of the
morning sung in the evening . He may not know the form or the notes, but to
his ears it sounds disagreeable, he cannot stand it . We may -say it is a matter
of habit, and that is true, but at the same time I have made experiments with
different ragas ; and a mode that should be sung in the midst of night, if we
sing it at noon, it loses its beautiful influence .

Every, planet has a certain influence and there must be a certain

mode to answer it . If it is not that, then the music becomes perhaps a matter
of pastime, but it does not do the work forwhich music is designed .

To an Indian, music is not an amusement or something for en-

tertainment . It is something more than that . Music forthe Indian isthe food
of hissoul . It answers the deepest demand of his soul . Man is not only a phys-
ical body . Man hasmind, and back of the mind there isthe soul . And it is not
only that the body hungers for food . The mind hungers for food, and the soul
hungers for food . And what generally happens is that man only ministersto
his bodily needs and gives no attention to his inner existence and its de-
mands . He experiences momentary satisfaction, then hungers again, not
knowing that the soul isthe finenessof man's being, and so that unconscious
craving of the soul remains .

In the undeveloped, that silent craving of the soul causesone to be

disagreeable, restless, irritated . He does not feel contented with anything
in life . He feels l ike quarreling and fighting . In the person of fine feeling,
this hunger of thesoul expresses itself in depression, despair . He finds some
satisfaction in love of reading, love of art .

6. Tp. : a suggestion by Miss stadl inger to charge " by' to ' from'
7. 0.1, Sk.tp .: 'which' instead of 'that'
 10 3

The soul feels buried in the outer, material world, and the soul feels
satisfied and living when it is touched with fine vi brat ions . The finest mat-
ter is spirit, and the grossest spirit is matter .

Music being the finest of the arts, it helps the soul to rise above dif-
ferences . It unites souls because even words are not necessary . Music stands
beyond words .

The art of Hindu music is very unique in its character, for every
player and singer is given perfect freedom of expressing hissoul through his
art . The character of the Indian nation can be understood through their
spirit of individualism . The whole education tends to individualism ; to ex-
press oneself, in whatever form one is capable of . Therefore, in some ways
to their disadvantage, in many ways to their advantage, they have
expressed this freedom . Uniformity has its advantages, but uniformity very
often paralyses progress in art . There are two waysof I ife, uniformity and
individualism . Uniformity has its strength, but individualism has its
beauty .

When one hears an artist, a singer, of Hindu music, the first thing he
will do istotune histamburato giveonechord andwhilehe tuneshistam-
bura he tunes his own soul, and this has such an influence on his hearers that
they can patiently wait for fifteen minutes . Once he finds he is in tunewith
his instrument, with that note, his soul and mind and body al I seem to be one
with the instrument . A person with a sensitive heart listening to his song,
even a foreigner, will perceive the way he sings into that chord, the way he
tunes his spirit to that chord .

And by that time he has concentrated ; by that time he has attuned

himself to al I who are there . Not only has he tuned the instrument, but he
has felt the need of every soul in the audience and the demand of their
souls, what they want at that t ime . Perhaps not every musician can do th is,
but the best . And then he synthesizes and it al I comes automatically, and as
he beginshissong, it seems that it touches every person in the audience, for
it is all an answer to the demands of the soulswho are sitting there . He has
not made the program for the music beforehand . He does not know what
next he will sing, but every moment he is inspired to sing a certain song, or
play a certain mode . He becomes an instrument of the whole cosmic system,
open to all the inspiration that comes ; at one with his audience ; in tune
with the chord of the tambura ; and it is not music only, but phenomenon it-
self that he givesto the people .

The songs of India consist of folk songs, and those composed by great
people and handed down for ages from father to son .
104

The way music is taught is different . It is not always written ; it is

taught by imitation ; the teacher sings and the pupil imitates, therefore al
the intricacies and subtleties are learned by imitation .

I t is the mystical part which has been the secret of al I r e I igions . The
great ones of this world, such as Christ, Buddha and others, have come from
time to time to be examplesfor the people and to expressthat perfection
which isthe object of every soul .The secretwhich washidden behind all
these great religions and in the work of these teachers, was for man to reach
to that utmost height which is called perfection, and it is that principle
which is taughtfromthe first lesson the musician gives his pupil . The pupil
not only imitates the teacher but he focuses his spirit to the spirit of the
teacher, and he not only learns, he inherits from hisspirit .

The lack we find today,with all this spiritual awakening, the rea-
son so many seekers after truth do not come to a satisfactory result, is th is,
that always they pursue outwardly ; they take it from a book or learn it from
a teacher . There was a time in the East (and even it exists now), when a l it-
tle boy went to learn from a teacher, his regard for the teacher was great ;
his respect, his attitude towards his teacher was something like one has
towards his priest, therefore in this manner he learned to value and appre-
ciate and respect knowledge, and he not only learned but he inherited
knowledge from a8 teacher . If one would read the l ivesof the great singers
of India, how they imitated their teachers, and how they became even
greater sometimes than their teachers . it ismost wonderful .

The object of Indian music is the training of mind and soul, for music
is the best way of concentration . When you tel I a person to concentrate on
a certain object, the very act of trying to concentrate makes his mind more
disturbed . But music which attracts the soul, keeps the mind concentrated .
If one only knows how to appreciate it, to give one'smind to it, keeping all
other th ings away, one naturally becomes developed in the power of con-
centration .

Besides the beauty of music, there is that tenderness that brings I ife
to the heart . Forthe fine, life intheworldisverytrying . Fora person of fine
feelings, for a person of kindly thought, the life of the world is trying . It is
jarring, and it sometimes has a freezing effect . It makes the heart, so to
speak, frozen . In that condition one experiences depression and the whole
life becomes distasteful . And the very life which ismeant to be Heaven,
becomes a place of suffering .

8. Ibid. : "the" instead of "a"

 10 5

If one can focusone's heart to music, it is just Iike heating some-

thing whichwas frozen . The heart comesto its natural condition . And the
rhythm regulates the beating of the heart, which helps to restore health of
body, mind and soul, and to bring it to its proper tune .

The joy of I ife depends upon the perfect tune of mind and soul .
10 6
A typescript of a lecture from the legacy of .Mirshida Mart in,
handed down by tvtrs . Duce to S irdar, and copied by 5k . In a
separate annotation 5k . writes: 'doubtful whether authentic . '
Parts of the text do not seem to be P'r - o-tvlurshid' s own wards .
The text of the lecture has remained incomplete.

The Uni v

Beloved Ones of God,

(It isto Mr . Paul Elder bywhose interest in furthering the spiritual

culture that we have united here to day, and we are grateful to the efforts
of Murshida RabiaAda Martin, bywhose enthusiasm we meet today at this
gathering . )

My subject this evening is : "The Universe in Man ." Man's limitation

belongs to the absence of the knowledge of this fact . The whole tragedy of
ife in whatever form it may appear outwardly in the point of fact isthe I im-
itation of man . But if asked of one's deepest self, if it is really true that man
is limited, after some patience, he will hear the answer from within that the
imitation of man is mostly caused by the ignorance of himself . And there-
fore great souls and prophets and the wise men of the world who have
knowledge of I ife and have helped man in his journey toward perfection
have taught asAl i, the great Sufi hassaid : "If you wish to know God, know
yourself ." If self knowledge was not in view, worship of God, or belief in
God would surely not profit man .

In this worldthere are manywho believe inGod and (are) yet far
from Him, God in heaven, and they on the earth, (with) no communication
between them except their belief . There are others who go worshipping in
the same way, perhaps, as their forefathers have forages, but after a con-
tinual worship of many generations, they do not seem to arrive at the stage
where they can obtain from Him their peace, their happiness, their strength
which is the continual yearning of the soul .

Document- (No original MS has been found in the archives to date . )

Tp. (a typewritten copy made by Sk. of a typescript which was sent by Akrshida Duce to Sr .) .

It is not known who put wads in parentheses in the "tp." .

This is the fist in a series of six lectures on Spiritual Philosophy, and was given by Pir-o-Mirshid Inayat
Khan on 29th March, 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S .A . (Fa the program, issued by
Paul Elder, see Appendix A . )

An annotation made by Sk. with a view to the authenticity of the text of this lecture, reads [translated from
Dutch by the compiler] : "We [Sirdar and Sakina] have been able to compare some fragments received from
Mrs . Duce with parts of lectures of which the original text is in our possession. It appeared that the version
sent by Mrs . Duce to Sr. is a very poor rendering of the original text of the lecture, in many places garbled
and distorted."
 107
In the heading of this lecture , the "Universe in Man ," can be seen
from two pointsof view . The universe in man can be pictured in the same
way as the seed in the flower and the flower coming out of the seed . That in
the seed there is everything which you see in the flower , in its colour, in its
fineness , in its beauty , in its del icacy . Yet in the seed you do not see it, but
it is there already . So under thishuman garb which outwardly is limited,
there is the universe to be seen if one only looked at it with (the) keen
sight .

With the analysis that the wise of aI I ages have made of the facts of
the world, they have found that not only all the elementswhich compose
and make aI I objects in this world are there, but everything made, every
jewel, every plant, every atom of whatever kind represents itself distinctly
or indistinctly in the formation of the human world . If you look at the hu-
man body as an instrument, you will see that all instruments have been
made after it . Call it a flute, call it a lute, it is a lute . There is the mineral
kingdom ; the bones represent it ; the vegetable kingdom is seen in the natu-
ralgrowing of the hair; the animal kingdom expressed by the flesh, and the
human or angelic kingdom in the organs of the senses .

The physicians and alchemists of ancient times, their research of

the physical body brought them to the realization of the truth behind it and
therefore they expressed the ph i losophy they have gained by the study of
the human body by the name, the science, which is called : Alchemy, or
from which the word alchemy comes . The great Sufi of Persia, Abi Sima
(Avicenna?)', whose works have inspired the medical men of medieval
times--and there is much to be explored in his works still--has looked at
medical science asthephilosophy ofthesoul, of life . To himspiritual phi-
losophyand material philosophy were not two things, they were one thing .
It isa scientific point of view from which he saw the spiritual philosophy
because he had not fol lowed out the other .

UNFINISHED .

Note:

The correct form of the name, known in the West as Avicema, is Ibn Sina.
108
A typewritten lecture handed down by the American m reed
Hayat Stadtinger, initiated during the Summer School Siresnes in
1925 . She inherited it from Martha Burk, who got it from Mrs .
Prebble, a pupil of Murshiida Martin .

Poet and ProUbsj .2

Beloved ones of God, 3

4My subject for this afternoon is "The Poet and the Prophet ."4 In the
English language there isa saying in which always the name of "prophet" is
connected with that of "poet," although "prophet" denotes much more than
the meaning sometimes attributed to this word in the West . The reason is
that very often the word "prophet" is used for someone who tel Is the future,
who makes prophecy, but in point of fact the field of the prophet is much
larger than making propheciesonly . The word "Prophet" includes Master,
Saint, Seer, Mystic and Teacher .4

The source of poetry and of the prophetic gift is no doubt one and
the same . Poetry receives its inspiration from the same source as prophecy
only if the poet is a real poet . Nevertheless, a poet is not necessarily a
prophet, but a Prophet is certainly a poet .

The reason for th is you see illustrated in the mythology of the H in-
dus by Sarasvati, the Goddess of music and L iterature5 . Her ornaments, her
sitting with the peacock, with the .vina, holding in one hand the cards, i n

Documents : No original MS has been found in the archives to date .

Tp. (a typescript, sent to the B.D . by Miss Stadlirger in 1983, which probably is nearest to the oldest ver-
sion) .
01 (very similar to the "1p.") .
TB . (a typewritten version, slightly dif fevent from the "tp .', from the legacy of Shahbaz Best) .
Gd.a .p . (the version of the 'o .t.", used by Gd. as a fist preparation of this lecture for an article to be pub-
lished in the magazine The Sufi of September 1935, combined with the lecture ' The Poet and the
Prophet" of 17th December 1922) .
M. (magazine The Sufi of September 1935) .

Notes :

1 . This is the f gist lecture in a series of six lectures an Sufi Poets , given by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan on
3rd April 1923 in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S .A . (For the program issued by Paul Elder, see
Appendix A . )
2. M. : "The Poet and the Prophet by Inayat Khan' instead of 'Poet and Prophet"
3. Ibid. : 'Beloved ones of God,' omitted
4. Gd.a ,p. : the fist sentence was crossed out and later the entire fist paragraph was crossed out;
M. : the f gist paragraph omi tted
5. Gd.a .p. : " L' charged to "I" ;
M. : 'literature"
 10 9

the other a lotus fIower ; all this means that a true knowledge of divine wis-
dom expresses itself in the realm of beauty6 . The beauty of tone and rhythm
in music .6And what in7 poetry? It is half music . It isthe music of ideas . It has
sharp and flat notesas in 8music . It hasdifferent modes . Its? rhythm repre-
sentsmusic . Divine inspiration always expresses itself in9beautiful form ; it
is never without beauty . This exp I a ins to us that all that is beautifuI isadi-
vine expression ;10 the more beautiful it is, the greater it is in divine
essence .

No doubt in receiving the inspiration of poetry, action is necessary

from both sides ; from the side of the poet and from the "divine spirit" . A
poet who brings his heart to a condition which al lows him to12 , so to speak,
12swim in the ocean of divine wisdom will naturally move his arms in
rhythm . It is not that he expresses poetry in rhythm, but he receives knowl-
edge in rhythm13 ; the rhythm he receives is the only rhythm .13 The music he
hears in life,14 he expresses in words, according to the knowledge of lan-
guage he possesses .

There isawonderful example of this in a Hindu poet of long ago . He

was a man of very humble origin, the son of a cotton weaver ; a man who in
childhood received no education ;15 All the education he had was from
ife ;16what life taught h im ; and h is l ife became his rhythm, and was so har-
mon ious that the Brahmans of that day, who never a l lowed the other castes
to come near, invited him to a dinner party . A feast of the Brahmans has a
peculiarway in which it is arranged . Every one has his own board on which
he sits, and the dinner is served on leaves . The poet was no doubt honored
by their invitation, but his board was not placed in the same rowwith the
Brahmans17 .He noticed this, but his rhythm was not changed ; he accepted .

6 . Gd.a.p. : ', in the beauty of tone and rhythm in music .' ;

M. : ', in the beauty of tone and rhythm, in music . '
7 . All other documents : * is' instead of "in '
8 . Gd.a.p. : 'music. It has different modes . Its' charged to 'music, it has dif ferent modes ; its' ;
M. : "music, it has different modes; its '
9 . Gd.a.p. : "a" added;
M. : 'a '
10. Gd.a.p. : the semi-colon changed to a comma;
M : 'expression. The"
11 . Gd.a.p. : 'd" and 's' changed to capital letters;
M. : *Divine Spirit "
12. Gd.a.p. : 'to' crossed out and placed before 'swim' ;
M. : "to swim "
13. Gd.a.p.: the semi-colon replaced with a full stop, and 'the rhythm he receives is the only rhythm."
crossed out;
A: a full stop of ter 'rhythm", and omitted "the rhythm he receives is the only rhythm .'
14. Gd.a.p.: the coma crossed out;
M: the comma omitted
15. Gd.a.p.: the semi-colon changed to a full stop ;
M: a full sto p
16. Gd.a.p.: the semi-colon replaced by a comma ;
M.: a comma
17. Gd.a.p.: added an apostrophe of ter 'Brahmans
M.: "Brahmans„
11 0

And there comes a kind of entertainment during the dinner, when each one
has a chance of expressing himself by reciting or singing . This showswhat
they like,whatthey fancy,what theyare, towhat keytheirsoul istuned .
And when itcame18 the turn of the poet tosay something, he saida verse
which he had made then and there . It is a beautiful verse, but itsmeaning is
that19, "thanksZO betothe Creatorwhohas brought me into an insignificant
family, that has made me greet all, high or 21 low, whatever they maybe . If I
were22 born in a high caste, probably I would have been dead, as many
proud ones have died, of conceit . "

The Brahmanswere embarrassed, and they saw the truth of the phi-
losophy . It was beautiful, and no thoughtful person could deny the beauty
that I ies in recognizing the divine in man, regardless of his rank or birth .
And it was said on the occasion when the feast was given, "The one who
knows Brahma, he is23 Brahman ." In other words, the one who sees God, the
one who recognizes God in al I, is a Brahman .

The wonderful book of verses that this Indian poet wrote was held
for centuries as a scripture24 ; it24 is sti I l regarded as a scripture, and there is
a great fol lowing of this particular creed or philosophy . And the language
of this man is very ordinary ; so 25 you may wonder that his poetry would be
accepted in a country rich in languages, as India is with its Sanscrit, Hin-
dustani and sixty different dialects . There must be some reason for it . The
reason is that inside it was al I Iiterature26 . Within26 the outercoverwasthe
true inner form . Itwasa living beauty .

Writing poetry by making an effort is I ike doing any other labor . It

is a mental labor . The true poet, or the poet who is linked with the
Prophet', does not make any effort . It comes to h im l ike the fal l ing of the
rain . Yes, he must express it i n words, but that also becomes easy for h im . It
is not true that words come from the divine source, forwordsdo not belong
there, words belong here . But the words come so easily, one cannot help but
think that they come from the divine source .

18. Gd.a.p.: 'to' added;

M: "to "
19. Gd.a.p.: "that" aossedout;
M: 'that' omitted
20. Gd.a.p.: "t" changed to capital "T" ;
M : 'Thanks '
21 . All other docunents : ' and' instead of 'a"
22. M : 'had been' instead of 'were '
23. Gd.a.p. : ' a' added;
M : 'a Brahman '
24. Gd.a .p . : " ; it " changed to " . It" ;
M : . It"
25. Gd .a .p . : " ; so" changed to' . So' ;
M : 'So'
26 . M : '; within" instead of " . Within "
27 . Gd .a .p. : capital "P" changed to a small 'p ' ;
M : "prophet'
 11 1

But what in reality comes from the divine source is that light in
which nothing is closedtothe eyesof the mind . The mind begins to see . The
mind of the inspired soul differs in this way from the ordinary mind . The or-
dinary mind is in a roomwhere there is everything, but no light . He cannot
find the things that are there ; he cannot touch anything or see anything .
The inspired mind is able to touch everything that is there . Therefore as
ideas become revealed to the heart of the inspired28, so words and verses
come to h im 29 ; the29 language stands out as if it were revealed, but it is only
the light . When the light has fallen, all is clear and he has only to select for
himself .

Sofor the inspiredpoet,30it isnotat all difficult to express . It isall

there . You may ask, "Where does the light fal l? What becomes clear?" It is
hisown world . All that he has learned . Al l that he has heard and acquired31 .
That31 is hisworld . And when that light has fallen, the dark room is light . Al
that he could not see before has become plain to him . It iswonderful .

In the life of many inspired people we read that the door of their
inspiration was opened from the moment that they loved someone in this
world32 . Poetry32 began in their life from the timethat love sprangout of
the heart . What a beautiful and wonderful conception .33 But if there is any
divine element, it is in the heart of man . And when the heart of man has
opened,34 the divine element rises and manifests to the world . How true it
is35 . The rhythm35 of life dies when love is done . It seems as i f the rhythm of
ife is gone when the heart has become cold .

There are other instances36 ; when36 a person has gone through a

great deal of pain, then poetry springs up37, but37only if pain has melted
the heart . Not-a if the heart is frozen . But if the heart ismelted, then th e

28. Gd. a.p. : "one" added ;

M : "one '
29. Gd.a.p.: " ; the' changed to " . The" ;
M: " . The "
30. Gd.a.p.: the comma crossed out
M: the comma omi tte d
31 . Gd.a.p.: " . That" changed to', that" ;
M: ', that"
32. Gd.a.p.: " . Poetry" changed to ", poetry' ;
M: " ; poetry "
33. Gd.a.p.: the full stop changed to an exclama tion mark ;
M: "1 "
34. Gd.a .p.: the comma crossed out
M .: the comma omitted
35 . Gd .a .p . : ' . The rhythm' changed to ' that the light' ;
M: that the light'
36 . Gd .a .p . : " ; when" charged to ' . When" ;
M: " . When "
37 . Gd .a .p . : ", but" changed to " . But" ;
M : " . But "
38 . Gd .a .p . : " . Not" charged to ", not" ;
M : ", root"
11 2

nature responds . Poetry is the innate nature of man, and it comes out as the
soul develops . You do not need to be a poet in order to express it . You can
express it in al I things39 . In39 painting orwriting, in action, in the everyday
life40; one's40 thoughtfulness ;41 one's consideration in dealing with
others ;41 one's courtesy42 . It42 all comes as poetry in the form of manner . It is
all poetry43 . When43 one remembers to say nothing that wi l l make a disso-
nant chord ;41 when one thinks to speak the word that will bring harmony
and sweetness . You do not need towrite, you can express your heart in a dif-
ferent way . The poetic spirit, the poetic gift, can be expressed in your I ife .

The poet who cannot express his poetry in his I ife,44 is not complete .
He has not reached that stage where his poetry can be called a ripened
poetry . It is not what we say, it iswhat we are . We each express our heart,
soul45 and condition in all we do . But46 the tendency of receiving al l the
beautywe can receive and giving it to others, that is the poetic tendency,
and this grows into the Prophetic 46tendency . The great soul must express
himself . Why does he do it? He does it because it is a natural human inclina-
tion that all the beautiful thoughts, 'wonderful things,49 that man sees, his
first thought is to show them to one who is standing near,50 "Look, how
wonderful51 ." He cannot be satisfied without . When we see in the history of
the world, Solomon, David, Abraham, Moses, Zarathustra, Jesus,
Mohammed, Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Buddha, all of them, they have given
truth-52 in poetry, in verse . The reason is that it makes their souls dance
when they feel th is, when they are conscious of being in God . It is sa id, "We
live, move and have ourbeing in God ." If the soul became conscious of this ,

39. Gd.a .p.: ' . In' changed to ", in" ;

M . : ", in "
40. Gd.a .p. : " ; one's" changed to' . One's" ;
M : " .One's "
41 . Gd.a .p. : the semi-colon changed to a comma;
M . : a comm a
42. Gd.a .p . : " . It" changed to ", it" ;
M : ", it "
43. Gd .a .p . : When" changed to "when" ;
M . : "when "
44. Gd .a .p . : the comma crossed out;
M. : comma omitted
45 . Gd .a .p . : a comma added;
M. : a comma
46 . Gd.a .p. : "Bit" crossed out, "the" with capital "T" ;
M : "The"
47 . Gd.a.p. : capital "P" changed to "p" ;
M. : "prophetic "
48 . Gd.a.p. : "the" added;
M.: "the"
49. Gd.a.p. : the comma crossed out,
M: the coma omitted
50. Gd.a.p.: "to say:" added;
M.: "to say: "
51 . All other doc ments : "beautiful" instead of 'wonderful"
52. Gd.a .p.: "tMh" changed to "Truth" ;
M .: "TnAh"
 11 3

it would dance, it could not stand stil I . The dancing soul cannot express it-
self except in rhythm and in poetry . It cannot refrain from expressing itself
in a music which appealstoother souls .

The poetry of Hafiz, of Rumi, isstill,0 in the East,53 something liv-

ing . After them many poets came ;54 took up the same way of expressing
themselves ;41 but no one could strike the same note . In spiritual things
there is no competition . Competition is in material things . So there have
been many poetssince Hafiz, but no one couldstrike the same note . Noss
one could equal him .

The inspiration of Rumi was different . It was more mystical . The

feeling that one has in the poetry of Rumi is different than56 in Haf iz . In the
poetry of Haf iz there is rhythm, beauty, love . In the poetry of Rum i there is
deep insight and love57 and recognition of the divine in al I beings56 . Many
souls in the East have arrivedto59the stage of saintliness by reading the in-
spired writings of Rumi . And even now, after many centuries since he
passed, no one with tender and fine feelings can read his poems without
shedding tears . It seems it has I ife . Behind thewords there is divine I ight . It
has an influence which can pierce through the heart, which can remind
man of the true character of life . It is truth-52; it is nature . Rumi presents to
humanity an unveiled secret of the word60of life in the form of poetry .

The presentation of Hafiz is different, although Hafiz has a great

respect for the writings of Rumi . He says in his remarks regarding thewrit-
ings of Rumi61 which he has written in Persian verse, When I think of the
great work of Rum i, though I wi l l not call him a prophet, yet he has brought
to the world a scripture . "

53 . Gd.a.p.: the comma (s) crossed out;

M . : the comma ( s) omitte d
54. Gd.a.p.: the semi-colon charged to 'and' ;
M : a comma instead of the semi-colon
55. Gd.a.p.: ' . No ' changed to ', no' ;
M . : . no "
56 . Gd.a.p.: " dean" changed to " from that' ;
M . : 'from that ,
57. Gd.a.p.: a co mma added;
M . : a comma
58 . TB. : " thing s" instead of 'beings '
59 . Gd.a p.: 'arrived to' which is an obsolete usage of 'arrive at' (see Ox.)
60. Ibid . : ' word of life' changed to "weld, of life' ;
M : "world, of life,'
61 . M . : a comma added
114

Now the question is, "Are poets 62born?" 'Are62 prophets born?" The
answer is that we are all born ;63 born for al I that we do and have and accom-
pl ish in I ife . No soul in the6world iswithout a particular mission to perform
and accomplish, and the misery of every soul is in not having come to the
understanding of the purpose for which he is born . The I ifetime of confusion
is always caused by souls wandering al I the time away from the purpose for
which they were born . There is a great mistake man often makes . He is so
ready to take a fancy to things,53 and to go after his momentary fancies, go-
ing from one thing toanother65, so65 in time he loses the thread which makes
himfeel hisway,66his work in life, hisplace,66and whathewas toaccom-
pl ish . And once th is thread is lost, then man is away from home . He does not
find himself at home61 in his own country, in his own home67 ; take67 him to
Paradise and he will not feel at home because he has lost that thread .
68There is a song called "Home, Sweet Home," but our true home and the
sweetest home is the place which isourplace in life .68

In the heart69 there isaplace foreverywire, andwhen thatwireis

not placed right,53 it will not serve the purpose70 . It70 will not give the
sweet sound that is expected of it . Al I human beings in thisworld are as dif-
ferent strings of one instrument, the universe, on which the Divine Being
plays His music, and the power of feeling that is given toman,53 isforhimto
seek through life his place, his purpose . And the closer he comes tohispur-
pose, the better hefeels,71 for hisonly happiness is in his purpose through
Iife .

It is no use asking of peoplewho tel I fortunes, or of clairvoyantsor

spirit mediums, what one's purpose is . What right or what power has an-
other,53 to know one's place .72 It is one's own responsibility to find out .

Poetry and prophecy 73has its73 roots in every soul . There is a faculty
of intuition from which poetry and prophecy both are born . Although ther e

62 . Gd.a .p. : 'ban?' 'Are' changed to 'born, are' ;

M. : 'ban, are'
63 . Gd.a .p. : the semi-colon changed to a hyphen;
M : a cormia
64 . All other documents : 'this' instead of "the'
65 . M. : ' . So' instead of ', so'
66. All other documents : 'his place, his wok in life,'
67 . Gd.a.p.: ' ; take' changed to " . Take' ;
M : ' . Take'
68. Gda.p.: this whole sentence was crossed out fist, then reinserted
69. Gd.a.p.: 'heart' charged to "harp' ;
Irl: 'hasp '
70. Gd.a.p.: ' . It" changed to', it" ;
M: ", it "
71 . M.: a semi-colon instead of a comm a
72. Gd.a p.: the full stop changed to a question mark ;
M: a question mark
73. Gd.a.p.: 'has its' changed to "have dies' ;
M: 'have their'
 11 5

are differences, and great differences, between individuals, at the same

time there is no individual who has not in his heart that spark which may be
cal led divine74, and74 if one realizes this, one will see that nothing is im-
possible to man75 . There75 is no attainment which is not possible for a human
being76 . Or,76 if there is, the lack is on his part, not on the part of God . It is
by our lack of patience, thought, stillness, powerof will, action that pro-
duces harmony and peace, that we become confused through I ife and wan-
der away from that cord that connects uswith our purpose, with divine I ife,
with al l inspiration and knowledge, which61 if one sought thoughtfully and
earnestly, one could certainly find .

Yes, there are two distinct77works that are the works of the poet and
the prophet . The distinct work of the poet is to prepare the heart to receive
that I ight which comes ; and the work of the prophet is to bring that I ight
and pour it into the hearts of men . Thiswork is done by each individual in a
small way . Mothers can do this for their children78 . Kind78 friends can do
this for their fellowmen . They can prepare their hearts with gentleness,
with l iving love, and they can sow in their hearts al I that is necessary there
to be produced .

But not everyone can do this, and when one who is not ripe for the
work attempts it, he does more harm than good . Very often people are only
anxious to make sister, brother or friend,O see from their own point of view,
or act as they wish them to do, and they arouse antagonism . They only pro-
duce a k ind of irritation, and the more they touch this irritation, the more it
becomes sore,9 and the outcome is fatal . Therefore,80 it is not the work of
everyone to do this . Before one81 tries, one82 must see if he can stand on his
own feet ;83 and then ones must see how thought and influence work upon
another . And the best way of teaching is by example . Words only annoy .
And words without life have no power . What brings the best results is in8 5

74. Gd.ap . : ', and' changed Eo ' . And' ;

M : " . And '
75. Gdap . : ' . There' charged to', there"
76. Ibid. : ' . Or,' charged to ', or' ;
M :',a '
77. T B. : 'different' instead of 'distint'
78. Gdap . : .Kind" changed to ', kind' ;
M. : ', kind '
79. Gdap . : the coma changed to a semi-colon ;
M : a semi-colon
80. Gd.a .p .: the camia crossed aid
81 . Ibid. : 'one' changed to 'a person' ;
M. : 'a person '
82. Gdap .: 'one' changed to 'he' ;
t : 'he '
83. Gdap .: the semi-colon changed to a co vna ;
M. : a oamia
84. M : 'he' instead of 'one'
85. Ibid. : In' omitted
116

acting one's own theory ;83 living one'sbelief86 . Practising86 one's idea87 .
This makes one81 the example of his idea, and then he does not need to
say88 . He is .

Those whose hearts are awakened cannot help but accept the teach-
ing, the thought, the help that is given . But in point of fact8what the great
teachers have done, is that they have brought to the world a I iving God .

In the world there is a belief in God, but where does one find the I iv-
ing God? What one wants is the I iving God .

For those who turn their backs on God, 90it is`° not for the reason that
they are against God, but for the reason that theycannot find the living
God .

What wasbrought by the prophets of al I times was the I iving God, to

enlighten, 91to help, to strengthen91 humanity towards perfection .
92

86. Gd.a.p. : ' . Practisirg' instead of ', practish,g" ;

M: ', practisir '
87. TB.:'ideas '
88. Gd .a.p.: ' . He' charged to he' ;
M: 'to say he is. '
89. Gd.a.p.: a con a added
90. M.: "do it' instead of "it is '
91 . Gda .p .: 'to help, to strengthen' changed to 'to strengthen, to help' ;
M: 'to strengthen, to help '
92. T R : 'Thank you all for your sympathetic response .
God bless you'
 11 7

A typewritten lecture handed down by Mrs . Prebble (a pupil of

Mirshida Martin's) to Martha Buk, and inherited from the latter by
Miss Hayat Stadlinger, an American mireed, initiated in Siresnes
in 1926, who passed it on to the Biographical Department in
Suesnes .

In the field of music there is much to be explored, and this subject of

the psychological influence of music seems to have been little known to
modern science . According to modern science we are taught that the influ-
ence of music, or of sound and vibration, comes to us and touches the senses
from without, but there is one question which remains . What is the source of
the influence that comesout from within? The real secret of the psycholog-
ical influence of music is hidden in the source ; the source where sound
comes from .

No doubt it is more plain and easy to understand that the voice has a
certain psychological value, and one voice differs from another, and every
voice expresses its psychological value and has its psychological power .
Very often one feels the personality of one who is tal k ing at a distance on
the telephone . A sensitive person can feel the effect of the voice alone
without seeing the speaker . And many do not depend so much upon words,
but more upon the voice that is speaking the words . This showsthat one's
psychological development is expressed in speaking, and more especially
in singing .

In the Sanscrit language, breath is cal led prana . The very I ife . And
what is voice?Voice is breath . If there is anything in life, inman'sconstitu-
tion, which may be cal led I ife, it is the breath . And breath manifested out-
wardly is called prana ; the sound of the voice . Therefore a person can
express himself most in song, or in what he says . If there is anything in the
world that can give expression to the mind and the feelings, it isthe voice .
Very often it happens that a person talkson a subject in a thousandwords,
and it has no influence . There is another person who expresses a thought in
three words, and makes a deep impression . Thisshows that the power is no t

Documents : (No &ginal MSS have been received by the archives to date . )

Tp. (a typescript sent by Miss Hayat Stadlinger to the B .D. in 1983 . This version probably is nearest to the
oldest one.) .
01 (a nearly identical copy of the 'i .' ) .
Sk .tp. (an exact copy of the 'at. •, dated America, 1923') .

This lecture was published in The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume 11 (1960), Music,
chapter XII .

From a program of three series of lectures which Piir-o-Mtrshid Inayat Khan gave in San Francisco, issued
by the Paul Elder Gallery (see Appendix A), it appears that this lecture was given an 4th April 1923 as the
second one in the series on 'Music.'
11 8

in the words, but in the voice which comes from prana . According to the
strength it has, it impresses the listener . The same thing is found in the fin-
gertips of the violinist, and coming from the lips of the flute player . That,
according to the influence coming from his thought, he produces through
his instrument that inf I uence . A person maybe very skilful, but if his finger
tips do not produce a feeling of I if e, he cannot make a success . Apart from
the music one plays there is the value of the prana or psychological power
that he gives to what he plays .

In India there are vina players who do not need to play a symphony
in orderto have an influence, in order to produce a phenomenon . They only
have to take the vina in hand and strike one note . As soon as they strike one
note it goes through and through and through . In striking one or two notes
they have tuned the audience . Itworkson all the nerves . It is I ike playing
the I< .ite that is in every heart . Their instrument becomes only a source, the
response to which is found in the heart of every person, friend and foe
alike . Let the most antagonistic person come before a real vina player, and
he cannot keep his antagon ism . As soon as the notes have touched that per-
son, he cannot prevent the vibrationswhich are created in him . He cannot
help turning into a friend . Therefore, in India they are often called, in-
stead of musicians, "vinamagician ." It ismagic .

No doubt the power of music depends upon the grade of spiritual

evolution that a person has touched . There is the story of a H indu who was a
musician at the Court of a great Emperor . The Emperor asked him, "Tel I me, 0
great musician, who was your teacher?" He replied, "King, my teacher isa
very great musician, but more than that . I cannot cal I him musician, I must
call himMusic ." Said the Emperor, "CanI hear him sing?"The musician an-
swered, "Perhaps, I may try . But you cannot think of cal I ing him here to the
Court ." The Emperor said, "Shall I gowhere he is?"The musician said, "His
pride may be revolted even there, thinking that he is to sing before a king ."
The Emperor said, "Shal I I go as your servant?" The musician said, "Yes, there
is hope then ." So both of them went up into the Himalayas ; into the high
mountains, where the sage had histemple of music in a cave ; living with
nature ; in tune with the infinite . When they arrived, the musician was on
horseback, the Emperor walking . The sage saw that the Emperor had hum-
bled himself to come to hear the music, and he was willing to sing for him,
and when he felt in the mood of singing, he sang . But his singing was so
great, it wasa psychic phenomenon and nothing else . It seemed as if all the
trees and pl ants of the forest were vibrating ; it was a song of the un iverse .
The deep impression made upon the Emperor and the musician was more than
they could stand ; theywent into a state of trance, of rest, of peace . And
while theywere in that state, theMaster left the cave . When they opened
their eyes hewas not there . The Emperor said, "0, what phenomenon! But
where hasthe Master gone?" The musician said, "Youwill neversee him in
this caveagain,for oncemankind hasgota tasteof this, hewill pursue it,
 11 9

though it cost life itself . It is greater than anything in I ife ." When they
were home again, the Emperor asked the musician one day, "TeI I me what
raga, what mode did your Master sing ;"The musician told him the name of
the raga, and sang it for him, but the Emperorwas not content, saying, "Yes,
it is the same music, but it has not the same I ife . Why is this?" The musician
replied, "The reason isthis, that while I sing before you, the King of this
country, my Master sings before God . That is the difference . "

Friends, if we study life today, in spite of the great progress of

science, the radio, telephone, phonograph, and all thewondersof this age ;
yet we find that the psychological aspect of music, poetry, and art does not
seem to develop as it should . On the contrary it is going backward . And if
we ask what is the reason, the answer will be that in the first place the
whole progress of humanity today is a mechanical progress, and this hin-
ders, in a way, the progress of individualism .

Amusician has to submit to the lawof harmony and counterpoint ; if

he takes one step different from the others, hismusic is questioned . When in
Russia I asked Tanieff, a very great musician who was the teacher of
Scriabine, what he thought of Debussy's music, he said, "I cannot under-
stand it ." It seems we are restricted by uniformity ; that there is no scope ;
andyouwill findthesame thing inthemedical and scientific worlds . But in
art especially, where the greatest freedom is necessary, one is restricted by
uniformity . Painters and musicians cannot get their work recognized . They
must follow the mob, instead of following the great souls . All that is general
is ordinary, because the great mass of the people are not highly cultured .
Things of beauty and good taste are understood, enjoyed and appreciated
by few, and there is no way for the artist to reach these few . In this way
what is cal led uniformity has become a hindrance to the individual devel-
opment .

What is necessary today is that in the education given to thechil-

dren, the psychological value of music must be taught . That is the only
hope, the only way by which we can expect, after some time, better results .
That the children learning music must not only know the music, but they
must know what isbehind it ; how it is presented .

Of course, there are two sides ; outward conditions, and the

presentation of the art . Outward conditions maybe more or less helpful . I
myself have seen in my musical I ife that music or a song, performed before
two or three people, congenial, sympathetic, harmonious, understanding
and responsive, brought quite a different vibration, created a different ef-
fect than the same thing given before five hundred people . What doesthis
mean? It means that some people are I ike instruments ; when good music is
presented before them, they respond, they become attuned to it, they are
al I music . They take a share in the music, and therefore a phenomenon is
created . And this phenomenon can reach even that highest ideal that is to
12 0

be expected of music, and that is the realization of the soul's freedom .

What is called Nirvana or Mukti in the East, and Salvation in the Christian
world .

For there is nothing in thisworldthat can help onespirituallymore

than music . Meditation prepares, but music is the highest for touching per-
fection . I have seen wonders by the psychological power of music, but only
when there were congenial surroundings . Five or six people, not more . A
moonlight night, or dawn, or sunset . It seems that nature gives its help to
make the music complete, and music and nature both work, for they are
one .

Now, if a great opera singer, or violin soloist, has to play before ten
thousand people, with all his ability, he cannottouch everysoul there . It
depends upon the greatnessof the artist, of course . The greater the artist,
the more he will reach . But he has to consider what will please his audi-
ence, not what will be pleasing to God . When music has to become
commercial, its beauty is lost . It has lost much of its value .

There was a time in the East when every effort was made by the aris-
tocracy of India to keep the art of music from being commercialized, and
they were successful for some time in doing so . Musicianswere not paid a
certain sum of money ; their needs were supplied, even though they were
extravagant . But they felt that they must have surroundings of harmony and
beauty ; they were generous ; their doors were always open to others, and
theywere always in debt ; but their debtswere paid by the kings .

Besides that, the musician was not restricted by hisprogramme . He

was left to see from his intuition what the people wanted . He must decide at
the sametimewhen he sees them . And ashe goeson playing or singing, he
.knows more . The chemical effect of the minds1 of the listeners2 tells him
what they want ; and so at the end it was a spiritual treat .

The secret of all magnetism, whether expressed through personal i-

ty, or through music, is I ife . It is I ife which is charming, which is attrac-
tive . What we are always seeking for is Iife, and it is the lack of Iifewhich
may be cal led lack of magnetism . And if musical teaching is given on this
principle, it will be most successful in bringing about psychological re-
sults . It is on the health of the physical body, on thought, on imagination
and on the heart (which is very often cold and frozen) that the psychologi-
cal power of music depends . And it is thislife which one putsthrough his
fingertips on the violin ; through his voice when singing .

Notes :

1 . 01, Sk . p. : 'mild'
2 . Ibid. : l istener'
 12 1
What the world is seeking ; what human souls yearn for, is that I if e,
whether it comes through music, color and I ine, or words . It is the I ife
which every one desires . It is I ife which is the real source of healing . Music
can heal if life is put into it . There is no great secret about it, if a person is
able to understand the truth in its simplicity .

When a person plays mechanically, the fingers running about the

piano or violin almost automatically, it may create a temporary effect, but
it soon passes .

Very often one hears disagreeable music . At the time it does not
seem so disagreeable, but afterward one realizes the bad effect . It is excit-
ing ; it is harsh .

But music that healsthe soul, ismusic with a soothing effect . One
can have the soothing effect, or one can have the harsh effect . And th is de-
pends not only upon the musician, but upon the composer also ; the mood
that has inspired him . A person awake to the psychological effect of music
will find it easy to understand what mood the composer was in when he
wrote . Every page shows his mood and his development at the time when he
waswriting . He can put I ife and beauty into his music, and after a thousand
years it will still prove to be beautiful and life giving . No doubt, study and
qualification help him to express himself better ; but what is really needed
is life behind it, which comes of the expanded consciousness, which comes
of the real ization of the divine I fight wh ich is the secret of al I true art, and
which isthe soul of all mysticism .
12 2

A typescript of a lecture from the legacy of Ivtrshiida Martin,

handed down by tuts . Duce to Sii dar, and copied by Sk. In a sep-
arate annotation 5k . writes: ' dabtf ul whether authentic." Pa rt s
of the text do not seem to be Pi-o-M urshid's own words .

The Spirit of Guidan

Beloved Ones of God :

My subject of this evening is "The Spirit of Guidance ." There is a

spark of divine intelligence in every soul which may be called a spark of
the spirit of guidance, that, in spite of all the errors and faults, and in spite
of all the ignorance through which man treads his path in his life, there is
always something tel I ing him, . . . to some audible, tosome inaudible, but in
the heart of everyone, in the heart of the saint, in the heart of the devil,
there issomething speaking continually . And it is a sign of that spirit, the
existence of which makes man responsible for his actions, the spirit of
guidance .

There would not have been a sin, there would not have been right
and wrong, if there was not that sense which is at the bottom of the heart of
every man . One may prove one's actions, one's point of view, one's attitude
and outlook on life, one's opinion with a thousand different reasons and
proofs, but still there is a light which tells him what is right and what is
wrong, what is really good and what is bad . Therefore the most wicked per-
son in the world, he does not want others to treat him accordingly ; he may
do it, being absorbed in selfishness, but that spirit of guidance tells him
that that is wicked, that it is not right . He accuses the other for treating him
badly . He doesnot judge himself, but at thesame time the spirit of guid-
ance is even there guiding him .

Docirnents : (No original MSS have been rece ived by the archives to date. )

Tp. (a typescript, rece ived by S iirdar from tv s . Duce, and copied by Sk.) .
Sk .am. (a few annota tions in Sk .'s hwr. an separate papers .) .

It is not known who put wards in parentheses in the 'tp.' .

This is the second lecture in a series of six lectures an ' Spiritual Philosophy" given by Pi-o-Ivtishid
Inayat Khan on 5th April 1923 in the Paul Elder Gallery in San Francisco, U .S .A. (Fa the program, issued
by Paul Elder, see Appendix A. )

An annotation made by Sk . with a view to the authenticity of the texts of a series of lectures, including
this one, reads [translated from Dutch by the corrpilerk 'We [Siirdar and Sakina] have been able to compare
some fragments received from Mrs . Duce, with parts of lectures of which the original text is in or pos-
session. It appeared that the version of the lecture sent by Iris. Duce is a very poor rendering of the crigi-
nal text, in many places garbled and distorted"
 12 3

The tendency which one sees in the higher mountains to ac-

commodate the rocks and plants and trees and water, and the tendency that
we see in the animal kingdom of warningtheir fellowcreatures, of taking
care of them, the source of the splendour and the wonderful working behind
the scheme of nature, that spirit of guidance even there shows its guidance,
being even perfect there .

Those who have studied the lives of the elephantswhen they are in
the forests, in that wi ld state, they have found a wonderful natural incl ina-
tion among them, that there is always a leader in the herd of elephants . Be-
hind that elephant, many elephantswho walk, and the leader elephant is
the experienced one, the elder brother who takes a stem of a tree in his
trunk, and as it goes on it examines the ground . If there isa pit, that ele-
phant gives a signal with a kind of cry of warning . As soon as the elephants
hear thatwarning they run away, because the way they catch elephants is
that they put someworn out straw in the pit, and asthe elephants coming,
being heavy animals, fall in the pit (they) can be starved . Then they ap-
proach and catch them . Also, of this danger the leader elephant always
warns the herd .

There are monkeys in the forest and there is always a leader . At the
time of danger and trouble, he gives them a warning, a kind of cry by which
they know if there isa danger awaiting them .

Among the birds, the flocks of birdswhich travel from land to land,
there is always one who is foremost, and that one can (act as) a compass
which (braves) storm and wind and land and weather and knows which way
it must take, and all others are guided by it .

What dowesee in this? Wesee in this sympathy, love, insight into

nature . And what comes out of it? The consideration for the well-being of
one's fellow creatures . Of all the wisdom or spirituality that one gains
through life, it is born in man to be useful, to be serviceable, an inclination
to protect and support the feeble, the weak, and to give one's knowledge
and thought and strength to those who need to learn .

Then the same spirit one finds developed in the human race . We see
it in a kind and loving mother for herchild, or devotion andsympathy or
selfsacrif ice . As in the East they say the mother is the first road through life,
and what the mother has taught, no one can teach, theirsympathy, good-
will and unselfishness . One sees that in a kind father, one sees it even in an
innocent child, the same tendency . One sees that tendency in an inspiring
teacher, in a kind and sympathetic friend, one sees it from all around .

Friends, it isaspiritwhich is so alive not only from within, but from

without, it always gu ides, and when man makes a mistake, an error, it is at
12 4

timeswhen he does not I isten to that spirit . The .more one is conscious of this
spirit, the spirit of guidance, the more one is c o+ .,c+oesopen to its guid-
ance, the more one listens to the lesson it gives, the more the spirit is
guiding him .

But one does not I isten to it . Very often it so happens to be a stranger

to thosetwhom it might tell something which is important for us to think and
learn . Aservant may tel I us something who perhaps may never have read, he
might tell one about something or tell something which may perhaps be of
use to a learned man . Sometimes elderly people can telI somethingwhich a
person with his experience does not know .

The morewe seek that guidance, the more that guidance comesto
teach from al I sides . When we open our eyes, when we open our ears to the
voice of that spirit of guidance, from all sides we get the answer to our
questions . We see ourselves there isaspiritof guidance, aspiritwhichmay
be called a divine spirit .

Many men take this guidance by calling (on someone from the) other
side,a spirit called fairy, master . . . many recognize it outwardly as advice
fromateacher, father, mother or child . Call it(whatyou may), it isall from
the same source and the same one coming from one source, it is only adif-
ference of recognition . As we recognize, so the voice comes, call it the
voice of this2 father, friend, servant, loved-one . Call it what you will, it is
the voice of one being, the spirit of guidance, the same being who spoke
through JesusChrist, the outer person of the master orthe spirit behind it .
The outer person of the master is historical . We find a certain time of his
birth and a certain time when he was more (advanced) .

. . . It is the spirit, cal I it the Christ spirit, but it is always there . Close
your eyes, it isthere ; open your eyes, it is before you . The more you take
notice of it, the more it appears to you . The more one's eyes are closed, the
further it goes . But the fault is on the part of man who does not I isten .

The custom of the great prophets and seers has been the i r bel ief . It
does not mean that they alone had belief in God . No, there is (rarely an un-)
believer . If one becomesa believer, there is very little more toobtain in
this world, because the stage of the believer is the stepping stone to perfec-
tion which is divine perfection . Many people believe, but if they believe,
there isvery littlemoretofind in life .

Notes:

1 . Tp.: 'those' crossed out by Sk.

2. Ibid.: 'this' aaossed aut by sk.
 12 5

Man is fond of complaining . He Iovesto be fooled . Give him some-

thing to fool him, he is gIad of it . Fool him more and more, he is pleased . If
we look at the face of life, what is it?The life of the intellect, what is it? It
is a puzzle, a puzzle which has two doors, one to enter and one you take
out . The doorof complexity isthe entrance to this door . The door of sim-
pl icity isthe exit .

Butman loves puzzles . The puzzlesinthe cartoonare madeforthe

enjoyment of man . Think how manypeople go tothe moving pictures and
what dothey seethere? Thesame asevery day . The moving picture that is
going on every day, they read in the newspapers . They want to see some-
thing unreal, one which takes them from the simple and true life, that di-
vine l ife which is the full one . They go to the theatre and, cinema and think
they are enjoying life, but life is ful l of enjoyment if one opened his heart
to every experience . The friendship of friends and the enmity of enemies,
all is interesting and reveals the truth, and in all partswe see the beauty if
only our eyeswi I I open to see the beautiful .

In the language of the Buddhists, it is the spirit of guidance which is

called "Bodhisattva" and it is most wonderful to think that every word of
Sanskrit, of the ancient language is not only a name of a certain person or
thing or condition, it is expressive of its secret nature and character .
"Buddha" means reason . "Sattva" means the essence of reason . We see in the
water that the surface of the water has a different temperature, different
colour and is different altogether from the3 deeper . The water in the depths
of the sea and lake is quite different from what ison the surface . So it is
with reason . Reason on the surface is a different reason from that in the
depth . In the depths is the cream of the reason . The picture is made by the
people who dive deep and bring pearls from the depths of the sea . So the
souls who learn to dive to this depth, the Bodhisattva, andwhat they bring
from there is nothing but pearls .

It is not adifferent form of thinking, it is only deep thinking . It is

not a different form of feeling, it is only a deep feeling . There is very I ittle
difference between understanding and comprehending . You can under-
stand, but in order to comprehend, you must go a little further .

In the history of the world we find that this Bodhisattva, this spirit of
guidance in whatever personality it expressed itself for us, has never failed
to make its impression directly or indirectly, for truth is I iving and I ife
alone can make impressions . In whatever part of the world anyone ex-
pressed this essence of intelligence purely for the well-being of his fel-
lows, for the good of his people or the peace of theworld, it has always
appealed to the innocence of people . And yet there has always been some-
thing standing between the Message of truth and the people, and what
stands4 iswhat man cal Is his mind .

3 . [bid "the' charged to 'that" by sk .

4. Sk .am. : 'between' added
126

A mind fuI I of one's beI iefs, one's own opinion and the knowledge
one thinks "This is my opinion, my belief ." He does not know it has never
been his belief . If one has believed or heard a thing, he begins to think it is
his opinion . But it is part of his nature, it is afaulton the part of man . Very
often he confuses himself with the body instead of identifying himself with
the soul . That is why it has always been taught by the seers and the great
souls that the only solution and way out of this puzzlewas self-knowledge,
self-realization .

Those who have come from time to time, what were they? They were
nothing but the expressions of that Bodhisattva, that Christ spirit, that spirit
of Alpha and Omega in whatever name or form they came or come, whatever
be their personality or condition in I ife, whatever nation or race, that does
not count . They camewith that knowledge, that inspiration and l ifewhich
is the need of souls .

When we read about the prophets of the past, the wisdom of Solomon
is not yet forgotten . Though thousands of years have passed it is there . The
message that Moses gave his life for, stands, though generations have
passed, many centuries have past, but it is I iving .

Jesus Christ spoke to so few . Who could have ever thought the whole
world could be blessed by that teacher! No one can ever imagine how few
he spoke to when he talked and gave the message .

But the I iving word can never die. If the hearts of men are not
accommodating, the sagesofthe worldwill conceal them safe, will (guard
them) and make another effort to teach in time . For God isTruth and truth is
God . All that is success only belongs to truth . Truth alone issuccessful . This
success which we see in our everyday I ife of rank, position, power, how
long does it last? It is here fora day and (passes I ike a dream) and becomes
nothing but a source of (hardship) that man finds in the end dust, from which
he obtains nothing . As in Sanscrit it is said that successonly belongs tothe
truth .

You will see in the history of those who have given their lives in the
service of truth, to the refinement of humanity, to elevate mankind, they
have had great trouble, many miseries, their I ives passed through burdens,
but at the same time success belonged to them . How many years since
Buddha has passed?Can anyone erase Buddha from the hearts of those im-
pressed with his teaching, and can the ea4o€4futh sea rise over the influ-
ence of Buddhistic teaching?Can it?Man cannot resist the call of truth . He
must sooner or later benefit by it .
 12 7

A typescript, of which no original document has been found in

the archives to date.

-,4fftecica-aA2-3T- 1

The Healing Power of Music .

The idea of healing through music isreally speaking the beg inning
by development by the art of music, the end of which is attaining by music
what is cal led in thewords2as in vedanta Samadi2 .

In the first place all3 medicines which are used for healing pur-
poses, if we sawwhat is at the back of them, if we asked4 what it is in them
that heals, we shal I find that it is the different elementswhich constitute
our physical existence . The same elements are there, and that which is
lacking in us is taken from them fors that effect which should be produced
in our body, is produced by those medicines. That vibration which is to b e

Documents : (No original MSS have been received by the archives to date . )

Tp. (a typescript with 'America 1923' in the upper right hand comer . This version, before the corrections
by Sk., seems to be the oldest one .) .
01 (a typescript which may have been copied from the same old document as the 'lp .', but has reached
the
. 1p .archives in Suresnes thrash a dif f erent line of mureeds, and underwent more changes than the
)
Sk . considered the 'o.t ."s to be the oldest available documents f or several other lectures in the same
series given in San Francisco, U .S .A., in 1923. She was right at that time, as the 'tp .'s of those lec-
tures, which reached the archives only in 1983, were unknown to her .
With this lecture, even though another typescript ('tp.') was added to the archives in her time, she
took the 'o.t.' as the one giving the oldest version.
Sk .carr. (corrections in Sk.'s hwr. in the 'tW.', making thereby the lip.' identical to the'o .t." . These cor-
rections, therefore, are not mentioned as such in the notes .) .
Sk .tp . (a typewritten copy of the lecture, with "Sk . corr.' included, identical to the "o.t." . Therefore
'Sk .tp .' is not mentioned in the notes as a separate document, except in note 1) .
T .c . (another typewritten copy, very inaccurate, showing omissions and changes) .
Sk .am . (Sk . s separate paper with amotatans) .

This lecture was published in The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume 11 (1960), Music,
chapter XII1 .

This is the third lecture in a series of six lectures on 'Music,' and was given by Pir-o-Mrshid Inayat
Khan on 11th April 1923 in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S.A . (For the program, issued by Paul
Elder, see Appendix A. )

Notes :

1 . O.1. : 'America 1923' omitted;

Sk .1p. : 'America 1923' added
2. O.t. : 'of the Vedanta 'Samadhi" ;
T .c . : 'of Vedanta 'Samadhi", 'the' added by Sk.
3 . 0.1., tc . : 'the' added
4. Ibid . : "ask "
5. Ibid . : 'or' instead of 'for'
128
created in the body, is created by their power; and that rhythm which is
necessary for our cure is brought about by putting the circulation of the
blood into a certain rhythm and speed . And the intensity of vibration,
which maybe necessary for our health is brought about by the medicines .

In this we learn that health is a perfect condition of rhythm and

tone . And what ismusic?Music is rhythm and tone . When the health is out of
order, it meansthe music isoutof order . The music is not right in ourselves,
and therefore to put ourselves into a state of harmony and rhythm, what is
most necessary isthe help of harmony and rhythm . Thisway of healing can
be studied and understood by studying the music of one'sown I ife ; by study-
ing the rhythm of the pulse ; the rhythm of the beating of the heart, and of
the head . Physicianswho are sensitive to rhythm, determine the condition
of the patient by examining the rhythm of the pulse, the beating of the
heart, the rhythm of the circulation of the blood . And a physician, with al
his material knowledge, to find the real complaint, must depend upon his
intuition and the use of hismusical qualities .

In ancient times, and even now, in the East we have two principal
schools of medicine . One which comes from the ancient Greek school,
through Persia ; the other which comes from the Vedas and is founded on
mysticism . Andwhat ismysticismf It is the law of vibration .

Understanding the nature of complaint by the rhythm and tone that

can be perceived in the human body, and by regulating through rhythm and
tone, according to one's understanding of the proportions of rhythm and
tone that make a proper health .

Besides this, there is an other way of looking at it . Every illness

apparently has its peculiar reason, but in real ity al l illnesses come from
one reason . One reason, or cause, or condition, and that is the absence of
life, the lack of life . Life is health . Its absence is illness, which culminates
in what we call death . Life in its physical form, as perceived through the
physical spheres, is called "Prana" in Sanscrit .

Now, thislife is given by foodormedicine ; orthe body isprepared

bya certain foodor medicinetobe abletobreathe inthislife itself, inor-
der that the body may become in better health, may experience perfect
health . But this Prana 6that comes6, which means a7 breath, the central
breath, this attracts from space all different elementswhich are there . As
the herbs and plants and flowers and fruits all attract the same element in
them from space, which they represent, but al l these elements are attracted
by the breath . Therefore the great myst ics, whether from Greece, Persia or
India, havealwayshad astheir basesof spiritual evolution, the cultureof

6. Ibid .: 'that comes' omitte d

7. Ibid: "the" instead of 'a'
 12 9

breath, the science of breath . 'And the source of al I feel ing9 has been the
science of breath .8 Even unt i I now, you wi I I see i n the East, the hea I ers, who
magnetize water, or food or the atmosphere . Where Iiesthe secret of this
magnetism? It is thei r breath . It is the influence of their breath in the water
or food .

The religious people of India have a ceremony, something like a

sacrament, given by the holy person to another who is suffering, and it
helpsthem . It isthe powerof breath, which is sobalanced,so purified and
developed, that it attracts al l elements . All that you can get from a herb,
flower or fruit, and10even more . Therefore, what medicine can do, a thou-
sand times more than that their breath can do . There are healers in the East,
who whisper some spiritual words, but what is whispering? It is breath
again ; breath with words directed through it .

There was a physician in Delhi who mostly used his11 healing power
with his patients, and one day asceptical friend came to consult him . The
physician whispered afewsacred words before the patient, and said,"Now
you may go ."This sceptical man said he could not understand howsuch a
method could have any effect on his health, and the physician did some-
thing quite unusual in his life, that is, he offended the man by speaking
very harshly to him . The man became very angry, and said, "How can you, a
physician, say such words to mel"The physician said, "Usually I never do
such a thing, and l only did it to prove something to you . If mywords can
make you angry and ill, they can also make someone well . If words can
make one ill and upset, they have the power12 back of them to harmonize
the patient and put him in good condition . "

Now, what is music? According to the Sanscrit thinkers, there are

three aspects of music, singing, playing and dancing . All three represent
rhythm13 and al I three represent tone in some form or other . And what is the
effect of music? The effect of music is to regularize14 the rhythm of another
person and15 tune another person to the music that is being performed . What
secret is there in music which attracts all those who listen to it? It is the
rhythm which is16 created . It isthe tone of that music which tunes a17 soul
and raisesa soul above the depression and despairof everyday life in this
world . And if one Flew- knewwhat rhythm is needed for a particular indi-

8. T .c.: this sentence was omitte d

9. O.t., Lc.: "healing" instead of 'f eeli g'
10. T .c.: 'a" instead of 'and'
11 . Ibid.: ' this' instead of 'his'
12. Sk.am.: 'at the' added
13. T .c.: ' music" instead of 'rhythm'
14. uid.: ' to regulate ' instead of ' to regularize'
15. 0.1, Lc.: 'to' added
16. T .c.: ' being' adde d
17. O.t ., t.c.: 'the ' instead of 'a'
130

vidual in his trouble and despair, and what tone is needed, and to what tune
that person's soul should be raised, then he could18 heal a person with mu-
sic .

There wasa time in India when musicwas used for healing . Itwas
healing for the mind, for the character ; healing for the soul . Because it is
health of the soul which19 brings health of the physical body, but heal ing of
the physical body does not always help the soul . That is why the material
science of medicine can do good forsome time, but does not entirely Buf-
fice the need of the patient . I do not mean by th is that outward treatment is
absolutely useless . There is nothing in this worldthat isuseless, if weonly
know how tomake use of it . All things in this20world are needed, all things
have their benefit and use, if we only know how to use them properly . The
only thing is, if a cure isbrought aboutoutwardly, while inwardly the ill-
ness remains, sooner or later the21 illnesswhich isburied in the bodymust
come out and show itself .

Once I met with a person, who said she had been to many physicians
for the complaint of neuritis, and was for the moment cured, but it always
comes22 back, and she said, "will you tell me something that wi l l help me?" I
asked her a question . I said, "Is there any person in theworld whom you dis-
ike, whom you hate, or whose action is troubling your mind?" She said,
"Yes, there are many people whom I dislike, and especially there isone per-
son whom I cannot forgive ." "Well," I said, "That is neuritis, that is the root
of the disease . Outwardly it isa pain of23the body ; inwardly it is rooted in
the heart . "

Often the cause of it Iness iswithin, though no doubt many things are
caused outwardly . No one rule will cover everything . No doubt, as things
have changed in the world and materialism has spread throughout the
world, it has influenced things, not only inthe West, but in theEast also .
The use of music for spiritual attainment and healing of the soul, which was
prevalent in ancient times, is not found to the same extent now . Music has
been made a pastime ; the means of forgetting God, instead of realising
God . And it isthe use of24 thingswhich constitute their fault or their virtue .

Still the remembrance of the ancient use of music remains among

the poor . Among the poor in India there are healers who have their particu-
lar instrument of healing, the instrument they play, and the people go to
them for healing . And by playing that instrument they arouse that certain
feeling which has become cold, and that deep feeling which was buried
beginsto come out . It is really the oldwayof psycho-analysis . Music help s

18. T .c.: "would" , but sk. wrote " ( could ) " above
19. 01, t.c.: "that" instead of "which "
20. T .c.: " the", btA Sk. wrote "( this)" above
21 . Ibid.: " that" instead of "the "
22. O.t., t.c.: "came " instead of "comes"
23. T .c.: " in" in stead of "of "
24. Ibid.: " as" instead of "of " . 5k . added "that" in p arentheses before "as" .
 13 1

that person to express2the hidden influencewhich wasthere . And in this

way many people are helped without going to a physician . But that 26is no
doubt 26 a crude and ordinary form27 of healing . Anobleman, knowing that
healing can be accomplished through music, introduced concerts in cer-
tain hospitals, and the amusing28 result was that all those who weresuffer-
ing began to cry out, "For God's sake, keep quiet . Go away ." That was not
the music to soothe them . It only made them suffer more . It was I ike giving a
stone for bread . In order to give healing through music, one must study what
is needed, what iswanted . In the first place, one must study what the com-
plaint is ; 29what elements are lacking29 ; 30what is its symbolical meaning,30
what mental attitude is behind3 iI Iness ; and by a close study, one can do31
great good to the patient, by the help of music .

Even if musicwas32not used asa prescription particularly intended

fora certain illness, still the powerof illness, which hasasa burden33 in the
heart of man, that power can be reduced by lifting his heart, by changing
his thought . What brings illness is the thought of illness, rather than illness
itself . The existence of illness in the body no doubt may be called a shadow
of the true illness, which is heldbyman in hismind . Bythe powerofmusic,
mind may become so exalted, that it rises above the thought of illness,
then3 i I I ness is forgotten .

And you wi I I ask, "What music can heal man, Mwhat sort of music 34 ?
Is it singing or playing, or in the way of dance?" Singing is3 most powerful,
for singing is I iving . It is Prana . It is I ife itself . It is voice . No doubt it is
life, which is working through an instrument also, by the touch" . But in
singing it is the direct I ife ; the breath touching the heart of the I istener .
But now the idea is, what must be behind this voice?There must be a heart
prepared with the battery that is needed . And what is that battery? That bat-
tery iswhat we cal I love and sympathy, the greatest power there is .

Aperson who is material, who is fighting for hisown from morning to

evening, who is looking for hisown benefit, who is in trouble and bitter ,

25. 0.1, Lc. : 'in full" inserted

26. T .c. : 'no doubt is', changed back by Sk. to "is no doubt'
27. Ibid. : "way' instead of ' form '
28. Ibid. : "amazing" instead of "amusing '
29. Ibid. : this phrase was omitted, but reinserted by Sk.
30. Ibid. : this phrase was omitted
31 . O.t., t.c . : 'a" added
32. T .c. : "were" instead of "was "
33 . In the "Ip." Sk ., following the text of the "o .t.", changed 'as a burden ' into "its abode ", probably be-
cause of the wad "has ", which precedes it. "Has" could well have been heard, however, while "lies"
was said,
0.1, Lc . : 'has its abode '
34. T .c. : this part of the question was omitted, but reinserted by Sk.
35. Ibid. : "voice ' instead of "touch"
13 2

who is in them idst of fighting and36 he is fighting too, he cannot heal . The
healer must be free ; free to sympathize ; free to love his fellowman even
more than himself .

What teaches this Iove? Where can one I earn it? Where can one get
it? The key to this love-element is God . As we look upon life today with all
its progress, what is lacking? It i$God .God is the key to that unlimited store
of love wh ich is in the heart of man .

I was once very amused and surprised at an answer . Avery godly and
goodnatured maid working in the house, could not answer a knock at the
door as37 quickly as it shoulder have been answered, and the lady-visitor
whowaswaiting at the door became very impatient and spoke crossly to the
maid. I asked the maid what had happened . She was not cross at all ; she
smiled and said, "yes, yes, that ladywas very cross with me ." I said, "Wei I,
what was the matterwith her ; what made her cross ; what was the reason?"
And this39 maid with innocence in her face replied, "the reason? there is no
God ."A beautiful answer . Where God is lacking there is no love . Wherever
there is love, there is God . 4WVhereverthere isGod, there is love .40If we
interpret it rightly, what causes pain and suffering? It is the lack of life .
What is I ife? It is love . Andwhat is love? It is God . What every individual
wants, what the world wants, is God . By music, by harmony, by tone, by the
science of right attuning41, by the life of good, all we have to attain, all we
have to gain to blessour I ives isGod . This isthe central theme of al I good .

36 . Ibid. : 'and" put in parentheses

37 . Ibid. : "so' instead of "as", charged back by Sk . to 'as'
38. Ibid. : "could' instead of "should "
39. Ibid.: *the' instead of 'this '
40. Ibid.: this sentence was omitted, but was reinserted by Sk .
41 . O.t., t.c.: 'tuning'
 13 3
A typescript of a lecture f rom the legacy of Murshida Martin,
handed down by Mrs. Duce to S irdar, and copied by Sk . Ina sep-
arate annotation Sk. writes : " doubtful whether authentic.' Pa rts
of the text do not seem to be Pir-o-Mirshid's own wards .

Revelation When Awake and When Asleep .

If there is a divine essence that is to be found in man, it is Intel l i-

gence, and when the intelligence learns from the names and forms of the
objective world and collects knowledge inthisway, it is the collection of
this knowledge which maybe called intellect . But when the same intelli-
gence finds another source of knowledge, that source which is withinone-
self, not without, it is that source of knowledge which may be called
wisdom .

We in our daily use of the words intellect and wisdom very often
confuse these twowords ; very often we 1say to1 a wise man, 2'clever man'
and very often we call a clever person wise . Anyone who is intelligent
enough to guard his interest in his everyday life maybe called a clever
man ; he cannot be called a wise man at the same time . A wise man is he who
sees further than every person . And how can we recognize that wisdom in
man? It is not difficult to recognize it . It is natural . The first sign ofwisdom
is gentleness ; it makes a person gentle and gentle means everything . Gen-
tle means considerate, gentle means forgiving, gentle means understand-
ing, gentle means sympathetic . Gentle shows all different qualitieswhich
show in man as humane qualities .

When a person makes use of his intelligence for the3 life, the obj ec-
tive l ife, the outside life, he no doubt profits by it, but does not ful ly profi t

Documents : No original MSS have been received by the archives to date .

Tp. (a typescript, sent by Mrs . Duce to S irdar, and copied by Sk .) .

Sk .ccrr. ( Sakina's corrections made in the "tp." ) .
Sk .ann. ( a few annotations made by Sk. on a separate list) .

It is the thud lecture in a series of six lectures on 'Spiritual Philosophy' given by Pir-o-Ahrshid Inayat
Khan on 12th April 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery in San Francisco, U.S.A . (Fa the program, issued by
Paul Elder, see Appendix A. )

An annotation made by Sk . with a view to the authenticity of the texts of a series of lectures, including
this one, reads [translated from Dutch by the compiler] : "We [Siirdar and Sakina] have been able to compare
some fragments received from Mrs . Duce, with parts of lectures of which the original text is in our pos-
session. It appeared that the version of the lecture sent by Mrs . Duce is a very poor rendering of the origi-
nal text, in many places garbled and distorted . "

Notes :

1 . Sk.car: "say to" replaced with "call"

2. Ibid.: "a" added
3. Ibid.: "the" crossed out
13 4

by something which is the most vaIuablething inhisIife . He canon Iyprofit

fully if he uses the same intel I igence4 for the I ife without5 for the I ife
within . It does not mean in the least that the intel I igence must not be used
outside, but must be used only to gain knowledge from within . It would
make a person unbalanced even if a person became a saint or a mystic . He
would only be a dream . That is not the ideal situation to be in .

The ideal is that the intelligence isthe light of the eyes and intel-
igence is the eye of the heart and intel I igence is the soul itself . Intel I i-
gence is something which expresses and represents the divine in man .
Therefore it must be used to gain knowledge not only from without but also
from within . The fulfilment of the purpose of our life and the satisfaction of
this ever yearning soul is in the attainment of that knowledge which can be
gained not only from that part of this I ife which iswithout, but also from the
great phenomena of I ife which can be seen by turning the soul within .

We see 6the difference in an ordinary person ,6 the difference be-

tween an ordinary person and a thoughtful person, that a thoughtful person
sees a I ittle further . He takes -a- precautions ; before he utters' a word, he
thinks ; before he acts, he feels . The ordinary man, with every impulse he
has to say or to act, acts regardless of what results it wi l l produce . Very few
in thisworld we find who have, soto speak, control overthought, wordor
action . It seemssosimpleandyet it issodifficult, itseems thewhole life is
not sufficient to gain that control over one's words and acts .

And how absurd, when people spend their lives and trust in wonder-
workings, after investigating phenomena, discussing about the laws that
are hidden, discuss about revelations and sacred prayers, analyse them and
scatter them to pieces, to overlook a simple thing like this--to have control
overwords and acts . And this mastery would produce a I iving phenomenon .

One does not need to study it in books ; one does not need to gain this
by any wonder-working or by anything mysterious . A simplewonder, most
useful and precious in everyday life! How few think about it! Many are
ready to claim their desire to know the truth, to know the mystery of life, to
be able to work wonders, wishing to see phenomena . Life itself isphenome-
nal . Its every moment is ful I of miracle if one only knewwhat is l ife .

If I were to say what is l ife : life is reveal ing and l ife is a ve i l ing ;
and it is the condition that unveils . And at the same time the ve i l is not over
this lifewhich is the objective life . The veil is overthe heart of man . It is
the life that is open, it is the eyesthat are closed . Life is revealing, if one
only knewwhat it is .

4 . Ibid . : not only" added

5. Ibid . : "but also" adde d
6. Ibid . : "the di f f erence in an ordinary person," crossed out
 13 5

Not only do living beings express their feelings, their thoughts,

their secrets, their past, present and future in everything they do, but in
their expressions, in their eyes, in theirmovement, intheirvoice, in their
looks, nothing there is in thisworld which is hidden, and yet everything is
hidden . If you can see, nothing is hidden ; if you cannot see, all is hidden .
Not only the life is hidden, but your own self is hidden . When we cannot
see, we see nothing, and when we can, we can see ourselves and the whole
ife . It al I becomes a scripture, an open page in ourselves, explaining in
detai I al I we see, speaking out aloud in every form .

People wanting to have telepathic communications, communica-

tions perhapswith those who have passed, communications with the sages
or with masters, if they only knew that every aspect of I ife, every form of
ife is open for communication . Even the rocks, as dead as they appear, you
can communicate with them ; the plants, trees, flowers, planets and I iving
beingswho pass before us, those who have passed and those who are I iving,
all are open to communication if one knew and realized the nature and
character of the secret of life which is ever revealing . What man lacks is
the preparation for the attunement which enables him to communicate with
the3 l ife, life in al l its aspects .

One experience which perhaps everybody has to a smaller or

greater extent in his everyday I ife is what may be called 'impression .'
Woman is more open to this impression than man for the reason of her re-
sponsive character by nature . Among men, the man of gentle and refined
nature is more impressed and is more capable of having impressions . And
what is this impression? Everything that reveals, everything that is re-
flected on the heart of man begins to reveal its nature, its character, its
secret, and that iswhat iscal led impression .

When a person says that he saw a friend and that friend was very
kind in hiswordsand manner, but he does not think that person isstraight--
that isan impression . Now every word the person said, perhaps, and every
action seemed al l right and yet there wasa reason for thisperson who had
this impression to say this person wasnotstraight, itwasafeeling,afeeling
without any reason . That is an impression . And for th is a person need not be
especially advanced spiritually or mystically . A person with a candid
heart, kind intentions, a straightforward person is always open to impres-
sion . It is the reward of his goodness .

Then there is another manner in which one perceives a kind of warn-

ing, afeeling intensely risesfrom the heart, pertainingtohis business, his
domestic affairs, his friendship, his affairs of heart, a feeling that some-
th ing wi l l become right or someth ing wi l l go wrong . If you ask that person,
"what reason can you give?", he has no reason, only he knows something is
going wrong or coming right . When something is coming right, there is a
13 6

hope, a consolation, a kind of ease . When something is going wrong, one

feels despair, depression in some form or other, that something is going
wrong . He may not get a clear idea, but a feeling comes, and it isthiswhich
is called "intuition . "

Man has a greater share in intuition than the animals . But as man is
so absorbed in the small things of life, his occupation and activitieswhich
divide his mind, thought and energies, it makeshim less capable of receiv-
ingand understanding that message which comes as an intuition, than even
the horses and dogs and cats . The domest is an imals such as horses and dogs
and cats and the bi rdswhich are accustomed to I ive in the human surround-
ings, they very often perceive conditions . When there is grave news to
come, they begin to give signs and those who knowsomethingof theirlan-
guage have perceived it, and people of alI ages called this superstition .

All issuperstition when one does not know it, and it is all science
when one understands it . Friends, the3 life is music, and when there is a
false note every keen heart beginsto feel there is a false note, there is a
wrong harmony, there is a rhythm lacking . The lack speaks and that lan-
guage even the animals and birds understand . When man does not under-
stand, what does that mean? Man is made to understand much more than the
animals and birds, only man has become so one-sided . Day and right he
gives all his intelligence to the outer things and has very little time for the
inner . Therefore his intelligence is formed for the outer things and it is kept
back from knowing and attaining the knowledgewhich comesfromwithin .

During the wartime many who had thought the intuition a kind of su-
perstition had begun to see that though it isa superstition, it istrue . How
many mothers and how many wives have known the i I I ness or the death of
their beloved son or husband? How they have felt from a distance their
pain, their suffering, their torment and longing, their love! No person with
the slightest feeling in his heart and fineness in his thought can doubt the
factthat there isafacultyof intuition inman,moreorless, whichbringsto
him a knowledge forwhich he can give no reason, or if asked, he has none .

And there is another channel of knowledge which is called

"inspiration ." There are manywho wish towrite a poem ora playor some-
thing . They wi I Igo on desiring for months and months but it never comes to
them satisfactory, and as it does not satisfy them, it does not satisfy us . It is
a Iabourwhich is lost, wasted . And there is another person7who may7, per-
haps, in writing a poem or music, that8 there might come a moment when he
feels I ike writing, and if he has a penci I and writes it down, it comes as an
answer to a satisfaction, and there is an air of ease, and when that is shown
to the people it cannot but attract their appreciation and love for it, for it
is something living, something harmonious .

7. Ibid . : who may' aossed as

8 . Ibid. : 'that" aos sed out
 13 7

What is inspiration? Inspiration isa knowledgewhich is born from

harmony . It is the harmony of the soul which gives birth to inspiration . Does
not9 it take time for a perfect theme of music when inspiration comes?No, it
is a flow of water, it is I ike a spring, spontaneous . Its coming brings har-
mony . When you record it, it becomes as a picture of harmony . Whoever
sees it will read it at once as harmony . 10He does it10 in architecture, in
sculpture, painting, singing or dancing . Whatever comes of an inspiring
character, it quickly pleasesthe heart, it is a magnet in whatever form it
comes .

What is the meaning of art? Art is beauty, the beauty which is re-
ceived from the divine source, the offspring of harmony . When that beauty
is placed before us, it wi I I make its impression, and there is no need to be a
poet, a musician or painter in order to receive inspiration . Whatever the
occupation of your life, if you receive inspiration at all you will show the
harmony and beauty in whatever you do . The whole I ife is before us to ex-
press our soul, if our soul only speaks that harmony which is the inner
essence of the whole creation .

It is a great pity, friends, that the art, poetry and music should so de-
cline as we see to-day in the whole world . Why do we not find many
Wagners,Beethovens, manyMozarts?Why dowe not find the blessed poets
who existed for us in the past,11every century back?11 It shows that it is the
fault of the musician, poet orwriter ; it isthe condition against which he
has to fight . The life's condition has become so difficult to struggle with
that hiswhole effort goes in struggling . Therefore someone capable of re-
ceiving inspiration very often struggles for years and years .

And it becomes very hard and rarely one comes, perhaps, who is able
to do something . But many of the artists are real seekers after truth and
beauty and genuineness in their art and science, and they are deprived of
inspiration in their expressions in poetry and music by the condition of I ife
which istoo hard to get through .

There is anotherway of revelation which is generally seen in the

dream and especially in such dreams that are called "visions ."Avision does
not necessarily come when a person is fast asleep, but mostly comeswhen a
person is half asleep . The subject of the dream is the most interestingsub-
ject especiallyfora manof ascientific bentof mind,howevery dream, if
one studies it, is an expression of a certain sense . It conveys to us something
of the past or of the present or of the future . If one does not understand it, it
is the lack of one's understanding . And the most interesting part about it is
that the symbolical dream of every person is peculiar to his particular tem-
perament and his particular stage of development .

9. Sk.ann. : 'not' crossed out

10. Ibid.: 5k. suggests to change 'He does it" to It may come"
11 . Ibid. : after "every century back' Sk . put a question mark.
138

It is therefore that no one in the world has ever been able to gather a
kind of language of dreams because the language of every person's dream is
peculiar to himself, and the best reader of such language isthat person for
himself . If hewere notadvancedhe wouldnever knowthemeaning, but if
he is advanced spiritually and if he knows and understands, there is no one
whowill understand better than himself .

It is the same with one's illness, thatsciencewill not be abletotell

you ful ly, if you yourself cannot understand it . No one can be a better doc-
tor than yourself . The physician knows what you tell him and what l ittle he
sees from outward signs, but you can do it for yourself . So it iswith dreams ;
when a heart can see through I ife, when hismind is able to focus its opinion
from impression, then certainly a newworld is before him . 12Through that if
one looks12or in the night when asleep, he only sees it .

Of course visions are of many different k inds . Vision can communi-

cate more with al I things andwith all worlds, with the seen and the unseen .
There are some people who may see in a condition called trance, when half
asleep and when they just nod for a moment in a comfortable and easy con-
dition they feel it . But besides al I these different ways by which one per-
ceives the knowledge of I ife, it al I sums up in one word and one thing, and
that is revelation .

Once the heart is open to the I ife which is within, to the subjective
world and the objective world, when one is able to turn the heart from the
objective to the subjective world and from the subjective to the objective
world, one has given a new life to oneself . ThusSa'di hassaid, "Every tree
can become as a page of the Bible if the heart is open and the inner eye is
able to see their thought . "

There is not one thing in I ife 13that its whole being13 is not re-
vealing . If there isaveil,it istheveiIof man's ignorance . If there is aveiI
that hides from our eyes, it is the veil we carry in our hands . We cover
things instead of unveiling life . We cover life by our ignorance of life . And
if you will say, 'How can one attune to these revelations? How can one rise
to that plane that reveals?" I will say a study, a study is necessary to some
extent, meditation is necessary ; yes, concentration is also necessary . But
what is there besides? There is knowledge too that concentration helps,
that meditation helps, that study of mystical philosophy helps . But what is
most helpful? It is simple and yet so I ittle known and so I ittle thought about .

12. Ibid. : after 'Through that if one looks", Sk . put a question mark .
13 . Ibid . : of ter 'that its whole being', Sk . put a question mark.
 13 9

The most essential thing in the pursuit of truth is true I iving . How
very simple it seems and how very difficult it istoIive in the world of false-
hood, morning and evening things of false nature and false character
tempting and distracting us from our life's hope, pulling us from that path
which is the real and right path . It is a test every moment of our I ife, what-
ever be the grade of our evolution . Therefore the most essential thing is to
be able to be strong enough to fight and stand against and strive for the
right path . And besides study, meditation and concentration one thing is
needed, and that is to love truth and to resist the bent14 of thoughts and
everything that comes to us, not to forget truth as the ideal, as the source,
the path, and the goal .

14 . Sk .car.: • (trend) ?
140

From a San Francisco newspaper, the San Francisco

Examiner, 16 April 1923

San Franc isco, April '

"Day by day I am growing better and better, as a creed, has but one
fault . That fault is found in aI I parts of the world today . In place of the pro-
noun I, Coue should have saidwe . "

Americans are children by comparison with us of the Orient . They

are constantly yearning for the truth, and this frame of mind makes them
open to right and wrong both . Americans do not discriminate in their search
for rel igion .

You say rel igion and science fight each other? In the beginning they
were the same thing . But like spiritual impulse they grew at a different
rate . Now science is ahead of spirit and man says , "Lol see what I have
done ."

Love is like water . It expands everywhere, it maybe a drop or an

ocean ; it helps the earth or it destroys the earth .

According to Inayat Khan, everyone tries to express himself in some

way--it maybe by writing, or singing or by dealing in business . The Sufists
[sic] believe music to be the most satisfactory means for self-expression,
and sing or play for many hours at their ceremonies .

Note:

This article contains material which apparently canes from a personal intervi wv, p erhaps on April 13 .
 14 1

A typewritten lecture handed down by Mrs . Prebble (a pupil of

Murshida Martin's) to Martha Burk, and inherited f ram the latter by
Miss Hayat Stadlinger, an American mureed, initiated in Suresnes
in 1926, who passed it on to the Biographical Department in
Suresnes .

1
Rumi .2

Beloved ones of God ,

My subject this afternoon is Jal lal-u-din Rumi, the greatest poet the
world has ever known . A poet whose message, in his Iife and work both,
marks a distinct line as anew era, anew step in Sufism, which was the most
ancient school of Mystics and Philosophers, and which originated from the
ancient mystic school of Egypt . The first and best known initiate of that par-
ticular school wasAbraham, the father of the three great religionsof the
world, Judaism, the Christian religion and the Islamic religion .

Jallal-u-din Rumi gave anew life and a new form to the mystical
current, and it is from histime that the Sufi Mystic culture spread through-
out the world . The reason was that he was not only a mystic and dreamer,
but hewas themost learned manof histime . Agreat statesmanand politi-
cian, at the head of the law of his country (like a chief judge) and he had a
great reputation among the people as a most learned man . A man of reason,
most practical and wide awake ; a masterof theology . In point of fact, he
was the man of the day in h is country . He had read poetry, and some of the
poems of Attar, but his learning was based upon theological training .

Documents : No original MSS have been received by the archives to date.

Tp. (a typescript received from Miss Hayat Stadlinger in 1983) .

O.c . (a copy of an old typesapt, only available in the archives on a miraof iche made by Hq .) .
Sk .tp. (a separate annotation in Sk .'s hwr ., dated 'September 1954', says that the document from which
Sk. copied the lecture is missing in the B .D . This missing document probably is the "o .t." The "tp."
had not yet been added to the archives at that time . )

The "Ip." and "o1 " in these series of lectures given in America in 1923 seem to have been copied from
the same old docvnent. But then , while handed down over the years by different lines of mireeds, they
underwent some separate changes . Probably the " ip." kept nearest to the original text.

Sk .car. ( corrections made by Sk. on a separate paper) .

This is the third lecture in a series of six lectures on "Sufi Poets,' given by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan on
April 17th, 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S .A. (For the program issued by Paul Elder, see
Appendix A. )

Notes:

1 . O.c . : added 'San Francisco, U.S.A., Spring 1923

Sk .tp . : "America 1923" added .
2 . See, f er the accepted spelling of the name: "List of persons, Places and Events' on p . 415
142

The story of his life is most wonderfuI,especially his awakening to

the Sufi ideal . Once he was sitting at leisurewith hismanuscripts . At that
time there was no printing, no books, somanuscripts were treasures . And
there entered a man in rags . From the appearance of that man any one would
have thought that he was a beggar, a pauper ; at the same time he wa l ked3
likeaking .And instead of a salutation of any sort, the first thinghedidwas
to remove al l the manuscripts that were there .

Rumi could not understand a man in rags coming into the house of a
leading citizen and throwing away allthe manuscripts he had so valued .
But he was a great man ; he did not al low himself to express his annoyance
with this conduct . He was perfectly self-disciplined ; only he asked him,
"What do you wish to do?" And thisman said, "What are you reading? Is it not
finished yet? You have been reading all your Iifeand still it is not finished .
You are reading in smal I pageswhich cannot contain what the book of I ife
is continually revealing, and this has absorbed al I your I ife . What I ittle is
left, isthat also to be absorbed in this?" Rumi said, "What is there to think
about? What do you wish to point out?" "I wish to ask you if you have consid-
ered what is the purpose of your I ife . Is this position you occupy just now,
this rank and position and fame, isthis the purpose? What are you growing
to, what are you looking forward to? What aim and object do you have be-
fore you? Is your life so momentary as one sees it from birth to death which is
not more than four days, or is it a continual life? If it is continued, where is
it continued? If thisexalted position belongs to you now, it once belonged
to somebody else, and it will again belong to somebody else . Even if it is
something important, it .really does not belong to you . And these helpless
manuscripts, they are subject to destruction one day . If that isyourwisdom,
how long will it last? Have you looked intothe manuscript of your heart?
Have you looked into l ife, to see what life is continually teaching every-
one? You have worsh ipped God, have you talkedwith Him? Have you seen
Him? Have you really known Him? What is the use of your worship?A reli-
gion that all your life you have followed, do you knowwhere it came from?
What isthe source of it? Do you wish to l ive as everybody in thisworld is
living, not knowing forwhat they are living? The horses and camels also
live and they are busy, but there is no credit in their being busy . The credit
of one's occupation, is in the virtue of the occupation . Have you thought of
the vi rtue of your occupation, is it reliable? If it is a passing virtue, it is not
a reliable virtue . "

This made Rumi think, and thismoved Rumi to tears . And the person-
ality of that ragged man, what it poured out to Rumil It was like unl imited
wealth : Rumi had nothing to say . He was overwhelmedwith all that thi s

3 . O.c ., Sk .p . : 'in' added

 14 3

chance stranger had told him, and as certainly 4asthis chance stranger had
come, 5so certainly5 he had gone . When he had gone, Rumi said, "That God
Whom I have worshipped all my I ife, today I saw him6 in human form . "

The man in rags was Shams-i-Tabriz7, and Rumi was so impressed by

what he had said to him, that he followed him . The f irst thingRumi had to
meet with was bitter criticism on all sides . No one could understand howa
man so learned, a man of such ability and educat ion, could spend h is t ime
alwayswalking with this ragged stranger . But wherever he walked or stood,
there Rumi walked and stood, and if a hundred people stood around, or a
thousand people stood around, he did not care . And this seeming misfortune
ended in the resignation of Rumi from his position . He could no longerhold
his position with the increasing criticism, and he hadnotime to explain to
everyone . He was too much absorbed in listening to Shams-i-Tabriz7 . He
had no time to argue . All his timewas taken to understandwhat Shams-i-
Tabriz7 said . And this apparent misfortune ended in a sudden shock . One
day, in the same way as he had come, so suddenly Shams-i-Tabriz7 disap-
peared .

Then Rumi found himself alone, and yet . not alone in the worldof
thought that was surrounding him . Rumi could see nothing but the deep
ideas that Shams-i-Tabriz7 had given him . He had opened his outlook on
life . It was more than he said, it was something awakened and opened in the
heart of Rumi . It was a kind of expansion of Rum i's consciousness . It was not
a learning or a teaching, more than that, it wasa phenomenon . Yet Rumi,
ike a child, had absorbed every word that fel I from the I ips of Shams-i-
Tabriz7, and treasured them in his heart . He could not dry his tears for days
and days, and for weeks and weeks . He thought if it was goodness, it was not
goodness as we conceive +t- of it ; it wasthe greatest goodnessthat could
exist . It wasa divine mercy and compassion . If it was education, it was not
asman knows education . It was a showerof knowledge . It was l ike a key to
Heaven and earth . It was something which words could not explain .

Now, on the one side Rumi had lost his position and to some extent
his reputation in the eyes of the world, and even in the eyes of those near
and dear to him, because they could not understand . And on the other hand
the only one he had to lean upon was Shams-i-Tabriz7, and he was gone too .
Therefore, natural Iy the I ife of Rumi became a I ife of contemplation ; a I ife
of studying nature, and a I ife of devotion to a divine personality that had
once appeared before him . So, all that is necessary for the spiritual life,
came into the Iife of Rumi, a I I that was needed to tread the spiritual path .

4 . Sk .coR . : "suddenly" instead of "certainly"

5. O.c ., Sk .lp. : 'as certainly' ;
Sk .corr. : 'as suddenly" instead of * so certainly' . See the sentence in the next paragraph * so sud-
denly" .
6. O.c . : "Him" instead of 'him '
7 . Sk .caar. : "Shams Tabriz" or "Shams-i-Tabrizi" . See, fa spelli : 'List of Persons, Places and Events,
p. 415
144

Therefore, the life of Rumi became the kind of life that Suf is for many cen-
turies have fol lowed .

At times when his thoughts andfeelingsmade him think therewasa

kind of congestion on his heart, he would ask the musicians to come and
sing, in the meditative way of singing . They sang mostly the words of
Shams-i-Tabriz7 and Rumi . Wordsof the heart of man waking to higher de-
votion ;words pointing out the divine ways of life and the secret of concen-
tration . That custom exists even now in India and Persia . There are times
when the beautiful words of such great poets as Rumi and Shams-i-Tabriz7
are sung with music, and the people sit there and I isten and enjoy and are
beneffitted by it, and they are tuned to that pitch where they can get the
real benefit out of that music, and this assembly is considered the most sa-
cred assembly, when the sacred music is played . And from this a new way
was found which was different from the existing Yogism8 in the East, and
where thiswaywas different was that a tendency to look at the whole I ife
as an i I I usion, which is true, and to try to get detached from it, that one may
not be caught by this I ife, which keeps man back ; this tendency made a sort
of wall betweenthe Yogi and theworld . Rumi'swayof contemplation was,
after the contemplation of his teacher and what he9 said, and the truth that
was given to h im ; after looking at l ife in that way, then to melt it all with
the vibrations of music .

It is al I attachment and yet above attachment, which means on the

sea, and yet not in the sea . It is the same symbology as that used in the
Bible, the walking of Christ on the water . There are three ways of living
life : walking upon thewater, swimming in the water, and the third way is to
be drowned . Those who are drowned are those attached to the material
world, and this attachment in the end sinks them . Then there is a way of go-
ingthrough lifewhich islike swimming . And the third way iswalkingonthe
water, that is going through all things and yet not touching them, standing
above them, to be in the world but not of it .

And this has10won the greatest reward for the Suf is of the East, and
that reward was the charm of their personalities . The feeling developed by
divine contemplation enabled them to spread the waves of love and affec-
tion, and to look at I ife with optimism and hope, and with hope to make the
best of it ; and if it is hard and disappointing, sti I I to make the best of it . To
bend al I material towards its best purpose and to make every aspect of I ife
turn into the means of the fulfilment of the whole creation, that no material
be lost .

To the Sufi, saint and sinner both come close to him . Friend oren-
emy, he isth-e wel l-wisher and loverof both, for behind the friend and th e

8. Ibid. : 'Yoga" instead of "Yogism"

9. O.c., Sk.tp.: "had' added
10. O.c.: " has" omitted, but reinserted in Sk. hwr .
 14 5

enemy he sees his Beloved . His powerover hisenemy isgreat, because his
enemy cannot longer hold him sowhen he sees in him a friend . It isthe con-
templation of the Beloved that the Sufi carries everwith him . It is the one
being11 he knows, and he is always in His presence . He cannot keep enmity ;
the fire of his love burns up the sting of enmity .

The greatest pity of the day is how I ittle we understand the word
"love ." Very often man understands by love no more than a bargain ; if you
give me sixpence, Iwill give you a shil I ing . That is not love, it istoosmalI
when one expects a return . The first lesson man should learn from love,
there is no "I ." "I" is the very enemy of love . People think there cannot be a
greater loss than losing "I ." If they only knew, there cannot be a greater
gain . Becausewhen the "I" is lost, then all is gained . The whole processof
esotericor spirituaI attainment isthis, togiveup"I"andgainall .Thisisthe
only secret which isat the back of all religions, philosophies and mysti-
cism, if one can understand it . Little can be said about it, but it is 12to prac-
tise12 . In every little thing one does, this small "I" comes up, and to keep it
subdued takes time and practice . The Sufi teachings have all been given
for this . How can this l ittle "I" be kept down, that it may not spring up and
stand in the way of one's growth? Friends, we may have many enemies and
many who oppose us, but if we looked at life closely and understood it, we
should find that we have no greater enemy than ourselves . All that we wish
is pushed away by this "I ."

And Rumi has made a most beautiful picture of this philosophy . He

begins his most wonderful work "The Masnavi" by saying : "Listen to the flute
and hear what it says . What is it that comes from the flute that wins your
soul, that pierces through your heart?" Then he gives us an example . The
flute, a piece of reed that was cut from its stem and was brought away from
its origin, has its story to tell . It is hollow ; its heart is empty ; but besides
that emptiness, several holeswere made to its heart, that it may give al l the
notes that it isasked to giveout, fromthe lowest tothe highestnote . And
then he goes on tosay, "Butwhat is this flute and where is its voice?" The
one is under the lips of the Beloved, and the other issinging to the world
outside .

There he leaves it for man to solve the riddle . There he has g iven a
picture of man . Manisa piece of bamboo cut away from its stem ; that stem is
whole, is perfect ; the piece is imperfect ; life has cut holesto its heart that
it maysound all the notes . Oncethe holesare made, itbegins togive the
music that wins the soulsof men .

Besides this example of the flute, there isone verse of Rumi'swhich

is most beautiful : "Many became my friends through love, who have not
understood what it is in me that brings me closer . If they only knew this ,

11 . Sk.carr.: "Being '

12 . O.c .: ' to be practised " in stead of "to practise"
14 6

theywould solve the whole problem of life ."What does he mean by this?He
means that it is the hollowness and emptiness of the reed that brings it
nearer to the lips of the divine love, and so it iswith the heart of man . The
heart of man is the flute of God, and it touches the I ips of God when it is
empty . As long as it is not empty, it does not touch the I ips of God .

Al I revelation, the whole secret, can be found in the heart of man ;

there is nowhere else man can find the secret of life except within himself .
No doubt Rumi has shown in one of his verses the way to the goal, in which
he says, "If you wish to attain God, and at the same time to attain to alI
things ofthisworld, youshould not strive for it, for it is not possible ."This
does not mean that al I things in this world must be renounced . But if the po-
sition i n I ife presents a condition where there are two things to do, either to
renounce the very object that we have within us, or to renounce something
on the outside, it is better to renounce that something on the outside, and
keep that object within . This is the study of everybody in thisworld . Every-
one has good intentions ; everyone wishes to get the best there is in I ife . But
the first place where man finds difficulty is in something that he values the
most, and yet he does not know if it exists ; and there issomething else that
he values less, but at the same time he knows it is .

And the valueof all religion, philosophyand mysticism is tohelp

man to perceive that object within . It is something your ideal only can
touch ; something only known to your consciousness and even your con-
sciousness cannot make it intelligible enough for your mind to grasp . And to
holdto thisinthe midstofsomany thingswhichare intelligible, thisisthe
test . Man thinks, "Shall I take this that l know, or shall I go in pursuit of
something of whose existence lam not certain ; shall I not be at a loss?" For
modern life teaches commercialism . Man hesitates to do something in
which there is nogain ; it doesnot appeal to him . Virtue isnot preciousto
him, but in reality it isthe greatest gain, because nothing else in theworld
can satisfy .

Therefore, in the end one comes to the conviction that there is only
one thing in the world worthwhile, and that is spiritual attainment, or the
attainment of God . Only what one needs is to strengthen the faculty of
faith, which stands by itsown strength even when you touch an ideal which
has nothing else to hold it .

Friends, the difference between the world and God can be seen by
understanding the difference between the sun and the thingsof the earth .
Al I thingsof the earth must have something to hold them, if not they13 fall
down . But the sun, nothing is holding it ; it stands14 itself, supported by
nothing . Andsowith God . All thingsof thisworld aresupported byreason-
ing . If there is anything that stands without reasoning, it isGod . Andwhy i s

13 . O.c., Sk.t,.: " will" added

14. O.c.: 'by' added, Bien crossed out
 14 7

it so? Because His true being15 is yourself . It is only seeing yourself in its
perfection which is the vision of God . But at the same time it must be under-
stood that there are two ways of looking at it . God, the inner and true God,
we cannot even call "God ." It would bean error if we tried to give Him a
name; it would be limited . If we call Him "One," it is addition and division,
which God has not . Words cannot explain . If one is to explain the reaI God,
his explanation is"silence . "

There is another way of looking at it . In order to attain to that God,

we must make a God within ourselves . Therefore, the God of each one is dif-
ferent . By giving God a personality and by thinking of that personality, we
lose our own personality . By raising Him to a height, we are raised to a
height . Until it so happens that the man-madeGod carriesone along until
he touches the real God. The man-made God protects, and the real God
ives .

And16this isthe fulfilment of all religion, all philosophy, all mysti-

cism . And it is this realization of truth which closes the lips of those who
have realized it . This is the great secret of life .

Thank you al l for your sympathetic response . God blessyou .

15. O.c. : 'Being '

16. O.c. : ' And" omitted
148
A typewritten lecture handed down by Mrs . Prebble (a pupil of
Mrshida Martin's) to Martha Burk, and inherited from the latter by
Miss Hayat Stadlinger, an American m reed, initiated in Siresnes
in 1926, who passed it on to the Biographical Department in
Siresnes .

Beloved ones of God :

My subject this morning is 1"Spiritual Attainment by the Aid of

Music ."1

Before commencing the subject I should like first to explain what

the word spiritual means . 21S it2 goodness which may be called spiritual, or
is it a great wonder-working, ora power of miracle, or great intellectual
power? The answer is, no . Life when put together in al I its aspects is one mu-
sic, and to tune 3one's sel f3 to the harmony of this perfect music, is the real
spiritual attainment .

You may ask me, "What is it that keeps man back from spiritual
attainment?" The answerwil l be, that it isthe densenessof thismaterial ex-
istence, and that he is unconscious of hisspiritual being . Divided into limi-
tat ions, this prevents that free flow and free movement which is the nature
and character of I ife . For instance, what do I mean by this denseness? There
is a rock and you want to produce sound from it ; it does not g ive resonance ;
it does not give an answer to your desire of producing sound . But the strin g

Documents : No original MSS have been received by the archives to date.

Tp. (a typescript, received from Miss Hayat Stadli ger in 1983) .

O.L (very similar to the "tp.", from Gd .'s legacy.

These two documents, "tp." and "o.t", seem to have been copied from the same old document . But then,
handed down over the years by different lines of nareeds, they underwent some separate changes .
Probably the "tp ." kept nearest to the original text) .

Sk.tp. (a typewritten copy made by Sk. from the "o t" ; the " Ip." at that time had not yet been added to the
archives) .
Gd.car. (corrections made by Gd in the "o.t"-copy of which a maof iche was made) .

This lecture was published in The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume 11 (1960), Music,
chapter XIV .

This is the fourth in a series of six lectures on "Music", given by Pi-o-Murshid Inayat Khan on April
18th, 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U.S.A.

Notes:

1 . In the program issued by Paul Elder (see Appendix A), the title of this lecture is "Spiritual Development
by the Aid of Music," and as such it was passed on . The subject, mentioned by Pir-o-Mirshid in the
fist sentence, however, is "Spiriitual Attah anent by the Aid of Music. "
2. Sk .fp.: "It is", followed by a question mark, so it probably is a mistake .
3. Gd.canr. : "oneself"
 149

or wire, that will give an answer to the tone you want . You strike it and it
answers . There are objectswhich give resonance to sound . You wish to pro-
duce in them asound, and they sound it ; theymake yourmusic complete .
And so with human nature . One person is heavy and dul l ; you tell him, he
cannot understand ; you speak to him, hewill not hear . He will not respond
to music, to beauty or to art . What is it? It is denseness . There is another per-
son who is ready to appreciate and understand music and poetry, or beauty
in any form ; in character, in manner, in every form beauty is appreciated
bysuchaone .And it isthatwhich is the awakening of the soul, which isthe
living condition of the heart . And it is thiswhich is the real spiritual at-
tainment . Spiritual attainment isto make the spirit live ; to become con-
scious . When man is not conscious of soul and spirit, only conscious of
material being, he is dense ; he is away from spirit .

You may say, "What isspirit, and what is matter?"Thedifferencebe-

tween spirit and matter is as the difference between water and snow ; frozen
water is snow, and melted snow iswater . It is spirit in its denseness which
we call matter ; it is matter in its finenesswhichmaybe calledspirit . Once
a materialist said to me, "I do not believe in any spi rit or soul or hereafter . I
believe in eternal matter." I said to him, "Your bel ief is not very different
from mine, only that which you call eternal matter, I cal I spirit ; it is a dif-
ference in terms ; that is not a thing to dispute about, because we both be-
I in eternity ; so long as we meet in eternity, what difference if one cal
it matter, and the other spirit . It isone Iife from beginning to end . "

Beauty is born of harmony . What is harmony? Harmony is right pro-

portion ; in other words, right rhythm . And what is life? life is the outcome
of harmony . The whole creation has at the back of it, and the whole secret
of creation is harmony . Intelligence longs to attain to the perfection of
harmony . What man calls happiness, comfort, or prof it and gain, al I that he
longs for and wishes to attain, is harmony in smaller or greater proportion ;
is longing forharmony . Even in attaining the mostmundane things, he al-
wayswishes harmony . But very often he does not adopt right methods . Very
often his methods are wrong . The object attained by both good and bad
methods is the same, but the way they try to attain them, that turns them
into right orwrong . It is not the object which iswrong, it is theway one
adopts for attaining it .

4No one, whatever hisstation in life, wishes for inharmony, forall

suffering, pain, trouble, are inharmony . 4

To attain spirituality is to realize that the whole universe is one

symphony ; in this, every individual isone note, and his happiness is in be-
coming perfectly harmonious to the harmony of the universe . It is not fol-
lowing a certain religion that makes one spiritual, or having a certain
belief, or being a fanatic in regard to one idea, or by becoming too good to
live in thisworld . Many good people there arewho do not even understan d

4 . Ibid. : this paragraph was added to the previous one.

150

what spirituality means . They are very good, but they do not know yet what
ultimate good is . Ultimate good is harmony itself . For instance, al l the dif-
ferent principles and beliefs of the religions of this world, taught and
proclaimed by priests and teachers, but which men are not always able to
follow and express, come naturally from the heart of a man who attunes
himself to the rhythm of the universe . His every action, every word he
speaks, every feeling he has, every sentiment he expresses, is all harmo-
nious ; it is all virtues, it is all religion . It is not following a rel igion, it is
living a religion, making one's life a rel igion, wh ich is necessary .

Music is the miniature of the whole harmony of the universe, for the
harmony of the universe is music itself . And man being the miniature of the
universe, must show the same harmony, in his pulsation, the beat of his
heart, and in his vibration he shows rhythm and tone, harmonious or inhar-
monious chords . His health or illness, joy or discomfort, all show the music
or lack of music in his l ife .

And what doesmusic teach us?Music helps usto train ourselves in

some way or other to harmony, and it is that wh ich is the magic or secret be-
hindmusic . When you hear musicthatyou enjoy, it tunesyouand putsyou
in harmony with life . Therefore man needsmusic ; he longs for music . Many
say that they do not care for music, but they have not heard music . If they
really hear music, it wi l l teach5 their souls, and certainly they cannot help
but love it . If not, it only means that they have not heard music suffi-
ciently, and they have not made their heart calm and quiet in order to lis-
ten, and enjoy and appreciate it . Besides, music develops that faculty of
appreciation, by which you learn to appreciate al I that is good and beauti-
ful, in the form of art and science ; in the form of music and poetry . Every
aspect of beauty you can appreciate .

What deprives man of all the beauty around him, is his heaviness of
body or heaviness of heart . He ispul led down to the earth, and by that al l
has become I imited, and when he shakes off that heaviness and feels joy-
ous, he feels light ; and alI good tendencies, such as gentleness and toler-
ance, forgiveness, love and appreciation, all these beautiful qualities
come, by being I ight ; I ight in the mind and soul and body .

Where does music come from? Where does the dance come from? It
al I comes from that natural spiritual I ife which is within . When that spiri-
tual life springs forth, it I ightens al I the burdens6 that man has . It makes his
life smooth ; floating on the ocean of life . The faculty of appreciation
makesone light . Life isjust like the ocean . When there is no appreciation,
when there is no receptivity, one sinks l ike a piece of iron orstone, to the
bottom of the sea . He cannot float like the boat, which is hol low, which is
receptive .

5 . Ibid .: 't ud i instead of 'teach'

6. Ibid . : 'birden'
 15 1

The difficulty in the spiritual path is always what comes from our-
selves . Man does not like to be a pupil, he likes to be a teacher . If man only
knew, of the great ones who have come from time to time to thisworld, their
greatness and perfection was in their pupilship, and not in teaching . The
greater the teacher, the better pupil hewas . He learned from every one,
the great and the lowly, wise and foolish, old and young . He learned from
their lives, and studied human nature in all its aspects .

One learning to tread the spiritual path must become as an empty

cup in order that the wine of music and harmony maybe poured7down in7
one's heart . You may say, "How can one become an empty cup?" I wil l tell
you how the cups show f i l led instead of empty . Very often a person comes to
me andsays, "Here l am, can you helpme spiritually?" *Yes," I say . But he
says, "I want to know first of al 1, what do you think about l ife or death, or
the beginning ortheend?" Well, now, I wonderwhat hisattitudewill be if
his previously conceived opinion does not agree with mine . He wants to
learn, and yet he does not want to be empty . That means to go to the stream
of water, and close the glass, andwant8 water, and yet the glass is closed ;
the glass is closed with preconceived ideas . Butwhere have the precon-
ceivedideas come from?No idea can becalled one's own . All ideas have
been learned from one source or another, but in time one comes to think
they are one's own . For these ideas one will argue and dispute, although
they do not satisfy fully, at the same time they are his battle ground, and al
the timewil l keep his cup closed .

Mystics therefore have adopted a different way . They have learned

a different course, and that course isself-effacement, or in otherwords, un-
learning what one has learned .

Therefore in the East they say, the first thing that is learned, is to un-
derstand how to become a pupil . They do not learn first what God is, orwhat
life is . The first thing to learn is howto become a pupil . But onethinksthat
in thisway one loses his individuality . But what is individuality? Is it not
what is collected?One's ideas and opinions, what are they? They are just
collected knowledge . This should be unlearned . How can one unlearn?You
will say that the character of the mind issuch that what one learns is en-
graved upon it, and how then can one unlearn it ?

Unlearning isto complete the knowledge . To see a person and say,

"That person is wicked ." That is learning . To see further, and recognize
something good in that person, that is unlearning . When you see the good-
ness in some one whom you have called wicked, you have unlearned . You
have unraveled that knot . First you learn by seeing with one eye, then you
learn to see with two eyes, and that makes complete sight . You have onc e

7. Ibid.: "into' instead of " down in'

8. 0.1, Sk .1p. : "the" added
15 2

said, "I hate him ." That is learning . And then you say, "Oh, no, I can I ike
him, or I can pity him .'Andwhen you say that, you have seen h im with two
eyes .

All thatwe have learned in thisworld isa partial knowledge, and

when this is uprooted by another point of view, then we have knowledge in
its completed form . That is called mysticism . Why is it called mysticism?
Because it cannot be put into words . Words will show us one side of it, but
the other side is beyond words .

The whole manifestation is duality, the duality which makes us

intel I igent, and behind the duality is unity . If we do not rise beyond dual-
ity and go towards unity, we do not attain perfection, which is called spiri-
tual ity .

This does not mean that our learning is of no use . It isof great use . It
gives us9 the power of discrimination and of discerning differences . This
makes the intel I igence sharp and the sight keen, so that we understand the
value of things and their use . It is al l a part of human evolution, and al I use-
ful . Sowe must learn first, and unlearn afterwards . You do not look at the
sky f i rst when you are standing on the earth . First look at the earth and see
what it offers you, to learn and observe, but at the same time do not think
that your I ife's purpose isfulfilledby onlylooking attheearth . Thefulfil-
ment of I ife's purpose is in looking at the sky .

The wonderful thing that one finds in music is that it helps man to
concentrate, or meditate, independent of thought, and therefore music
seems to be the bridge over the gulf between the form and the formless . If
there is anything intelligent, effective, and atthesametime formless, it is
music . Poetry suggests form ; I ine and color suggest form ; but music suggests
no form . And besides there is that resonance which vibrates through the
whole being, I ifts the thought above the denseness of matter, almost turns
matter into spirit, into itsoriginal condition, through the harmony of vibra-
tionstouching every atom of one'swhole being .

The beauty of I ine and color can go so far and no further ; the joy of
fragrance can go a I ittle further ;, music touches our innermost being and in
that way produces new I ife ; a I ife that gives exaltation to the whole being,
raising it thereby tothat perfection in which liesthe fulfilment of man's
ife .

Thank you al I for your sympathetic response .

God bless you .

9. Sk .p. : 'us' omitted, but reinserted by Sk .

 15 3
A typescript of a lecture from the legacy of Murshiida Martin,
handed down by Its. Duce to Siirdar, and copied by 5k. In a sep-
arate annotation Sk. writes: 'doubtful wheel authentic.' Parts
of the text do not seem to be Pi-o-Murshid's own wads .

The Word that Was Lost .1

This idea of a lost word isa most ancient idea . In the traditions of aI
religions, of a I I mystical and sacred cults, in all different philosophies, it
is foundsomewhere orother . You will find thisbelief existing in all ages,
and this idea hasoccupied the mindof man in variousways in his looking
for the truth .

Man is a lover of curiosity, he is curious from the moment of his

birth, and he continuously treads the path of curiosity . All the knowledge
of heaven and earth that man atta ins is due to h is curiosity, and there is no
idea in religion or in traditionwhich takesprevalence overthis idea, the
idea of the Word having been lost . It has given a facility to those great
teachers of truth, of the inner l ife, of symbolism, of mysticism . To give the
truth that was written in their hearts as an answer to this problem .

At the same time it has given an opportunity to those who wish to

mystify things more and more before the worl d in order to confuse those who
are already confused, to keep them bound in their confusion . Verily, truth
is simple . The difficulty iswith us, we are not content with simplicity . We
look for complexity, and simplicity does not satisfy us . Therefore we over-
look something which is in hand and go in pursuit of something which isall
the time in our pocket .

Documents: No original MS has been received by the archives to date .

Tp. (a typewritten copy made by Sk. from a typescript which was sent by Ahrsh iida Duce to Sr.) .

It is not known who put wards in parentheses in the 'p .' .

This is the fourth in a series of six lectures on 'Spiiriitual Philosophy," which was given by Pir-o-M.rshid
Inayat Khan on 19th April, 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S .A . (For the program is sued
by Paul Elder, see Appendix A. )

An annotation made by Sk. with a view to the authenticity of the texts of several lectues, includ'mg this
one, reads [translated from Dutch by the carpilerk "We [S'rdar and Sakina] have been able to compare
some fragments received from Ms . Duce, with parts of lectures of which die crgnal text is in our pos-
session. It appeared that the version of the lectue sent by lets . Duce to Sidar is a very poor rendering of
the original text, in many places garbled and distorted '

Notes :

In the program issued by Paul Elder (see Appendix A), the tide of this lecture is 'The Lost wad,
154

The key to this question that the wordwas lost can be found in the
simple words of the Bible where you read that "First was the Word, and the
Word was God ." Who was lost? God was lost . To whom was it lost? To
mankind who has closed its heart to Him Who is the yearning, Who is the
seeking of the soul, and opened its heart in some other direction which can
provide everything but God . And when one says, "I pursue whatwas lost,"
where is the key to the idea, the mantra or syllable which was lost? That
word was lostwhich ismentioned as"First wasthe Word, and the Wordwas
God ." That was the Lost Word .

And now to explain, how can it be lost?Friends, nothing can be lost

and nothing is lost . It is the illusion of a momentwhich givesone the idea
that it was lost . It was not lost . What was lost is returned to you the moment
your faith is able to penetrate through I ife, as soon as your heart is able to
expand through I ife, and the moment your egoism gives you the power to
change and seek after that which was lost, so long as it is lost . The moment
you have God, it is there, and then you realize it was not lost . The loss is for
the moment .

When we consider the process of the whole manifestation, of the

whole creation,thewhole process is summed up inthis little idea that the
Word was lost . The difference between the spiritual outlook on l ife and the
material outlook on I ife is this, that the material man says that everything
has evolved, evolved from something which was non-intelligent, every-
thing has evolved through something which was unconscious, and through
the evol ution it has come that with effort it has awakened to a certa in con-
sciousness, and in man it shows more fully awakened .

If there is any difference between the spiritual outlook on l ife and

the material outlook on life, it isonly this, but at the sametime thespiri-
tual person also has the same outlook . For instance, what Darwin has per-
haps in detail given, that behind al I creation isthis evolution, you can find
in the wordsof a Persian poet of a thousand years agog who said that in the
mineral kingdomGod slept, in the vegetable kingdom Hedreamed, inthe
animal k ingdom He woke, and in the human evolution He realized His own
Self .This gives a proof of that saying of Solomon, that there isnothingnew-
under the sun .

Man makes some I ittle discoveries in his own consciousness or in his

ideas and says : "I have brought something new, something which no man has
ever thought about ." If one only knew the phenomena3which is working in-
wardly and outwardly, one would find that it is the same thing which is Out-
ward, 4matches his inward word, and what is working inwardly, is reflected
outwardly . Therefore in the inner and outer planes and between these two
p I anes his own work is going on .

2 The poet is )alai ud Din Rumi .

3 . Pi-o- M .rshid of ten used 'pher ' f or 'phenannbn' .
4 . There are several other instances where in similar cases Pir- o- Mrshid omitted 'that' ; so this sentence
could well be as spoken by him.
 15 5

What is absent in the outer planes is present in the inner plane .

There is an action and reaction of the inward and outward continually go-
ing on . It is the whole scheme of nature . Therefore the only difference
between the outlook of the material person and the spiritual person is that
the spiritual person says that intelligence which fullymanifests inman is
not an outcome of this manifestation, it is the origin and source of this man-
ifestation . And the hint that is given in the Bible in such simple wordsthat
no one could ever think science or metaphysics could be attached to it,
seems to have the greatest secret of science and metaphysics, which ex-
plainsthatfirst was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was
God .

In otherwords, that first wasthe Intel I igence, the Word that after-
wards manifested through man, bywhichman is cal led a person or an indi-
vidual or a living entity or a knowing being ; well, the very same thing, the
very same I ife and spirit existed before . To a simple reader of the Bible it is
a simple phrase . To the mystic it is the key, the key to the whol a man ifesta-
tion, that it did not start blindly ; it started in intelligence . Blindness came
afterwards, intel I igence was before .

In this I shal I make a difference between what I cal I Intel I igence

and what is called Intellect . Intelligence is that faculty, that knowing
faculty which is capable of knowing all that is tobe known . Intellect is
that faculty of knowing, saturated with the impressions of names and forms
which it has collected . Therefore Intellect isa knowledge, Intelligence is
the faculty of knowing . Knowledge isdifferent from knowing ; knowing is
the faculty, knowledge iswhat it attracts, conceives, apprehends and pos-
sesses .

But the wonderful phenomena3in the study of the process of mani-

festation isthatas that original intelligence went further towardmanifes-
tation, al I that it manifests, that very manifestation became the name . The
picture will be I ike th is--that an artist who was so keen about every corner
of his studio, who wanted to keep everything in this studio so well and
dusted and clean--he made a little statue and the interest in making that
statue and studying that statue and what that statue revealed to him made
him so absorbed in that statue that very soon all his visionwhich enabled
him at onetime tosee every speck of dust in his studio, he could no longer
observe . For his glance, his sight became concentrated on that little ob-
ject .

This shows the picture of that original Intel l igence, the Creator be-
hind all, theAuthor, or the Perfection, or the Perfect God, or the Architect
of the Universe, whatever you call him . Every step forward in creation or
manifestation became less perceptive until that perception was so veiled,
when it came to the material world, or dense manifestation, that Intelli-
gence became, so to speak, buried in its own creation .
156

A person full of feelings, a person who has intuition, whose heart

can feel life deeply, gets an impression from the rocks and stones and from
the hills andmountainswhen he is among them, that there issomethingbe-
neath them, that there issomething behind them, a longing, a yearning, an
aspiration continually striving to rise upward, to break the bonds of its
condition . It is the same tendency which breaks out as an eruption of vol-
canoes, and it is the same tendency of intel I igence which breaks out as
streams of water from the mountains . That intelligence, that I ifewhich is
buried under it, wishes to break out and makes it way outward in order to
express itself .

A poet, an artist, an idealist, a dreamer, a thinker, a lover, a man of

meditation or contemplation, for him the hills and the mountains are the
greatest inspiration . They speak to him hisyearning for that self-expres-
sion, hisspirit longingto rise abovethe limitationswhich bindhim . They
all feel sympathy with him and that same feeling he finds in the rocksand
mountains . For the rocks and the mountains cannot express, but there is
something that is lost . What is lost?The sameword is now buried underthe
dust of its creation and wants to makeitswayout,and that feeling is felt by
those who can feel it .

They say the saints and sages of ancient times used to speak with
trees and plants . It is not only the people of the past who were able to
speak, everyday man can speak if his heart be open . Those who do not know
are the oneswhose hearts are not open, yet no person in thisworld can fai
to find the feeling of sympathy and the attraction that he feels in the
woods, in the forests, near the trees and plants . Sometimes they attract and
hold him more than human beings, more than hisown friends and relations .

The more he iswith them, the more he stays quiet . One can read be-
hind them, one will be able to see there is adeep longing, a perfect si-
lence, a silence with bared head and with arms raised up in prayer, contin-
ually longing and yearning for that moment to come when that Intelligence
of the Word which was lost, the word which is in the heart of every object in
thisworld, and which it wants to express andwhichwants to manifest, will
come after that silent longing . And that longing you can feel in the pres-
ence of the trees asyou sit in a meditative mood, in a meditative attitude .

You may ask why everybody does not see it . My answer would be, is
it the same journey if one is walking through the forest and looks at the
sights, and another is going on horseback or driving an automobile, and an-
other is in an aeroplane, is their vision the same? No, the one who iswal k ing
on foot, he has t ime, he has time to look, he seems to be at one with nature .
The one who is speeding past has not time to look .
 15 7

Friends , this very life which is open to him , is in itself the true, it is
one with hisIife , his heart -beat is in communion with this Word . There is
another who has not made his communion ; there are many things in this
world which he has covered with his own heart . If there is any beauty, if
there is any perfection, if there is any goodness , it is all there . If there are
any impressions or awakening thoughts , it is all here and all this can be
known and understood by your communion with life around .

The same trees and plants can speak so much to a person , they can
inspire a person to hear and make him hear . To a poet , a thinker , they con-
vey afeeling , theyseem to be talking . To anotherthey mean nothing, he
cannot converse with them . To the one whose ears are open they speak . And
we also feel in our contact with domestic animals , with birds, a tendency
for expression . How they respond to one ' s love, one's sympathy, one's affec-
tion . How they look to you . That shows theyare seeking after something .
They strive for some conclusion , theywish to find something , to know and
learn something .

If there was not this desire, then people would not be able to teach .
They are able to teach because there is a desire to Iearn . No one can teach
someone who does not wish to learn . But the desire of intelligence through
rock, an ima I or p l antis to know and to understand, and the same desire con-
tinues to manifest in man . Man's tendency fork nowl edge shows something, is
behind it .

A little child, with everything he first sees, he seeksto knowwhat it

is cal led, what is its name, what it is . He wants to know . And this shows that
there is something in his spirit, in his soul, which is yearning to arrive at
certain knowledge . In otherwords, hissoul has lost something, and it wants
tofind it . In that even a child shows the search forthe LostWord . But the in-
fluence of life is such that the life giveshim quiteadifferent answerfrom
what he wants . If a child is crying forthe Lost Word and he isgiven hisfood,
hissustenance for his body, his soul is still starving though his body issatis-
fied forthe moment .

What has happened? He is deluded ; he thinks it is the sustenance

called food that he wanted . He has forgotten what he wanted . So through
our whole life we always think that if there isany needwhich ispressing,
we think that it is whatwe aremissing, and if we had that in our life, we
would be happy . If some one should make an experiment and give a man al
the earth, the man would not long for the earth but for something else . Give
him al I he wants and every day would see new desiresstil I .

Why? Because he does not know his desire . He knows what he is

lacking outwardly but he does not know his innate desire .Asmany souls as
there are, still somany different desires . At the same time the right desire is
one and the same for every soul . And what is that desire? The Lost Word .
Every soul isseekingafter thatWordwhich is lost ; that Intelligence which
158

was freedom, that Intel I igencewhich was peace, that Intel I igencewhich
was above all limitation, that Intelligence which is perfect desire . Man
cannot find it, he has lost it .

But who has taken it away from him? Where has it been stolen? It is
he himself, his ego, his illusion, his delusion, they have taken it, covering
that wealth, that search of his soul, that yearning of his soul . And therefore
instead of seeing it underthe cover of hisown self which ismost difficult to
see, after looking for it outside, hewantsto find it in pleasure . But pleasure
is not necessarily happiness . He wants to find it in gold, but gold is in the
earth . He wants to find it in a friend, but he has not found a friend . The
friend he is looking for is different . He does not know . He wants to find it in
worldly knowledge, but the worldly knowledge is not that goal that his soul
isseeking . The knowledge his soul isseeking after or the friend he islook-
ingfor, or that peace he wants or that happiness he wants to experience, it
is al I one and the same thing, it is that Lost Word, and it is found in himself .

The Lost Word has made him and he has become the cover over it,
and that Lost Word is lost in him, in his own being . And now the question is
how to find it . And for that also you wil l find the key in the Bible, lost for
the manoverlooking asimple thing . It isa phrasewhich says"Seek yethe
Kingdom of God and all th ingswi l l be added . "

How often man overlooks that simple thing . Hewants everything

but God . Tell him he will be taught how to work wonders and now ten thou-
sandpeoplewill come . He is going toworksome magic that will attract and
they will come .Tell him hismemory will begood, say some kindof trick
that will make the memory good, he wi l l take it . But a simple phrase like
thisone passes over . It is good, it is in the Bible, it is not new . The thoughts
of such people are gross, mere child's pursuit of truth in thecontrarydirec-
tion .That which isto be foundwithin, he is looking for without, by raising
one's head, one is looking on the wrong side . That is the condition .

Now coming to thisword, this phrase, "Seek ye the Kingdom of God ."
Where could this kingdom be found? Is it to be found in Heaven, in the
skies? No, it is to be foundwithin oneself . And what is the first step toward
it?The first step is torecognizewhat thisbody is, this material bodywhich
has so far served to cover that word which was lost, for what is it really
meant? Is it meant to cover that which is lost in it? Or is it meant for some
other purpose ?

The answer will be that the body is the sacred temple, the sacred
shrine of God, and if one considered it as His sacred shrine, His temple, he
would keep it as His sacred shrine, His temple where he could give praise,
give his home to the Onewho owns it, to whom it belongs . As soon as you
think on that phrase, you begin to think that first you must make a home for
Himyou arelookingfor, andthathome isyourbody . And it is bypreparing
that home you will fulfil your first duty .
 15 9

And how to prepare this home to be a home of happiness, a home of

peace and rest for Him to whom it belongs? And you may ask a question, how
can we know that this body is a home for happiness and peace, and how can
we make it ready for that One to whom it belongs? The answer is that if this
can give you the happiness, the comfort you want, if you wish to find har-
mony, if this isthat peace yoursoul longs for, that perfectionwhich your
soul longs for, you certainly have prepared your body to be the temple for
the right Master, the God who is your innermost being, He is not apart from
you .

It is you who have taken5 his identity, his Ego ; you have taken from
yourself, the Lost Word ; you have covered by your individuality that
perfection which is in Him within, and by so preparing your body, your
mind, your personality for your spiritual ideal, for your innermost being,
for your friend, for that peace and harmony forwhich the soul continually
yearns, you will fulfil your life's purpose .

The whole process of spiritual attainment is the unveiling of that

truth which is covered, but what is covering it is nothing but ignorance .
The Word is lost because we ourselves have covered it .

The whole process of meditation, or concentration, or prayer, or

contemplation or whatever the manner by which we seek after Truth, after
God, or the higher ideal, that whole process is an uncovering processof the
truth, the truth which words can never explain .

The prophets and teacherswho have come from time to time in order
to give a part of it to humanity, in order to get him through his trouble and
difficulty, have been ableto guide him in acertain way, but noone has
ever been able to tell him what Truth is . For Truth cannot be put into words .
Truth is (real ization) . Truth isthe attainment of thatWordwhich was lost,
and when that lost Word is gained, when it is attained, what happens? Al
that iswithin andwithout becomes revealed .

In the Persian language God is called Khuda6, Khuda means self-

revealing . Someone whodoes not wantto be taughtor toldor explained ;
someone about whom nothing can be explained, something that is self-un-
veiling, in other words, the Word was that was lost isattained .

Now the question : in order to find the Word, which was lost, what is
to befound?TheSelf is to be found . By finding the Self, the Word which was

5. In the 'tp.' 'away' was added in Sk.'s hvx.

6 . For spelling and pronuxiatan of Khuda, see Glossary.
16 0

lost is to be found . And the question is, "don't we know these If? We al I know
to some extent ourselves!"Thiscan be answered, how littlewe knowl Know-
ing another person (apart), we do not even know ourselves, we do not know
what we say, very often we do not know what we feel, we do not knowwhat
we are looking for, what we are seeking, for very often we do not know if
we have done it or if we have said it .

If one studied oneself, one's own self, one wil l find it is going on
likea machine working, 7converging around him ; and to find oneself is
to know oneself, to know what lam, what l am doing, to know what I per-
ceive, who is my friend and who ismy enemy .

A blank in the '1p.'

 16 1

From a newspaper, the San Francisco Journal,

23 April 1923

San Francisco , 22 April 1923 1

"My coming to the United States at thistime, when the world has not
yet arrived at its normal state after the great strain of the war, istoawaken
in souls the consciousness of brotherhood, on the principle of which this
great nation was founded . The central theme of the formation of the Consti-
tution of the United States of America and the undertone of Abraham Lin-
coln's noble reform was brotherhood .

The nation which was nursed with the milk of the ideal brotherhood
from its infancy is the one to be attuned to its predisposition at this time of
the world's great need .

"It is the al [-pervading materialism and the flood of overwhelming

commercialismwhich has drowned the ideal . The nations of today stand in
the quest of their own material benefit regardless of other nations, in the
same way as an individual today who is called a practical man, provestobe
the best qualified in guarding his interests in I ife . This has made the world a
battlefield of continual struggles, where life is nothing but a chaos ; the
world which was purposed to be the place of aspiration, rest and peace .

"Educat ion today tends to teach the youth the best way to acquire,
own and possess aI I the goods of this earth, and, naturally, the more souls
become qualified by this education, the greater the struggle of I ife be-
comes . The competition which exists today in trade and profession seems to
lead man to the tendencies of the primitive man . As relations between
nations are only based upon their material interest, so relations between
individuals exist . It has blunted all the fineness and beauty of unselfish
friendly devotion . "

Note:

1 . This article reports an otherwise unknown talk given at the Native Sons' Hall "last night" .
162

A typescript of a lecture handed down by Mrs . Prebble (a pupil

of Murshida Martin's) to Martha Burk, and inherited from the latter
by Miss Hayat Stadlinger, an American nueed, initiated in
Suresnes in 1926, who passed it an to the Biographical Depart-
ment in Suresnes .

2BeIoved ones of God : 2

My subject this afternoon isSaadi, the great Sufi poet of Persia . In

point of fact all the poets of Persia were Sufi poets . Their point of view is
recognized asthe Sufi point of view . And not onlythe poetsof Persia, but
also the poets of India .

The works of Saadi have been considered in the East simple, and3at
the same time3 educational, and at the same time uplifting .

4The beauty of the works of Saadi is that they begin with the educa-
tion of chiIdren4 . His "Carima" is taught to children of nine, 5ten ore I even',
and at the same t ime it is not just a legend or6 amusing story ; it is l i ke a seed
sown in the heart of the7 ch i ld of that age, that in time it may flourish and
bring forth fruits of good thought and imagination . "Carima" is8athanksgiv-
ing poems ; in it the first lessonSaadi gives is to learn how tobe grateful ;
how to express gratitude ; how to appreciate ; and so he teaches the lesson o f

Documents : No aiguial MS has been received by the archives to date.

Tp . : (a typescriptreceived from Miss Hayat Stadlinger in 1983) .

Hq .sL : (a revised version of the "tp." made at Headquarters, Geneva, where the lecture was made into
two Social Gathekas) .
Hq .L : (a typewritten copy of the "Hq .st. " showing very few mirror differences) .
Tp .c . : (a typewritten copy of the "Hq .sL", very similar to both the 'Hq .sL' and the "Hq.L" ) .

An Italian translation of the fist part of this lectue was published in The Sufi Quarterly of June 1925,
and in 1%5 it was published in The Sufi Message of Hazrat lnayat Khan, Volume X .

It is the fourth lectue in a series of six lectures of 'Sufi Poets ," given by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan on
April 24th, 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S .A . (Fa the p rogram issued by Paul Elder, see
Appendix A . )

Notes :

1 . Hq.st, hq.L, tp.c.: added 'Social Gatheka Number 18' and the invocation: "Toward the One, ..."
2. Ibid. : "Beloved ones of God" omitted
3. Ibid.: "at the same time" omitted
4. Ibid.: rewritten to read, "And in India they begin the education of children with the works of Saadi"
5. Ibid.: 'a ten' instead of 'ten or eleven '
6. Ibid.: 'an' added
7 . Ibid .: 'the" changed to "a "
8 . Ibid .: "a poem of thanksgiving"
 16 3

gratefulness and appreciation forall in the world ; for the kindness and love
of mother and father, and of9friend and companion, by teaching first the10
gratefulness toGod for all the blessings and benefits man receives . Saadi
begins in "Carima" by saying : "O Lord, most merciful, I ask Thy forgiveness,
for Iam limited and in this Iifeof Iimitation I am always aptttto make er-
rorsll ."

He teaches in the first lesson 12formankind to recognize12 his I im-

ited condition, and that this13 I imitedness makes him subject to error, and
at the same time he suggests the innermost desire of every soul to rise above
the10 limitationsand keepfrom error, toseek divine love andask pardon,
and to appreciate al I the blessings he receives in I ife, in order to rise
towards that ideal stage of the humane man . And as we see I ife today it
seemsthis istheverythingwhich is lacking .

When children grow up without that tendency of appreciation, they

often cannot understand what their mother has done forthem, what their
father has done for them, what their duty is to their kind friends, to el-
derly14 people, to their teacher . And when they growwithout developing
that gratefulness in their nature, the egoistic nature which naturally de-
velops becomes terrible . A boy who does not appreciate in hischildhoodall
that his mother has done for h im, cannot then learn to be tender and gentle
to hiswife, for hisfirst lesson he has learned from15 his mother .

Everything that by nature springs up, hasto be refined, and in its ful-
fillment ithasto becomeperfect . Inhuman naturethere is aself-asserting
tendency from childhood . Most pronounced in the nature of the child is "I,"
and16 everything that he possesses he says "my ."And if that is not changed,
if the same attitude remains, when that child grows older, he becomes hard
on17 those around him, forhis"I" and what he calls"my," becomes difficult
for al I those around him .

The whole religious, spiritual and philosophical teaching leads us

towards the development of the personality . There is something that is
made by nature in man, but there is something that the man himself has to
make . Man is born as man, but man develops to become humane . And if man
remains only man as he is born, and the other18 qualitieswith which he is
born remain undeveloped, and without being made19 refined, then he doe s

9. Tp.c. : 'a' adde d

10. Hq.st., hq.L, tp.c . : 'the' omitted
11 . Ibid. : to ea' instead of 'to make errors'
12. Ibid. : "that man should recognize "
13. Hq.t : "his' instead of "this '
14. Hq.st, hq.L, tp.c . : "older" instead of "elderly"
15. Ibid. : from' replaced by "wdh "
16. Ibid. : of' adde d
17. Ibid. : 'to' instead of 'on'
18. Ibid. : 'same' instead of 'other'
19. Ibid. : made' omitted
16 4

not fulfil the object of life . 20AII the great Teachers and Masters of this
world whohavecome fromtime totime, andwhom we recognize asSaints
and Sages, Masters, Teachers and inspired helpers, it is not always the phi-
losophy they taught man, it is not always the dogmas or the form of religion
they gave21 ; what has been of the greatest importance is their personality,
iS22 their person .

The teachingsof Buddha are held bymany millions, but morethan

histeachings, in23the life he lived and the wisdom he expressed inhislife,
for there is the fulfillment . Man is born witha purpose, and that purpose is
fulfilled in the refinement of his personality . This unrefined nature of the
ego, when developed through l ife, has an effect like the sting of a thorn .
Wherever, whoever, whatever it touches, it causes some harm or distur-
bance, some destruction . And so personalities in human beings, when they
are not refined, and they have before them all temptations, all things that
attract them, things they like and admire andwish to have, thenthey go
against the conflicting activities of life, they rub up against everything
like a thorn tearing it in24 pieces . And what happens?No doubt when thorns
rub against thorns they crush one another and they feel it less . But when
thorns rub against flowers, they tear them to pieces .

If youwill ask individualsin this world, in allwalks of life,"Tell

me, what is your difficulty in life?", perhaps they will tell you that they
lack wealth or power or position, but mostly the complaint will be that they
are in some wayor other hurt by others; by friend orparent orchild ; life-
mate or neighbor or co-worker ; they are disturbed or troubled and in diff i-
culty by 2S this thorn-like26 influence from morning to evening touching
them and scratching them . And yet man does not seem to think deeply on
this subject . Life is blinding, and it keeps man busy and engaged finding
fault with others . He does not find the thorn in himself, he always seesthe
thorny in others .

Saadi in28 simple language has tried to give man a helping hand
towards the development in his personality of that flowerlike quality ; to
train this personality which was made to be a flower and to help . Hiswhole
life's work has been to explain toman how life can turn into a flower . He
has cal led his books "Gul istan," which means a flower-bed or rose-garden,
and "Bustan," a place of al I sortsof fragrances, a place of fragrance . in thi s

20. Ibid.: "With" added

21 . Ibid . : that was of the greatest importance" added
22 . Ibid . : "is" omitte d
23 . Ibid . : " is" instead of "in"
24 . Ibid . : " to" instead of "in"
25 . Ibid. : ' from" instead of "by"
26 . Ibid. : " thorn-life " instead of " thorn -like"
27 . Tp.c . : "thorns "
28. Hq. st., hq. t., tp.c.: "a" added
 16 5

he has tried to explain to man how the heart can be turned into a flower ; in
reality it is a flower ; it ismade to be a flower ; it ismade to spread its per-
fume ; if only you trained it and tended it ; it would show the delicacy and
beauty and fragrance of a flower ; and that is the purpose of your I if e .

There is no mystification in Saadi's poetry . It is full of wit and

intelligence, and at the same time original .And the most wonderful thing
that one sees in the poetry of Saadi is his humorous trend of mind . He is
ready to look at the funny side of things and to amuse himself and enjoy .
And how few of us in this world knowwhat real, true mirth means ; humor
that is not vulgarized, not abused . It shows the rhythm and tune of the soul .
Without humor life is dull and depressing . Humor isthe reflection of that
divine l ife and sun which makes life like the day . And a person who reflects
divine wisdom and divine joy, adds to the expression of his thought when he
expresses his ideas with mirth .

One day Saadiwas sitting ina book-seller's shop, where his books
were sold ; the book-seller was absent, and some one came in and asked for
one of Saadi'sbooks, not knowing that he was speaking toSaadi himself .
Saadi asked29, "What do you I ike about Saadi's books?" He replied, "O, he is
a funny fellow ." Whereupon Saadi made him a present of the book, and
when he wished to pay for it, said, "No, I am Saadi, and when you cal Ied me
a funny fellow, you gave me all the reward I wish . "

He wanted life to be joyous . Spirituality is not in a long face and

deep sigh . No doubt there are moments when you will sympathize with the
troubles of others ; there are moments that move you to tears, and there are
timeswhen you must just close your l ips . But there are other moments when
you can see the joyous side of I ife and enjoy its beauties . Man is not born
into this world for depression and unhappiness . His very being is happiness .
Depression is something unnatural . Bythisl do not mean to say that sorrow
is a sin or suffering always avoidable .

We al l have to experience both in I ife, to accompl ish the purpose of

life . We cannot always be smiling . There is no spiritual evolution in ignor-
ingeither side of life . Spirituality is in every side of life . As long as one is
not bound, it is no sin to stand in the midst of life . Man need not go into the
forest, away from all people, to show his goodness and virtue . Of what use is
his goodness and virtue ifhe burieshimself in theforest? It is30right inthe
midst3Oof life that we have to develop and express all that is beautiful and
perfect and divine in our souls .3 1

29. Ibid. : "said" instead of "asked "

30. Ibid. : 'in the very midst" instead of 'right in the midst'
31 . Ibid. : Here ends Social Gatheka no . 18 .
166

32Saadi has expressed a wonderful thought in his work called the

"GuIistan," and in simple words . He says, "Every soul was meant fora certain
purpose and the light of that purpose was kindled inthat souI ." It is one lit-
tle verse, but it isa book33 in itself .What doesthissuggest to us? That this
whole universe islike one symphony, and all soulsare asdifferent notes .
There activities are according to the rhythm of this symphony, and their
ife is purposed to perfect thissymphony .

People are anxious to do something, and wait for years and years,
unhappy, in despair, waiting for that moment to come . It shows that the soul
knows in its subconsciousness that there isa note to strike, and the moment
when itshallM strikethat note, thatsoul shallMbe satisfied, and yet does
not knowwhat note it is norwhen it shall3be struck .

What is life, andwhat keeps us living in this world of limitation,

35world of continual changes, world36 full of falsehood and world ful I of
suffering and trouble? If there is anything in thisworld that keeps us alive,
it is hope37 . Hope,37 the honey of I ife .

There is not one sou I in this world who says, "Now, Iam satisfied ; I
have no further desire ." In everyone, whatever be the position in life,
someone very rich or one ,very poor, one full of life and the other ill, inall
conditions, man is continually yearning and waiting for something to
come, he does not know what, but he is waiting . The real explanation of
ife iswaiting ; waiting for something .And what is it that man awaits? It i s
the fulfilment of the purpose of life, which comes when the soul strikes that
note ; that note wh ich is meant to be h is note ; and th is he seeks, whether in
the outerplane or the inner plane .

And man has not fulfilled his Iife'spurpose until he has struck that
note which is h is note . And the greatest tragedy in I ife is the obscurity of
purpose . When purpose is not clear, man suffers, he cannot breathe . He
knows not what is the purpose, what he must do .

This Iife will presenttohim thingsthatwill interest him for the mo-
ment, but the moment he possesses that thing he will say, "No this is not it, it
is something else ." So man goes on, in an itIusion, constantly seeking, and
yet not knowing what he seeks . Blessed is he who knows his I ife's purpose,
for that is the first step tofulfilment .

32. Ibid. : added "Social Gatheka number 19" and the invocation : • Toward the One, . . .' and "Shaikh AAuslih-
ud-DinSaadi (cont.) "
33 . Ibid. : "book" charged to •volune"
34. Ibid. : "will' insteadof "shall '
35. Ibid. : 'this' added
36. Ibid.: 'world' omitted
37. Ibid.: ' . Hope," omitted
 16 7

And how are we to know our life's purpose? Can anybody tell us? No .
No one can tell us . For Iif e in its very nature isseIf-revealing, and it is our
own fault if we are not open to that revelation which life offers to us . It is
not the fault of I ife, because the very nature of life is revealing .

Man is the offspring of nature, therefore his purpose is nature . But

the artificiality of life brings obscurity, which prevents him from arriving
at that knowledge which maybe called the revelation of one's own soul .

And if you ask me how one should proceed, I would advise you to
study every object, whether false or true, which holds and attracts you, to
which you are outwardly attracted and also inwardly attracted . And do not
be doubting and suspicious . What Christ taught from morning until night
was faith, but the interpretation of thisword is not made clear . People have
said faith in priest, in church, or in sect . That is not the meaning .

The true mean ing of faith is trust in one's sel f . A person came tome
and sa id, "I wish to fol low your ideas ; will you receive me? Will you have 38
mefollowyou?" I said, "Yes, butwill you tell me if you have faith?"Thisper-
son looked perplexed for a moment, then he said, "Well, I have faith in
you ." I asked, "Haveyou faith in yourself?" He said, "Well, l am notsure ."I
said, "Your faith inmewouldbeof nousetome ; what I need is yourfaith in
you ."

Friends, what we must learn in life, isfirst to trust ourselves . This

wobbling tendencyofmind : shall I, orshall I not ; 39whether it is39 goodor
40it is 40 bad ; this41 keepsman in confusion . And for years he may have the
best intentions, but he will linger in the same place . He will not advance,
forhis own confusion wil I paralyzehislegs42 . Hewillthinkhe isgoingon,
but hewill be stepping43 in the same place where he isstanding .

Man must have initiative . And this is the word from which comes
initiation . Who is the initiate? The brave, the courageous . Who is brave
and courageous? The one who trusts himself . Only h is trust in himself will be
of any use to h imsel f or others .

People say, "Those of simple faith and trust suffer much and come to
failure ." I will say no, because what is gained is so much more than what is
lost . Inorder tostrengthen the trust, one hasto meetwith some failures . I
would rather trust and be badly treated, than to44 distrust . The strength that

38 . Ibid . : "let" instead of 'have '

39 . Ibid . : "whether it is" charged to "is it,
40. Ibid . : "is it "
41 . Ibid .: 'this' omitted
42 . Ibid .: 'legs' changed "lints '
43 . Ibid .: 'stopping" instead of "stepping'
44 . Ibid .: "to" omitted
168

faith and trust gives, is the divine strength . The man who trusts his fellow
creatures, inspires trust in others . He can so develop that he will turn the
untrustworthy into the trustworthy, with sufficient trust in his heart, he can
develop the power to do this .

I always rememberthe blessing I received from my holy Master, my

Teacher . It was, "May your faith be strengthened ." Being young, I wondered
that he said nothing about happiness, long Iife or prosperity . I have now
learned to understand the meaning of that blessing, and understand it bet-
ter every day . Al I the blessings that man attains in life, all that is in Heaven
and earth, become the possession of man when his faith isstrengthened .

We read every day in the scriptures of "faith," but how I ittle we

think of it, and how many people at the present moment are beginning to
laugh at it . Faith they give no attention to . It is something that conveys
nothing to them . It is so simple and yet so complex . It is a miracle . It is a
wonder . Al l our weakness, al l our failure, al l our l imitation45, al I our suf-
fering, comes from lack of that substance which is faith . Al I success, happi-
ness, and advance, al I that is achieved, the credit is due to faith :

The works of Saadi from the beginning teach the first lesson of faith,
of understanding ; thatwe are not here in thisworld in vain, towaste our
lives . We are here for a purpose, and each one of us for a particular pur-
pose . And each one of us makes46 an atom of th is un iverse, and compl etes47
the symphony, and when we do not strike our note, it means that note l ack-
ing in the symphony of the whole ; and when we do not fulfil our life'spur-
pose in this way, for which we are created, we are not living right, and
therefore we are not happy .

Our happiness depends on living right, and right living depends on

striking that note ; and the realization of that purpose is in the book of our
heart . Open that book and look at it . All meditation, all concentration and
contemplation is only to open this book, to focusour mind, and to see what
purpose there is in our l ife . And no sooner dowe see that our ultimate goal
and our life's object and happiness, our true health and well-being and our
real wealth and welfare, are in the fulfilment of our purpose, then the
whole trend of Iifewill change .

45 . Tp .c . : "limitations "
46 . Hq .sL, hq.t., tp .c . : "make" ;
Hq.t. : changed back by Sk . to "makes"
47 . Hq.st., Ixl.t., tp.c. : "complete" ;
Hq.t.: charged back by Sk. to "conpletes"
 16 9
A typescript of a lectue handed down by Mrs . Prebble (a pupil
of Murshida Mart in's) to Mar th a Burk, and inherited from the latter
by Miss Hayat Stadlinger, an American nxreed, initiated in
Suresnes in 1926, who passed it on to the Biographical Depa rt -
ment in Siresnes .

Beloved ones of God :

My subject this morning is, "The Mystery of Color and Sound ." The at-
traction that one finds in color and in sound, makes one wonder if there is a
mystery hidden behind it ; if there is a language of color and sound that
could be learned, and the answer is that the language of color and sound is
the language of the soul, but it is our outward language which makes us
confused as to the meaning of that inner language . Color and sound are the
language of I ife . Life expresses itself in al I different planesof existence in
the form of color and sound . Although the outward manifestations of I ife are
so rigid and so dense that the secret of their nature and character becomes
buried underneath .

Why is the world called an illusion by the Mystics? For the very
reason that the nature of manifestation issuch that it envelops its ownse-
cret in itself, andstands out insuch a rigid form thatthe finenessand the
beauty and the mystery of its character are hidden within itself, and there-
fore the seeker' after the truth of I ife, the student2 of I ife, strikes3 tw o

Documents : No original MS has been received by the ar chives to date.

Tp . (a typescript received from Miss Hayat Stadlinger in 1983) .

01 (very similar to the "tp .", coming from Gd.'s legacy) .

Both documents, the "Ip." and the "o .t", seem to have been copied from the same old document . But then,
handed down over the year s by different lines of nxreeds, they underwent a few separate changes . Rob-
ably the "tp." kept nearest to the original tex t

Skip. (a typewritten copy made by 5k . from the "o.t" with some grammatical corrections following the
suggestions of a teacher of the English language) . The "at" was the only document at Sk .'s dis-
posal . The "tp." at that time had not yet been added to the archives .
Sk .am. (an annotation written by Sk . on a separate paper) .

This lecture was published in The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume II (1960), Music,
chapter X .

This is the fifth lecture in a series of six lectures on "Music," given by Pir-o-M ►rshid Inayat Khan on
April 25th, 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S .A . (Fa the program, issued by Paul Elder,
see Appendix A . )

Notes :

1 . Sk .tp. : "America" added

2. Ibid. : plural "s" added
3. Ibid. : "strike"
17 0

opposite paths . One wishes to learn from its external appearance ; the other
wishes to find out the secret which is hidden behind it . The one who learns
from the external, gets the knowledge of the external, which we call
science . The one who finds out from the4 within, that which is hidden
within this manifestation, he is the Mystic . The knowledge he gains isMys-
ticism .

The first question that comesto the mind of the intelligent person is,
"What is it in color and in sound that appeals toman?" I wil l answer, "It is
the tone and rhythm 6f color, as well as of sound, which has5 an influence
on the tone and rhythm of our being ." Our being is our capacity for the reso-
nance of tone and rhythm that comes from sound and color . This capacity
enables us to be influenced by sound and color . Thus, some have a liking for
a certain color, others have a liking for another color . In the way of sound,
some are attracted to a certain kind of sound . In the form of voice, some are
attracted to the baritone or bass voice, others are attracted to the tenor and
soprano . There are some towhom the deep sound of the cello appeals ; there
are others who are interested in the sound of the violin ; some can enjoy
even the th ick sound of the horn and trombone ; others can enjoy the fl ute .
What does this show? It shows that there is a certain capacity in our hearts,
in our beings, and it depends upon that particular capacity, what kind of
sound appeals to us .

At the same time, it depends upon man's grade of evolution, his char-
acter, his nature ; whether he is gross or fine ; also histemperament ; if he is
of a practical nature or if he is dreamy ; if he loves the drama of I ife ; if he is
absorbed in the ordinary things of life . According to man's condition, his
temperament and his evolution, color and sound6has its6 effect on him . And
the proof of th is fact is that so often man changes his fancy in color ; there is
a timewhen he isso fond of red ; there are timeswhen he longs to see purple ;
there are timeswhen he dreams of mauve . And then there comes a time when
he takes a fancy to blue ; he craves for yellow, for orange . There are some
who like deep colors, others light colors . It al I depends upon their tempera-
ment and their grade of evolution .

Music of every kind appeals to some one . The best or the worst,
somebody Iikes it . Have you not seen how children can enjoy themselves
with a little tin can and a stick? The rhythm comeswithin theircapacityof
enjoyment . Human nature is such, when you put it al l together, it takes in
everything, from the highest to the lowest . it hassuch a wide capacity that
there is nothing left out . All has itsplace and all is assimilated by human
nature . But at the same time there is act ion and reaction . It is not7 on ly th e

4. Ibid.: 'the' crossed out

5. Ibid.: 'has' changed to 'have '
6. Ibid. : 'has its" changed to 'have their '
7. Ibid . : not, omitted, then reinserted by sk .
 17 1

grade of evol ut ion that makes man change his fancy to different colors and
tones, but it is different colors and tonesthat help him also in his evolution,
and they change the speed of one's evolution .

Very often man g ives a great importance to color and tone, so much
so, that he forgets something which is beh i nd it, and that leadsman to many
superstitions, fancies and imaginations . Many people have fooled thesim-
ple ones by telling them what color belonged totheir souls, orwhat note
belonged to their lives . And man is so ready to respond to anything that can
puzzle him and confuse his mind ; he isso willing to be fooled . He enjoys it
somuch if somebody tells him that hiscolor isyellowor green ; or his note is
C, D orF on the piano . He does not care to f ind out why . It is I ike tel I ing
somebody that Wednesday is your day and Tuesday is some other person's .

In point of fact all days are ours ; all colors are ours . It is man who is
the master of al I manifestation . It is for man to use al I colors and tones ; they
are athisdisposal, forhim to use andmakethe bestof . Itwouldbe agreat
pity if weweresubject toonecolor ortone .There wouldbenolife in it ; it
would be a form of death . The staircase is made for us to ascend, not for us to
continue stepping in one place . Every step is our step, if only we take it .

Now coming to the mystical point of view . The first aspect that
makes intelligence conscious of the manifestation is sound ; the next aspect
is l fight (or color) . The proof of this can be found in the Bible aswell as in
Vedanta . The Bible says, "In the beg inning wasthe Word and the Word was
God ."And in another place it says, "First wasword, and then came I ight . "

What is color? It is an aspect of light . And when we come to read the

Vedanta, there it says: "The first aspect of the Creator, the Source from
which the whole Creation was made, was sound ." In the Koran it is said, "The
first command was, give us a sound, and al I became manifest . "

All the mysticsand prophets and great thinkers of the world in al l

periodsof history, in expressing the history of creation, have given the first
place to sound .Andthe scientist of today saysthe same thing . He will call
it radium, atom, electron ; and after going through all the different atoms of
substance she gets into8 the substance he calls movement . Movement isvi-
bration . It is only the effect of motion which we call sound . Motion speaks,
and speech we call sound, because it is audible . When it is not audible, it is
because there is not sufficient capacity . But the cause of sound is move-
ment, and movement is always there ; which means that the existence of the
movement does not depend upon capacity .

8 . Sk .am .: " he oxnes to " instead of " he gets into"

172

And what is color? Color also ismovement . And its9 capacity makes
color concrete to our vision . At the same time, although we may say that
this is green or red or yel Iow, every color is different to each person ; in fine
shades of color, people do not see alike, because the capacity is different
in each . The tone is according to the capacity . In other words, it is not the
tone orcolorwhich in its value is different ; it becomes different when we
sense it, when we feel it . In its rel ation to us it is different .

The conception of the five elements, which the mystics have held in
all times, cannot be explained in scientific terms, because the mystics
have their peculiar meaning . Although it may be called water, fire, air,
earth, it must not be taken assuch ; its nature and character, according to
the mystics, is different, but as words are few, one cannot give different
names to these elements, although in Sanscritwe have different words for
these elements . And so "ether" is not ether as the scientists mean it . It is ca-
pacity . Water is not water as we understand it in everyday language ; it is
I iquidity . Fire is understood differently ; it means glowor heat or dryness or
radiance, alI that is living . All of these wordssuggest something more than
we mean by earth, fire, water, etc .

Now, the working of these five elements is distinguished by dif-

ferent color and sound . The five elements are represented by sound . In the
musical scales which are called "ragas" in India and China, the raga of five
notes is considered the most appealing, and I myself have experienced that
the scale of five notes is much more appealing than the scale of seven
notes. The scale of seven notes lacks some vital influence that the scale of
five notes possesses. In ancient times, the scales bywhich miracles were
performed, were mostly the scales of five notes .

And now one sees that there is a relation between sound and color .
The first tendency a man has, isto open his eyeswhenhe hearssomething,
to see if he can see the color of it . That is not the way to see it . Color is a
language . The very lifewhich is audible, isvisible also ; but where? It is
visible in the inner plane . The mistake is that man looks in the outer for it .
When he hears music, he wants to see the color before him . Every activity of
the outer world is a kind of reaction, in otherwords a shadow, of the activ-
ity which is behind it, which we do not see . And there is a difference in
time . There is an activity which has passed twelve hoursbefore and it is
now in color in the outer plane, and the same is the reason for the question
of the effect of dreams on I ife . Something that one has seen in the dream
perhaps at night, its effect hewill see in the morning, or next week, and
therefore this showsthat there issome activity which takesplace behind
the scenes and it is reflected on the outer l ife, according as the activities
of the outer I ife are directed .

9. Tp. : ' its' changed to 'ar' by Hayat staff urger

 17 3

This is the reason why a seer or mystic isable very often to know be-
forehand his own condition, and the condition of others ; what is coming, or
what has passed, orwhat is going on ata distance . For he knowsthe lan-
guage of sound and color . And now the question is, on which plane does he
know the language of sound and color? In what way does it manifest to h im?
One cannot restrict it under a certain law, and at the same time it has a cer-
tain law . And where does he see it? He sees it in hisbreath .

Therefore, the whole culture of spiritual development is based upon

the science of breath . The Yogis, the Mystics, what made them see happen-
ings of the past, present and future? Some law behind creation .A certain
working of the mechanism which isa finer mechanism . And how can it be
seen? By opening one's vision to one's self .

According to the Mystics, there are five capacities of one'sbeing,

which may be called five akashas. The one capacity which everybody
knows and is conscious of, is what maybe cal led the receptacle of food,
which is this body . And the otherwhich ismoreor less recognized, isthere-
ceptacle of sense, which is in the senses . And the third capacity the recep-
tacleof life, and this capacity isaworld in itself,whereone isconsciousof
the finer forcesof life which areworking within himself . They can convey
to him a sense of the past, present or future, for the reason that they are
clear to his vision . He sees them .

But you may ask, "How can he find out the condition of another ." It
is not because he knows10 more about others, for one is made to know most
about himself, but many are unconscious of the third receptacle, that of
ife . The one who is conscious of his receptacle of I ife, he is able to empt y
the capacity he has and g ive a chance for the l ife or another person to re-
flect upon it . He does it by focusing upon the I ife of another, and by that he
covers the past, present and future . Only he has to make the camera stand in
the right place . It is exactly I ike photography . The plate is there ; it is clear
because he is able to empty his own capacity ; and the black cloth which
the photographer puts over the camera and over his own head, is concentra-
tion . When man has mastered concentration, he becomes the photographer .
He can focus al l the light upon one spot . It is all scientific whenwe un-
derstand it in that way . It becomesa puzzle when it is put before us as a
mystery . Al I is mystery when we do not know it ; when we know it, al I is sim-
ple . The true seekers after truth are lovers of simplicity . The right road is
simple, clear, distinct . There is nothing vague about it .

And the more one fol lows this path of the mystery of I ife, the more
ife becomes revealed to him . Life beginsto express its secret, its nature .
What is requi red of man is an honest following of life's law, and nothing i n

10. 01, Sk .tp. : "can know' instead of ' knows'

17 4

this world is more important than knowing11 human nature and the study of
human I if e, and that study I ies in the study of self, and it is the study of self
which is rea I I y the study of God .

11 . bid .: 'the knowing of instead of 'knowing'

 17 5

A typescript of a lecture from the legacy of Murshida Martin,

handed down by tuts . Duce to Siirdar, and copied by Sk . In a
separate annotation Sk . writes : 'doubtful whether authentic."
Parts of the text do not seem to be Pir-o-Murshid's own words .

The Solution of the Problems of Today . 1

Seeing the condition of the world as it is today, a question arises

from the heart of every person 3about what may be3,4what would be the
solution of this problem 5of the days . One asks oneself, if we are really
progressing and the answer comes, "Yes, in certain directions we are pro-
gressing ." But there are many things in this world to prove the fact that
there are certain directions in whichwe are not progressing, and thispar-
tial progress has brought about a condition, the like of which cannot be
found in the historyof theworld .

If we can think of the precious lives of young men who had 6for
generations6 inherited the culture 7and had taken, so to speak, a part in the
evolution of the whole humanity, shave become the victims of 9the war
which has passed9, not one person who thinks deeply and who can feel, will
deny the fact that if we are missing something, it issomething which is mos t

Documents : No original MS has been received by the archives to date.

Tp. (a typescript, handed down by Mrs . Duce to Si dar and copied by Sakina) .
Sk .am. (some corrections made by Sk. on a separate paper) .
S .Q. (magazine The Sufi Quarterly, Vol . 11 rr. 1 of June 1926, edited by Ronald L . t trntaz Armstrong, in
which this lecture was published) .

This is the fifth lecture in a series of six lectures on "Spiritual Philosophy', given by Pir-o-ty rshid Inayat
Khan on April 26th 1923 in the Paul Elder Gallery in San Francisco, U .S.A . (For the program of these lec-
tures, issued by Paul Elder, see Appendix A . )

A lecture with the same tide was given on 26th May 1923 at New York dkrirg P ir-o-Mrshid's same lec-
ture tour through the United States . This lecture could have been taken down by Infs . M arya Cushing, who
organized a series of lectures given at that time in New York, but it has not reached these archives as yet.

Notes :

1 . The tide in the Paul Elder program reads, "The Solution to the Problems of Today" ;
S.Q. : ' The Solution of the Problem of the Day '
2. S .Q. : added, "By Inayat Khan, the well-known musician of India and Sufi Mystic .'
3 . bid : "about what may be' omitted
4 . Ibid. : the comma replaced with a colon, and a quotation mark adde d
5 . Ibid. : "of the day' omitted. In its place a question mark and quotation mark .
6 . Ibid. : "for generations' omitted
7 . Ibid. : "of generations' added
8 . Ibid. : 'who" added
9 . Ibid . : rewritten to read " the past war"
17 6

important to us . We see in the tradition10 1lthere have been battles12, the

battle 13of the Mahabharata, and the battle13 of Kerbela, and the battle 13 of
Jerusalem, and the battle13 of Palestine, but no battIe13 has been equal to
the battle 13 that has just been fought .14

The numberless precious I ivesthat it hasswal lowed, and the pain it

has given besides, and the amount of grain15 that has been destroyed and
burned and sunk in the sea, and then the famines which16took place after
the war and have continued in different countries, swallowing 17the re-
maining part of humanity17 . The contribution that they advanced for pol i-
ticsor science has given to this great wave of destruction, that shows 18 that
progress has been made in one direction, and the other direction which was
most necessary has been neglected, has been forgotten .

But if we ask ourselves if the end of war has ended strife, it is not so .
The strife has been continued, the strife has become worse . The unrest that
exists indifferent nations, and the prejudiceof nationsand theprejudice
between races which exists today, and which is working directly or indi-
rectly, knowingly or unknowingly, shows that it might lead into a still
worse catastrophe .

The outlook of a19mystic tells himthat everydisease, everypain,

every disorder in the body has something behind it . There is some inner
source there . In the same way, if there existsa prejudice in a nation, in a
race, against another nation or race, it is I ike reserving a poison and keep-
ing a poison of a certain, disease in oneself . In time it must burst out, and in
time it must show itsworst results . And therefore whatever l ittle civiliza-
tion that seems to be remaining, even that is in danger, in a20great danger,
although one does not see just now in what form that danger may manifest .
But if the heart had eyesto see, if the soul could penetrate through I ife and
see it with a keen sight, even now the beginning of the coming disaster
would become manifest .

The number of nervous cases that today we see ; the loss of memory in
people that we see today ; and that spirit of inharmony and disagreemen t

10. Ibid.: 'traditions'

11 . Ibid.: 'that' added
12. Ibid.: "battles' changed to "wars '
13. Ibid.: 'battle" changed to "war", the last instance referring to the Fist World War (1914-1918) .
14. Ibid.: 'with' instead of full stop, and the following paragraph added to this on e
15. Ibid. : " grain' changed to ' food'
16. Ibid. : 'that' instead of 'which '
17 . Ibid . : rewritten to read: "a part of humanity that remained'
18 . Sk .arn . : "this sentence needs revision" ;
S .Q. : rewritten to read: ' The co tthution that the advance of politics and science has given to this great
wave of destruction shows '
19. S .Q. : 'a' changed to 'the'
20. Ibid.: ' a" omitted
 17 7

that we see among individuals; that lack of happiness we see in homes, it

seems it is paraIyzing the whole I if e . You can go in any country and ask,
they will have more or I ess the same thing tote I I you, that the trade is para-
lyzed . If you will find21 some countries not yet, 22theymust wait a little
whileandyouwill seethe same thing .

Why is itparalyzing23? Because the24trade has become something

mechanical, it has lost the spirit at the back of it . If you ask about art, that
also seems to be disappearing for the24 want of appreciation, forthe24want
of an ideal, for the24 want of that condition which inspires the artist . The24
art in the form of music or poetry or painting or whatever form it be, by be-
ing commercialized, it2s is losing its beauty . And the artist does not get that
rest and peace which might help his inspiration .

With28 education no doubt it was right that God-ideals and rel ig-
ion, which at that time seemed 28destructive in some forms28, were29taken
away, and educationwas30made free of religion . But nothing was given as
a substitute . Therefore education remained something dry, and something
without a spirit, mechanical . The ideal of education today is to qualify
oneself to guard one'sown interests best . The best qualified man is cal led a
practical man, a man of common sense . Is it the24 common sense with wh ich
we can bring peace to ourselves? Is it the24 common sense with which we
can bring happiness to our neighbor? Not 31Those who have reached that
stage where they felt for their neighbour, it wasnot commonsense, itwas
supersense . When that supersense is buried under materialism, and common
sense is used, the sense which suggests nothing but to get for oneself al I that
is best, and32 although in appearance it might seem for some time a success-
ful achievement, in the end it will not prove successful . For it is this ten-
dency wh ich has increased enormously the spirit of competition .

You will find the spirit of competition in every progression33 . BAnd,

friends, 34 man's life is purposed toteach35the perfection which ishidden in
his heart . And if man is not fulfilling that purpose, his tendency will b e

21 . Ibid. : 'it in' added

22. Ibid. : 'so' added
23. bid. : "being paralysed' instead of ' p aralyzing'
24. Ibid : "the' omitted
25. Ibid. : " it " omitted
26. Ibid. : 'With' replaced by 'In'
27. Ibid. : "God-ideals '
28. Ibid. : 'destrucCrve in some forms' changed to ' a dead form'
29. Ibid. : 'were' replaced by ' shadd be '
30. Ibid. : ' was' omitted
31 . Ibid. :' In' added
32. Ibid. : ' and' omitted
33. Ibid. :'progression ' changed to ' profession'
34. Ibid : 'And, friends,' omitted
35. Ibid. : 'to reach' instead of "bleach"
17 8

something like 3the lower creation, gratifying his needs . And in competi-
tion he expresses 37that tendency of37 deceit which hides from the soul that
light which ishidden inhim asdivine light . Remember,38 therewas atime
when the word of39 man was greater than a crown40 . Today we have to take
twenty signatures4land perhaps42thirty stamps put on it, and still it is not
legal . Man cannot trust his fellowman . With all these stamps that one has to
put on his agreements, the courts are full, the Iawyersare busy, and it has
all become so mechanical that it all seems to move onwards43towardssome
mechanical end, very often without the smal lest virtue of4truth in it .

When we think of this, a question arises, 45what maybe done in or-

derto better things? It is the economic condition4andsituation46 which is
making us47in thisway47,45 . But 481 should say48 money is blinding . Even if
the economic condition of the world was different still selfishness, that de-
sire to have more than one's full49 amount, remains just the same . That
does50 notfullysuffice the purpose, although itwould helptoa verygreat
extent .

Today the struggle between capital and labour is something which

exists mall parts of the world . And a time hascome when the capital ist as
well asthe onewho labours, both are in trouble . 51None gainsbetter than
the others51 . One has one kind of trouble, the other has another kind of
trouble, and52times have 52come when both rich and poor have their com-
plaints, both are not at ease, and both do not experience peace .

With al l our political methods so developed and refined, the small-

est problems that rise among nations are not solved to their satisfaction .
Conference after conference takes place, from country to country . They
meet and discuss the smallest thing and argue and dispute it, and in the end
do not come to a satisfactory decision .

36. Ibid. : "that of " added

37. Ibid.: 'the tendency to" instead of "that tendency of "
38. Ibid.: "Remember," omitted .
39. Oid.:'a' added
40. Ibid.: "sown" charged to 'bond'
41 . Ibid.: ' f or a bond" added
42. Ibid.: 'have" added
43. Ibid.: 'an' instead of 'onwards'
44. Ibid. : 'of " changed to "or"
45. Ibid . : the questions put between quotation marks
46 . Ibid . : "and situation" omitte d
47 . Ibid . : "n this way' changed to 'be sot"
48 . Ibid . : 'I should say' omitted
49 . Ibid . : "full" charged to"fair'
50. Ibid. : "would" instead of "does "
51 . Ibid. : rewritten to read, ' Neither is better off than the other'
52. Ibid. : "the time has' instead of 'tines have'
 17 9

If one asked, "How can this al l be helped? Isthere anything wh ich

can be calledass3a main cause of the whole trouble which existsindiffer-
ent forms?" I wi 1154 say i n short, that it is the I ack of what maybe ca I I ed an
ideal . Friends,55 a I iving God, if bel ief in Him does not help you to progress
ands6 go forward, is of no help to you, but if an idol of rock can help you to
go forward, it is more helpful .

'7What has happened today? Is it that the ideal has turned into an
idol?Man goes so far and does not go further .57Todaywe laugh at the family
feuds which existed in the East and in the West . 58For instance, in Scotland
one clan fought with the other clan . For years and years and years there was
a fight between clans because each clan had itsown flag, its own plaid, its
own family, and they only had the interest of that particular clan, and were
all thetime fighting . And the rest andpeace came in theircountry asthat
clan spirit diminished, and they became all Scotch .

And the same thing was inArabia where every family had itsgene-
alogy of which they were very proud, and they discussed and argued for
generations about that genealogy . And there were family feuds . Revenge
was taken for some insult which was done to somebody's grandfather, the
revenge was taken by the grandchild, and when he had taken that revenge
by causing harm or pain or hurt to the other, he felt he had accomplished his
duty .

Nowwe laugh at it .58 We look at it assosmal I and so narrow, and so

foolish . And what do you suppose59 after four or five generations, our ch i I-
dren will think? 60Aftera hundred years from now,60what will they think
when they read of the nations going against nations, fighting against one
another, many among them not knowing with whom they were fighting, for
what reason theywere fighting, many going there only because the condi-
tionsmade them go . Even on the battlefield they felt61 nothing but love, not
only for their fellowmen, but62for the men they were shooting . Many have
hid63 that feeling whileshooting their fellowmenM, or even, as it turned
out, while shooting their own father .M

53. Ibid.: 'as' omitted

54. Ibid.: 'would' instead of "will'
55. Ibid.: "Friends,' omitted
56. bid: 'to, adde d
57. Ibid.: these sentences continue the previous paragraph
58. Ibid.: this whole passage has been omitte d
59. Ibid.: 'thiink" instead of 'suppose '
60. Ibid.: rewritten to read, ' A homed years hence,'
61 .bid: "often' added
62. bid.: 'even' added
63. Sk.arn .: 'had" instead of 'hid' ;
S.Q.: 'hid '
64. S.Q.: a full stop of ter ' f ellowmen', and the remaining part of the sentence omitted
180
What then will the children of the future think of uswhen theywil
grows and read the accountsof what the world has gone through? The dif-
ferences66 between the time of these67 family feuds and now is that they
had68 built walls around their families .' We build walls around our na-
tions. They called it a family patriotism ; we call it national patriotism . We
take pride upon70 it, we consider it a virtue, and 71 it has reached now to a
point when71 religion has lost its power and importance, 72that it72 has al-
most taken the place of religion .

Friends55, there is no doubt73 a person who braves74 his life for his
duty to his fellowman, to his nation,75no doubt 75 shows virtue, he is brave,
it must be appreciated . But 76what ! say isthat76the fault lies in standing on
an ideal and not passing through it . For al l ideals, such as love for one's fam-
ily, the duty of citizenship, or the patriotism of nations, or the pride of
race, orthe serviceof humanity, all these aresteps toward perfection . As
longasman is going toward perfection, every step is a virtue ; it ishismerit .
But the same ideal becomes an idol when man stands there and does not
move .

Humanity was progressing as long as it went further . But77 de-

struction came when it stuck up78 to an ideal and did7not now move fur-
ther . It isstil I standing there . Many say80an economic revival, if81 on some
fair basis if the economic condition of the world could be improved, the
conditions would become different . But how very82 impossible with the out-
look man hastoday from the place80 he is standing! How difficult it is for
him to make a just and fair arrangement, to brings the solution to the
world's economic problem! People say politically85, if the worldwill solve
itsproblem85, therewill come some ease . But how?Man will think orsay86or
act according to his outlook on life, according to the pitch his spirit i s

65. id. : "p" added

66. Ibid. : 'd'ifference '
67. bid. : 'those" instead of 'these'
68. Ibid.: "had' omitted
69. bid.: 'while' instead of the full stop
70. bid.: 'in' instead of %pai"
71 . bid.: rewritten to read, 'th'ugs have readied a point now, that'
72 bid.: 'that it' replaced with 'when that '
73. bid.: "that" added
74 . bid.: "braves" charged to 'risks"
75 . bid.: ' no dm6t' omitted
76 . ibid .: 'what I say is that' omitted
77 . bid . : 'die' added
78. bid . : 'uq" omitted
79. bid. : 'does' instead of 'did'
80. Ibid. : "by" adde d
81 . Ibid. : ' it were' added
82. bid. : 'very' omitted
83. Ibid.: 'where' added
84. bid: 'about' added
85. bid.: 'politically' moved to after 'problem'
86. bid.: 'say' changed to 'speak'
 18 1

tuned87 . You cannot expect him to do something heavenly when he is stand-

ing on the earth ; you canon I y expect what an earthly man can do .

88A great poet' has taught a simple moral, "A person says or does ac-
cording to his particular evolution, and it isa greatmistake if you getof-
fended, for he cannot do better ." That is the condition of humanity today .
To expect better isa mistake . You cannot expect better . You can expect
what man can give you today .

And what may be done? There is only one way, and that is to change
the outlook of man . And how can it be done? It can be done by changing the
spirit of individuals, changing the mind of individuals, awakening human-
ity to the spi rit of brotherhood, to the89 same truth which Christ has taught,
"Love your neighbour ." Today there seems to be a great awakening every-
where for spirituality, and it is true that the soulsare longing forspiritual-
ity . And there is a reason that90the souls have gone through such aZOsuffer-
ingfor all these years that naturally saint and sinner both are longing fora
ittle relief from th is disturbed state and condition .

But at the same time everybody does not seem to know how to pro-
ceed in his pursuit . Some are looking for phenomena in the form ofspiritu-
ality ; some want to work wonders ; some want to get magnetic powers ; some
want to meet with ghosts and spirits and fairies and all things that are un-
seen ; some want to float in the air and some want to see the different
colours and different I ights .

Many seekers after truth are eager to be fooled . The more they are
fooled, the more they are pleased with it, and therefore their activity in
that direction 91ismade91 from every kind of source . Simple, optimistic and
good people dabble into92 things which they think spiritual, whereas the
pessimistic and intellectual ones, they93 are so afraid of the name
"spiritual" that they do not wish to go near such a thing . They want to avoid
every church, every religion, everything of a spiritual or occult nature .

This shows that it is worse than dead94 . It would have been better
they had not such longing95 . It is I ike hungering for food and getting stones .

87. Ibid. : ' to' added

88. bid. : "Otr great poet, Saadi," instead of ' A great poet"
89. Ibid. : 'that' instead of 'the '
90. Ibid. : 'that' replaced by "far '
91 . bid : Is made" changed to " comes"
92 Ibid . : 'in' instead of ' into '
93. tbid . : 'they' omitted
94. Ibid . : 'dead' changed to ' a dead tKi g '
95. Ibid . : "longings'
18 2

And how has iit come84? It has come84 because of the commercial nature of
the time% they want everything brought into the world in a commercial
form .

But is it the fault of thosewho present it in a commercial form?Not

altogether . It is the fault of the age . The time has changed conditions so
that there issome commercial form necessary .97lf I were not speaking to
you in this house, if you had not read the advertisements in the papers, you
would not have come here . If I were speaking in the street you would not
have stood there .97 The condition of the times before was different . The
commercial age demands73 everything to9be put in commercial form, and
that isthe great lack, and" a great pity that it should be so . Because now
man hasbegunto think thateverything100 he can buy orsell100, evenspiri-
tual ity .

101There aresomewho come, thinking they can buy like something

at a drug store, ten lessons onYoga, ora course, it is l ike buying a certain
medicine and curing themselves . And people have become so accustomed
to buy and sel 1, there are peoplewaiting with their money, thinking they
could buy some truth, and after having been disappointed all their life,
having money to buy and not having gotten, they think, this is like every-
thing else, always disappointed .

A wonderful thing I remember now . An American had been to India .

He had heard in India there are great saints and sages and thinkers and
people of great powersand inspiration, and hehoped hewould findsome-
one . The poorman was disappointed, after al I his trip through India from
North to South . When he came back he met me and once he told me that
people talk so much about India and itsmeditative people and their great
powers . Hesaid, "Iwent all through India fromNorth toSouth anddid not
findone ." Isaid,"Did you look for asignboard?Did youexpectto findhim
under a signboard? Did you expect to see his advertisement in a paper?"
No .101

A Persian Sufi hassaid, "Be 102friend to102 God inwardly, and out-
wardly be indifferent ." There are many on the path of God, but the onewho
fol lows this path is rare . 100And what has it made?103 It hasmade us think so
little of religion, Iittleof God, Iittleof the sacred path . It has, ina way,
taken away all the value and sacredness of spiritual attainment, the at-
tainment which isthe onlyworthwhile attainment in life . And at thistim e

%. Sk.am : a comma added after ' tune' ;

S.Q.: a full stop after "time"
97. S .Q.: this passage was omitted
98. Ibid. : ' to" omitted
99 . Ibid. : ' It is' instead of 'and'
100. bd. : ' everydhing ' omi tted and placed after "sell" instead
101 . Ibid. : both these parapaphs were omitte d
102 . Ibid. : 'a lover of ' instead of "friend to"
103 . Ibid.: rewritten to read, ' And what is the result of this commercialising? "
 18 3

when religions have no greaterl04 power and hold upon man, most of human-
ity seems to be hungering after some truth, after some peace and rest, hun-
gering after some enlightenment on the path that can bring some rest,
peace and consolation in the midst of this great strife and great disap-
pointment that humanity105 is106 going through . And then they are al1107 dis-
appointed .

And now the question is, what is the right path? 1108 cannot point out
that a particular church is the right path . 1108 cannot point that a particular
sect is the right path, 1108 cannot point that a particular religion is the right
path . Nor can 1108 point109 that this particular doctrine or this particular law
is the right path . The message that Sufism has to give to the worl d is the mes-
sage of wisdom, Sophia . The only path there is, is the path of wisdom, the
path of understanding one another, the path of learning the point of view of
another . What will bring about a better understanding between races, be-
tween nations, between the peoples of the East and West? It is the under-
standing of one another .

And now there is a question, "How can one help it? What can help to
bring about this understanding between one another better?" Man is born
with a living faculty of understanding, and what covers this faculty is his
absorption in his selfish affairs in Iife . The less selfish he becomes, the more
capable of understanding he becomes . The faculty of understanding be-
comes open in a certain way with man's development toward unselfishness .
But now the question is, 110what gives man unselfishness? Forgetting of him-
self110 . When he forgets himself, then he is less selfish . The more he forgets
himself, the more unselfish he becomes . Andthen there is aquestion, how
can one forget oneself when oneself is next to one every moment of the day ?

Friends55, 111this is111 the process which is called spiritual at-

tainment, the process of the mystic, 112thisis theprocess112 . If there isany-
thing to be learned or if anything is to be practised or studied as the essence
of religion, it is this process of forgetting oneself . Andwhat helps this? It is
God Who helps this . That is where113the value of the God ideal comes 114
that iswhere115the use of the God ideal comes114 . If the God ideal has not
helped in forgetting oneself, then there issomething missing in one's rel i-

104. Ibid.: • nxre " instead of ' greater'

105. Ibid.: • Ixmanity" charged to 'men'
106. Ibid.: ' are' instead of 'is '
107. Ibid.: ' all' omitted
108. Ibid.: -I - changed to 'One'
109. Ibid.: 'out' added
110. Ibid.: " whatprodiues in man tasselfislness,the forgetting of hiimself?• instead of 'what gives man
un self isFness? • as a question, and 'Forgetting of himself' as the answer .
111. Ibid .: " this is' replaced with 'By'
112. Ibid .: this phrase was omitted .
113. Ibid .: "comes in' added
114. Ibid .: " comes' omitted
115. bid .:' cornes' added
18 4

gious beI ief, and it is therefore that every believer in God is not necessar-
ily an unselfish person . Every believer is not necessarily a spiritual person .
If he has not made use of his belief, if his belief has not sufficed the pur-
pose, then his belief has not done anything for him .

There is a little story . It happened in India . A girl was passing

through a farm, going from her village to another vil lage and there a rel i-
gious man was offering his prayers in the open . The religious law forbids
anybody to pass that place where somebody isoffering his prayers . They
must wait116 . When the prayer is finished, they may pass .

This girl, not noticing the man, passed overthere . After some time,
when shewas hurrying back, thisman who had offered his prayersstopped
her and said, "How terrible of you, Ogirl, you passed over this place when I
was offering prayer ." She said, "Did I? l am sorry . What did you say?" 117He
said, "You foolish girl, you do not know what prayer means? Prayer means
thinking of God ." "Oh," she sa id, "I am so sorry . I was go i ng to see my young
man in theothervillage, and I was thinking so much about him, therefore I
did not see you . And I amsurprisedthat when you were thinking of God you
could see me . "

The religious man became so 118 embarrassed and from that day he
learned that it is not the offering, the 119 prayer, it isthe forgetting of self,
that is the real and true prayer, that principle12Dmotive for which God is
the key .

116 . bid. : 'a while' adde d

117 . bid. : added, 'He said: ' I was of f eying prayer.' She said : "Prayer? What do you mean by it?"
118. Ibid. : 'much' instead of 'so '
119. bid. : ', the' omitted
120. Tp., S.Q.: 'principle', but probably 'principal' was meant .
 18 5
From a newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle,
27 April 1923

San Francisco , Apri l 1

"What is Sufi? Is it an offshoot of Brahmanism or Buddhism? "

"It came from Egypt, and it isthe basis of four great religions, Chris-
tianity, Judaism, Mohammedanism and Zoroastrianism . It is not a church,
but religion . It seeks to teach people to seek the real . "

"By the real you mean God? "

"Exactly . "

"How long have you been lecturing? "

"Many years . When I felt the call to go out and try to help spiri-
tualize the world I went . I have traveled all over the world . I feel that
everyone, German, Englishman, American, Hindu--all of mankind--is my
brother . The world has grown very material and needs all the spirituality
that can be put into it . The people do not take time formeditation ; they
rush about and lack repose . "

"Where did you study? "

"In the Academy of Baroda . Indian music is an art, and expresses it-
self in improvisation . Thescale is oneof quartertones, inwhich itdiffers
from music of the West . The musician may have a set melody of three or four
lines, but he improvises on this theme and shows his skill in that way . I
learned four Indian languagessothat my songs might be heard in all parts of
my country . "

Note:

From an interview, possbly on April 26

186

A typescript of a lecture handed down by Mrs . Prebble (a pupil

of Murshida Martin's) to Martha Burk, and inherited from the latter
by Miss Hayat Stadlinger, an American nKreed, initiated in
Siresnes in 1926, who passed it on to the Biographical Depart-
ment in Stresnes .

Khwajah Shamsu - d-din Mahomed Hafiz .2

313e loved ones of God : 3

4My address this afternoon is on the subject of Hafiz , whose name4 is

wel I known to everyone interested in the poetry of Persia, because among
the Persian poets Hafiz stands unique in his expression , in his depth of
thought , in the excel lence of hissymbolical expression of certain thoughts
and philosophy .

There wasatime whena deepthinker anda freethinker hadgreat

difficulty in expressing his thoughts , and that time has not altogether
ceased, but at the same time, in some ways , there seems to be much more
freedom of expression in thisage than in ancient times . At this time, anyone
who expressed his thought freely about life and its hidden law, about soul,
God, creation and manifestation , met with great difficulty . The difficulty
was that the religious authorities of all kinds governed, and underthereli-
gious reign , the principles of the exoteric religion reigned , and therefor e

Documents : No original NI S has been received by the archives to date.

Tp . : (atypescript received fromMiss HayatStadlinger in 1963) .

Hq .st: (a somwvhatrevised version of the " ;p.', made at Headquarters, Geneva, where thelectue was
made into two Social Gathekas ) .
Hq .t : (a typewritten copy of the 'Hq.st', nearly identical in wording) .
Tp .c . : (a typewritten copy of the •Hq.st•, with a few mina dif ferences) .

The obviously unedited divis ion into paragraphs and sometimes the separate sentences, as well as the
phonetic spelling of • f crce' fa • false' ( see note 16 ), shows the • vp. • to be nearer to the originally spo-
ken wards than the other documents .

A translation in French has been published in the magazine Soufisme of April 1928, and a Dutch transla-
tion can be f out in De Soefi Gedachte of 1951, numbers 3 and 4 .

This lectue was published in The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume X (1964), Sufi Poetry,
chapter VII .

It is the f ifth lecture in a series of six lectures on • Suf i Poets' given by Pin-o-Murshid Inayat Khan on
May 1st, 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S .A. (Fa the program issued by Paul Elder, see
Appendix A. )

Notes :

1 . Hq.st, h%t, p .c .: added, ' Social Gatheka number 26', and the invocation: • Toward the Cie, . . .'
2. See 'List of Persons, Places and Events '
3. Hq.st, hq.t, tp .c. : 'Beloved ones of God:' omitted
4. Ibid .: the fist part of the sentence was reduced to • The name of Haf iz'
 18 7

those who attained by the esoteric side of philosophy, always had diffi-
culty in tel l ing it to the people . Many were persecuted ; they were stoned,
they were flayed, they were put to death . All sorts of punishment were in-
flicted uponthem, and in this waythe progressof humanitywas retarded .
Today we do not see this . At the same time, the limited attitude of thehu-
man mind on religious and philosophical questions is to be found in all
ages .

The Sufis, who found by the help of meditation the source of knowl-
edge in their own hearts, for them it was very difficult to give to the world
in plain wordswhat I ittle they could explain of the truth . It is true that the
truth cannot be spoken in words, but at the same time, those gifted with po-
etic and prophetic expression, have always had that inclination and ten-
dency of expressing what their souls experienced .

Hafiz found away of expressing5the experience6 of hissoul and his

philosophies7 in verse . For the soul enjoys expressing itself in verse . Be-
cause soul itself is music and when it is experiencing the realization of
divine truth, the tendency of the soul is to express itself in poetry . Hafiz
therefore expressed hissoul in poetry . Andwhat poetry! Poetry ful I of I ight
and shade, I ine and color, and poetry full of feeling . No poetry in the world
can becompared tothat of Hafizin itsdelicacy . Therefore, only the fine
soul, who has the finest perception of l ight and shade expressed in words,
can grasp the meaning of the illumination of the soul .

At the same time, the words of Hafiz have won every heart that l is-
tens . Even if they do not wholly understand it, the phrase, rhythm, charm
and beauty of expression win8 them . It is the same style that Solomon
adopted . But it was spoken in the language of the time . Hafizspoke in the
language which was most appropriate and most suitable to poetry .ThePer-
sian language is considered in the East, the most delicious language ; a lan-
guage which stands supreme to9 al I Eastern languages in poetry . It is soft
and its expression is tender . It is expressive . Every object has perhaps ten
names for the poet to choose from . Every l ittle thought can be expressed in
perhaps twenty different ways, and the poet has that freedom of choice .
And therefore the Persian language and Persian poetry both are rich in ex-
pression .

The mission of Hafiz was to express to a fanatically inclined re-

ligious world, the presence of God, which is not to be found only in
Heaven, but to be found here on earth .

5. Hq.st :'egxession'•
Hq.t, p .c. : 'eesshg'
6. Hq.st, hq.L, ip. c. : 'experiences
7. Ibid . : 'philoscphy
8. Ibid. : 'wins '
9. (bid. : 'among' instead of •b
188

Very often religious belief in God and in the hereafter has kept man
sleeping, waiting for that hour and that day to come when he will be face to
face with his Lord, and he is certain that that day wi l I not come before he is
dead, and therefore he awaits his death in the hope that in the hereafter he
will see God, for Heaven alone is the place where God isto be found, there
is no other place where Godwill be found .And10that there is only a certain
placewhich is a sacred place of worship, that is, the church, and that any-
where else God was11 not to be found . The mission of Hafiz was to take away
this idea and to make man consciousof the Heaven by his side, and totell
man that al I he expects in the hereafter asa reward, could be had here, if
he lived a fuller life .

The same ideal which one sees in all religions, which JesusChrist
taught, saying, "God is love," that was the main idea of Hafiz, the idea that
he has expressedfrom morning tonight in theDiwan . If there is anything
divine in man, it is love . If God isto be found anywhere, it is in man's heart,
which is love, and if12 love element is awakened in the heart then God is
made al ive, so to speak, and is born in one's sel f . But at the same time Haf i z
has shown in his poetry the key to this, and that key is appreciation of
beauty in al I forms .

Beauty is not always in an object or in a person ; beauty depends

upon one's attitude towards I ife ; how one looks at it ; and its effect depends
upon our power of appreciation . The very same music or poetry or painting
w i I I touch one person so that he feels its beauty to the very depth of his be-
ing, and perhaps there is another person who looks at it, but he does not see
it . The whole manifestation has its beauty ; sometimes the beauty is mani-
fest to you ; comet imes you have to look for it . There comes a good person ;
we are always charmed by the beauty of goodness . There comes another
person who looks bad . But at the same time good is somewhere hidden in
him, if we would look for it, if we have the desire to draw it out . The look of
bad is not always in objects and persons, but in our looking .

The whole trend of the poetry of Hafiz is to awaken that apprecia-

tion of -beauty and love of beauty, which is the only condition through
which to experience that bl iss for wh ich our life is purposed .

Someone asked a Sufi the reason for this whole creation, and he an-
swered, "God, Whose being is love itself, had desire 13 to experience the na-
ture of His own being, and in order to experience it, He had to manifest
Himself . "

10. Ibid . : ' he thit*s' adde d

11 . bid. : " is" instead of 'was '
12 Ibid. : " the" adde d
13. bid : " des ired" instead of ' des ire'
 18 9

God Himself, and His manifestation, the soul and God . This dual as-
pect can be seen in aI I forms of nature, in the sun and the moon ; in night and
day ; in male and female ; in positive and negative ; and in al l things ofop-
posite characters .

14In order that this love principle, itself the original and the only
principle at the back of the whole manifestation, may have the scope of its
full play14 and15 therefore the fulfilment of the purpose of life, was11 in the
ful I expression of the love principle .

Very often people by learning philosophy and by looking at this

world with a pessimistic thought, have renounced the world and have
cal led it material and force16 ; and have left thisworld and have gone to the
forest or desert or cave and have taught the principle of self-denial and
self-abnegation and renunciation .

That was not the way of Hafiz . He said it is like journeying over the
sea and coming to a new port and before landing one becomes frightened,
saying, "But I shall perhaps be attacked by the people ; orthe place will at-
tract me so much that I wi l l not be able to go back where I have come from ."
But he does not know why he has taken that journey . He has not taken the
journey to go back without landing . The attitude of Hafizis to land there .
Risk it . If it is an attractive place, he is ready to be won . If itwill crush him,
he is ready to be crushed . This is a daring attitude . Not running away from
this false world, but in this false world to discoverglimpsesof the true . And
in this maze to find God's purpose .17

18Besides this, there is another great revelation which Hafiz has

brought before humanity in a most beautiful form . Now, there are many
people in thisworldwho have once believed in God, in Hismercyandcom-
passion, in His love and His forgiveness, but after having suffered, after
seeing catastrophies19and injustice, have given up belief . Many people af-
ter great sorrow and suffering have given up religion . The reason is that the
religion they have followed has taught them God as goodness, God as
judge . Well then, they ask from a judge justice . justice to satisfytheirown
ideas . They think their standard of justice is God's . They look for goodness
as they understand it . And therefore there comes a time of struggle in thei r
hearts . They do not see justice, because20looking from their own point of
view . They are looking for goodness, kindness and mercy from their ow n

14. lbid . : this part of the new paragraph continues the previous paragraph
15. Ibid . : beginning of anew sentence: "And ... "
16. Ibid . : ' false' instead of 'farce" which is the same in sound.
17. Ibid . : He ends "Social Gatheka rr. 26. "
18 . bid . : added "Social Catheka Number 27' and the invocation "Toward the One, . . ." and the tide,
'Khwaia Shams-ud-Din Wdunw ed Haf iz (continuation) . '
19 . bid . : "catastrophes"
20. bid . : "they are" added
19 0

point of view . And there are many conditions which make them think there
is no justice, that there is no such thing as a forgiving element .

But the way of Haf iz is different . There is hardly the name of God to
be found in the Diwan . He does not give that belief of God the just and
good . His God is his Beloved, to whom he has surrendered in perfect love
and devotion, and everything coming from the Beloved istaken by himwith
love and devotion as the reward . He prefers poison coming from the hand of
the Beloved to nectar from another . He prefers death to I ife if it is the wish
of the Beloved .

But you may say, "is it fair?"There is no question of fairnesswhere

there21 is love . Love stands above law . Law is beneath love . Law is born of
love . The mistake in this day isthat we keep law higher than love . We do
not see that the divine principle which is love stands above law . Man makes
God a j udge who is bound by law ; who cannot do H iswi l 1, but has to do ac-
cording to what is written in His book .

God is not justice . Justice is His nature, but love is predominant .

People give such importance to one's actions and their results . They do not
know that above action and result is a law which can consume the fire of
Hell ; which can dominate if thewhole worldwere22 being drowned in the
flood of destruction . That the love power is greater than any other .

Th ink of the hen when she takes care of her I ittl a ones . If they were
threatened with danger, though it were a horse or an elephant, she would
fight, because the love principle is predominant . A kind mother is ready to
forgive when her son comeswith his head bowed and says, "Mother, I have
been foolish, I have not I istened to you, I have been insolent, I am sorry ."
She is ready to understand . She is ready to forgive . So we see mercy and
compassion going out as love . Astream of love which can purify al I the evi
actions of years . Then, if a human being can actually forgive, can snot
Gods forgive? Many of the dogmatic religions have taken away the love
element which is predominant, which makes God sovereign . And they make
a God who is l im ited, who is bound by the book, and who cannot show his
compassion . If God were so limited He could not be just . An individual
would be better, because an individual can forgive .

Hafiz givesa picture of human nature : hate, jealousy, love, kind-

ness, vanity ; the play of friendly impulse, the play of pride . Al I aspectsof
Iife . Hafiz is not a poet, he isa painter . He hasmade a picture of the differ-
ent aspects of I ife . Every verse is a picture . And in every picture, whatever

21 . Tp .c . : 'there' omitted
22. Hq .st, hq .t, tp.c. : 'was '
23. Ibid. : " not" placed of to 'God'
 19 1

be its color ; vanity, pride or24 conceit ; love, mercy or compassion, in al I its
garbs, he sees only one spirit, the spirit of the Beloved . And he shows his de-
votion, appreciation and love to all the manifestations of that one and the
same Beloved .

There are many religions and beliefs where it is said that there wiI
come a day when man will be able to communicate with God . But when will
that day come? Life is so short and our hearts so hungry . And if it does not
come today perhaps it will not come at al I . Therefore the only thing that
Hafiz has pointed out from beginning to end isthis, "Do not wait for that
day to come tomorrow . Communicate with the Beloved just now ."He isbe-
fore you here in the form of your friend and in the form of your enemy ; with
a bowl of poison orwith a rose . Recognize it and know it, for this isthe pur-
pose of life . Religions have madethis like a journey of millionsof miles .
Haf iz has made it rightu at hand .

Man likes complexity . He does not want to take one step . It is more
interesting to look forward to millionsof steps . The man who isseekingthe
truth gets into a puzzle, and that puzzle interests him . He wants to go
through thatpuzzlea thousand times more . Just like children ; theirwhole
interest is in running around26 . They do not want to see the door and go out,
until they are very tired, and so with the grown-up people . They all say
they are seeking truth, but they I ike the puzzle . That is why the Mystics
made the greatest truthsa mystery, to be given to the fewwho were ready
for it, and to let the others play, because it is the time for them to play .

As the love principle, according to the idea of the Sufis and ac-
cording to the idea of all the Prophets andKnowers who have ever come to
thisworld, isthe first principle, so it isthe last principle .

There are differentYogas practised by the people of India,which

arethe intellectual, Scientific, Philosophical andMoral paths toGod, but
the most desirable path to God that the Hindus have ever found, and which
makes the whole I ife beautiful, isBhakta Yoga, the path of devotion, be-
cause it is the natural path . Man's inclination is love . If he is cold, it is
because he is longing for love ; if he iswarm, it is because love is alive . If
one is suffering from depression, isyearning or sorrowing, it is because the
love principle is notalive . The only life, thevery source of inspiration,
salvation and liberation, is love .

And among27 those great soulswho have brought the message of God
to humanity from time to time ; Buddha, Krishna, Jesus Christ, Moses,
Abraham, Zarathustra ; they were well known asmost learned men, and what
they learned, they learned from the love principle . What they knew was

24 . Tp .c . : a conwna instead of 'ar '

25. Hq .st ., hq.t ., tp .c . : 'right' changed to 'close'
26. Ibid. : 'about' instead of 'around'
27. Ibid. : 'among' omitted
19 2

compassion, forgiveness, sympathy, and tolerance ; that attitude of appre-

ciation ; that opening of the heart to humanity . What they taught was love,
a simple truth . If religions seem complex, they have been added to . In
every case what was brought by the Prophet was simple, and it was ex-
pressed in his personality and his life, and it is that influence that has
rema fined for centuries after they have passed away . It is not the literature
they have left . Most of the literature is from their pupils . It is the simple
truth shown in their personalities andtheir lives .

The error of this day and age is that we cannot understand the simpl e
truth ; the truth as manifested everywhere ; instead of trying to find truth
covered in a shel 1 .

Hafiz at the same time teaches one to see the ultimate truth and the
ultimate justice in one and the same thing and it is God ; that justice is not
in related things ; perfect justice is in totality . And he shows that the power
behind manifestation is the love power, and it is by this power that this
whole world was created . It is the love principle whether it works through
Godor man . And if that principle isat the back of the whole creation, then
it isthe same principlewhich helpsman to fulfil the purpose of his life .
 19 3

A typescript handed down by Ivts . Prebble (a pupil of Murshida

Martin' s) to Martha Buk,and inherited from the latter by Miss
Hayat Stadlinger, an American nareed, initiated in S&resnes in
1926, who passed it on to the Biographical Department in
Suresnes .

The Music of the Sph

Be loved ones of God :

My subject this morning is "The Music of the Spheres ." By this tit Ie I
do not wish to encourage any superstition, or any ideas that might attract
people into the fields of curiosity, but in this subject I wishtodirecttheat-
tention of those who search for truth, towards the law of music which is
working throughout the whole universe, and which in other words may be
called the law of life, the sense of proportion, the law of harmony, the law
which brings about balance, the law which is hidden behind all aspectsof
life, and which is holding this universe intact ; and working out through the
whole universe its destiny ; fulfilling its purpose .

Music as we know it in our everyday language is only a miniature

which our intelligence has grasped from that music or harmony of the whole
universewhich isworking behind us . The music of the universe isthe back-
ground of the I ittle picture wh ich we cal I music .

Our sense of music, our attraction to music, shows that music is in

the depth of our being . Music is behind the working of the whole universe .
Music is not only I ife's greatest object, but music is I ife itself .

Documents : No original MS has been received by the archives to date .

Tp. (a typescript, received from Miss Hayat Stadli ger in 1983) .

01 (very similar to the "tp ." ) .

Both these documents, the lip ., and th 'o t.", seem to have been copied from the same old document But
then, handed down over the years by dif f erent lines of rnreeds, they underwent some separate changes .
Probably the "tp." kept nearest to the original text .

Sk .tp . (a typewritten copy made by Sk . from the "o.t." ; the lip.* at that tirm had not yet been added to the
archives) .

This lecture was published in a revised form in The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Vol me II
(1960), Music, chapter II, together with some parts of another lecture an the same stbject, given in
December 1922.

It is the last lecture in a series of sic lectures an 'Music,' given by P ir-o-Mtrshid Inayat Khan on May
mod, 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S.A. (For the program issued by Paul Elder, see
Apperda A .)
194

Haf iz, our great and most wonderful poet of Persia, says, "Many say
that I ife entered the human body by the help of music, but the truth is that
life itself is music ."And I would like to tell you what made him say this .
There exists in the East a mythological legend that God made a statue of
clay in H is own image and asked the soul to enter into it, but the soul re-
fusedto enter into this prison, foritsnature is toflyaboutfreely andnotto
be l imited and bound to any sort of captivity . The soul did notwish in the
least to enter thisprison . Then God asked the angels to play their music,
and as the angels played, the soul was moved to ecstasy, and through that
ecstasy, in order to make this music more clear to itself, it entered this
body.

It is a beautiful legend, and much more beautiful is its mystery . The

interpretation of this legend explains to us two great laws . One is, that
freedom is the nature of the soul . And forthe soul thewhole tragedy of life
isthe absence of that freedom which belongs to its original nature . And the
next mystery that this legend reveals to us, isthat the only reason why the
soul has enteredthisbody of clay, or matter, is to experience this music of
ife, and to make thismusic clear to itself .

And when we sum up these two great mysteries, the third mystery,
which isthe mystery of all mysteries, comes to ourmind, which is that the
unlimited part of ourselves becomes limited and earth-bound for the pur-
pose of making this life, which is the outward life, more intelligible .
Therefore, there is one lossand one gain . The loss isthe lossof freedom, and
the gain isthe experience of life which isfully gained by coming to this
limitation of lifewhich we call the life of an individual .

What makes us feel drawn to music, is that ourwhole being ismusic ;

ourmind, our body, the nature inwhichwe live, the naturewhich hasmade
us, a l l that is beneath and around us, it is al l music . And asweare close to
all this music, and live and move and have our being in music, therefore it
interests us, and attracts our attention and gives us pleasure ; because it
corresponds with the rhythm and tonewhich is keeping the mechanism of
our whole being intact . What pleases us in any of our arts, whether draw-
ing, painting, carving, architectureor sculpture, andwhat interestsus in
poetry, is all the harmony behind it, which is music . It is music which'
poetry suggests to us, the rhythm in the poetry, or the harmony of ideas and
of phrases .

Besidesthis, in painting and in drawing, it is our sense of proportion

and our sense of harmony which gives us al I the pleasurewe gain in admir-
ing art, and at the same time, what appealsto us in being near to nature, i s

Notes :

1 . O.t. : 'that" instead of 'which"

 19 5

nature's music, and nature's music is more perfect than that of art . It gives us
a sense ofexaItation to be moving about in the woods and to be looking at
the green, and be standing near the running water, which has its rhythm and
which has its tone, and it is harmony . And the singing2of the branches in the
forest, and the rising and falling of the waves, it al I has its music . And once
we contemplate and become one with nature, our hearts open to its music .
We say, "I enjoy nature ." But what is it in nature that we enjoy? It is its mu-
sic . Something in us3 has been touched by the rhythmic movement, by the
perfect harmony which isso littletobe found in thisartificial life of ours,
which lifts one up and makes one feel that that is the real temple, the true
religion . One moment standing in the midst of naturewith open heart, isa
whole lifetime, if one is in tune with nature .

When one looks at the Cosmos, the movements of the stars and p I an-
ets, the laws of vibration and rhythm, al l perfect and unchanging, it shows
the Cosmic System isworking by the law of music, the lawof harmony . And
when4 that harmony in the Cosmic System is in any way lacking in propor-
tion, then disasters in the world come, and its influence is seen in many
destructive forces which manifest in the world . The whole astrological
law, the science of magic and mysticism, behind it, if there is any principle
upon which it is based, it is music . Therefore the most illuminated soulswho
have I ived in thisworld, I ike the greatest of al I the prophets of India, his
whole life was music . From the miniature music which we understand, he
expanded to the whole universe of music, and in that way he was able to in-
spire . And the one who gets the key to the music of the wholeworking of
life, it ishe who becomes intuitive, it ishe who has inspiration . It is heto
whom revelations manifest, for then his language becomes music . Every
person who comes to us, every obj ect we see, is revealing, but in what form?
It tel Is us its character, nature and secret . Every person tel Is us his past, pre-
sent and future, but in what way? Every presence explains to us al I that it
contains, in what manner? In the form of music, if only one can hear it .

There is no other language . It is rhythm ; it is tone . We hear it, but

we do not hear it with our ears . A friendly person shows harmony in his
voice, in hiswords, his movements and manner . An unfriendly person, in his
every movement, his glance and expression and hiswalk, in everything he
will show inharmony, if one canonlysee it . I usedtoamuse myself in India
with a friend whowas very easy to be cross . When he came before me,
would say, "Are you cross today?" He would say, "Now, how did you know
that I was cross today?" I said, "Your turban tel Is me . The way you tie your
turban does not show harmony . "

One's every action shows an harmonious or inharmonious attitude .

There are many things one can perceive in handwriting . But the principal
thing in reading handwriting is the harmonious or inharmonious curve . I t

2. In the "Sufi Message' Vdune II (see above) : 'swaging' instead of 'singing'

3 . O.t . : 'you' instead of another word, perhaps 'man' which was wiped out
4. Ibid . : 'whenever" . In the "tip .' Hayat stadlinger added 'ever' .
19 6

almost speaks to you, and tells you the mood in which that person wrote .
Handwriting tells you many things ; the grade of evolution of the writer, his
attitude towards Iife, his character, and hismood ins writing . You do not
need to read the letter ; you only have to see his handwriting . For I ine and
curve wi I I show either harmonious or inharmonious, if one can only see it .

Friends, in every I iving being you can see this, and if one seeswith
an open insight into the nature of things, he wil I read this even in the tree .
The tree that bears fruit or f lower, what music it expresses .

You can see from the attitude of a person, whether that person wi
prove to be your friend, orwi I I end in being your enemy . You do not have to
wait until the end, you can see at the first glance whether he is friendlyin-
cl ined or not . Because every person ismusic, perpetual music, continually
going on,6night and day 6, and that music your intuitive faculty can hear,
and that is the reason why one person is repellent, and the other attracts
you so much . It isthe music he expresses . Hiswhole atmosphere is charged
with it . There is a story of Omar, the wel l known Khal if of Arabia . Some one
whowanted to harmOmar was looking for him, and he heard that Omar did
not live in palaces although he was the king . He spent most of the timewith
nature . Thisman wasvery gladto thinkthat nowhe wouldhave everyop-
portunity to accomplish his object . As this man approached the place where
Omar was sitting, the nearer he came, the more his attitude became
changed, until in the end he dropped the daggerwhich was in hishand, and
said, "I cannot harm you . Tell me, what isthat power in you that keepsme
from accomplishing the object which I had come to accomplish?" Omar
said, "My atonement with God . "

No doubt it is a religious term, but what is that atonement with God?

It is being in tunewith the infinite, in harmony with the whole universe . In
plain words, Omar was the receptacle of the musicof thewhole universe .
The great charm that the personalitiesof the holy ones have shown in all
ages has been their respondence to the music of the whole being . That has
been the secret why they have become the friends of theirworst enemies .
But it is not only the power of the holy ones . Thismanifestsin every person
to a greateror smaller degree . Every one shows harmony or inharmony, ac-
cording as he is open to the music of the universe . The more he is open to a l l
that is beautiful and harmonious, the more his life is tuned to that universal
harmony, the more he will show a friendly attitude to everyone he meets .
His very atmosphere wil I create music round about him .

The difference between the material and the spiritual point of view
isthatthe material point of view sees matter as the first thing, and from this
intelligence and beauty and all evolving afterwards . From the spiritual
point of view, we see the intelligence and beauty first, and from it come s

5 . Ibid. : 'when' instead of "in"

6 . Ibid. : 'day and night'
 19 7

all that exists . From a spiritual point of view, we see what one considers last
the same as first . And therefore in the essence of thiswhole being there is
music as its basis, as one can see that in the essence of the seed of the rose
there is the rose itself ; its fragrance, form and beauty, although in the seed
it is not manifest, but at the same time in essence it is there . And the one
who tunes himself, not only to the external, but to the inner being and to
the essence of al I things, he gets an insight into the essence of the whole
being, and therefore that fragrance and flowerwhich he sees in the rose, to
the same extent he can find and enjoy, even in the seed .

The great .errorof this age isthat activity has increased so much that
there is very I ittle margin left in one's everyday I ife for repose . And repose
is the secret of all contemplation and meditation ; the secret of getting in
tune with that aspect of I ifewhich isthe essence of all things . When one is
not accustomed to take repose, one does not knowwhat is behind his being .

This condition is experienced by first preparing the bodybypurifi-

cation, and the mind also by means of purification ; and by making the
senses finer, one is able totune one's soul with the whole being . It seems
complex, and yet it is so simple . When one is open toone's tried friend in
life, one knowsso much about him ; itisonly the opening of the heart ; it is
only atonement with one's friend . We know his faults and his merits . We
know how to experience and enjoy friendship . Where there is hatred and
prejudice and bitterness, there is loss of understanding . The deeper the per-
son, the more friends he has . It is smallness, narrowness, lack of spiritual
development which makes a person exclusive, distant and different from
others . Hefeelssuperior, greater and better than others . His friendly atti-
tude seems to have been lost . In that way he cuts himself apart from others
and in this I ies histragedy . That person is never happy .

The one who is happy, is he who is ready to be friends with al I . His

outlook on I ife is friendly . He is not only friendly to persons, but also to ob-
jects and conditions . It is by this attitude of friendship that man expands
and breaks those walls which keep him in prison, and by breaking these
walls, he experiences atonement with the absolute .

And this atonement with the absolute manifestsas theMusic of the

Spheres, and this he experiences on all sides . Beautiesof nature ; color of
flowers ; everything he sees; everyone he meets . In the hoursof contempla-
tion and solitude, and in the hours when he is in the midst of the world ;
always the music is there ; always he is enjoying its harmony .
198
A typescript of a lecwe from the legacy of I4xshida Martin,
handed down by Iris . Duce to Sirdar, and copied by Sakina. In a
separate annotation Sk . writes : 'dattful whether authentic."
Parts of the text do not seem to be Pir-o-tvlirshid's own wads .

May 3rd, 1923 .

The Coming World Relistion .

Beloved ones of God ,

Mysubject forthisevening is :TheComing World Religion . Inthisl

do not wish tomake a prophecy about what is coming, but I would l ike to
explain what is passing, how we stand in our religious quest today . This
showsfour different definitionsoftheword : religion, andmostof them call
their creeda religion . Many have considered their communitya religion ;
many consider their view a religion ; many consider a certain organisation,
a religiousorganisation,to be their religion . But in thepointof fact,reli-
g ion in the true sense of the word isthe right l iving, or in other words, the
natural life . Therefore in the ancient scriptures of the Hindus, Dharma
means"duty" ; religion is considered duty . Plainly speaking, thewayofliv-
ing, the mannerof living rightly is considered religion .

The Prophet of Islam has said that every soul has his own religion pe-
culiar to himself,and how true it is . People living in the same family, or
following the same church, believing in the same scripture, adhering to,
perhaps, the same teacher, and at the same time, in theirsacred ideals, in
theirwayof looking at things, intheirwayof Iiving, they are not the same,
they are different . There has never been any period when there existed i n

Documents : No original MS has been received by the archives to date.

Tp. (a typescript, apparently made from an incomplete reporting, handed dawn by lets . Duce to Sirdar, and
copied by Sakina. Sk . made a few corrections in the 'tp .) .
Sk .am. (some corrections in Sk .'s hwr. on a separate paper) .

It is not known if the words in parentheses were added by the person who transcribed the longhand or
shalhand reporting, or if Sk . added them.

This is the sixth and last Iectre an 'Spiritual Philosophy' given by Pir-o-Mrshid Inayat Khan on May 3rd
1923 in the Paul Elder Gallery in San Francisco, U .S .A . (Fa the program, issued by Paul Elder, see
Appendix A. )

An annotation made by Sk. with a view to the authenticity of the text of this lectire, reads [translated f ram
Dutch by the compiler]: 'We [Sirdar and Sak ina] have been able to compare some fragments received from
Mrs. Duce, with parts of lectires of which the original text is in as possession. It appeared that the ver-
sion of the lechre sent by tuts . Duce is a very poor rendering of the original text, in many places garbled
and distorted .'
 19 9

reality two reI igions, and there will never be, in the true sense of the word
"religion ."There has always been one religion and therewill always be the
same . Those who know many reI igions, they do not know the meaning of re-
Iigion . The one who realizes that one religion, he knows what religion
means, for he sees behind all different religions one religion . For instance,
those who say there are many gods, they do not know God . There cannot be
many gods, there can only be one Godl The Only Godl So there cannot be
many religions in spite of so many churches and scriptures, and the ideals
that the followers of different religions adhere to . To the wise one who
sees, there isone andthesame . It isthe lack of keensightwhich hasmade
man fight over the question of the differences of religion, and called such
fighting rel igiouswars, and considered it a great virtue to give his life in
such wars as rel ig ious wars .

Religion contains five different aspectswhen you look at it with an

analytical view . 1At ones aspect is the God ideal . Another aspect is the
teacher they adhere to . The third aspect is the scripture they consider the
Holy Scripture . The fourth aspect isthe law that istaught by a certain rel i-
gion . Andthe fifth aspect is the exaltation which the followersof thedif-
ferent religions experience in their own way considered a spiritual
(?ecstasy)2 .

Now coming to the question of law . There wasa time when religion
alone was education, and the law that governed the state among the
Hindus, among Arabs, among ancient Egyptians, and in all parts of the
world, it wasa religious law that governed . And people followed that law,
not only because3 the fear of the pol ice court and the court of justice, but
besides that, with the fear of God and His justice . But times changed and
conditions have made I ife different now . Now, in every nation, in every
country, there is a law of the state, founded to a great extent on those an-
cient principles, because the fundamental principles will be the same .
They may be differently interpreted, or differently put, but no nation or
state will be able to change entirely the fundamental principleswhich are
the religious principles .Only that the law which todaygoverns different
nations is not a religious law, it is cal led a law of the state .

Therefore there remain fourmore aspects of religion . The form of

exaltation for an instance . The people of different countries had a form
most suited to their life . There was a custom among the Moslems in Arabia to
make five times ablutions in the running water before they performed their
prayers . If the same thing was followed in Russia where it is cold, the y

Notes :

1 . Tp. : 5k . put "At' in parentheses and took "one" as the f irst ward of the sentence.
2. The ward "(?ecstasy)' may have been added by Sk ., as she put a question mark before it and put it in
parentheses .
3. Sk .ann. : 'of " added
200

would give up such a religion in two days . The form is most suited to the
people, to the country, to the need of the country . There is a certain form in
Indiawhich is suited to the Indians (Hindus) mostly . According to their cus-
tom of ancient times a form has been taught . People have given such a great
importance to different forms of worship that they have very often lost from
their view the important factor of worship which is behind worship, and
have usually held on the external form of the spirit and considered them-
selves separate from the words because of the external form .

It is not the form of worship, it is the'attitude in worship which is

counted . There is a story of an Arab during the time of the Prophet . He was
running to join the congregation when the Prophet was leading the prayer .
But he could not reach there in time, and on his way he met with people
coming back from the Mosque . He asked one of them if the prayer be over .
The man said "Yes, the Prophet was leading the prayer ."This man heaved a
deep sigh . Seeing this, the man whom he asked the question said : "Would
you liketoexchange withme theworshipping of prayer foryour sigh?"He
innocently, forthemoment, said"Yesl" and after hewent home he hearda
voice that night where the Prophet appeared . The Prophet -appeared to him
in a vision . "What a wrong thing you have done in exchanging your sigh
with one prayerwith thatman . Do you know what yoursigh wasworth? It
wasworth the whole of life . "

This shows that what one gets from worship, from prayer, it does not
depend upon the form, it depends upon the motive behind it . It depends
upon one's attitude . It depends upon the depth of feel ing, the devotion the
man has . Adhering to such outward forms, very often people make their
prayers quite formal . It becomes asocial affair . They go for achange,per-
haps, join together and wait there, and go through the whole form . And
when they goaway, it isnothing ; itwasjust apastime . And inspite of that
al I the differences that arise and the argumentswhich separate humanity,
people belonging to one religion different from the others have mostly dif-
ferences coming from the difference of the form of worship .

Kabir, the great poet of India has said that the Lord does not look at
(where?)4 you worship ; if He looks at anything it iswith what heart you wor-
ship . It is the depth of feeling, it is the right attitude in prayer that is
counted and not the external appearance of it . Al I different concentrations
and contemplations, different ways of meditations or prayers, they are all
practised with one principal motive . That principal motive isto dive deep
into the ocean of I ife, even fora few moments during the day after having
ived every moment of one's day in the external affairs of I ife . And how true
it is that the activity of today, if people are busy, each man in businessor in
some work orsomething, it becomessuch a strain on them, and if they have
a change in the way of a little pl ay, or a game, or a l ittle recreation of an y

4 . Ibid. : '(where or the way?)'

 20 1

kind, that does not suffice the purpose of their I ife . As for a clock winding is
necessary after some hours, so it is necessary for mankind to have a moment
of that concentration, a moment of deep meditation when he maybe able to
touch the depths of life and be touched by that depth, where there is divine
perfection that might help him in every way, physically, morally, mentally
and spiritually . The restlessness and impairment and the agitation we see
today in life, it all comesfromthe absence of that winding which isneces-
sary for that mechanism we cal I the body, heart and soul .

At the present moment the lack of this is working in some certain

way, bringing about a kind of restlessness in themultitude . But it will not
be very long when the effect of thiswi l I be felt in the physical constitution
of mankind, and then man wi l l see that it is most necessary that there should
be some form, some way by wh ich one could charge the depths of one's l ife
which is the real divine being .

And now coming to the question of the Scriptures . Most of the dis-
pute that exists even today isoverthe scriptures, the scriptureswhich have
been handed down for generations, and very often have been translated
and changed about in many ways . And from different teachers they have
come at such timeswhen there was no press, nor any way of keeping them in
type . There are some who make interpretation in one way and there are
otherswho interpret in another . But when you look at it, what is the Scrip-
tures?You will see the scripture isan interpretation of that reading, which
the seers and holy ones of al I ages have been able to read in I ife, the page
of the whole life around them, whether their own nature, human nature and
human race besides . This has been theirscripture . From this we know they
have read and learned, and what they have read and learned they have
tried their best to put into words in order to make it intelligible to man . Man
has not always been able to get it and keep it intact . Much has been lost . A
ittle has been retained, and the people have changed that besides . And the
difficulty has been that whenever a seer came, a great soul whowas able to
read in this living scriptureof life, if hewere totell thepeople theinter-
pretation, they always say"No, this does not agree with what is written in
our books which we know are sacred scriptures . "

They have kept the words of the scriptures as a k ind of cover around
themselves, keeping away everything, every interpretation or explanation
that a great one ever gave . Very often, therefore, the great seers of the
world had to take the scriptures in their hand, the scripture perhaps taken
by thousands as their holy scripture . They had to take it as an excuse of the
truth ; they had togive to humanity while leading the life . (living scrip-
ture)
202

If then the difficulties arose and owing to the differences of the

scripture5, so many divisions of religions arose ; and the human race has
been divided intoso many different religions owing to thedifferences of
the book . If a wise man reads the same book, when man's eyes are open,
when hisheart beginsto see, he sees nothing but the sacred scripture, the
whole I ife is a sacred scripture . He can read then the so-called scriptures of
al I different sects and rel igionswith a full knowledge because he is the one
who knows the right meaning of the scriptures .

And what has happened is that those who kept their authority on the
multitude, kept them undertheir influence by the power and the right over
a particle of scripture ; have kept humanity unaware of the I iving scripture
which is before them .

They have tried that mankind should sleep and may never read the
scripture which is before him, and kept his way only fixed to the few pages
they have given . So it is al l over the world, in the East, in the West, every-
where, even till now, until man has become so dead he is trying (to find) in
occult books, in magic books, some mystery somewhere, he is thirsting for
knowledge . If manwasgiven thekeyto open the truthsof life around him,
to open the pagesof nature's holy books and read from them, he would not
have had this (difficulty he has attained? )

For it is not an ordinary mind which can write a scripture . The scrip-
tures which have been given in ancient times have been given by those
whose whol a lives have been tuned to that high pitch where they cou l d see
and read the life ; it gives their interpretation . When man is deprived of its
meaning today and cannot find (it) in ordinary?writing, he becomesboast-
ful . He has nowhere to see and read the truth for truth . For truth is h idden in
the l ife which is before us and it can be read by rising to that stage, bybe-
ing tuned to that pitch where the eyes of the heart are open6 and when he
begins to read it, he sees the scriptures and begins to understand its right
meaning .

And now coming to the ideal teacher . What generally has happened
is that one has remained the ideal . He has called himself the Alpha and
Omega, (man has) limited him to a certain time and not recognized him,
that he I ived even before, that he wi I I I ive after . In point of fact there is a
factor in every individual which one cal Is mind, a factorwhere every ex-
perience one makes, everything one lives is collected, ispreserved, and
yet it is not a mach i ne .

It is a creative factorwhich creates . Imagination, thought, music,

poetry, invention, al l come from this . A factorwhich is not only not a ma-
chine butwhich isa creativefactor, an intelligent factor,a factorwhich

5. Tp. : Sk . added a phial 's '

6. Sk .am a semi-colon after "open'
 203

wisdom will understand . And it isthis which isthe principal factor which
maybe called personality in the body .

Asthere is in every individual that factor, there isa collective fac-

tor also . Therefore the definition of Buddha, from which word the word
Boddhisatva came, it isthe name of that collective factor . In other words
that Universal mind, the mind which has grasped the knowledge from the
dawn of creation . Not only the knowledge that every mind collects, but the
knowledge which comes from the plants, from the trees, from animal, from
bird, from all aspectsof life are collected in that collective factor . It is
that factor which is called by the Buddhists"Boddhisatva" and by themas-
ters, the moon orthe light, or the spirit of guidance . And it isthis which
Christ mentioned as the Alpha and Omega, and with which he identified
himself, being at-one-ment, reflecting that perfect mind, that divine mind .

People have argued and discussed over it . Some have made out of
man divine, some have made divine man . In point of fact man is divine, and
in this "divine man ." All the arguments come from the lack of understand-
ing, andwhat is it caused by? It iscaused by words . Those who learn from
(inner learning?) they do not differ . Thosewho learn by words differ, be-
cause it is impossible for every person to make the same by each word he
knows .

Each one has his own meaning and when it comes to subtle ideals and
philosophy, words do not seem to be able to accommodate, to explain them
properly .

Very often we cal I the. wise man clever and the cleverone wise .
Very often we confuse between the words mind and spirit . Very often we
confuse intelligence and intellect . We call intelligent "intellectual" and
intellect "intelligence ."To givea proper meaningto theword, everyone
must have hisown dictionary . But in the first place he must know himself
the mean ing of different words, and that, life alone can teach .

If anybody were to say that Brahma the great god of the H induswas
the same asAbraham, the great patriarch of the Beni Israel, people wi l l not
believe . And each one has his ideal and that ideal becomes so dear to h im
and he exhibits that ideal, and he takes that ideal with his imagination and
makes it so that no other ideal can ever be produced upon the earth equal to
that .

That is why it has always been so difficult for the prophets and seers
to . . . . . They came as the crescent and those thinking of a full moon said
"This is not the man we have seen him before ." Those thinking (of) a full
moon have said : "This is not the man . We have seen him full ." If they only
knew thenature of the moonwas tobegin asa crescent . In spiteof all the
prophets that existed in the Bible and in spite of the prophets that existed in
the Hindu Purana's all the great ones had the greatest difficulty because
204

those who were waiting for them, instead of preparing for them denied
them, and clung to the traditions of the past .

And now coming to the idea, which is the principal idea which
makes religion, (which) isthe God ideal . Today there are so many various
thoughts upon which people differ . Some think they sympathise with
Monism, others say they believe in Pantheism, others call something
Hinduism . But whether it is oneGod or there are many gods, it isthe God
ideal . Call it Monism, call it Pantheism, that is where man differs . In the
right God ideal there cannot be a difference . Those who speak about have-
ea ed-- many gods, they ace•-meaat- mean as-n a .r --gods one God ; they are-
mea+at- say gods, they afe-mead mean ore God . It is Iack of understanding .
As I havesaid, it is the words that make people fight and founder over One
God and many gods . But there has never been a rel ig ion of many gods (that)
it did not make people believe only in various aspects, of one being, one
ideal .

Gods in the plural were taught in order to bring all the aspects
which aretobe seen in thefinite intothe infinite .Of coursethere isvery
often great difference 7but asHafiz has said"If you say there isone God,
you are right, but if you say there are two Gods, you are right, and if you say
there are three Gods, you are right ." For the nature of I ife is such . What does
it mean? It means if you see three aspects it is three aspects, if you see one
aspect, it is one aspect, there in the Trinity . It was the misunderstanding on
the part of those who did not understand the meaning of trinity . In point of
fact, trinity was the (means) for man to understand unity . And when one
does not understand the truth, it is not the fault of truth, it is the fault of
understanding . There are three different aspects . The one who sees, (the
seeing, and the seen) .

These three aspects make one life and it isthis varietyof three as-
pects which makes life intelligible to us, and is summed up in Unity, in
oneness that all these threeaspects aremaking it intelligible tous . But in
point of fact these three are one . There has been great dispute among
people by calling God separate from His manifestation . We have consid-
ered God as all . But it is the way it is explained to people . When they are
told by a seer that al l thiswhich isbefore us is an illusion, if there isany-
thing that exists, it is thatwhich isnot intelligible to us, which isbeyond
our comprehension, and that is God . The one who said it hassaid right . But
the one who has listened has divided God from his manifestation . In the
same way as one woul d divide man from h is body . It is true that man is not
his body and at the same time it is man's body, it is man just the same .

The reason we have read the knowledge of Advaita which means the
oneness, the opposite of duality, they are ready to point that they dispute
and quest ion the personality of God and some even come to such a point i n

Ibid.: a comma after "cif f efence"

 20 5

life that they are not ready to believe in such a God who has a personality .
But at the same time, if you ask them if you area thing or a being, he wi
certainly say "I am a being ." Hewil I not admit for one moment he isa thing .
If a bubble can say, "I am a being" hasthat bubble the right to say the ocean
is a thing?No doubt the personality of the bubble is nowhere to be compared
with the personal ity of the ocean . There is no comparison, but at the same
time, the bubble which is a particle of ocean, if that bubble can claim
personality, then would it be unjust to Iet the ocean claim personality? In
point of fact, the personal ity8 is the real personality when comparedwith
the bubblewhich i n a moment will dissolve . And very often people, when
they advance i n philosophy, they hesitate to bow to their friends ; they must
not bow to anybody, not even greet their friends . Is there anyone who can
say "l am independent of this perfect Iife which is around me, upon which
every moment of I ife depends"? He depends upon the air to breathe, he de-
pends upon the water to make him live, upon every grain for sustenance,
upon the earth to have a body .

When life is such, how can one say "I cannot bow ." But the question
is "Who deserves every bow ." It is the One who isAll in Al I . It is He Who is
perfect, Who is the perfection of aI I, the One Who is the perfection of aI
love, the perfection of al I Beauty . Who is the source and the goal of al
things, from Whom we aI I come and to Whom we aI I return . It is to Him there
should be the bow of every soul . Poor or rich, wise or foolish, whatever be
the rank or position of the person, to Him the bow of every person is due .
When a person refuses to give his bow, he is Iost .

8. Ibid . : 'ocean' instead of 'personality'

206

A typescript of a lecture handed dawn by Mrs . Prebble (a pupil

of Murshida Martin's) to Martha Burk, and inherited from the latter
by Miss Hayat Stadlinger, an American mireed, initiated in
Suresnes in 1926, who passed R on to the Biographical Depart-
ment in Siresnes .

Far d-ud-s! i rnAtta r .

Beloved ones of God : 2

'lam to speak today on the subject of Attar, and of h iswork .3 Farid-

ud-din Attar is one of the most ancient poets of Persia, and it is no exaggera-
tion to say that the work of Attar has been the inspiration of Rumi and of
many spiritual souls and many poets of Persia . He has pointed out the way to
theultimate aimof life, bymaking4a sortof4picture inapoetic form, and
almost al I the great teachers of the world, if ever they have been able to
show the right way to seeking souls, always have had to adopt a symbolical
form of expression, in the form of the story or legend, that might give the
key to one who is to know, and might interest the one who is not yet ready,
and therefore both may rejoice, the sleeping one, and the one awakened .

And this example has been followed by the poets of Persia and India,
and especially the Hindustani poets, and they have made theirstory in such
form that it would be acceptable, not only to the seekers after truth, but
also to those in all different stagesof evolution .

Documents : No original MS has been received by the archives to date .

Tp.: (a typescript received f rom Mi s s Hayat Stadl inger in 1983) .

Hq.st: (a copy of the "tp ." with a few alterations, made at Headquarters, Geneva, where the lecture was
made into a Social Gatheka) .
Hq.t: (a typewritten copy of the 'Hq.st", nearly identical to the "Hq .st' ) .
Tp.c.: (a typewritten copy of the ' Hq .st' with several dii f f erences ) .

A Dutch translation of the lecture has been published in the magaz ine De Soefi Gedachte of 1952, nrs . 1
and 2.

The lecture was published in The Sufi Message of Haz rat Inayat Khan, Volume X (1964 ), Sufi Poetry,
chapter IV.

It is the last lecture in a series of six IectLres on "Sufi Poets,* given by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan on May
8th, 1923, in the Paul Elder Gallery, San Francisco, U .S.A. (Fa the program issued by Paul Elder, see
Appendix A. )

Notes :

1. Hq.st, hq .t., tp .c . : added "Social Gatheka Number 30" and the invoca tion: "Toward the One, . . ."
2. Ibid.: omitted " Beloved ones of God: "
3. Ibid. : the f gist sentence was omitted.
4. Tp.c.:'ashat instead of 'a sort of'
 20 7

Attar's best known work is called "The Bird of the Sky,"5 from which
we have taken the idea of the "Blue Bird," and very few have understood the
idea of the Blue Bird, or the "Bird of the Sky ." It is a very ancient teaching,
through the use of the Persian word "sky ." This points out that every soul has
a capacitywhich maybe called the sky, and this capacity can accommo-
datethe world or the Heaven, whatever it would partake of and hold in it-
self .

When one wa I ks in the crowd, what does one see? One sees numerous
faces . I cal I them various attitudes . All that you see in individuals, all that
stands before you, has expression, has atmosphere, has form . If you cal I it
by one name, it is the attitude ; the attitude they have towards I if e, right or
wrong, good or bad, whatever attitude they have, they are themselves that
attitude . Does it not show how appropriate is the sky, which means what-
ever you call it, whatever you may think it? Plainly speaking, whatever
one makes of oneself, one becomes that . Asource of happiness, or unhappi-
ness, all is in man himself . When he is unaware of this, then he is not able to
arrange his I ife, and as he becomes more acquainted with this secret, he
gains a mastery, and it is the process with which this mastery is attained,
which istheonlyfulfilmentof this life . It is that processwhich is explained
by Attar in hiswork of "The Seven Valleys" through which this "Bird of the
Sky" had passed .

The first valley is that of the quest . How true it isthat every child is
born with the tendency to search, to know . What we call inquisitiveness or
curiosity, it is born in them, and it representsthat inner feeling of quest .
Thisshows us that man is born with this, and he cannot be satisfied unless he
has arrived at that satisfaction which means searching for that6 knowledge
which he wishes to have .

No doubt, what preventsman from gaining that knowledge which his

soul is reallysearching for, ishimself . It ishis small self always standing
against him, keeping him from the search of the only thing which is the
seeking of every soul . And therefore it may be safe to say that there is no
one in thisworldwho isaworse enemy of man, than himself .

In this search one thinks that one must perhaps find out from
science, or from art, something which is behind it,andwhetherthroughma-
terialquest orspiritual, in the endone will arrive, andonemust arrive, to
that goal, which is the goal of everyone . The scientists and engineers,
people who are absorbed in making a search of material things and never
think of spiritual things, even they, after making a great deal of search ,

5. In The Sufi Message of Haz rat Inayat Khan ( see above ), " The Bid of **Sky* has been replaced
with "Mantiq -ut- Tayr, or the Colloquy of the Bids" .
6 . Tp.c. : " dhe" instead of "that"
208

they arrive very nearto thesame knowledgewhich isthe ultimate knowl-

edge, and therefore whatever a man may seem to us, materialist, atheist or
agnostic, we cannot cal I him so, because in the end his goal is the same, his
attainment is the same, if he really reaches the depth of knowledge, if he
goes far enough . Whatever his search he wi I I come to the same goal .

And when one hassearched enough and found something satisfac-

tory, still he cannot enjoy that satisfaction unless there is one faculty
open, and that isthe faculty of love and devotion . Do we not see in our
everyday l ife, that people of great intellect andwide interests, very often
seem to miss something? When it happens to be a couple where one isvery
intellectual, the other may feel there is something lacking to make their
lives complete, may feel that intellect alone is not enough . What is it? It is
the heart which balances I ife, and the absence of which keeps l ife dry . It is
just l ike the positive and negative forces . Knowledge and heart . It isthese
two things which make I ife balanced . if heart quality isvery strong and in-
tel lect lacking, then also l ife lacks balance . Knowledge and heart qual ity
must be developed in balance .

And therefore, according toAttar, that faculty of devotion or qual-

ity of heart, isthe Second Valley ; and the Third Valley isthat knowledge
which illuminates, which comes by the help of the love element and the in-
tellect . It is that knowledge which is called spiritual knowledge .

Without the love quality developed, is man incapable of having

that knowledge? I wi I I answer, yes. There are fine I ights and shades in one's
life which cannot be perceived and understood fully without having
touched the deeper side of life, which is the devotional side . The person
who has not in his life beenwholly grateful, he cannot knowwhat it is . He
who has not experienced in l ife, humbleness, he does not know its beauty .
The one who has not known gentleness, modesty, he cannot appreciate its
beauty or recognize it .

No doubt, a person of fine qualities is often ridiculed, if he happens

to be in a placewhere itisnot understood, where itisa foreign language .
This shows there is a fineness in life for which intellect alone is not
sufficient . The heart quality must become open .

Avery intellectual man went to jami and asked h im to take h im as

his pupil and give him initiation . Jami looked at him and said, "Have you
loved anybody?" Thisman said, "No, I have not loved ." Then Jami said, "Go,
and love first, then come tome and I wi l I show you the way . "

Love has its time in everystage of l ife . Asa child, as a youth, asa
grown-up person, and whatever stage of life one has reached, love is al-
ways asked for and love has always its part to perform ; whatever situation
 20 9

you are placed in, among friends or foes, among those who understand you,
and those who do not, in ease and in difficulty, mall places, at all times, it
has its part to perform . And when one thinks, "I must not let the principle of
love have its way, I must close myself against it," he imprisons hissouI .

There is only one thing in the world, and that is pure unselfish love,
which shows the sign of Heaven, which shows the divine sign, which gives
the proof of God . For al I the noble qual itieswhich are hidden in the soul,
will spring forth and come to bloom when love helps them and nurtures
them . Man may have a great good in him and he may be very intel I igent, but
as long as his heart is closed, he cannot show that nobleness, that goodness,
which is hidden in his heart, and the psychologyof the heart issuch that
once one7 beginsto know the heart, I ife is a continual phenomenon ; every
moment of life becomesa miracle ; it throwsa searchlight upon human na-
ture and all things become so clear to him that he does not ask for any
greater phenomenon or miracle ; it is a miracle in itself . What they call
telepathy, thought-reading or clairvoyance, all these things come by
themselves, where the heart is open .

If anyone is cold and stiff, he feels within himself as if he were in a

grave ; he is not I iving ; he cannot enjoy this I ife for he cannot express him-
se l f ; he cannot seethe I ight and life outside ; he is in his grave . And what
keeps man back from8 development of heart quaI ity? His exacting attitude .
He wants to make a business of love . He says, "if you wi l I love me I wi l l love
you ." As soon as man exacts and measures and weighs his favors, his services
and al I that he does for one whom he loves, he does not know love .

Love sees the Beloved and nothing else . As Rumi says, "Whether you
love a human being or you love God, there wi I I come a day when al I lovers,
either of man or of God, wi I I be brought before the throne of Love and the
presence of that only Beloved will reign there ." What does this show? In
loving ourfriend, in loving our neighbor, even in the love that one shows to
one's enemy, one only loves God . And the one who says, "I love God, but I
cannot love man," he does not love God ; he cannot . It is I ike saying, "I love
you very much, but I do not I ike to look at your face . "

Arid afterthis Third Val ley, where the knowledge of human nature
and of the fine feelings which are called virtues, is attained, the next step
is what iscalled in the English language "annihilation ."But what we call
destruction or annihilation is nothing but change . Neither substance nor
form nor spirit, nothing, is absolutely destroyed ; it is only changed . But
man does not I ike sometimes9 to change . He does not know that he cannot

7 . Hq.st. : "one" omitted;

Hq .t.: "man" instead of "one "
8 . Hq .st., tp.c. : "(ar" instead of "from"
9 . Tp.c. : " something" instead of 'sometimes"
21 0
live without change . He does not like it, but he cannot live without it .
There is not one single moment of our life that change does not come ;
whetherwe10 accept it or not, the change is there . Destruction or annihi la-
tion or death might seem a very different change, and yet there are a thou-
sand deaths that we die . Every disappointment ; the moment when our heart
breaks, it isworse than death . Often our experiences through I ife are worse
than death, yet we go through them . At the moment they seem unbearable ;
we think we cannot stand it, and yet we live . If after dying a thousand
deaths, we still live, there is nothing in the world to be afraid of . It is man's
delusion ; his own imagination ; he makes it dreadful to himself . Can anyone
kill life? if there is any death, it is for death ; lifewill not die . Toa Sufi
some one went with a question ; he said, "I have been puzzling for many,
many years and reading in books and have not been able to fi nd a def in ite
answer, tel l me, what happensafter death?"The Sufi said, "Please ask that
question of someone who is going to die . I am going to live . "

The principle isthatthere isonesky, which isyour own being . It is

ike the sky . In otherwords, you cal I it accommodation . And who has taken
possession of this accommodation? A deluded ego which says, "I ." It is de-
ludedby this body and mind and has called itself "individual .* Whenaman
.has a ragged" coat he says, "I am poor ." In realty his coat is poor, not he .
What this capacity contains, that becomes his knowledge, his realization ;
and that I imits him ; forms that I imitation which is the tragedy of every soul .

Now, this capacity eithermay be filled with self or may be filled

with God . There isonly place for one . Eitherwe live with our limitation, or
let God reign there in Hisunlimited being . In other words, we take away
the homewhich alwaysbelonged tosomeone else and fill it with delusion
and call it our own, and not only call it our own but call it ourself . That is
man's delusion, and al l rel igious12and philosophical teachings are given to
rid man of this delusion, which deprives him of hisspiritual wealth . Spiri-
tual wealth is the greatest wealth, spiritual happinessthe only happiness ;
there is no other happiness .

Once a person is able to disillusion himself, he arrives at the stage

described in the Fourth Valley, the Valley of Non-Attachment, and he is
afraid . He thinks, "How can I give my hometo someone else, even if it is
God?" "This is my body, my mind, my home, my individuality . How can I
give it away, even to God? "

But in reality, it is not something he can rely upon . It is delusion

from top to toe, and subject to destruction : Does anything stand above de-
struction?Nothing . Then why fear to think for the moment that it is nothing .
That natural fear of man comes because he is unaccustomed to face reality .

10. Hq.st., hq.L, tp .c . : "you" instead of "we"

11 . Tp.c . : "tagged" instead of "ragged"
12. Ibid. : 'religions'
 21 1
He is so used to dreams, that he is afraid of reality . There is a fear in the
minds of people of losing themselves, but they do not know that it is not los-
ing one's self . It is losing illusion . 13And really, they will find themselves
when they lose this illusion .13 In this illusion, one has lost one'ssoul, and
the process is to come out of it, to rise above it .

When the Fifth Val ley, the Val I ey of Unity, is reached, by that time
one has disillusioned one's self, and it is that act which is called in the
Bible "Rebirth," when the soul has become disillusioned . It is the birth of
the soul . There is the birth of the body and the bi rth of the soul . And how
does this birth of the soul express itself? What does one feel? It first ex-
presses itself in a kind of bewilderment with great joy . His interest in l ife is
increased, al l that he sees, he enjoys . He concerns himself I ittle, but won-
ders at all things . The bewilderment is such that it is awonderful amuse-
ment to look at life . The whole world becomesto him a kindof stage, full of
players . He then begins to amuse himself with the people of this world, as
one mightplaywith children and yet not be concerned with what they do,
for he expects no better . If children do something different from the par-
ents, they14 are not much concerned ; they know it is the stage of the ch i ld's
life and one cannot expect any better of them . So with this man . L ikes and
dislikes, favor and disfavor, they interest him, but do not concern him .

And there is another stage . This bewilderment bringshim to see the

someone reflected who has taken possession of his heart . To see his Beloved
in everyone, even in his enemy .

The Beloved is seen in al l things . The bowl of poison given by the

Beloved is not so bitter . Those who have sacrif iced themselves and suffered
for humanity, such as Christ, they have given to the world an example show-
inga soul that has reached the stage where even the enemy appears before
the eyes of the God-conscious, as friend, as his Beloved . And it is not an un-
attainable stage, because thesoul is madeof love, it isgoing towardsthe
perfection of love . All the virtues man has learned, love has taught him .
Therefore thisworld of good and bad ; thorns and flowers; becomes15 noth-
ing but a place of splendor .

The Sixth Val ley, the Valley of Amazement,' is the val ley where he
recognizes and understandswhat is behind things ; the reason of all reasons,
the cause of all causes . For all intuition and power develop in man with the
unfoldment .

13 . Ibid. : omitted the sentence And really ... this illusion. '
14 . Ibid. : 'the parents' instead of 'they' . This same change was made by Miss Stadlirger in the 'p .' .
15. Hq .st., hq .t., Ip.c. : 'becone' . In the "hq.L' Sk. added an 's' to 'become' .
212
And the Seventh Val ley, the Valley of Real izat ion of God, is that
peace which every soul is looking for . Whether the spiritual or the ma-
terial, seeking from morning until16 night for something which will give
him peace . To some souls, that peace comes when asleep . But for the God-
conscious, that peace becomes his home . No sooner 17has he17 closed his
eyes, no sooner 17hashe17 relaxed his body and stilled his mind, and lost
from his consciousness the limited, (than)18 he begins to float in the un-
imited spheres .

16. Tp.c.: 'till" instead of 'until'

17. Hq.st, hq .t, tp .c . : " he has'
18. Ibid.: "( than) ' omitted
 21 3
From one of Pir-o-MLrshid Inayat Khan's notebooks .

When my prayers arose as burning incense and entered into the sky ,
In the heavens they aI I went in ecstasy , the angeIs were moved to cry .
The good God woke up from His deep slumber , and said :
wi I I grant aI I you ask .
Touching my head most humbly did I say : easy m . . . .

My prayers arose as burning incense, and entered into the sky .

In the heavens they aI I had an ecstasy, the angeIswere moved to cry .
The Lord awoke from His deep slumber and said : I wi l l grant al l you ask .
Humbly touching my head to the ground, I said : God, make easy my task .

Written in Pir-o-Mirshiid's handwriting, Spring 1923, California,

on a photograph, where he is standing under a triiurphal arch.

My prayers arose as burning incense ,

and entered into the sky .
In heaven they al I had great extacyl ,
the angelswere moved to cry .
The Lord awoke from His deep slumber ,
and said : "1 wil I grant al I you ask .
Humbly touching my head to the ground ,
I said : "God make easy my task . "

Note:

1 . An obsolete f orm of "ecstasy"

 21 5

A record of a press interview in America , as written down by Pir-

o-Akrshid Inayat Khan in one of his notebooks . 1

Representatives of the press .

Q . Is Suf ism akin to Islam, which was spread with sword ?

A . Nothing till now has been taught without a sword . While enemy's
sword taught you to be on your guard, Isl am's sword has Gaut ioned for
hereafter .

Q . Do youbelieve in Christ4"'sprinciple togive othersideof the face

if on one side you are slapped, or you prefer Mohomad's principle,
strike for a strike ?

A . We use bothwisely : wewould giveotherside of the face if that could

impfeve--ewbe beneficial forboth, otherwise wewould strike for a
strike in case the strike be beneficial fec .

Q . TowhichreligionorphilosophytheSufismiscloser ?

A . Sufism being the extract of all, it is +~ot .pa is aff~e~ose~to one asad
one in the essence of all religionsand philosophies .

Q . Do you feel the sceptical and critical views of your audience when
on the platform ?

A . I feel, but do not let them work on myself .

Notes :

1 . The language of the questions as well as of the answers is Pir-o-Mvshid Inayat Khan's of early 1923,
which gives the date 'Spring 1923', when he was travelling in the United States . Some of the responses
show that Pir-o-Mrshid had been in America for some time already .
216

Q . DoyoubeIieve in ghosts and such other superstitions ?

A . There is nothing that I do not believe, and nothing that I believe not
understanding it .

Q . How do- yeti ffk.e our Western country looks toyou in comparison of
yours?

A . When.Yours looks l ike a simple moving picture, aedwhile ours looks

tome 1 ike the cinema . 2

Q . How do you I ike your visit toour country ?

A . I like it very much . To an appreciative vis+toc- view everywhere

beauty manifests to admire, while to the critical .vtofview 3 spots
in everything show that he may criticise .

Q . Have you a good response from our people ?

A . I should say so, it is quite natural, as both East and West have at-
traction of each other .

Q . What do you think about ourmodern civilization ?

A. Everything is for the good, but I must say that it is not yet well bal-
anced .

Q . What isthe condition of India at present ?

A. Amate#+af practical awakening .

Q . What its result will be ?

A. Al I for the betterment .

Q . Don't you w c*w i sh that India should be freed ?

A . I have resigned my wishes to the will of Allah .

2. 'a simple moving piichre' may indicate a small device (ki ntoscope) fcr individual viewing, whereas
'cinema' would indicate a projected pichre .
3. one illegble ward in Pi-o-t trsh'kd's hardwrit'wg, aaossed out by him
 21 7

Q . Don't you feel homesick?

A . Everywhere k.my- hen e-l feel at home .

Q . Why you have taken th is trip ?

A . To see ( the world ) and to show ( through music the path of God) .

Q . When wi I I you go back?

A . When satisfied .

Q . To•wor -a-ai-aft+st It is not becoming fora pastor of your position to

work as an artist .

A . My art is itself my reI igion, and my pos4t reputation I ies in being re-
gardless of ( pfay+eg pe4wm4A g- playing in the Palace or a cafe, al
places are equal ly se+tabfe• good for my- FawAc- me as long as I amp I ay-
ing for my own self and Rot-4ef-others for none other .) the higher or
lower places that-t maybe -p ay+ ng, as long as I perform before the
Must High .

Q . Do ou-ea egetabfe-Are you a vegetarian ?

A . I take food which maybe necessary forthe time . Sometimes I iquid,

sometimes vegetable food, sometimes meat, and sometimes I fast .

Q . Why our people are backward in esoteric I ines ?

A . Because they lack in faith and renunciation .

Q . Why your people are backward in the modern civilization?

A . Because of their negligence and dependence .

 21 9

Introduction to Gita Dhyan a

The five series of ten papers each known as Gita Dhyaria have a
complex and uncertain history which requires considerable explanation .
Unfortunately, there remain a number of unanswered questions which must
await the uncovering of more evidence before a convincing account can
be given . Much of what follows isof necessity conjectural .

When Pir-o-Murshidlnayat Khan was in San Francisco in the spring

of 1923, he gave many public lectures, of which the surviving texts are
given in this volume . But, of course, he also gave private classes for the
mureeds initiatedon his behalf by Murshida Martin,who hadso anxiously
awaited his return after an absence of twelve years . Some of these classes,
probably those for the more advanced mureeds, are the apparent origin of
Gita Dhyana . Someone, perhaps Murshida Martin herself, perhaps Samuel
Lewis, who belonged to that circle, must have taken down what Pir-o-
Murshid said on these occasions (it is not known whether anyone there knew
shorthand), and from these notes new sets of papers were created .

These were modelled on the series of "lessons," later cal led "g ithas,"
worked out in London by Sharifa Goodenough in 1917-1920 . In these series,
the teaching on a particular subject is normal ly divided into ten shortpa-
pers, designed to be read aloud to mureeds at the classes .

The GitaDhyana, in the state in which it hascome down to us, re-

flects different degreesof editing . Some of the papers remain very close to
what Pir-o-Murshid might have said ; others add words, phrases and even
whole paragraphs exhibiting a mode of speech or line of thought quite dif-
ferent from the Pir-o-Murshid's . It may be that in some cases the material
from the classes did not suffice to make up a series of ten papers, so other
materials may have been added to f i l l out those series .

This collection has become known in Europe mainly through the

agency of Sirdar vanTuyll, who received it from the legacy of Murshida
Martin . Sirdar'swife, Saida, wrote in 1966 :

Although Sirdar at one time considered these series of

GITHA DHYANAas not authentic, later on, after Sirdar had
passed away, many questions asked by other mureeds who
owned parts of them (in German) caused Saida to read those
she had in Engl ish once more . She gave them also to Sakina
to read again, whereupon both came to the conclusion that
these series GITHADHYANAmust beforthe greaterpart Pir-
o-Murshid Inayat Khan's own words, only taken down by
220
Murshida Martin, who worked them out and rendered them in
places in her own words . The underlined parts (words,
phrases and sentences) in these three series contain expres-
sionswe never heard Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan use . . . .

After a very careful study of the papers, the present compiler con-
cluded that in a few cases underlined words were in fact most I ikely to have
been used by Pir-o-Murshid InayatKhan himself, whereas quite afew pas-
sages not underlined actually represent additions to what was sa id by h im .
Therefore, instead of here reproducing the under) inings of the old copies,
all words now considered not to have been spoken by Pir-o-Murshid are put
in italics, whether substitutions (of words or phrases) or additions (of sen-
tences or paragraphsor more) . These changes would appear to have been
made byMurshida Martin, or, in many cases, by her pupil Samuel Lewis . The
italicized material has not been indexed, and is included here forthe sake
of completenessof the Gitas as they exist in the archives . Editing and styl is-
tic adjustment must, quite clearly, also be assumed for the "authentic"
passages .

Certain peculiaritiesof the texts have been retained here, such as

the extensive but inconsistent capitalization and the indication of certain
important words by leaving spaces between the letters . Those famiI iarwith
the teachings of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan wi I I perhaps be surprised to find
the name "Allah" used so often for God, or the word "tal ib" for the mureed,
and a much greater than average frequency of other Arabic words . Murshida
Martin was Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan's first initiate inthe West, and the
teaching he gave her in 1911, not long after he had left India, made much
use of traditional Sufi terminology, which of course continued in use in her
centre . It may be that returning aftertwelve years, Pir-o-Murshid Inayat
Khan was prompted by the established usage in that centre to take up this
earlier terminology, even though he by that time had gradually been giv-
ing up the use of non-Western terms in his lectures in Europe .

Aparticularly vexing problem arises with respect to the numbering

of the papers . in the case of both Series I and Series 11, we have not one set
of Gita Dhyana, but two . These papers in most cases are not, however, two
versions of the same tal k, but distinct treatments of related subject matter .
In most cases, both sets appearto contain substantially thewords ofPir-o-
Murshid Inayat Khan himself . There is no satisfactory explanation for the
existence of these parallel sets . It might be that the second set in each case
was drawn up from answers to questions asked at the end of the talks repre-
sented in the first set, as it wasPir-o-Murshid'shabit to entertain questions,
and no other record of his possible answers has come down to us . Thiswould
explain the closeness of subject matter, but does not really explain why the
papers should have been presented as though they were separate lectures .
 22 1

In order to keep these parallel sets distinguishable, the compiler

has added a bracketed A after the Arabic numeral identifying each paper o f
the second set . Thus we have :

Series I, Number 1 and Series 1, Number 1 [Al

and so on to the end of Series 1, an d

Series 11, Number 1 and Series 11, Number 1 [A]

and so on to the end of Series 11 .

Series I, Numbers 1-1 0

These papers are in the archives in the form of carefully prepared

copies made under Sak ma Furn~e's supervision, typed by her secretary, Mrs .
E . von Derschau, and checked by Sirdar's secretary, Miss An Spirlet . They
were made from originals in Sirdar'scollection which cannot presently be
located . Al l of this appl ies aswel l to Series 11, Numbers 1-10 and Series I l 1,
Numbers 1-10 .

Series 1, 1 [A]- 10[A]

In the archivesof the Biographical Department, these papers exist

in the form of a photocopy of an old typescript (o .t .) in a small type .
Nothing is known about the location of the original from which thisphoto-
copy was made .

Series II, 1-1 0

These papers are again known in the typewritten copy prepared un-
der Sakina'ssupervision (see Series I, 1-10), of which the originals have yet
to be found .

Series 11, 1 [A] - 10 [A]

These papers are known in two copies, one in photocopy from f i les
of papers used by Samuel Lewis in San Francisco (S .L .), the other a photo-
copy of a stencilled set in Sirdar's files in The Hague (o .t .) . There also
exists a German translation of thisset, apparently made quite early . Mrs .
Laura Hoeber, an American mureed belonging to the San Francisco centre,
went to the Summer School in Suresnes in 1923, and stayed in Europe to
work for the Sufi Message (cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
London : East-West, 1979, p . 514) . In 1924, Pir-o-Murshid gave her charge
over the centre in Munich, Germany, and she may have wished to useGita
Dhyana in her work there, sent for a copy toMurshida Martin, and trans-
lated the papers . (Mrs . Hoeber may have been of German origin .) This is one
possibility to explain the connection between these classes given in
America and this early, I iteral German translation . Both the "o .t ." and this
German translation are designated as"Series III" ; however, "S . L ." isdesig-
22 2

nated as "Series I I," and the closeness in subject matter to the other known
set of Series II makes it clear that that is correct . The German translation
appears to be closer to "S . L ." than to "o .t .," and for this and other reasonswe
have taken "S . L ." as the basic text here .

Series 111, Numbers 1-1 0

This series exists in only one set, the carefully typed copy su-
pervised by Sakina Furnee, (see Series I, 1-10) made from a copy originally
in Sirdar'scollection inThe Haguewhich can no longerbe located .
 22 3
A copy made under Sakina's supervision of an old typescript in
the farm of a Gita, from the legacy of Mushida Martin.

Series I . GITHA Number 1.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with all the illuminated Souls who form the embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

Meditation isthe name given to the process of the stilling of mind

which is most important in spiritual development . Without thisstilling of
mind, the Divine Spirit does not manifest in thepersonality, for otherwise
one is held in the sway of the ego . Both quieting of mind and body and the
soothing of the emotions are necessary if one desiresto become a master-
mind, which istosay, if one wishes to avoid the jarring disturbances of life
which disturb most people .

In order to meditate attention is f i rst given to the body, to see that it

is relaxed, yet comfortable . Sitting in too soft a chair may make one too
drowsy while too hard a chairmay make one uneasy . Amoderate degree of
composure is desirable whether one is seated or in posture . The room should
be neither too hot nor too cold, and it is generally best if one is not too hun-
gry, although meditation after a full meal is not so easy nor always so
advantageous .

One should learn to breathe rhythmically and to refine the breath

by the process cal led SAFA . In this respect the Sufi meditation differs from
that of the Buddhists for the Suf is use the names of God, which is to say the
ninety-nine names or attributes offered in Qur'an, or repeat some sacred
phrase or Darood which helps to refine the breath . The refinement of breath
is a balm to the body and also a chain upon the nufs which seeks refuge in
the mind as the body is brought into control .

The doors of the senses should be held closed ; shutting the eyes
partly or entirely is beneficial . The room should not be too brightly lit nor
too dark, but it is byself-control that one must shut out other disturbances .
Nevertheless, especially for the beginning a quiet place is desirable and
sound-proof rooms may be used .

Rhythmic breath holds the mind in place also . Keeping the thought
of God before one refines the breath : Sufis practise esotericism mostly ,

Docurneit: 0.1 See introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

22 4

which has the same general effect assilent meditation, but when they meet
in groups or when strangers are present such methods are undesirable . How-
ever if one can maintain a calm, rhythmical, refined breath, after a time he
wi I I not even have to keep the thought of God before him . Thus he becomes
an empty cup, only in meditation one keepsthe cup empty, one empties the
mind of everything .

Meditation isverilythefastingofthemind .

For circulation among Members of the A .S .C . ONLY .

 22 5
An old typescript in the f arm of a Gita, of unknown origin.

Series 1 GITHA Number 1 .[A ]

Towards the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty , the Only
Being , unitedwith all the Illuminated Souls , whoform theEmbodiment of
the Master , the Spirit of Guidance .

The first thing that is necessary in meditation is to realise it is an act

of attunement,anattunement with God . Thereforewhile it is necessary to
relax, while it is important to control the emotions and the functions of
mind and body, it is also important to raise, so to speak, the pitch of the
heart, so that this attunement can be accomplished .

It is first necessary to relax the body, to be comfortable, but not to

sit in too softachairor to I ie down, for while the body is resting inmedita-
tion it is not in the same condition as in sleep . The reason isthat the body is
also in meditation, the body also breathes ; it breathesthrough the poresof
the skin, and it is necessary to keep thewhole body in meditation . This is
impossiblewhile lying inacoveredbedor among soft cushions . Asmystical
training is tomake the body the temple of God, the body must not be ne-
glected .

Neither must the mind be neglected . It is not enough to subdue

thought, it isto raise the pitch, and although it may be said that to over-
come one's thoughts, to become master of one's mind, ismost difficult, one
must face that battle . If one passes into sleep or into a dream or musing
state, the mind is relaxed, but it is not properly relaxed . This is running
away from the battle, thinking one haswon it . One may think one haswon
the battle, but what has one won? The answer is easily seen when one looks
at the great tasks which have been accomplished after meditations, which
show that meditation isa positive action, not merely a relaxation .

This is what ismeant when it is said that the Sufi is negative to God
and positive to man, that he takes all that isgiven him, and gives all that he
has . The Fakir may resemble, so to speak, astrainer or colander, through
which much passes, and which retains nothing . He isalsoa cup which must
empty itself to be filled . And of what does the cup of the Sufi empty itself?
First, it empties itself of itself .

Doctirrent: 01 See introduc tion to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

226

When this is understood, such legends as those of the cup of Jamshyd

and the miraculous pitcher of Baucos and Philamon become clear . The
pitcherwill holdmilk nomatter howoften it isemptied, andthecrystal cup
of Jamshyd is always full of wine, .the Divine love . The same isseen in the
stories of Christ dividing loaves and fishes . What were the loaves? They
were Christ's body . And what isChrist's body? It is Divine Wisdom, Suf ism .
 22 7
A copy made under Sakina's supervision of an old typescript in
the f arm of a Gita, from the legacy of h4rshida Martin .

Series I . GITHA Number 2.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with all the Illuminated Souls who form the embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

In meditation the control over mindis exerted through breath and

mind . The breath is kept rhythmical and refined and it becomes ever more
refined as the consciousness is turned upon it and the I ight of man's inner
being manifests thereon . If the breath is not kept in rhythm, thoughts will
enter and this battle against thought, especially against ego-thought, is
the battle that every saint and sage has to combat continually . Forthisalso
will-power isneeded . So in Sufismthe talib is givena symbolical concen-
tration in order to strengthen the will-power, so that not only will this
power manifest, but that it can be used to control one's lower nature .

When the breath is kept in rhythm and is refined, the magnetism

which is ordinarily consumed in the activities of mind and body is pre-
served . In whatever we do and in all our thinking and imagining we
consume energy . This consumption of energy brings on old age and weak-
ness . Contrariwise it may be that meditation of itselfmaycure man's evils,
whatsoever they be . For all arise out of nufs, and meditation is the best
means to crush nufs .

When one does that, the magnetism which is ordinarily wasted or

consumed, is absorbed into one's personal atmosphere . This makes of him a
battery of Iife . It is thisbattery which is used by teachersand healersand
all mystics . It isthe same energy which is mentioned in Nayaz, that it comes
to man through the rays of the sun and the waves of the air and the all-
pervading power of space . Through breathing the energy which is con-
veyed on the air enters the personality through the breath ; by silence and
by sti l l ing the mind one draws upon the endless resources of space . This ab-
sorption is a veritable alchemy and the knowledge of it isthe secret of the
adept .

There is some benefit when meditation is performed constantly in

one place, whether one has devotions in a room alone, or in a hall or cham-
berwhere many gather together . Such a place offers the right accommoda-
tion for the highest and finest vibrations and establishes an atmosphere of
stillness . This makes it easier for others who come to such a place . The
saints are often called upon to preserve the stillness of holy places .

Document: 01 See introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

228

The teacher can, by his presence, make the accommodation for st i l l

finer vibrations . So there is at least one advantage to have a teacher who is
more than a leader,who can elevate the feeling of a room. Yet the faith of
people, their prayers and their attitudes also help to strengthen theatmo-
sphere of a chapel, a hal I or a temple . Al I thingsthat lead away from self,
ead to God .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C.ONLY .

 22 9
An old typescript in the f orm of a Gita, of unknown origin .

Series 1 GITHA Number 21A ]

Dhyan a

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Sp i rit of Guidance .

Beloved ones of God :

In meditation the control of the mind and body is exercised through

the breath, and not only in meditation but in al I acts and aspects of I ife, the
control of the mind and body is through the breath and this can be discov-
ered when the sight is keen . There are two aspects of this .

First isthe creation of one's own atmosphere, andthis also hastwo

aspects . There is the regulation of one's breath, the adjustment to the
proper rhythm, togetherwith the control of the body and mind . One con-
stantly changing breath can neither meditate nor perform any other func-
tion . Therefore breathing exercises and practices are given . These affect
the aura about one, and develop the personality . This is the gradual change
which takes place during spiritual development unperceived, perhaps, yet
very definite .

Besides building this atmosphere about oneself, one affects one's

environment . One is able to radiate a magnetism which may be healing,
and not only in the sense of helping sick people, but of helping everybody .
For who is not sick? It is not only those who have diseasesof the body, but
everybody who is in need in someway, and the spiritual person can help .

But the best atmosphere is that created in a place where one stays
often . That iswhy it is so important to have a room, a room in which one
meditates . The highest vibrations one is able to buildupwill always remain
there, and when one builds still higher vibrations, they raise the pitch of
that room . Therefore, when one meditates in such a room, they can heal
themselves and send out healing and helping thoughts to another .

Docirnent : 0.1 See introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

230

This helps us to understand the second aspect of building anatmo-

sphere in meditation, that is the use of a chapel or room ortemple where
spiritual students can congregate . By combining their efforts, they collec-
tively build such an atmosphere, an area of calm and quiet, the centre of
fine vibrations, which becomes a healing center . People often imagine
about healing pilgrimages and some do not believe in the miraculous cures,
but this is a mistake . The faith of the people, their prayers, build up this at-
mosphere, and the healthy ones who gothere actually heal the sick, and
the sick, in the area of these purified atoms become well . Therefore the
Sufi who understands, will never speak against this type of cure or healing ;
it may truly be said to be spiritual .

Finally, asone builds up an atmosphere in one's room, so thespiri-

tual teacher builds up the atmosphere in the meditation hall, bringing in
his purified personal atmosphere, and raising the pitch so that al l who can
attune themselveswill rise nearer and nearer to that consciousnesswhich is
the goal of all who travel on the Path of God .
 23 1
A copy made uder Sakina' s s,ervision of an old types crip t in
the farm of a Gita, from the legacy of Arshida Martin .

Series I . GITHA Number 3.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being, unitedwith all the Illuminated Souls,who formthe embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATION

While one does not perform meditation for selfish purposes,

nevertheless there isa great gain in personal magnetism and if one needs
magnetism or desires it, there is no better manner of obtaining it than
through meditation . Forthen it is that the battery is rechargedwhich has
been giving out somuch energy in thought, speech and action . All of these
things consume vital magnetism andthe silence of the sages is to conserve
the power that it might be transmuted or used only to benefit the world .

Such things as holding one hand in the other, or folding hands or

crossing the legs under the body or even kneeling tend to keep the mag-
netism from scattering . The body is a bio-electric vehicle as the scientists are
now learning . Breathing in the silence draws energy into it . The healing prac-
tices help even more . But besides this, when one restrains the ego in
speech, thought and action, and when one refrains from these things, al-
ready the power begins to return to the vehicles of the soul .

Magnetism leaves the body through the nostrils, fingers, eyes, ears,
tongue, I ips, feet and al I over . The control I ing of these centres and organs
makesof the body a human temple of God . Rhythmic breathing, rhythmical
schedules and alI practices of rhythm are also beneficial . Otherwise the
gain that might come in meditation may be frittered away and lost .

To make sure of one's gain it is best to meditate regularly at a certain

hour, everyday if possible, or less often if this is not possible . This adds to
the music of I ife also . For the gain of one person in magnetism can be the
gain of all . The teacher or leader in meditation helps the others because of
his increased capacity and also because of his ability to draw the cosmic
energy .

It has not been meant that we should be subject to pain, suffering

and disease . It is even possible to live a long time in the body without feel-
ing the ravages of years . Moses stayed one hundred and twenty years and
departed in the full vigor of hisenergies because he knewhowto tapwha t

Document- 0.1 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

23 2

some have called the cosmic reservoir . Yes, no doubt the reservoir is there and
it is not wrong totapit .Sufism is wisdom and wisdom does not mean to refrain
from everything that will bring personal satisfaction or happiness . One
does not have to put these th i ngs f i rst . One may lead a perfectly balanced
life and obtain all the blessings thereof without any danger to oneself or
hindrance of spiritual evolution .

The greatest gain , however , is peace , which is paramount even to

magnetism . This isobtained in the silence by complete restraint especially
against the ever constant activity of mind .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

 23 3
An old typescript in the form of a Gita , of u*nawn origin.

Series 1 GITHA Number 3[A1

Dhyan a

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love , Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, whoform theEmbodiment of
theMaster , the Spirit of Guidance .

Beloved ones of God :

Something has already been said of the posture in meditation and

also of the need of poise . The purpose of posture is to control the mag-
netism, to control the currentswhich are generated . If one went into a room
where the vibrations are very poor and held out the hands, and separated
the feet, the magnetism would be scattered . This might be good for the
room, but would not help one very much .

The spirit enters through the breath, but the magnetism of that spirit
is transferred to the nerves and blood and carried to the extremities . The
magnetism that leaves the body is not through the nostrils, but chiefly
through the fingers, the toes and the head area, and in the head area
through the eyes, ears, and a I ittle through the crown, chin, nostrils and
through speaking . By controlling these avenues of egress one retains the
strength from Prana, and in that way bui lds up h is own powers . This devel-
ops not on ly the power of the breath, but the power of healing, the power of
the word, all powers come through this breath .

The purpose of poise or position isto keep the body in equi l ibrium,
so that one wi l l not sway nor have to exert a force to retain this position, to
keep steady . For this reason some mureeds are trained in certain postures
and others otherwise, and each exerciseor prescription given by Murshid
may vary, for the purpose isto help the mureed according to his need .

Rhythm is also necessary, and this rhythm is of two kinds ; rhythm in

breathing and rhythm in daily life . In meditation the rhythm must be
steady, as one learns in the study of Fikar . This is more important than to fix
a rate, slowor fast, orto have a light or deep breath, although all of these
are important in their effect on body and mind .

Document: 0 .1 . See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

234

But as the whole body, mind and soul unite in meditation, it is

important, to have a fixed hour or fixed periods for meditation, to arrange
one's time so there are hours for work, play and eating, studying and medi-
tation, and to keep these hours as much as possible . When one is travelling
a change may be necessary, but otherwise this should be kept foremost . Fif-
teen minutesaday regularly will help one much more spiritually than two
hours aday atone's convenience . Why?Because these fifteen minutes are
devoted to God, and those two hours for the self, and this is not true medita-
tion, which seeks for nothing but the real isation of God .
 23 5
A copy made under Sakina's st vision of an old typescript in
the f arm of a Gita, from the legacy of Mrshida Martin .

Series I . GITHA Number 4.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith all the Illuminated Souls, who form the embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATIO N

The atmosphere is itself most helpful to those in meditation . Of

course there are monks and ascetics who meditate alone in different parts
of the world, but even they build up their own atmospheres . There is a great
deal of strength gained by a person who can retire to his own atmosphere,
and the more sensitive he is the more will he feel it .

Meditation helps one to become more receptive . However if bythis

term is meant the receiving of knowledge or of wealth or of anything in
particular it is not so . Yes, there have been in ancient times and there are
today and there may be in later times also those who seek to use spiritual
devices to obtain material or selfish ends for themselves . But ultimately
they must pay for these things and they do not rise thereby above 1the real,
of karmic interplay1 .

The receptive person draws the energy of the sphere into himself .
For instance it is by such means that SHIFAYAT, the healer, makes of himself
an instrument whereby divine`energy can find a channel through which it
goes in order to reach ultimately the mind and body of a sick person . This
showsthat the energy can be directed, but in meditation one does not even
think about energy . That would be a concentration and would draw forces
in a particular direction . In meditation one tries to strip himself of every
kind of thought and of every type of motive .

No doubt the one who practises meditation gains in sympathy and in

insight . This ability to sympathize is most important for it helps to further
break down the differences and distinctions which divide men . In the nega-
tive state one may feel the suffering, pathos and pain of another ; if he remain s

Docu mint- 01 See Inboduction to Gita Dhyaria, p. 219

Note :

'the real of karmic interplay" . Even duo this does not make sense, it reads so in the 'o t' .
23 6

there he cannot be hel pful . For this reason Sufis practise Daroodor repeat
an Invocation before meditation, so that they can better be united with the
whole stream of life, which manifests through the chain of illuminated
souls, who form the Spirit of Guidance .

The development of insight leads ultimately to expression . One

does not primarily practise meditation for the sake of gaining an answer to
his problems or questions, yet if one is overburdened he can bring one ques-
tion with him into meditation, sit quietly, remove all thoughts, watch the
breath at every instant and find himself receive a knowledge or instruction
as if the universe itself were speaking to him . Then andthuswill he recog-
nise the Voice of Wisdom . For in the Silence God Himself becomes the
Teacher, the Teacher of all .

For ci rculat ion among the Members of the A .S .C. CNdLY .

 23 7
An old typescript in the f arm of a Gita, of unknown origin .

Series 1 GITHA Number 4[']

Dhyan a

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spi rit of Guidance .

Beloved ones of God :

The Qual ity of atmosphere enables one to become more qu ickly re-
ceptive . Receptive to what?To the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony
and Beauty, the Only Being .

Some people bel ieve that meditation brings a relaxation and then
one should receive everything . Thisshows lack of discrimination for there
are impressions and thoughts and suggestions that are of no val ue . What is
attunement? It is altering the pitch of the personal wi l l to the Wi l l of God .
Whatever one holds before oneself, to that will he become attuned, but if
everything isallowed to pass before one'smind, it can become affixed on
nothing . It is the same as one first viewing a great city or marvellous
scenery ; they do not fix their gaze on anything . The Sufi, knowing this,
fixes his gaze on God .

In healing, if one does this, he gradually draws the magnetism of the

universe and dedicates hisbody for a healing work . But if he thinks that
negativity means attuning to the sick patient, he draws on the condition of
the patient instead of the Divine Help, and may take on 'the i I Inesswithout
helping the sick person much . This comes from a wrong viewof sympathy .

Sympathy means an attunement, a feeling with, but there is a nega-

tiveway and a positive way of sympathizing . In the negative way one feels
the suffering, the pathos, the pain, and unites in grief but does not bring
much help . In the positive way, one raisesthe other from sorrow, one is able
togive them their better condition without taking on the lower condition .
This is true healing . That is the reason why one must repeat "Towards the
One" somuch during the healing service, and gradually attune oneself to
the Divine rayswhich are health-giving .

Document: 01 See Inhoduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

238

But this is not only so in healing, but in al l formsof inspiration, in

poetry, music, art, invention, and al I aspects of the creative process . The
more one meditates the more one risesto the essenceof things, becoming a
vehicle for divine expression . There every aspect of life becomes an art
and a science .

One going to his meditation feeling, "God is my Teacher, I have

something to learn from Him, I will listen attentively", will be rewarded
with the greatest blessing, receiving in the Silence and Meditation that
which he is capable of understanding, and by this gradually his purpose of
lifewill be unfolded .
 23 9
A copy made under Sakina ' s supervision of an old typescript in
the fa m of a Gita , f rom the legacy of Mirshida Martin.

Series 1 . GITHA Number 5.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with all the Illuminated Souls, who form the embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

Nothing is more valuable in the spiritual life than meditation . If he

only knew it is more valuable than food, sleep or any of those activities
which seem so necessary to him . And th is need is known even to the animals .
For i nstance one often sees cats rest with their paws under them . They try to
produce astateof calmness in which there is neither thought nor emotion .
Many otheranimals make use of the silencealthough birdsalso indulge in
praise to God aloud .

Even the machines that man makes break down and need re-
conditioning and overhauling. There being no perpetual ityl and there being
action and reaction, man hasto learn how to recharge his vehicles . Instead
he usually argues that he "has not the time" for meditation . Yet meditation
is the very thing that will give him the time, andmostof all for his own self,
for his own welfare .

Meditation is not onlythewaytohealing, it isthekeytoall things .

If all studies were stopped and if there was only esotericism and meditation
nothing of Sufism or of spiritual phi losophywould be lost . One can dispense
with study papers and I iterature . The real truth isto be found within one's
own being . But if there is constant activity and if there is all attention to
the world outside, howcan man ever come face to face with himself? In-
stead he grows older with the yearsand displays loss of vitality so veryof-
ten . For not only when body is fatigued or mind tired does this loss manifest,
but in every display of emotion also .

Meditation is thus far more important than any and all intellectual
study . Through the intellect one can only receive what has come to the
intellect of others and as they are I imited, so he is I imited . Besides, he does
not get their real knowledge thereby, heonlyobtainsa reflection of it . It is
only when one relaxes body and mind that he beginsto learn the Cosmi c

Document: 0 .1 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 21 9

Note :

"perpetuality' is an obsolete form of "perpetuity"

24 0

Language . This language is universal and omnipresent, and is understood

by the awakened heart .

There should be a balance between medi tat ion and activity . If this
is continued one will find his meditation even in his everyday life . So it
does not mean retiring to the closet for long periods, expecting some re-
ward therefrom . It isonly as the ego is restrained, one increasesthe capac-
itywithin himself for the Divine Lightandcomestoarealizationofhistrue
being .

For circulation among Members of theA .S .C. ONLY .

 24 1

An old typescript in the f arm of a Gita, of unknown origin .

Series 1 GITHA Number5 .[Al

Dhyan a

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

Beloved onesof God :

1Actuall y nothing is needed more in life than meditation . It is more im-

portant than even food and sleep and all the activities of life . Those who are
only a little observant will notice that cats often lie with the paws under their
body,in a posture of meditation, and this is so, they are meditating . They medi-
tate in Silence . Birds, on the contrary, practise Zikar, praise to God, but
throughout creation, from rocks and trees to man, everything is in meditation
sometimes.

Even the machinery which man makes will break down if it is not given
rest and overhauling, but to man's own vehicles, his body and mind, this is not
considered so important or necessary . Many people constantl y put off taking
up spiritual studies because they "have not the time ." They do not see that a
little spiritual training will not only give them more time for what they must
do, but will enable them to know with their whole heart and soul what they
must do . This will make it possible to eliminate all unnecessary acts in life, to
devote one's energy to what is vital . Even pleasure and pain become the
greatest of mysteries and problems to those not on the spiritual path .

Meditation is not onl y the key to healing, it is the key to all things . If
all the studies were dropped and only the spiritual practices, the invocation
and the prayers were retained, nothing of Sufism would be lost . The soul
would remain and could build up new bodies . It would be like throwing away
one's clothes and thinking the body is lost, but it might be the gainer by such
an act .

Meditation is not only far more important than study,it is true study.
When one compl etel y rela xes the body and mind, and becomes receptive t o

Document: 01 See Introd ictbn to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

Note:

The fist f our paragraphs of this paper appear to be a waking out in her own words by Mtrshida Martin
of the same material which appears in Gita Dhyana Series I no . S .
24 2

God, then the Voice of God will speak to him in the language of the soul . This is
true Sufism which can never be expl ained, yet can clearly be understood.'

One can never meditate too much . This does not mean going into
one's closet, but it means keeping the heart fixed on God, to keep them ind
fixed on the invocation, every moment day and night, so the very breath
will keep on calling, "Towards the One ." Then the hour will arrive some
time when the TaIibwill realise his true being . And what is that true being?
It is God, the Only Being .
 24 3
A copy made under Sakina ' s supervision of an old typescript in
the form of a Gita, from the legacy of Mrshida Martin.

Series I . GITHA Number 6.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with all the Illuminated Souls, who form the embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

Harmony isa most important essential in I ife . Although there have

been multitudes who have proclaimed their belief in the brotherhood of
man, the accomplishment of it seemsto be far away . If one investigates he
will discover that harmony between -person and person is missing . This
brings up a question, isthere any way by which harmony can be produced?
Yes, personswho mingle often in the same atmosphere may grow closerto-
gether, there will be a common bond .

There is one of the reasonswhy people meditate in group, with or

without a teacher or leader . The teacher or leader serves to draw them
closer together, to harmonize them, like the conductor of the orchestra
harmonises the musicians and their instruments . In the orchestra it is not
only the instruments which are brought into attunement to each other but
the players themselves . And in the meditation hal I the atmosphere serves to
tune the heartsof the devotees, to bring them, so to speak, into consonant
pitch .

The Healing Service of the Sufis depends upon internal harmony .

Therefore the number of participants has been wisely limited . The more
personswho join the circle, themore difficult is it to create and preserve a
lasting I iving harmony . Besides, negative persons in it would be attracting
the energy to themselves and I imiting the healing power . Sometimes even a
single undeveloped person can destroy the efficacy of such a Service ;
sometimes a single undeveloped person may create a disturbance at a medi-
tation group . To protect the group aswell as themselves many teachers re-
strict the number and are careful to examine newcomers .

When a person who lacks understanding enters the meditation group

he brings, in his lower atmosphere aswel I as his undesirable thoughts . These
interfere with the atmosphere already created and draw energy from it . To
use the terms of electricity they discharge it . And sometimes it takes months
to create a sacred atmosphere which can be so destroyed in a moment .

Docunert 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

24 4

Therefore less developed persons are instructed in meditation alone, or

they are given opportunities for silence at the Universal Worship and at
other meetings which they can sustain . But for the undeveloped, the si-
lence held too long can be harmful . People who have been over-strained in
public corrective institutions have been known to go mad.

One should therefore begin with quite short silences and increase
them as one is able to restrain the mind . The quality of the meditation itself
maybe quite as important as the length of time used in maintaining silence .

For c i rcu lat ion among the Members of the A .S .C . ONLY.

 24 5

An old typesapt in the form of a Gita, of unknown origin .

Series 1 GITHA Number 61A )

Dhyan a

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being, united with All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

Beloved ones of God :

Harmony ismost necessary when two or more mureeds unite forspiri-

tual purposes . In the study of lessons, unless they have a cordial feeling,
both will missthe purpose, which isas much to attune their personalities
one to the other, as to gain intellectual development from the manuscript .
One might even say that thatwas the real lesson . And when more than two
come together, the same adjustment is needed, but when there are several
persons, sometimes one or two serve to harmon ise others who may not under-
stand each other's nature .

In the Healing Service the presence of a sick, or an unharmoniousor

an undeveloped person, or one who is not suited for thiswork, has theten-
dency either to draw the magnetism to that person or to disperse it, so it wi
not be of much value . For that reason, it is best to select properly fitted per-
sons for this I ine of work, and groups should be I imited to about seven
people . Discrimination of theworkers, however, ismost important, and if
there are Iess it does not matter, and if there are more, it is better to divide
the work and have two groups .

The presence of an undeveloped person hasthe tendency to break

the tension and to discharge the atmosphere . Under such conditions a true
positive meditation is impossible . Among the oracles in ancient Greece, it
was not only necessary to have the oracle and the seer lead a very pure I ife,
but al I those who assisted by forming a magnetic circle had to be pure .

When a person lacking understanding enters ameditation room, it

makes it difficult for those who form the embodiment of the Master, the
Spirit of Guidance, to direct the true spiritual work .Theywill not convey
lessons or impressions or messages, or else they will require a silence on the
part of the onewho is learning from them . Sometimes it is important that
such people be dismissed from the room . It is also important to arrange
classes of people of the same degree of evolution, for they assist one an-
other instead of hindering .

Doament: 0.1 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

246

Of course, group silences, in the presence of a teacher, or in a room

especially adopted for thiswork, have always been part of the Sufi train-
ing . In this congregation, the earl ierTal ibs are greatly benefitted, and the
more advanced are not held back for they have learned to attune them-
selves to the atmosphere . By preserving the silence in the room, by closing
the doorstothe outsideworld, acondition isbrought aboutsothat intime
the place becomes holy, and those who feel it wi I I become more and more
reverent, and this in turn wi l l increase the sanctity of the atmosphere, that
even thosewho are not on the spiritual pathwill feel in awe, and becon-
strainedtosilence and meditation .
 24 7

A copy made under Sakina' s st,ervision of an old typescript in

the f arm of a Gita, from the legacy of MLrshida Mart in .

Series I . GITHA Number 7.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with all the Illuminated Souls, who form the embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATION

The laws of the unseen world are not different from those of the seen
world although no doubt they concern more vital forces and atomic forma-
tions than we see in the objective manifestation . The same word
"magnetism" is used to apply to various types of ultra-physical phenomena
and the same principles hold except that the magnetism of the scientists is
closely associated with iron and steel and some other metals ; while the
vital magnetism makes use of the elements and of the atoms and vibrations
of al I planes .

In the Healing Service the silence isused to increase the current

between several persons ; while in one's own practices it is employed tore-
vivify one's own self . But when several persons join in the Service, those
who do not give out absorb and by their absorption, they weaken the value
of the service . But if al I present have practised meditation by themselves
they can increase the vital electricity which is sent by thought-power to
the sick person .

The undeveloped person .acts I ike an insulator to the mureeds, and

can discharge the electricity . This iswhy Christ said he felt a force leaving
him when a woman touched the hem of his garment .1 To protect against this
condition one should have his own room for private meditation, even if it
be a cel I . He should have hisdevotions there and not use it for any low pur-
pose . Even smoking is inadvisable in such a place . Thus he will create his
own atmosphere, add power and magnetism to it and make of it a centre for
vital forces and electricity .

The same istrueof the meditation hall . The less conversation of all
kind that goes on there the better . Ordinary conversation should be re-
stricted . But more subtle is the conversation that goesonwithin everyper-
son . For as soon as there is si lence the thoughts begin to move about and to
agitate . To overcome that one is urged to repeat aspiritual phrase or t o

Docunent: 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 21 9

Note :

1. See the Bble, New Testament: S. Luke 8:46.

24 8

watch the breath . In the presence of a teacher, however, al I may concen-

trate upon the breath of the teacher or the heart of the teacher .

The teacher himself seeks to overcome the less developed breath of

the pupils and thus increases their capacity .lf the pupil has any difficultyin
catching the rhythm of the teacher's breath--and this is by no means always
easy--then he can concentrate a little upon the teacher's heart, doing this
mostly by feeling, and gradually relax all his thoughts first, and then his
feelings afterwards. Thus he enters the state that "l am not" which is most
beneficial for all students on the path .

For circulation among Members of the A .S .C . ONLY.

 24 9
An old typescript in the form of a Gita, of unknown origin .

Series 1 GITHA Number 71A]

Dhyan a

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, whoform theEmbodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

Beloved ones of God :

The same laws hold in spiritual development as in the physical

world . This can be observed most easily in the studyofelectricityandmag-
netism .For instance, when a battery is made up of several cells un ited, the
efficiency is determined by the condition of the poorest cel I among them .
If one cell is weak, the battery will be weakened, and if one cell is dead,
the battery wi I I not function .

In the same way, in the healing circle, if there is one who cannot
contribute to the magnetic force, the whole circle is of no value ; even if
all the others are highly charged with spiritual power, they cannot func-
tion as a group with a negative person among them . Likewise, there is such
difference between the meditation in the Universal Worship, andthat for
mureeds only . Therefore, the Murshid, who is a very positive power, does
not lead the meditations in the Universal Worship, which are given to
Cherags who do not read the sermon . At the same time, the most developed
one should give the blessing, for the blessing is given in the center, where
the personality serves asthe instrument of all the illuminated souls, who
form the Embodiment of the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

In electricity there are conductors which carry the energy, and

insulatorswhich do not, but the term is relative, as there are good conduc-
tors and poor conductors, and even the best insulator conducts electricity a
little, although perhaps immeasurable . So, all persons are on the spiritual
path, although most may not know it . But if they did not so function they
would be dead in the truest sense, they would be entirely dissolved .

The undeveloped person is like an insulator among mureeds, and

can discharge an atmosphere, exactly I ike the discharging in electricity .
On the other hand, the Murshid constantly charges the atmosphere . Th e

Document 01 See Introdiction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

25 0

Murshid is I ike a dynamo which draws power from its Source and by means of
which many electric lights may illuminate humanity . Without the dynamo
the l ights are nothing, and without the Source of Power the dynamo is noth-
ing . Inthesame way,without theMurshid themureed isnothing andwith-
out God theMurshid is nothing .

An electrical bodymay becharged tothe limitwhich iscalledca-

pacity, and aTalib may receiveto a limitwhich is alsocalled capacity .
But the capacity of a body may be increased through certain means and the
capacity of a Tal ib may also be increased . And after a body is charged and
functions, the power of its function is called potential, which depends
upon its own capacity and the capacity of the receiver of that electricity .
Likewise the power of the mureed depends both on his energy and the abil-
ity of the person whom he isaiding . As an insulatorwilI not receive elec-
tricity, but causes a discharge, so must the spiritual person have discrimi-
nation, otherwise it will be, asChrist said, casting pearls before swine and
that which is holy to the dogs . Verily, in alI departments of nature can one
find God, if one truly seeks and looks .
 25 1

A copy made under Sakina' s stevision of an old typesapt in

the f a m of a Gita, from the legacy of Mtrshiida Martin .

Series 1 . GITHA Number 8.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith all the Illuminated Souls,who formthe embodimentof
theMaster, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

Many people claim that they desire enlightenment, that they seek
self-purification and perfection and are looking for the highest wisdom .
Yet when it comes to a question of the acceptance of someone as teacher,
they refuse to look to any human being for guidance . They say that God has
no favorites, that God is before al I and that al I are equal to God .

Yes, they are right, and besides God isthe only teacher, we al I learn
from Him . But when they go to school to learn arithmetic or spel I ing or
geography or music, do they learn from God?Then at least they accept the
teacher in human form . They may have a I ittle knowledge and they accept
the teacher to learn more . When it comes to the esoteric scienceswh ich are
much harder to learn and far more subtle in form, then theywant nobody,
and this very attitude shows the lack of one of the greatest elements in spir-
itual unfoldment, self-surrender .

What is teaching but the manifestation of divine power through the

human heart . It is not the personality of Sheikh orKhal if orMurshid which is
the guide . It isthat such people have reached a state wherein their own
hearts have opened to the degree of making a suitable accommodation for
the Spirit of Guidance . Then the I ight and wisdom may be communicated to
pupils through speech or through silence .

The presence of the teacher at meditation acts I ike a condenser in

electricity . It drawsthe atoms together quickly and charges them with I iv-
ing energy . This is like offering spiritual sustenance to pupils . Pupils rise
when the teacher enters, not so much out of respect to the personality as to
help in that attunement which may be of so much benefit to themselves .
This inner harmony of itself can be a great help to anyone who is on the path
to God .

Restraint of speech and thought is most helpful whether a person

meditates alone or with others, in the presence of the teacher or not . After a
while he comes to be at one with the atmosphere . Thus the first stage o f

Docunem 0.1 See lr odxtion to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

25 2

development is accomplished . After that he begins to grow through that at-

mosphere and he also helps that atmosphere to grow . This is the second
stage . The first stage is closely associated with fana, self-effacement ; the
second with baka, realization . Those are the two aspects of spiritual devel-
opment .

When the atmosphere of a meditation hall seems low or depleted,it

can be restored through Zikar . Zikar helps elevate the material atoms and vi-
brations so that they also can become accommodation for baraka, spiritual
blessings.

For circulation among Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

 25 3
An old typescript in the farm of a Gita, of unknown origin.

Series 1 GITHA Number 81A]

Dhyan a

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, whoform theEmbodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

Be I oved ones of God :

Many people seek enlightenment without a teacher . This shows they

have no idea about it, for in enlightenment andwith enlightenment there
can be no separation, there is no "I" nor "thou ." What is the teacher? Is it the
personal itywho is the guide?No, it is not that personality although we cal l
such a one Sheikh orKhal if orMurshid or by other terms .

What isteaching isthe Powerwhich ismanifesting through that per-

sonality, and the love which is in their hearts . It is the power and love
which teach, not the personality . When that same personality is not re-
flecting powerand lovethey are not teaching . The true guide will under-
stand first his own processes, whether he is really reflecting power and
love, and then he wi l l understand the mureeds .

The presence of the teacher forms what corresponds to a condenser

in electricity . Such a one draws the atomstogether quickly and charges
them ; without a teacher the mureeds could no doubt attain the same condi-
tion after a time, but theMurshid does this immediately because he carries
his atmosphere with him . When aMurshid enters the Meditation Hall, the
atoms at once take the proper arrangement, they become charged, they
stand up before Murshid . Therefore when the mureeds rise also, it is not onl y
because of respect, but by that act they attune themselves with the very
atoms, otherwise one could say the atoms have more spirituality than those
persons . This is true in all cases, even in the Universal Worship, but to a less
extent .

In the presence of the teacher, therefore, the positive meditation

begins immediately upon his entering the room . The preparatory work
should be completed . And how is it completed? By refraining entirely from
speech and as much as possible from thought before the Murshid comes .
Five, or even three minutes is sufficient for this, but fifteen minutes in the
meditation room with the mind wandering, and especially with speech, i s

Doament : 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

25 4

harmful . Those who must enter the Chapel for preparation should refrain
from speech for at least fifteen minutes before the meditation time ; half-
an-hour would be better, but more than this is not necessary . Zikar chant
must not be considered as speech, for it has the effect of arranging the
atoms, in the same manner as the influence of the Mursh id .
 25 5
A ocpy made under Sakina's supervision of an old typescript in
the form of a Gita , f rom the legacy of Mirshida Martin.

Series I . GITHA Number 9.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith all the Illuminated Souls, who form the embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATIO N

Meditation may be regarded as consisting of two portions, the prepa-

ration and the performance . In preparing for meditation one should try to
guard against all undesirable thoughts, speech and acts until the hour of
the meditat ion . One should also sit in silence a I ittle before the teacher ar-
rives, watching the breath and keeping the mind as free as possible from
thoughts of all sorts . Even idealistic thoughts are out of place in medita-
tion .

Of course the preparation can continue until it includes the entire

daily I ife . Then one can go on from that and identify meditation and the
everyday I ife . This is its perfection . To accomplish this Sufis repeat Darood
which is most helpful . Ittendsatall times to restrain nufs and usesthemind
as the body is used . That is to say, just asthere are certain hours for eating
and others for abstinence from food, so there can be periods inwhich the
mind is used for thought and other periods when it is not used .

The ul timate aim, of course, is to el evate the mind to its buddhic condi-
tion . The instructions on the cultivation of insight are also most important .
The difference is that in developing insight one may do it consciously, one
maybe watching the heart and its impressions and thereby become respon-
sive to theAl I-Pervading Spirit of Wisdom . In meditation one does not try to
receive anything, but the purification of mind thereby often opens up the
door to inspiration . At least it makes it much easier to receive impressions
and hear the Voice which cometh constantly from within .

The teacher can, by his presence, raise the pitch of the soul . The
mu reed does not surrender before the teacher in order to give special rever-
ence to the teacher as a personality . It is for his own sake that the disciple
lays aside his desires and his thoughts . He lays them before the teacher
when he practises fana-fi-Sheikh, while in meditation he lays them before
God at al l times, that is to say, whether the teacher be present or not .

Doainent: 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

256

By meditation one relaxes the mind so that it becomes recharged

with magnetism . After a I ittle practice one feels it a I ittle ; after continual
practice one feels it more . Therefore one gradually lengthens the time in
the meditation . He either meditates for the sake of resting and restoring the
mind, or in order to receive impressions, that is, to develop his intuitive
faculty.

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

 25 7
An old typesa ,t in the form of a Gita, of t iknown algin .

Series 1 GITHA Number 91A ]

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being, unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, whoform theEmbodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

Beloved ones of God :

Meditation should be considered as consisting of two parts, the

preparation and the performance . The preparation consists, first, in
refraining from all wrong thoughts, speech and acts until the hour of medi-
tation, and inmaintaininga short silence before theMurshidenters . If this
is done, then one wi I I be ready for the second part of meditation .

The teacher first charges the atmosphere and by this the true Si-
lence is established . This Silence isof great help to spiritual knowledge ; it
is Saute Surmad or Abstract Sound, which cannot properly be called either
Sound or Silence . By attunement with it, one becomes attuned to all in
Nature .

But the teacher does more than magnetize the atmosphere . The
teacher is the conductor, so to speak, of an orchestra . The instruments must
be attuned, and there must be some key note, and it is the Mursh id who sup-
plies that key note . What is meant byFana-fi-Sheikh orFana-fi-Murshid is
that first the Tal ibs must become attuned to their teacher . After thatordur-
ing that process they become attuned to each other without the least effort ;
even those who have very different dispositions become attuned one to an-
other .

This lesson is taught in "TheMysticism of Sound ." Unless it isprac-

tised, the study of that book isof I ittle value . And when can it be practised?
It is practised in every spiritual study and in every meditation . It is not
necessary that one should pretend to be friendly or harmoniouswith a per-
son whose keynote is discordant to his ; the way of the Sufi is to introduce
other notes to produce a symphony .

The teacher by his presence, raisesthe pitch of the soul higher and
higher, the atmosphere becomes more and more peaceful . After awhile the
Talib begins to understand the function of meditation, that it is not onlya
period for rest and relaxation, and revitalisation, but that it is a period of
communion with God, for inspiration, for Divine Guidance . Ifthiswere no t

Document: 01 See Introdiction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

25 8

so, the Spirit of Guidance would not be the Spirit of Guidance, but when it
is understood, one knows beyond doubt what is the Spirit of Guidance
which I eads one to the Goa 1 .
 25 9
A copy made under Sakina' s supervision of an old types cript in
the f ann of a Gita , from the legacy of M4rshida M artin.

Series I . GITHA Number 10 .

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith all the Illuminated Souls, who form the embodiment of
theMaster, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATION

The breath of the teacher is, so to speak , a I adder by means of which

the mureed climbs on his way to God . The breath of the teacher helpsto es-
tablish rhythm in meditation and also to refine the atmosphere . The finer
the vibrations that are received into the atmosphere , the more beneficial is
it to those who participate in thesilence . If the pupil is able to adjust his
breath to that of the teacher it is most helpful . At the same time the teacher
does what he can to reach the heart of every pupil in his presence .

The more the mureed sits in silence before the teacher , the easier is
it to adjust the breath of teacher and pupil . It is by this means that the pup i l
receives the blessing from the teacher . This may be no special knowledge .
However it does mean that the heart becomes more sensitive and through its
sensitivity it can grow in wisdom , insight, compassion and love .

The Silence itself is a great healer and it is amistake to depend

upon the teacher too much . That is to say, the thought of the teacher can
become a hindrance . Teacher should not be regarded so much as a personal-
ity before one as agate to God . There is a fundamental purpose of l ife and
this is uncovered aswe remove the vestiges of self one by one . There are
many ways by which different people can become sensitive to the silence .
Whateverway is successfully followed brings something to the tal ib .

This is an increase of feeling for l ife itself . The body and mind be-
come purer vehicles of soul . The radiance of the personality and the charm
of manner often follow . Thus meditation provides a psychological and
moral training .

It is also possible to take a problem into the si lence and lay it before
God . Thismeans to bring the problem and hold it before one as if in concen-
tration , in orderto keep other thoughts away . Then todrop thisthought,so
to speak , into the lap of God . This is done by keeping silence of mind and re-
pose and often it happens that then one receives the guidance . Fikar, of
course , can by used to help in this .

Docunent 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

260

The more the pupil can receive an answer to his requirements from
the silence, the surer will he be in his footsteps forward and the closer
everyday of his I ifewill he be drawing the Spirit of God toward himself .

For circulation among Members of the A .S .C. ONLY.

 26 1
An old typescript in the f am of a Gita, of unknown origin.

Series 1 GITHA Number 10JA1

Dhyan a

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

Beloved ones of God :

The breath of the teacher is, so to speak, a ladder by which the

mureed climbs on his way to God . It is the breath of the teacher which
establishes a rhythm in the meditation ; just as his personality and at-
mosphere create the harmony . Both harmony and rhythm are necessary, also
pitch .

In the attunement of a viol in string, one must turn the peg slowly or
the string will break ; the same process is in spiritual development which is
a gradual change in pitch, but very definite . The vibrations gather around
the teacher and flow from the teacher's being . Al I who are in the room bene-
fit but even the atmosphere about, the building, the grounds, and the vicin-
ity benefit .

After atime, themureed will adjust his breath to the teacher . This
cannot be done consciously by outward observation so much as by silent
resignation . In resignation one uses his positive faculties to keep the
thought and emotions quieted, but the negative faculties are surrendered
to God . In the tuning of an instrument it is only necessary to adjust one
string or one note to the key note, and then to adjust the otherstrings or
notes to that one note . This is done not only in the orchestra but-in the tun-
ing of pianos and organs . The Talib therefore, should not endeavour to
attune all parts of his personality to the teacher, but to ga in the key note by
resignation of hiswi l 1 .

The next step is to attune the rest of his personality to that Will
which has become harmonised and attuned . Then he creates the harmony in
himself, for the mottoof the Sufi is Unity, not uniformity . At the same time,
especially when one finds difficulty in this, one may adopt any customs or
habits of the teacher . It is I ike the violin playerwho has difficulty in attun-
ing his Astring, but may adjust his EorG string with ease, and then fix hisA
string properly . Therefore, attunement with the teacher is most important,
obedience and surrender of the will being most essential, but eve n

Docirnentt 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

26 2

imitation, personal devotion, strict attention to the words, tot he study, to

daily duties, all these help . This is explained also in the Bhagavad Gita
that there is a best road, and at the same time there are many roads, and by
whichever road one comes to God, for that person that is the best road .
 26 3
A copy made uder Sakina's sLpervision of an old typescript in
the form of a Gita, from the legacy of Mrshida Martin .

Series 11 . GITHA Number l

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united withAll the Illuminated Souls Who form theEmbodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

Some people try to meditate in order that they may receive a per-
sonal benefit . Others mean by personal benefit a particular gain such as
health, wealth, youth or happiness or the attainment of some possession,
fame or power . Yes, no doubt these things can be gained by use of inner
power, but in the end a price wi I I have to be paid for them .

'When Boddhidharma, the great Buddhist Patriarch, came to China,

the Emperor. told him of all the fine things he had done and wanted to know
what merit he had gained. He was told, "no merit ." For meditation is not a prac-
tice of the self as conceived and does not bring anything to self . It has nothing
to do with gain or loss, good or evil . The continual practice of restraint of
thought, however, does cultivate peace of mind. When the mind is properly
cleared from thought it becomes like a palace of shining mirrors, which re-
flect easil y the impressions gained from the life within or without.

The ability to receive these impressions and to respond to them cor-

rectly results in the development of the intuitive faculty . Besides that one
may gain in ability to control emotions and speech, and so rise in the moral
scale of evolution . This is sure to be so when one does not waste any effort
thinking of oneself. '

No doubt there are timeswhen one should meditate on his own prob-
lems . Thinking quietly, one mayobtain the answer afterawhile . Thisdoes
not mean to hold the problem so much as to use it to drive away other
thoughts, then let it slide away "as the dewdrop into the shiny sea ." The effort
itself may often bring the answer without any long indulgence in silence .
Thisshowsprajna, kashf, or intuition, the I iving I ight from within .

Docunm* O .L See Introdiction to Gita Dhyana, p . 21 9

Notes:

The second and thid paragraphs seem to be Samuel Lewis ' s additions to this Gita.
264

By this means alsoone becomes able to help others, for that same
Iight which brings wisdom to the mind concerning oneself can also bring
wisdom concerning another . To help in this one shouIdwatch the surface of
the heart ; after a while one can feel the waves rise and fal I . Then one can
control those waves or rise and fall with them as one chooses . As those
waves are of finervibrations they take the consciousness beyond the sphere
of mind .

Thus while in meditation there isa stilling of mind, there is nota

sti I I ing of I ife . Meditation is far removed from death or sleep . Rather does it
increase one's capacity for I ife and I ight although if one thinks about these
things it is not so . The gain comes when one does not th ink . Then one maybe
said to be within the domain of Divine Grace (Inayat)2 .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S :C .ONLY.

2. " (Inayat) " probably added by those who copied these series, in order to mention the ward f or "Divine
Grace" in Sufi terminology.
 26 5
An old typescript in the form of a Gita, from a collection of Sufi
papers used by Samuel Lewis .

Series II GITHA No . 11A1 DHYANA

(Meditation )

'TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE
ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS WHO FORM THE
EMBOD I MBVT OF THE MASTER, THE SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE . '

No one need ask : "What shall I gain by Meditation? Inwhat ways

shall I benefit?" If one only knew, it is by means of Meditation that all is
gained , not only things are gained, not only attributes and qualities ar e
gained , but even God isso2 gained .

It is God Whowould reveal Himself to us, but so long aswe keep our
minds on anything else but God, He may be speaking but we do not hear .
When we hear His Voice, alI knowledge, all direction, all guidance will be
ours, 3everythingthat we needwill be ours3 .With this understanding one
can breast the waves of life ; to turn back the tide and too surmount obsta-
cleswill become possible .

Speaking of intuition isof itself of little value . The mystic does not
speak, he uses5the inner faculties in everyday I ife and so Insight becomes a
means of sustaining and understanding realities . To every question there is
an answer and the key to the answer is in the question . One of the best
means of finding the answer is to enter into Meditation . Then the question
may arise : "Should I meditate on this problem?" It is not wrong to meditate
on any problem but it is always wise to seek Divine Guidance . Meditating
in a prayerful attitude, knowing that Godwill help, relievesone from fur-
ther concern, and there is nothing in life more valuable .

Documents :

S .L . : See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

0.1 : See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

Notes :

1 . 0.1 : the Invocation has been omitted.

2. Ibid . : 'so" omitted
3 . Ibid . : omitted, "everything that we need will be ours"
4 . Ibid . : 'to' omitted
5 . Ibid . : 'sees" instead of 'uses", which change may have occurred mistakenly when the text was copied
266

Sometimes the answer will come as a simple direction, easiiy under-

stood . Sometimes a feeling will come which may not seem so clear or
direct, but when one fol lows the guidance which comes from the heart, of-
ten onewill find theobstaclein life disappear likea dissolving mist . Care
and worry prevent a proper solution, while surrender of self alwayshelpsto
clear the path fromthe perplexitiesof life, bringing calm and peace . The
Sufi who doesthis knowsthat God isAl I-seeing, Al l-knowing .

For that reason, over and over again the Invocation is repeated, re-
peated at different timesand bringing each time one closer to the Reality
which it expresses . All problems may be as tests in life . In the ancient
Egyptian mysteries, the Hierophant is reported to have said to the neo-
phyte :"You have nothing to fear but yourself ." It was Jesus Christ who said :
"My yoke is easy my burden is light," meaning, give up your problems, take
them beforeAllah in loving surrender and theywill besolvedand youwill
be healed .

(For circulation among membersof theA .S .C. only .)

 26 7
A copy made wider Sakina's supervision of an ol d typescript in
the f arm of a Gita, from the legacy of Mirshida Martin .

Series 11 . GITHA Number 2.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with All the Illuminated Souls Who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATIO N

The great obstacle to be overcome in meditation is the false ego, or

nufs . When the body is restrained it seeks refuge in the mind . People who
are nervous, who have digestive troubles, or are suffering physically
should not meditate in group . It is not for them to receive the finer vibra-
tions . Yet meditation is the best medicine for them, if they can keep quiet
only a fewmoments . Those who are indisposed should meditate often and
for only short periods .

In preparing for meditation one should have regard for his stomach
and body generally . That iswhy attention is first given to the physical ve-
hicle bythe Sufis . Those who mightotherwise find it hardto keepsilence
may be instructed on the path of sound and develop through music and
Zikar . Whilethis training has thetendency toproduce ecstasy, it alsode-
velopsa capacity for receptivity of finer vibrations, and although in a dif-
ferent way from meditation, it is beneficial . The Meditation Hall itself can
be elevated through the use of holy music and repetition of Zikar at certain
times .

The repetition of the Invocation is the first step toward mental con-
trol . Aconcentration--if onewishes to call it that--on the Invocation may
be used to soothe the ego-thoughts which are otherwise so disturbing .
Whether reason or memory or imagination agitates, one should repeat the
Invocation or perfects a Darood and keep on with his repetition in order to
avoid any personal thoughts . For no one has room in his heart for God and
self both, it is one or the other .

The tendency of nufs is to turn us from the One to the many, enticing
us with the intoxication of the endlessthings of the manifestworld . Thus
man becomes attached to the stream of nothingness . Then he loses sight of
his true being . This it iswhich brings him al I histroubles . At first he turnsto
meditation so that his troubleswill not bother him so much . Then he learn s

Document: 0.1 See Introdix.tion to Gita Dhyana, p. 21 9

Note:

.perfect" may have been copied mistakenly as 'perform' .

268

to control those affairs that have been troubling him . Finally he develops
calmness and that calmness he can carry with him when he leaves the medi-
tation hall . The stronger that caImnessthe surer he will find his footsteps in
ife .

Nevertheless one has tobe sure of himself first and the wise have
maintained their silence for long periods . Besides this helps those who take
up concentration and thus indirectly helpsman in every line of progress .

For circulation among the members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

 26 9

An old typescript in the f orm of a Gita, f rom a collection of Suf i

papers used by Samuel Lewis .

Series II GITHA No . 2[A] DHYANA

(Meditation )

1TOWARD THE ONE . . . 1

The great obstacle to be overcome in Meditation is the false ego or

Nufs. What is it that prevents us from concentrating our thoughts and feeling s
on God? It is the nufs. in the Hebrew religion there is the Shema or, cry, "Hear,
O Israel, the Lord our Lord2, the Lord is One ." And there is the answer to the
Cry, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy
Soul and with all thy Mind." And these directions should be considered as a
unity, for the light of the soul shines in the heart and is reflected in the mind.

Pl ato wrote that we lived in a shadow world,where we confused the

shadow of ourselves with reality . This is the nufs, the false ego, which stands in
the light before God, causing, so to speak, a spiritual eclipse . In Meditation,
one does not have to hold such a thought for this false self is overcome
through meditating upon the true Self, which in reality is God . The modern
devotee may repeat the Invocation, "Towards3 the One, etc .instead of the
shema and it will produce the same effect . There is no difference between
them in the language of heart and soul ; the forms in words may be different,
but the acts, thoughts, feelings and results are the same .

Whenever the nufs seems to hold us in its swa y,it is through meditation
we may find freedom . To the Sufi, pure meditation includes more than going
into one's room only ; any act of life which is done with dependence upon
Allah or which makes us aware of Him, whether in reading or studying or
working or contempl ation or prayer or meditation or any duty of everyday
life, all may become part of a universal meditation which marks every breath
and every heartbeat in life . Then aswe observe more plainly the true purpose

Documents:

S.L.: See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

0 .1: See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 21 9

This whole Gita seems to be Samuel Lewis's version, made in order to cornplete this series . He may have
made it f rom amotations of a lecture by Pir-o-Murshid.

Notes :

1 . 0.1: the Invoca tion appears above the Gita .

2. Ibid. : 'God' instead of 'Lord "
3. Ibid. : 'Toward"
27 0

of life, the momentary obstacle4 which may have appeared like a great cliff,
becomes as a tiny step through our growth and understanding, and by taking
this step,what was once a hindrance becomes an aid to our development .

The nufs turns us from the One to the many, enticing us with the things
of the 5 world. Then man attaches himself to one thing after another which
brings at best momentary satisfaction ; through his spiritual practices the Sufi
learns to chain the nufs, to perceive it is only a shadow of reality, and finding
the sun of truth within his being, looking upon it, one is no longer aware of the
shadow.

Then the nufsis not destroyed but harnessed. The whole of man's be-
ing is attuned to God and everything within him serves God. This is the work of
all on the path of illumination, of whatever school they maybe . There is no
other obstacle than this false self and there is no better means of controlling
it than by meditation and by practising the Presence of Allah .

(For circulation among members of the A .S .C. only . )

4 . Ibid. : "obstacles"
5 . Ibid. : "this "
6 . Ibid. : "with'
 27 1

A copy made eider Sakina's supervision of an old typescript in

the farm of a Gita, f rom the legacy of Arshida M artin.

Series 11 . GITHA Number 3.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with All the Illuminated Souls Who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATIO N

Meditation is the one general practicewhich is open to all mureeds

and to the generality as wel I . It is introduced as a silence in the Universal
Worship and in the meetings of the social and educational department of
the Sufi Movement, known as the Brotherhood .

'Meditation is the most universal means of the spreading the message,

which in a certain sense is no message, only the call of humanity to praise God
and to show consideration one for the other .1

2As meditation is new to the West there maybe practical aids which
help in the first stages. For instance the talib, after his Bayat, may be given a
sacred phrase to repeat, which will be generally known as a Wazifa . The
Wazifa is based upon a sacred phrase which holds as thought some attribute
of God . It has a positive and negative use . The negative use is for purification
and the positive use is to build up the characteristic within the personality
which is needed for success and attainment in life .2

Wazifasare generally repeated audibly, a certain number of times

as esoteric exercises . But they may be repeated mentally and silently and
thus used as Darood . This helps in keeping out all unwelcome incoming
thoughts, by which is meant any thought that interfereswith the goal in
view . In meditation all thoughts, of any nature whatever, are wayfarers
and should be removed . Unwelcome thoughts have no more place in the
meditation hall than have unwelcome persons, only it isthat we can easily
prevent the unwelcome personsfrom entering, while a constant warfare is
required to restrain the unwelcome thoughts .

Document 01 See Introdudan to Gita Dhyana, p . 21 9

Notes :

1 . This sentence may have been added by Mrshida Martin.

2. This paragraph appear s to have been added by Samuel Lewis .
272

Sufism is not a code of rules . The purpose of instruction is to help the

pupilto help himself . Through peace of mind one not only helps himself, he
can more easily help others . Peace of mind removes the obstacles which
stand between personality and personality . If there is any losswhich comes
in not having peace of mind it is a losswhich everyone can feel and know .
Although in the spiritual I ife one need not seek happiness directly, the
struggle for peace of mind removes most of those things which stand in the
way of our experience of happiness .

Therefore as one is successful in maintaining meditation a short

while, he is encouraged to keep up longer meditations . Those whofind it
hardto dothis in the everyday life are welcomed to the practice ofKhilvat
by which they, at stated times, can withdraw from worldly activity and be
guarded and protected in their hours of silence, meditation and devotion .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

 27 3
An old typescript in the form of a Gita, from a collection of Sufi
papers used by Samuel Lewis.

Series I I GITHA No . 3[A] DHYANA

(Meditation )

1TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE
ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS WHO FORM THE
EMBODIMENT OFTHEMASTER, THE SPIRIT OF GU I DANCE . '

Besides meditation, each talib isgiven special instructionS2 suited

to hisneed, while journeying the pathtoward Unity . One such form of in-
struction is the WAZIFA, or repetition of sacred phrases for various purposes .

If it be asked what is the purpose, it maybe answered that as the pur-

pose of al l rain is to return to the ocean, so the purpose of every soul is to re-
turn to God . Some drops unite in I ittle streams, to flow down the riverwhich
ultimately loses itself in the ocean . So the practice of each Wazifa maybe
forsome particular purpose, yet all these purposes unite just as the streams
unite, and finally come to their destination .

Wazifa is both positive and negative, to build up facultieswhich

are necessary and to remove undesirable qualities . So Suf is use Wazifas in
purification, but the Sufi always recognizesGod as the Perfection of Love,
Harmony and Beauty, as the Perfection of al I qualities and as the Per-
fection of Perfections . If strength is needed, strength comes from God ; if
love is required, God is love ; if one must perform Justice, God is Judge and
Forgiver .

Wazifas may be repeated audibly or silently in the performance of

any act orduty in Iife . By this meansthe devotee draws from God the help
he needs, attuning himself to the qualities of God at that moment . So be-
sides the regular practice of Wazifa a specified number of times as assigned
to the tal ib by his teacher, so one may meditate upon the Wazifa at al
times and use it even when it is no longer part of one's spiritual exercises .

Documents :

S.L . See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

O.t. See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 21 9

Notes :

1 . 01 : the Invocation appear s above the Gita.

2 . Ibid . : 'instaction'
274

Sufism is not a code of rules ; the purpose of Sufism is to bring sou Isto
God realization . Allah is beyond all Attributes and Qualities, being All
Essence . Understanding this every breath can become a meditation wherein
one puts full dependence upon Allah and there will be no moment which
will not be a meditation, no moment of separateness from God .

(For circulation among members of the A.S .C. only .)

 27 5
A copy made uxler Sakina ' s supervision of an old typesaQt in
the f am of a Gita, from the legacy of Arshida Martin .

Series II . GITHA Number4 .

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united withAll the Illuminated Souls Who form theEmbodiment_of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATION

There is always a question of how much one can develop through

silence and how much through sound . I n answer it should be stated that ul ti-
matel y all development leads to the Universal Sound which has been called
the 'Voice of the Silence" and which is silence with respect to the noises and
clashings of manifestation but which is not nothing-ness ordeath .

Zikar practice is of tremendous advantage to the young in that it helps

elevate their vital forces and even to experience ecstasy . Thus they are
drawn away from passion and materiality . The music has a certain influence of
itself, and along with the sacred phrases that form the words+)1 there is a
most elevating effect . This elevating effect can be felt within the personality
as one practises Zikar more and more so that after a whit a he will be able to
witness his own progress. It also has an effect upon meditation, that sometimes
after Zikar meditation is much easier .

In the orient, especially in the Buddhist countries, gongs and other in-
struments summon the worshippers. After a gong is sounded one often finds it
easier to meditate . No doubt it causes a certain stirring up of the air of the
room and when this air vibrates it affects all the physical processes in the
room . This effect is communicated inwardly through the channels of breath,
and often results in the removal of the thought that has been present . Most
forms of music in this respect tend to cleanse the mind of the thoughts it has
been holding and may take it into a revery .

Revery itself is not meditation . Revery helps to control thought but

does not stop the memory or imagination . For this reason the mureed is in-
structed how to. watch the breath and keepit flowing rhythmically . Every
thought produces some change in the breathing . If the breath is held constant

+): Here probably meant: the sacred phrases that the words form.

Dociinent: 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

Note :

It is not known who added this note .

27 6

by will-power, it chokes off the incoming thoughts ; then they find no rootsoil
in the mind. But this is not enough . In addition one tries to purify the mind con-
stantly . This is done through the use of sacred phrases although Zikar is also
helpful in that . Then, after a while one may be able to control the elements
of the breath, to keep the ether dominating, or to add to the light .

By such means the calm and peace of the soul come to the fore, and
penetrate the outer personality. All exercises which aid in this accomplish-
ment are to be considered as parts of the inner life . The theory of this is not in-
volved and requires no knowledge of metaphysics.

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

 27 7

An old typescript in the f am of a Gita, f rom a collection of Suf i

papers used by Samuel Lewis .

Series I I GITHA No . 4[A] DHYANA

(Meditation )

1TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE
ONLY BEING , UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS WHO FORM THE
EMBOD IMENT OF THE MASTER, THE S PIRIT OF GUIDANCE . '

There is a question, if meditation is required to devel op in the Sil ence,

why isZikar sometimes chanted and why are some practices said aloud? The
answer is, that there are certain purposes in each practice, and that the ordi-
nary distinction between sound and silence does not hold true from the Divine
point of view.

For instance, in Zikar one may become able to arrange the atoms in
order and rhythm and harmony. When mureeds chant in groups, they often
magnify the power of the atoms . Often this brings the same effect as the pres-
ence of the teacher, but generall y Zikar awakens the soul so as to produce
alertness or even ecstasy .

In Zikar the thought is kept on all the syllables and sounds, making it
difficult to think of anything else. if the Zikar becomes automatic and is re-
cited without proper thought and feeling , it still is of value because of the in-
trinsic power of the atoms responding to sound. Besides that, it harmonizes one
with the atmosphere and attunes one with all Zikar atmosphere, so one can-
not continue the practice without developing out of it the necessary thought
and feeling which will then carry one along.

When this is accomplished,one becomes attuned to the spiritual souls

higher in evolution and becomes awakened to impressions, and may even arise
to that state when the separateness between mind2 and heart disappears in
the realization of Zikar . So Zikar may be called the finest thought expressed
in the finest material form with the highest spiritual purpose. It becomes the
perfection of the sounds uttered by the tongue .

Documents :

S .L . See Introduction to GitiDhyana, p. 219

01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

The whole Gita seems to be Samuel Lewis's version, made in order to complete this series . He may have
made it from annotations of a lecture given by Pir-o-Murshid.

Notes :

1 . 0.t. : The fist three wards of the Invocation appear above the Gita.
2. Ibid. : 'heart' instead of 'mind'
278

Zikar is best understood through its performance . In singing and

chanting one purifies one's being, even one's mind. Then one develops into a
Zakir, who is the embodiment of Zikar and the vehicle of the Message of God.
The Zakir is the mureed perfected in Zikar .

The moral of Zikaris humility and in its performance the nufsis ab-
sorbed like the shadow when light is turned on it . Zikar is important for those
needing power and inspiration, while meditation is for those desiring calm and
peace . Each are necessary for those who seek God in all forms, and each is
only of value when practised; then each fulfils its purpose better than any
explanation can give it .

(For circulation among members of the A .S .C. only .)

 27 9
A copy made order Sakina ' s sLpervision of an old typescript in
the farm of a Gita , from the legacy of Mu-shida Martin.

Series 11 . GITHA Number 5.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with All the Illuminated Souls Who form the Embodiment of
theMaster, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATION

Fikar isapractice which is indulged in by most Sufisby which they

keep before themselvesthe nothingness of ego and the Allness of God, to
learn and feel until they know that God is the Only Being . One may say that
the disciple in Fikarcan be cal led Fakir, the poorone, the unattached per-
son . For the fulfillment of Fikar is that there is nothing in the world, in
heaven or upon earth, which can cling to the personality who is determined
to complete his journey back to God .

'Therefore Fikar aids much in the purification of mind . It forces the

thoughts away,it may be called the vacuum cleaner of the mind . I t helps to
preserve mental magnetism and to restore it when lost. It is valuable in
strengthening any mental faculty, and in restoring those which are lost . So in
a certain sense Fikar accomplishes the same resul ts as meditation.

Meditation consists of preparation, performance and application,

which means action. Then when one holds the spirit of unity at all times the
whole of life becomes a meditation . In this meditation differs from Fikar which
has to be performed in a certain way and which cannot very well be done in
the presence of others or when there is any possibility of a disturbance . The
performance of meditation can reach the goal,however, when one can main-
tain full inner rapport without there being any impediment to outward ac-
tivity .

Meditation aids greatl y in the development of insight which can be-

come the deepest faculty of the mind. There is no limit to the length of time
one may indulge in it either . Akbar, the great Sufi Mogul Emperor of India, was
able to get along with practically no sleep, often meditating for hours at
night instead .

Document : 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 21 9

Note:

1 . These five paragraphs are probablyMirshida Martin's version, made framher annotations of P'f-o-
Akrshid's Iect►re.
280

Meditation may be performed at any time although there is a certain

advantage if the same hours can be used every day . The length of it does not
matter so much although it often requires several minutes to accomplish that
stillness which is the real meditation . Some persons cannot do it in less than
thirty minutes ; therefore a gradual lengthening of the period of meditation to
that time is advantageous. But after one is able to control thought, it does not
matter so much, one can obtain the stillness ultimately even with a single
breath .

Nevertheless from time to time a meditation of two hours is valuable,

or in its pl ace, a sil ence over a longer period in which there is full restraint of
speech and as much as possible of thought and action . 1

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY.

 28 1
An old typescript in the f onn of a Gita, from a collection of Suf i
papers used by Samuel Lewis.

Series 11 GITHA No . 5(Al DHYAN A

(Meditation )

1TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE
ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS WHO FORM THE
EMBODIMENT OF THE MASTER, THE SPIRIT OF GU I DANCE . 1

Fikar is the perpetual possession of the Sufi, and the devotee has
often been called Fakir, the poor one . But what is this poverty? It is the
poverty of non-attachment2, of those who are poor in spirit but blessed by
Allah . The Sufi may be outwardly poor, yet inwardly he may not3 be cal led
rich for he may be said to possess everything and nothing . Hissatisfaction is
in God and he may bemasterof wealth, while those who own wealth among
the generality are better termed servants of wealth .

Every meditation is a Fikar when rightfully performed . In meditation

heart and mind are centered upon God, and this is true in Fikar also . Only in
Fikar one is given special syllables or a special form, which is absent in gen-
eral meditation . Yet Fikar can be called an intensification of the highest4
meditation, keeping the heart fixed on.God.

Meditation consists of preparation, performance and application,

which means action . So the true meditation is not separate from the rest of life .
This is especially true when one gains power and magnetism through medita-
tion to be applied in healing or other spiritual work .

In meditation there are two general results: the development of the

faculty of insight and the growth of the personal atmosphere . Once this atmo-
sphere is built, Fikar becomes a natural performance, and as it is said in Salat,
at every moment of our lives we draw closer to God. Through this surrender of
self, through keeping the gaze and concentration steadfast on God, all be-
comes natural, and it is the most natural thing in life to be ever aware and re-
sponsive to God.

Documents :

S .L . See Introckiction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

0.t. See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 21 9

Notes :

1 . 0.1: The f ir st tree wads of the Invocation appear above the Gita .
2 . Ibid . : "non-attainment" instead of 'non-attachment'
3 . Ibid. : 'not' crossed out afterwards
4 . Ibid .: 'higher' in place of 'highest'
282

The goal to be attained is that the spiritual condition be continuous

through all of life . As the great Sufi saint Abu Saidibn Abi-I-Khairhassaid,
the Sufi may eat and drink, work and play, sleep, and trade in the market,
yet he does not forget God for one single instant . Thatisthelife ofthetrue
Fakir and that is the Fikar, which unites the inner and outer lives in the
completeness of God rea l i zat ion .

(For circulation among members of the A.S .C . only .)

 28 3
A copy made ender Sakina ' s sLpervision of an ol d typescript in
the farm of a Gita , from the legacy of Mirshida Martin.

Series 11 . GITHA Number 6.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, Who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATIO N

The watching overthe breath is important both in meditation and

out of it . By guarding the breath one learns to control the ego, and from a
practical view one develops in efficiency in action . Forth is purpose there
aremany esoteric exercises which aregiventhe disciplebythe teacher at
variousstagesof his development, also according to his particular need .

In meditation one should observe the rhythm of the breath until one
is ableto get the mind quiet . If themind cannot be quieted, one may just
watch the rhythm of the breath continually . Yet one may also purify the
breath, as by Darood . After awhile there maybe a tendency for the breath
to become more and more refined . Then onewill find that it is difficult to
watch and indeed there is no need to observe breath when one enters the
real silence .

'As one enters the real silence he begins to receive the energy of
space which is the energy of life . Neverthel ess the talib should pay no atten-
tion to it . Sometimes he will become sensitive to light and after awhile this
light may increase more and more until his whole inner being may become ra-
diant with light . Nevertheless he should pay no attention to it . The heart may
pound, the heart may beat, the heart may consume all the fires of conscious-
ness until there is no more thought . Nevertheless the talib should pay no at-
tention to it.

There may be visions, or there may be light or there may be colours or

there may be nothing . The talib should pay no attention. For those may be
called the delights of heaven. If one is able to control all thought and emo-
tion and then enters into a sphere or a state of unworldly phenomena, that
only means that he has passed a certain place,it does not indicate his place of
arrival . Anything which attracts or detracts keeps the seeker away from the
goal .

Document- 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

Note:

1 . Paragraphs three, four and five may be Mtrshiida Martin's version, made from her annotations of Pi-o-
tvhrshid's lecture.
284

Of course there may come a time when .one is drawn into the light or
drawn into the heart-sphere, when one feels that line of demarcation be-
tween person and person depart, when one is conscious of space being within
oneself and not without, and when one has no longer any time-conception
but feels as if living in eternity . Such a one may be said to be in meditation,
such a one may be said to be at the gates of Samadhi .1

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C . ONLY.

 28 5
An old typescript in the form of a Gita, from a collection of Sufi
papas used by Samuel Lewis .

Series I I GITHA No . 6[A] DHYANA

(Meditation )

1TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE
ONLY BEING , UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS WHO FORM THE
EMBOD IMENT OF THE MASTER, THE SPIRIT OF GU I DANCE . 1

It is often difficult to keep the mind in condition during some

breathing exercise . In thePurification Breath it isnot enough to keep the
mind on the syllables YA SHAFEE, YA KAFEE . At first the thought will bring
strength and purity but the advancing tal ib should ever bear in mind that
this practice and al I practices are means of uniting the souls2to God . God is
the Healer and the practice is His medicine which is used to heal and purify
His vehicle , so he may occupy and use it .

In the same way, the practice of Kasab can become more potent
when faculties are unified . Concentration on the practice helps , but if dif-
ficulty occurs it is not wrong to do some self-examining . Al I conditions are
reflected in the breath , and if any obstacles persist , one should consult the
spiritual teacher . At the same time, proper meditation also helps , for any
thought whatever has a harmful effect on a breathing practice .

Activity of the mind greatly alters the rhythms3 . 'Therefore Kasa is

more related to concentration than to meditation , only it should be natu-
ral . So before all practices a meditation isof benef it, during which time by
the supression of thought , the breath takeson a natural rhythm , invigorat-
ing the body and healing the mind , which makes the practice of Kasab
easier .

The goal of all meditation is balance, and in balance the goal itself
is to be found . In the progress toward that goal rhythm may appear to be
more important than balance yet nothing should be done to force the breath
in its depth, in its power, in itsotherwise natural movements . Disease an d

Docunents :

S .L . See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

Notes :

1 . O .t. : The fist tree wads of the Invocation appear above the Gita .
2 . Ibid . : "soul "
3 . Ibid . : "diyltm"
28 6

crime are often the result of irregularities of the breath, so of all things,
this order and balance should be preserved and it is best preserved through
meditation .

Therefore it is not necessary to consciousl y strive to alter the breath

rhythms, but the steady repetition of those spiritual exercises which have
been given to one by the teacher helps more than anything else on the path
toward God.

(For circulation among members of the A .S .C. only .)

 28 7
A copy made under Sakina 's sLpentision of an old typescript in
the form of a Gita, from the legacy of Mushida Martin .

Series 11 . GITHA Number 7.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, Who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Sp i rit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATION

The inner I ife is not separate from the outer I ife, being only a larger
life, which takes into consideration far more than appears on the surface
manifestation . Althoughwhen we speak of "inner life" we include esoteric
practices, meditations, dreams, visions and various experiences and ef-
forts, it does not exclude the everyday I ife . Instead of adding any burdens
to an over-troubled world, meditation shows how to avoid difficulties and
overcome burdens .

One need not try any special posture in meditation other than than
which is common to the country where he finds himself . Lying down, how-
ever, is not satisfactory for then the heart-currents change in direction and
besides, it is easier to fall asleep, which would destroy the purpose of the
meditation . Of course when one is alone one may use any position or pos-
ture which one f inds convenient and beneficial . The object is always to get
into the silence ; the method is not so important .

Meditation, being universal in application and scope, need not be re-

garded as a substitute for prayer . In some countries people meditate, in
other places pray, elsewhere they have different sacred customs . All of
these basically may be accepted by the Sufi . He prays when he isin need and
he prays when he praises God; praise of God is his chief prayer, like it is that of
the angels . Yet there is always need to enter into the sil ence above sound,
and find the peace which is above even joy . Therefore meditation is an ulti-
mate practice which stands alone and in this respect is above all other
methods .

As man enters the silence, so does the silence enter into him . As he
unites with the universe, so does the universemanifest in him . This is true,
no matter what be his path or his training . Ultimately he arrives at th is des-
t i nat ion . But this is the silence of all-life, which without containing any-
thing may be said to contain aII -things . Therefore one is said to enter the
world-egg or world-womb . This accounts for the teaching of the Mother of
the World, the Divine Mother, the Bodhisatva Avalokitesvara or Kwan-yin . I t

Doament 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

28 8

represents the stage of realization of union with the sil ence, and as all may so
unite, all are said to have a common mother . The silence of the womb and the
sil ence of Universal Sound are each used to symbolize the other .

For ci rcuIation among the Members of the A . S .C . ONLY .

 28 9
An old typescript in the form of a Gita, from a collection of Suf 1
papers used by Samuel Lewis .

Series I I GITHANo . 7 [A] DHYANA

(Meditation )

1TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE
ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS WHO FORM THE
EMBODIMENT OF THE MASTER, THE SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE . '

The inner life is not separate from the outer I ife, but is a fuller and
larger life . What is necessary is to put first things first . The mystic does
more than quote scriptures ; he not only says "Seek ye first the Kingdom of
God," his whole life is absorbed in that2seeking . Therefore some people
have thought that through meditation everything can be gained and all
their desires be3fulfilled . From acertain point of view this is true, but it
does not take into account what is one's desire .

The outer I ife is ful I of change and in al I circumstancesthe desires

are different . When a desire is granted often it is no longer a desire, and
more often it does not have the effect sought . In many cases it is discovered
that the thing or event brings a quite different and even contrary result
than the one expected .

The Sufi looks to God for al I things, praying to the God of Health for
vigor and to the God of Wealth for his sustenance, keeping steadily before
him the idea and ideal that there is one God, from Whom al I blessings flow .
He does not consider it wrong to seek guidance 4fromGod4 concerning his
dail y affairs . Yet as the heart strengthens and insight increases all becomes
more and more clear,and at the same time life continually presents itspuz-
zl es . So most necessary in life are seeking the will of God and performing it .
These things are more important5 than anything else .

Documents :

S .L . See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

Notes :

1 . 01 : The fist tiree words of the In cation appear above the Gita .
2. Ibid.: "that" omitted
3. Ibid.: "be" omitted
4 . Ibid.: "from God" omitted
5 . Ibid.: "important" omitted
290

So the tal ib makes God his continued need and often his dai ly prob-
lems become clear to him . Then one learns also to understand thedifficul-
ties of others, to sympathise with them and to help them . The difference
between the ordinary person and the spiritual seeker isthat the ordinary
person is quick to praise and blame, enjoys being praised andseldomwants
to be corrected ; the seeker reserves his praise for God, is willing to take
blame, striving to understand the6 critic and feeling sorry for his igno-
rance, wh ich in the end only does the other one harm .

Sufism has been called the path of blame (malamat),of blame from
and by the world. But Sufismis also the path of satisfaction,of satisfaction in
and with God . In meditation one rises above praise and blame, above good and
evil, above wickedness and virtue, and attains Wisdom.One sees the hand of
God in all things and at all times and praises Him every moment of his life . This
is the true spiritual way of living and is not connected with asceticism or need-
less discipline ; it is a natural life, the most natural way of living .

(For circulation among members of the A .S .C. only . )

6 . Ibid. : 'his' instead of 'the'

 29 1
A copy made under Sakina's supervision of an old typescript in
the farm of a Gita, from the legacy of Mt.rshida Mart in.

Series 11 . GITHA Number 8.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, whoform theEmbodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

'One speaks of entering into the Silence in meditation and one may
wonder whether there is an entrance into the Silence which is different from
the union with God. Christians speak of God as the Word and so associate God
with life and movement . Buddhists accept the doctrine of the silence and ig-
nore the existence of any God, and assume thereby that there may be no Uni-
versal God Who is All in All . Thus the diff erent religions, based upon the same
realization, have given out doctrines which are radically different . This is be-
cause no two mind-views or mind-moulds of supermental life may be the same .

The object in meditation is to enter the supermental life . One calls it

entering the sil ence because one finds that silent life which is fundamental to
all things, which is described in the opening section of "The Mysticism of
Sound." That, however,is the first step. For if one remained there he would en-
ter the stage of no-being, instead of the stage of all-being .

According to the Buddhist teachings man first identifies himself, in

thought at least,with the objective world ; then with the subjective world ;
then with the union of the subjective and objective . But between the union
with the subjective and the ultimate state there is one of nothingness, which
has been called the Void . All have to pass through that and some mystics have
called that stage, "The Dark Night of the Soul." Then one seems to be alone
and speaks of "The Flight of the Alone to the Alone." But this is not the ulti-
mate stage .

One does first have to contend with external noises in meditation .

Then one has to struggle with one's thoughts and this is such a battle that
sometimes all of life is not enough. Yet there are periods when one can rise
above the mind, when the mind grows fatigued, and falls below the will-

Document : 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 21 9

Note :

This whole Gita seems to be Samuel Lewis's version, made from his annotations of Pr-o-Mirshid's
lecture.
29 2

power . Then one enters the silence . Often one abides there thinking this is the
ultimate state . The Arhats of Southern Buddhism still think so with the result
that their realization does not bring them into union with all things. They deny
the existence of God, and it is no wonder, for their realization is not the Divine
Union . They get into the Void, the nothingness and remain there .

But there is a higher stage and for this love is needed which comes
through self-sacrifice on the one hand and heart-awakening on the other .
Even in meditation, when the heart is alive, one may find that union . It often
comes through union with the teacher first (fana-fi-Sheikh) ; it ultimately
leads to union with God (fana-fi-lill ah) . The realization it brings, baka, proves
to one that the false self is not the real self and the life which appears in us,
which we refer to as ourself is not different from the universal life . 1

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C . ONLY.

 29 3
An old typescript in the form of a Gita, from a collection of Sufi
papers used by Samuel Lewis .

Series I I GITHA No . 8[A] DHYANA

(Meditation )

1TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE
ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS, WHOFORM THE
EMBODIMENT OF THE MASTER, THE SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE . '

One can alwaystake his quest ions2 to God . Of course one often has
his spiritual teacher, hisMurshid or Sheikh near at hand, who may and often
must be consulted when doubt arises . The spiritual teacher can best help
the mureedwhen the mureed looks upon the teacher as a l ink on the chain
which connects him to God .

The saints and sageswho have been gifted with insight often com-
mune with God and through their inner heart development have been able
to achieve God's purpose in thisworld . In meditation one is consulting with
God, feeling God . This does not mean that one has a special meditation for
every I ittle problem . Keeping fixed periods for communion with God, es-
tabl ishing rhythms and devoting the whole heart to God at those times helps
more than anything else .

Especially early morning meditations are valuable for consulting

with God, and receiving help . Gradual lythisspiritual communionwillbe-
comesuch a power, such a reality, that itwil l continue day and night . The
heart wi l l awaken and the intuitions tel I one how to act, when to move, to
travel, to marry, to make any important change in I ife, or even to meditate
or perform extra spiritual deeds . In this condition gradually all of life takes
on a grand unity .

The Sufi always meditates before taking any important steps in life .
When the mind isclear and passive and the heart awake, Godwill speak .
The Sufi does not enter meditation for something special, for his desire may
not be God's desire . The true lover, the devotee, seeks union rather than
reward and the union is the greatest of alI rewards . Yet meditation is th e

Docunents :

S .L . See introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

0.1 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

Notes :

1 . 0.t. : The fist three words of the Invocation appear above the Gita .
2 . Ibid . : "question"
29 4

method by which Allah Himself works and all great murshids meditated
when they had great duties to perform, for they realized that not they but
Al Iah was the real Actor and Performer .

There are many blessings in meditation, there are many blessings in

preparing for meditation, there are many blessings resulting from medita-
tion, but meditation itself isthe greatest of blessings .

(For circulation among members of the A .S .C . only .)

 29 5
A copy made under Sakina's stpervision of an old typescript in
the farm of a Gita, from the legacy of M txshida Martin .

Series 11 . GITHA Number 9. 1

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls,Who formthe Embodimentof
theMaster, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

Students of Oriental art have observed that the methods and tech-
niques used in the West are different from those in the East . The Occidentals
seem to spend more time in execution, the Orientals in planning . Yes, this may
be so,only when we study the fundamentals of Oriental art deeply we find
that the real preparation of the artist is himself . If he can get himself into the
right mood, if he has established the right rapport with his subject matter, the
work is not so different from the playing of a piece of music in the West. Even
though it is a creative2, it seems to follow a sil ent pattern, an invisible form
which is there to be copied, and the executive2 of which brings inspiration .

Now this shows that the Silent life is not the void and instead brings all
the seeds of life. Those who are only able to go so far in meditation do not
reach the place where they can partake of the tree of life . Sometimes they
keep the self-conception before them . Often they do not surrender fully . And
this may be because of a lack of response to beauty . The esthetic sense, which
is not always far from the spiritual feeling, may be undeveloped in them.

In meditation one's energies are turned Godward .That is to say, not

only into the sil ence, but into the life which is the soul of the sil ence. Sufis call
that, "The perfection of Love,Harmony and Beauty ."Often the single words
"love," "harmony" and "beauty" fail to impress one fully . There is an ex-
pectancy of them from others . The true mystic instead seeks to uncover them
from within himself . And the difference between the Sufi and the ordinary man
is that in the former it is as if God Himself were speaking and acting .

Many know about the simile of the empty cup; few there be that find
the attainment of it. It is as one voids oneself of one's self, and then is filled
with light . Man's duty is to action, that is, the emptying of ego ; to God go th e

Document: 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

Notes:

1 . This whole Gita seems to be Samuel Lewis's version, made from annotations of a lechre given by Pir-
o-Mirshid.
2. Even though "creative" and "executive' do not seem to make sense here, it is written so in the "o .L .
29 6

fruits of the action,which come to man as the filling of light, which we call in-
spiration. Therefore Mohammed used to consider himself only as the pen of
God . He refused to be classed along with authors and poets . He said that
Qur'an was more than man's poetry for it echoed the Divine Wisdom . He chal-
lenged his opponents to produce such a book, and they could not .

All the great artistic achievements of the Orient as well as Qur'an

have come from the emptying of self,which is followed by the pouring in of
the Silent life into one's being . That Life represents all wisdom and beauty,in
other words, God . Thus the artist who practises his meditations not only finds
God, but makes use of his knowl edge in his everyday life .

For circulation among the Members of the A.S .C. ONLY .

 29 7
An old typescript in the farm of a Gita, from a collection of Suf i
papers used by Samuel Lewis .

Series II GITHA No . 9[A ] DHYANA

(Meditation )

1TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE
ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS WHO FORM THE
EMBOD IMENT OF THE MASTER, THESPIRITOFGUIDANCE . 1

It is often wondered how artists and musicians in the Orient could

advance in their development far beyond those of the West . The reason is
that they spend so much time in meditation . Sometimes the whole life of an
artist is absorbed in a single task, and many beautiful things have been
made inthismanner .

In truth it isGod Who is theMaster Mind . The great Sufi poetswho

have been among the most2 famous on earth spent much time in meditation .
Their whole life was Iike a meditation and their poetrywas the result of
meditation and it consisted of praise of God, rejoicing in the Beloved, and
songs to the Source and Goal of humanity .

Even today we find some mystical poets and artists in the East . They
meditate many hours before taking up their tasks . Without a definite pur-
pose, a work has not much use or value and the efforts are often wasted .
Real Beauty should not be considered as something different from Wisdom
nor Wisdom as apart from Beauty .

In Meditation al I one's energy is turned Godward and so becomes

strengthened manifold . This explainswhy it has been possible for mystics to
write great works without becoming fatigued . There is no fatigue when one
works as an instrument for Heaven . The difference between the Sufi and the
ordinary man is that the Sufi realizes that it is God Who performsall ac-
tions .When the average man writes a letter, his arm becomes tired, yet the
pen is nottired . But when God writes and man isHis instrument, man islike
that pen, he can work fora long period without becoming tired .

Documents :

S .L. See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

0.1 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 21 9

Notes:

1 . 0.1: the fist three wards of the Invocation appear above the Gita .
2. Ibid.: "most' omitted
298

Mohammed used to consider himself only as the pen of God . He re-

fused to be classed as an author . He said the Qur'an was more than man's
poetry for it echoed the purest Wisdom of God . So he chal lenged his oppo-
nents to produce a Qur'an and one proof of his Prophethood is3 that he alone
was able to produce such a book .

Sufis and mystics have inspired much of the great spiritual ar-
chitecture of the world, whether of India or the other partsof Asia and the
Indies . The tomb of Akbar, the Taj Mahal, the temples of Angkor and
Borabodur, all point to marvellous spiritual inspiration . The men and
women who labored in such places probably found great inner joy ; they had
to spend much time in meditation and their outward performancewas the
reflection of their inner lives .

The Sufi realizing God as the perfection of Beauty, is the loverof

Beauty . He appreciates all true beauty and endeavors to make his life
beautiful in al l its aspects . There is nothing in I ife which cannot be brought
to perfection .

(For circulation among members of the A .S .C. only . )

3 . Ibid. : 'was' instead of 'is'

 29 9
A copy made under Sakina's stpervision of an old typescript in
the f arm of a Gita, from die legacy of Mtrshida Martin .

Series 11 . GITHA Number 10 .

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, Who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATION

It may be asked if there is perfection in meditation, and the answer

to this depends largely by what one means . Yes, there is a state called
"Samadh i"wherein one continues to I ive, when one I ives and moves and has
his being in God, or at least one hasa realization which is not I imited by
the ego outlook . The attunement toGod which comesthrough meditation
and heart-awakening is such that openly and consciously aswel I as con-
scientiously one finds himself beyond the distinctions and differences
which divide men .

'The term "Baka" is used by Sufis to denote realization. l t is then that

one finds the Divine Life in the Silent Life .One can call it Silent Life which is the
void, which comes when one is freed from attachment to subject and obj ect,
when one is attracted neither by the pleasures of this world nor the joys of
the next . But if one continued in such a state there would be a tendency to re-
tirement, to asceticism, to the crushing of the life-force in oneself, as if only by
the destruction of life could sorrow and inharmony be terminated .

The Buddhists and Hindus have used the term Nirvana to indicate the
state when one rises above distinctions and differences . This seems to have a
negative emphasis to followers of other religions who emphasize rather the
Kingdom of God. This Kingdom of God rightly speaking is beyond heaven.
Heaven is really the kingdom of man, the state in which all of man's desires
are fulfilled.lt is not the Kingdomof God.ln Malakut no doubt all of man's
desires are accomplished, which makes Malakut the sphere in which Kadar,
the human will "holds sway," just as on earth, Jadar, the necessity of nature
"holds sway ." But there is beyond these another state.

Lahut is the name given to the plane of oneness beyond all differ-
ences and distinctions,in which one experiences the life as a whole and from

Doaxnent: 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

Note :

1 . Paragraphs two, ttree, four and f ive seem to be Sanuel Lewis's version, made from annotations of a
lecthse given by Pi-o-Arshid .
300

which one receives all energies and functions and power, serving God there
from . But Hahut,which has been call ed a plane, represents that in which God
alone is,in which God is all in all, and there is none else .

The perfection of meditation is therefore that which produces the per-

fection of consciousness. It begins as a clearing of man's mind, in removing the
false ego . It terminates not only in the attainment of divine consciousness by
man, but the reverberation of that consciousness through man as if in reality
and in all realization only God exists . Sufis call this state Risalat,which is the
perfection of humanity .

This paper should be followed by at least 30 min . meditation. 1

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C . ONLY.

 30 1
An old typescript in the f a rn of a Gita, from a collection of Suf i
papers used by Samuel Lewis .

Series 11 GITHA No. 10EAl DHYANA

(Meditation )

1TOWARD THE ONE, THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, HARMONY AND BEAUTY, THE
ONLY BEING, UNITED WITH ALL THE ILLUMINATED SOULS WHO FORM THE
EMBODIMENT OF THE MASTER, THE SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE . '

It may be asked whether there is a perfection in meditation, and the

answer may be "yes" or "no" or both "yes" and "no" and s t i l l neither "yes" nor
"no ." For the perfection in meditation is the perfection2 of al I perfections .

Through right meditation one becomes attuned to God and sotoall

creation including humanity . There are many grades and steps in spiritual
devotion, wherein one becomes attuned to his teacher, to the world
teacher, to the prophets of God, and to Allah himself . Even after one
reaches the last stages it is only a beginning, for then man ceases to be and
God 3livestruly3 in and through one . This is called"baka" by the Sufis . Of
this condition Christ hassaid : "Many are called but few are chosen," and
Krishna taught that very few realized his being and of these only afewsus-
tained that realization .

The true work of the Sufi is not only to attain to God-consciousness

but to make this realization absorb more and more of life . In that condition
one never loses sight of Allah for an instant, day or night, asleep or awake .
This may truly be called the purpose of life, the fulfilment of the inner life .

But progress does not cease there . In that state called "fana-fi-
i I lah,"when the soul is absorbed in God, one loses the false sense of be ing
and finds the true reality . Then one finally experiences what is termed
"baka-fi-fana,"where the false ego is annihilated and merged into the true
personality which is really God expressing Himself in some wondrous
ways4 . This is the same also asNirvana wherethe true reality of life inex-
perienced and expressed . Thismeans that the true I ife is in God, the Only
Being, and through God-realization man finds his true self .

Documents :

S.L. See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 21 9

Notes:

1 . 01 : the fist three wards of the Invocation appear above the Gita .
2 . Ibid . : "perfecting" instead of "perfection "
3 . Ibid . : "truly fives"
4 . Ibid . : 'way"
302

Initiation is the beginning and perfection is the end, the making

complete . But where is the beginning andwhere isthe end?They are both in
Silence, in God . In the Silencewewere born andto itwe return .

Therefore the perfection of meditation ismeditation . It is the per-

fected soulswho continue ever in meditation, being absorbed ins medita-
ti on, creating from their meditation and living in that meditation . The spir-
itual I ife is the drawing of sustenance through the breath from God . It is a
Iife of praise, yet of sobriety and balance, a Iifeof fulness and emptiness
both, being empty of self and f i I ledwith God . This is the true purpose of ini-
tiation and spiritual training from the moment the mureed takes Bayat until
the Eternity of Eternities, Time without Ending .

7(For members of the A .S .C. only .) ?

5. Ibid . : "that" added

6. Ibid . : • (This paper to be followed by a long meditation of 20-30 minutes .) •
7. Ibid . : this sentence was omi tted.
 30 3
A copy made uder Sakina's stpervision of an old typescript in
the f arm of a Gita, f rom the legacy of Akrshida Martin .

Series II I . GITHA Number 1.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, whoform theEmbodiment of
theMaster, the Spirit ofGuidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

Meditation is the task of escaping from the control of the lowermind

and I iving in the heart . It isonlywhen the consciousness is in the heart that
the soul can be free . By "heart" is meant not only physical heart but al I that
is physical that is connected with the heart, and at the same time it in-
cludes all the higher emotions, purer thoughts and deep intuitions . All
these belong to the heart .

Heart differs from the mind and body in that body cannot heal itself
and mind cannot heal itself . Mind can heal body, but this healing wil I not
be permanent unless themind is also purified . Heart not only heals mind
and body, heart heals itself . Through the bloodstream heart heals the body,
and to a certain extent helpsthe mind, but through breath, will and the in-
nerlight, heart can completely purge themindof all its pain .

All birth, growth and decay, as the blessed Buddha taught, areac-
companied by pain . In disease and injury this pain is more acute, but the
average man is continually in pain . As pain at ordinary times is less than
during suffering, it is not noticed . Souls released from the body or enjoying
the ecstasy orspiritual release while in the body, discover the great dis-
tance between what man hasset up for himself and what God hasordained
for him .

Pain arises from thought . If there were no thought there would be no

pain . This is observed to some extent when nerves are removed . Even if
thought were achemical activity as some materialists claim, it would only
mean that the pa in took on a chemical form . It is not so diff icult to under-
stand that outerchange requires adjustment and so bringssome suffering,
and the same is true with inner change--it is often accompanied with suf-
fering .

When mental activity is inspired from within and though it instill

associated with the senseswithout being dependent upon them, then the in-
tellectual functions may continue without this pain and suffering . This i s

Document 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

304

the true Nirvana, wherein faculties are continued unimpaired, without

being joined to the nufs, the ego . Then the light of the soul, pouring from
the heart, i I l um i nates the mind . This is the buddhic or intuitional condition .

One of the ma in purposes of meditation is the control of thought so

that themind will be illuminated bythis lifeand lightfrom within . Spiri-
tual practiceswhich purify the breath make it possible for the breath also
tobeusedasa vehicle of the soul . Breath isthegreatest help yet can be the
greatest hindrance . In meditation1, especially according to the Sufi meth-
ods, no direct attention is paid to the breath, yet the more it is purified, the
easier it is for the heart to illuminate the mind .

One physical aspect of this is that the whole being is in rhythm in

meditation . The body is at rest, the flow of the breath and blood is rhythmi-
cal, the mind vibrations become quiet, and gradually through long prac-
tice, all the functionsof the mind such as thought, reason, memory, I-ness,
become dormant . Sitting at ease or in posture, holding a divine thought,
the heart gradually controls the mind and the inner light becomes visible,
so to speak, before the naked eye .

Another aspect is the activity of the blood itself . The bloodstream

touches every part of the body and brain, so heart touches every aspect of
life . It isthis l ife in the heart which isthe destiny of the soul to experience
either upon earth or inMalakut, and one need not wait for it until he returns
to the sphere of the heart itself . By meditation one not only brings heaven
to earth, but reaches the heaven of heavens wh i I e here .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

Note:

In the ol d typescript the word " sane ' and a plural " s" had been added On (some ) meditation(s) " ),
but were put in parentheses by Sk . with a note readir as follows : ' in parentheses, because added by
those who copied these series .'
 30 5
A copy made under Sakina 's supervision of an old typescript in
the fam of a Gita, from the legacy of Mirshida Martin.

Series Ill . GITHA Number 2.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

Every manner of concentration draws blood to a center . In thought

blood is drawn into the brain area . If al I the blood were withdrawn the life
would be withdrawn, and the nerves would become dormant . Alcoholics
and dope fiends interfere with this rhythm and so destroy the connections
between the physical body and more subtle vehicles of the soul . This may
eliminate pain but it does so by destroying life . Strictly speaking, every
drunkard and partaker of drugs is to a certain extent dead .

Whenever an injury occurs and whenever there is any damage done

to the body fromwithin, inflammation follows . That is, blood rushes to that
part and if there is any break in the normal rhythm, pain follows . Keeping
thought on the painserves to increase itby drawing still moreblood and
giving more life to it besides increasing the irregularity of rhythm . On the
other hand, suggestion sometimes turns the life force in other directions
and relieves the physical and psychological strain .

Meditation has a great advantage over suggestion for it not only

keeps the heart in rhythm, it places the center of life-force there . When the
mind assumesa burden from the body, the body may benefit, but the mind
bearsthe burden . But when the heart takes the load from mind and body, it
heals itself . The heart is its own medicine . Therefore meditation can cure
every i l l of body, mind or heart .

All these are the negative val ue of meditation, the purgative pro-
cesses by which body, mind and heart are purified . Yet life is more than
negation or purgation . Life is something real, something positive, some-
thing magnetic . So continued meditation draws all strength to the center of
one'sbeing, totheheart, and from there itradiatesto all partsof body and
mind .

just as the body has its breathswith inhalations and exhalations, so

mind has its periods for observation and inner concentration, and so heart

Document: 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

30 6

has its periods of contraction and expansion . It is the contraction and ex-
pansion of the heartwhich draws the blood to it and circulates it through
the body . The purified blood not only carries physical energy and prana, it
isthe vehicle for al I spiritual energy in the body .

Just as the animals in the ocean draw their sustenance from the sea
water, so the body of man really draws al l sustenance from the blood . It is
the bloodwhich assimilates the food from the intestines and distributes it
everywhere, and it is the blood which removes waste particles and poisons .
So the blood and heart nourish, purify and energize this physical vehicle .

Likewise the heart and blood purify the mind and this is accom-
plishedin meditation . People who do not read or think overmuch are not so
susceptible to pain . Savage warriors often fall without a murmur . This is
partly duetotheir daily life whichdoes not focus all consciousness in the
brain and partly due to their use of music and song which make them insen-
sible to pain while under its influence . This magnetic anaesthetic influ-
ence often lasts for hours or days .

It is our artificial and highly specialized intellectual I ife with un-

necessary concern andworrieswhich destroys the rhythm of the heart-beat
and makes it difficult to place the center of gravity of the personality
where it belongs . Sleep at best gives only partial relief . Meditation and the
practice of the Divine .Presence remove self-consciousness, the greatest
obstacle to calm and peace . Pure meditation itself is the desirablecondi-
tionand•bringsall desirable results .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. only .

 30 7
A copy made under Sakina ' s s pervision of an ol d typescript in
the f arm of a Gita , f rom the legacy of Mirshiida Martin.

Series I11 . GITHA Number 3.

Toward the One , the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty , the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, whoform theEmbodiment of
the Master , the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATION

Pure meditation aids one to reach into the inner recesses of the
heart . Concentration is principally concerned with mind, whereas medi-
tation, while not entirely disconcerned with mind, centers the soul where
it belongs : in the heart . Anyone can be called eccentric who has not found
the center of his being, and spiritual balance is impossible until this isac-
compl ished .

Spiritual I ife is one of unity, not of separation . Whoso believes that

life in the heart means withdrawal from the body does not know the mean-
ing of I ife . Blood plays a more important part in physical existence than
anything else . Thus Sura 96 begins : "Read in the name of your Lord Who
created, He created man from a clot . "

Now this hasgreat significance for it is blood which distinguishes

animal from vegetable more than anything else, and in the evolution of
higher forms it is the organization of heart and veins and arteries which
becomes most complex . They serve not only the- physical body but make
feeling possible . So increase of function in all worlds corresponds to the
importance of the heartl ife in those worlds .

And what is heart? Heart is the seat of life . So Allah has been called
the Beneficent and Merciful .The whole life becomes clearerwhen these
processes are understood . It may even be said, there ismore of divine en-
ergy in those animals where heart is most important, and there is still more
divine energy when the consciousness is centered in the heart and blood-
stream .

Now peace comes when self is in harmony with the rhythm of the
heart . This is accompl ished in twoways . In silent meditation all vibrations
are stopped and one enters into the l ife-stream in the heart ; in music, the
rhythm and harmony are directed to and through the heart so that it takes up
the proper pulsation .

Doarnent 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 219

308

Everyone knows that all music affects the heart, but such effects
mayor may not be beneficial . So for many it is not required to exercise this
control over the heart and mastery comes through love and surrender . So if
there is any form of concentration to be used in meditation, it consists in
first getting into the rhythm of the heart, even though it be by watch ing the
heartbeats, feeling them and harmonizing with them .

Then one centers al I feeling in the physical heart and out of feeling
selects love, and out of love, Divine Love . So meditation may be said to
begin with a great sweep at the outside of a circle, getting further and fur-
therwithin that circle until one reaches the center of the circle, and at the
same time that very centralizing of attention draws to one al l that God has,
for to him that gives al I toGod, Allah bestowswhatever is his1 need .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

Note:

1. In the old typesapt the woad "his' had been replaced by 'man's", but 'roan's' was put in parentheses
by Sakina . See Series III, nr . 1, note 1 .
 309
A copy made under Sakina 's sLpervision of an old typesapt in
the farm of a Gita, from the legacy of Murshiida Martin.

Series I II . GITHA Number4 .

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

The Sufidoesnot wait until the hereafter toattain hisspiritual in-

dependence . He does al l he can here and now, realizing that the Presence
of God does not depend upon the fact that he is inhabiting a gross or subtle
body . Qur'an teaches that man is the Khalif of God, meaning that he can
seek and serve God here and now .

Life in the heart is not dependent upon the soul being in Nasut,
Malakut or Djabrut . Life in the heart comes when consciousness is centered
in feeling . The first object of feeling is to attune feeling, thought andac-
tion within oneself . Among the Hindus Bhakti, jnana and Karma Yoga are
often considered as different, but in the Sufi system they are united . No at-
tempt is made to consider any part of I ife as fundamentally separate from
the rest of I ife or to consider each as intricate parts of a whole .

The mystic conceives I ife as a whole and does not separate it into
divisions . The first unity to be attained is the unity of the self,
the re a I se I f, and not only what thought can grasp of being . This self
is higher than thought and thought is its faculty . In the common I ife instead
of thought being a faculty of self, selfhood has become a faculty of the
mind and this causes endless confusion .

This confusion comes to an end when God is perceived . By medita-

tion one finds it is possible to exist without thought and that cessation of
thought does not mean cessation of knowledge . Instead it often means the
beginning of knowledge . When one escapes from the thought of self and
self-consciousness, real knowledge becomes possible, which is
called I I m bytheSufis .

Of the faculties of mind, none are of greater importance to the soul

than the collection of knowledge, yet knowledge isthe means, not the end .

Doarr ier t: 0.1 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

31 0

When by centering consciousness in the heart one cans perceive freely into
the m i nd, the knowledge of both th is wort d and that worl d1 are one's posses-
sions .

Meditation therefore leads to unity of one's being by linking body,

mind and heart to God . Cessation of movement, thought and feeling, in-
stead of bringing death, bring life . All that was shut out when one depended
upon his feeble insight, his l imited intellect and hisuntrained feeling be-
come the possessions of the heart, where the l fight of Allah is burning upon
one's inner shrine .

For circulation among Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

Note:

1 . It is difficult to stggest a gammatical reconstruction of this sentence . Possibly instead of 'perceive'

.receive' was said .
 31 1

A copy made u,der Sakina 's ngervision of an old typesapt in

the farm of a Gita, from the legacy of Ahrshida Martin .

Series I1I . GITHA Number 5.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, whoform theEmbodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATIO N

Those who are always longing for peace with others, who want to
lead others,toteach others, to bring others toGod ortosome earthlygoal
and who have not found peace or God or that earthly goal, what can they
accomplish?Only those who have joined mind to heart can link themindof
another to heart . Man's control over his body often makes it possible for him
to move it or stop it at wi 11, but for every thousand men who can stop the i r
legs, perhaps one can control his mind, and for every thousand who can put
brain to work or rest at wi I I perhaps not even one has power over his heart to
control all feelings .

Now the purpose of Meditation can be called a purpose of man or the

requirement of God. Man needs Meditation to attain voluntary control over
his being and to unify each part of his being with the whole . God also needs
Meditation for in the beginning He existed without action or thought and
when He compl eted the Universe,He again entered into His primordial state
of still ness.

Al I conditions of God : rest, action, thought, concentration, med-

itation, love, ecstasy, song and silence are co-existing . God enjoys His
Nirvana in His highest state and in His lowest state . Man, because of his
faculty of analytical conception, considering rest and activity separate,
finds it difficult to attain Nirvana here and now .

Man, engulfed in thisworld of activity, losessight of his innerbe-

ing, forgets how to rest and is a stranger to peace at heart . The great sages
therefore have come to remind him of the treasures he carries with him and
to attain them he has to enter into rest and silence . At the same time it can-
not be said that one has attained to the highest condition of meditation
until one is able to meditate even in the midst of action and struggle . If
unity isonce attained there, it is not so difficult to bring others to the doors
of salvation .

Document: 01 See lr*odiction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

312

Control of breath and mind are not so difficult when one knowsthe
uses of Wazifa and Darood . To keep the heart at rest and peace, Fikar is im-
portant . If Fikar is continued at al I times, day and night, asleep or awake,
then it is God Who dwells there and this is the highest state man can
achieve of himself . Anything of a marvelous nature that seems to come after
that comes not of his effort but through the beneficent Grace of Allah .

Leaderwill hebewholeads himself, ruler will hebewhoruleshim-

selfand benefactorwil l he be who has supreme control over his heart ; who
is not driven hither and thither by al I the turbulent waves of I ife, who can
control even passion and sentiment in his heart and who can keep his
glance upon Allah whether he walk on a path of primroses or face the great-
est diff iculties and opposition in the turmoil of his life .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C . ONLY .

 31 3
A copy made under Sakina's stpervision of an old typescript in
the farts of a Gita, from the legacy of Mrshida Martin.

Series I1I . GITHA Number 6.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MEDITATION

Meditation contains the cure forall troubles, the remedy for every
difficulty, the balm for every pain . What may be cal led CosmicConscious-
ness maybe considered in two aspects : A growth of sympathy and feeling, or
the expansion of the heart until it is filled with nothing but the light,
thought and feeling of God .

In the f irst condition whi le one may not be in the highest h a I,yet
one isa true h a k i m, a physician anda wise man who can heal himself
and others . When the heart overflowswith love, the body and mind are sur-
charged with magnetism and so great is the power of this magnetism that it
can benefit othersthousands of miles away . Yes, it is possible to concen-
trate on loved ones and through Meditation, when one is bathed in the
Ocean of Divine Love, such factors as distance and time do not matter .

Thus rel ig ion teaches to pray for the dead . How can we benef it the
dead? We can, if the prayers come from sympathy and benignity, but if they
are painful duties we do little good to ourselves or others . Better than
prayer is the communion of saintswhich becomes possible when Meditation
is maintained in the heart ; then the sympathetic vibrations pass from plane
to plane and one on earth can help one in heaven and one in heaven can as-
sist many upon earth .

The brotherhood of Sufis is not determined by time or space . Unity is

beyond al l I imitations . The words of Khatum, recorded as prayer, are really
assertions of metaphysical realities : God is the Perfection of Love, Har-
mony and Beauty, Who is the Lord of Heaven and earth . He opens our
hearts1 and then we hear His Voice which is constantly coming fro m

Docent 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

Notes :

0.1 : 'On tatia )' had been added by those who copied these series . See Series III rv. 1, note 1 .
31 4

within2 . He gives us His great Goodness and He teaches us His loving for-
giveness3 . 4He raises us above the distinctions and differences which
divide men, sends us the Peace of His Divine Spirit, and unites us all in His
Perfect Being .

This is the state of God and becomes the m a k a m of the sage . By

placing himself in God's position, and maintaining that attitude he attains
to the first kind of Cosmic Consciousness, one of universal love and feeling .
All growth of heart makesthismore and more possible .

In Meditation, therefore, listen to Allah speak, and record your

impressions . Feel His Love and Presence, perceive His Glory and Light . Al l
are there within the heart of man, the a r a s h of God . And by constantly
maintaining this state, all of life becomes a meditation and a blessing .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. only .

2. Arid.: • (in it pressim, irMitan and inspiration )" had been added by those who copied these series . See
Series III rr . 1, note 1 .
3. bid.: • (if we would only perceive)* had been added by dose who copied these series. See
Series III rr . 1, note 1 .
4. mid . : "My His Grace) ' had been added by those wb copied dhese series . See Series 111 rr. 1, note 1 .
 31 5
A copy made under Sakina ' s stpervisicn of an old typescript in
the f arm of a Gita, from the legacy of Wtrshida Martin.

Series I 11 . GITHA Number 7.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , united with All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

When man speaks God is silent and when man is silent God may
speak . It isfoolish totalk anddiscuss Cosmic Consciousness . It is, perhaps,
even less unworthy to speculate upon what to dowhen dead . It is easierto
fly an airplane under earth, or for a camel to walk through the eye of a
needle than for one to consider Cosmic Consciousness . When Jesus used th is
last phrase about the rich man not being able to attain to the Kingdom of
God, he meant that one who cared for the things of creation left no accom-
modation for the Creator, and asman cannot serve both God andMammon,
either the heart is attached to those things which are smaller than itself--
whether with the richesof earth or heaven--or it is fiIled with the Divine
Light which is even greater than the heart . Yet the heart can become larger
than al I the Universe when fi l led with this I ight .

In the state of Unity there can be no variety . Bathed in the light of the
Divine Sun, selfhood seems lost but onl y seemingl y so. What is the sou I? R u h
is the ray of the Divine Sun . As ray has no existence apart from sun, so soul is
nothing but God . In the existence of soul beyond the heart sphere there are
not souls strictly speaking . This has been called the o v e r s o u I ; by
mystics it is sometimes known as N u r i M o h a m m e d, where man es-
capes manhood with its I imitations and only God exists . And what is the
condition of God there? It istherethat Al lah is clothed in all HisAttributes,
in HisGlory andMajesty, upon HisGreat Throne .

Man does not approach God in His Throne except in the state of God-
hoodl . This is told in the Masnavi in the story of the man who approached
the highest heaven first as the servant and then as the slave of God, but was
rejected . When he came the thirdtime as the very self of God, he entere d

Document- 01 See Inbodudion to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

Note :

1 . Oi: ' (f ana- f i-Iillah)' had been added by those who copied these series . See Series III rv. 1, note 1 .
31 6

into the Glory of God . This same allegory is also the basis of theMantiq-ut-
Tairof Attar, with its taIes of the Simurgh .

The purpose of Meditation is to enter upon a state of unity, - thought

of unity, feelingof unity, lifeof unity .- Whenwestudythe NatureofAllah
we f ind in His H igher State, when He had not yet touched the condition of
Nuri Mohammed, He was in a condition of Unity . This state is
cal led W a h d a t ; it is the condition of the Unity of God, where He is
conscious of Himself and recognizes His Unity . In this state God was in
Meditation, yet was conscious of Himself .

Now from this condition of Meditation He projected His being out-

wardly into the condition cal led W a h d a n i a t, and there al I the mer-
its of God appear : His Being, and Goodness and Love and alI merits . They
came in this projected condition which He projected out from the Heart of
His Being when He was in Meditation in the state of Unity .

Sufism says : follow God . Sofirst it isto attainto this condition of

unity, which comes through Meditation in the heart . Then when one dis-
covers the reality in the heart is nothing butGod, and life isnothing but
God, the next step is to attain to the D ivine Grace, H a r i a t, aswas pro-
jected into the condition called Wahdaniat as a condition of God, but Nuri
Mohammed as the goal of the whole humanity, where every blessing is at-
tained and the soul drinksof the waters of everlasting life .

For circulation among the Members of the A.S .C. ONLY .

 31 7

A copy made under Sakina's supervision of an old typescript in

the f am of a Gita, from the legacy of Akrshida Martin .

Series I1I . GITHA Number 8.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, whoform theEmbodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

The life of God is an art . Without the practice of Meditation the

spiritual man isa theoretical being . Meditation being an act based on the
behavior of Allah, it is the means by which all divine attributes are at-
tracted to man .

The spiritual man is not necessarily the same as the moral man from
the worldly point of view . He isthe master of morals, knowing that the true
moral islove . Through love forGod andby Unionwith God he attainsthe
state-of Cosmic Unity where the I ife of God, b a k a, becomes the reality .
In fact when one reaches this stage of God-realization, he can no longer be
judged . His actions are determined by Wisdom, not by judgement .

Bodhisattva was one who through Meditation had thrown off the
shackles of the limited self and so experienced and expressed reality while
on earth . The ideal of the Sufi is the same and the Sufi makes all life as one, so
that his spiritual deliverance need not lead him to disobey the accepted rules
or customs of life about him, and also, that by being an example to those
around, he may lead other persons Godward without any interference in their
general routine or manner of life .

One who has reached spiritual attainment through Meditation looks

upon al I aspects of I ife both as God and as man . As man he mayor may not
express personal preferences and exhibit distinguished habits ; astheKhalif
of God he doesnot place greatvalue in anything except those actswhich
enable the soul to attain and retain union with God, such as Meditation,
Prayer, Breath Control, Safa and Concentration .

The manner of the sage is important not as an end in itself, but as a means for
helping others . Thosewhopattern theirouterlives afterasaint gainsome-
thing through the harmony effected, but those who take for an ideal stan-
dard the inner life of the saint have definitely placed themselves on the
ladderwhich leads upward to God .

Docunent: 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

318

Difficult as it is to attain Cosmic Consciousness, ten thousand times

more difficult is it to retain that condition . So soon asone feels toward an-
other, "Thou art different," then it is lost . So soon asone sees another as
other than Allah, then it is gone . Even kindness toward another without
feeling of union, without deepest sympathy, turns one from unity to dual-
ity . Goodness, kindness, piety are not enough ; any feeling except of unity
debars one from unity and so from God . Consequently every breath may
have to be watched, to maintain at every moment of our I ives extreme care
and watchfulness .

As Iblis, the angel of light, was rejected from Heaven because he

would not bow down to man, soone who has attained the highest mystical
states, who has entered into supreme union in Allah, Who has sat on the
Arsh-throne higher than Djabrut, and to whom all the angels have given
obeisance, even as Ibl is, King of the angels, wi I I he be expel Ied from Eden
the instant he fails to bow down to the humblest man, and show every re-
spect and consideration to the least of God's creatures . For unity with God is
only completed when God is seen as Love, Lover and Beloved, and when al
in existence partakes not only of the Nature but of the very Essence of AI lah .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

 31 9
A copy made under Sakina' s stpervision of an old typescript in
the form of a Gita, from the legacy of Mirshida Martin .

Series I1I . GITHA Number 9.

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
theMaster, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

Meditation is the method for the attainment of all things, all states,
all conditions . It is both a means and an end1 . It is the l ife of God in man and
of man in God . The supreme achievement of Meditation is the constant con-
ditionof harmony with God, with oneself and with the world . This is called
Samadh i by the Hindus .

In th is state comes the end of desi re and the sat isfact ion of the de-
sire . Desire comes toan end because it isseen that all those things which
attracted the limitedself have nopermanent value, andat thesame time
the love of Allah, which is the supreme desire, has its fulfilment in the
peace and unification which comes to the heart . And again, if there isper-
severance in Meditation, the state will give rise to indifference so that
there can be no desire .

Heart is the source and fountain-head of life . Even physical life wi l

be lengthened when people perceive the value of the heart's functions,
how even the most vital centers and organs of the body are dependent on it .
Here is also the fulfilment of dreams, forwhen the light of the inner spheres
fal Is upon the surface of the mind and is reflected in the eye, then the fac-
ulty of insight is gained which makes life easier and enables one to see into
the future .

Future is determined partly by the past and partly by the energy

which is poured from the physical sun in thisworld and from its counterparts
in the higherworlds . Even insofar as it arises from the past, this can only be
perceived through the faculty of Insight, for until one is capable of rising
above the intellect, one is bound by time, space and conditioned existence .

All disease and pain, all illnessand affliction end when life iscen-
tered in the heart . Then through sympathy and harmony one controls th e

Document:- 01 See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p. 21 9

Note:

O.t.: '(that is, objective)' had been added by those who copied these series . See Series III
nr. 1, note 1 .
32 0

vibrations in others which have al ready been mastered in oneself . Sympa-

thy and attunement make it possible to circulate one's atmosphere of peace
after it is once attained . This achievement of peace with oneself which
comes mostly through Meditation, is the supreme achievement of man .

Al I the higher stages, al I the higher grades, all the places in the
Spiritual Hierarchy become filled only by those who have attained this
inner peace . By that they have been able to touch the source of pain every-
where and anywhere and so bring healing to suffering humanity . This facul-
ty of healing, this power of helping, this ability to teach need not be
sought . Those who have trodden the path to God and acquired self-control
through Meditation will discoverthat these possessions are theirs,onlybe-
cause their hearts have been set on God, they have not always been aware
of the many gifts and treasures He has bestowed upon them .

Verily to him who hath surrendered to God, there is no end of power

for wonder-working, but greatest of all wonder-working is the manifesta-
tion of Divine Love in and through and around one's being .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

 32 1

A copy made under Sakina ' s s pervision of an old typescript in

the farm of a Gita, f rom the legacy of Mirshida Mart in .

Series I1I . GITHA Number 10 .

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only
Being , unitedwith All the Illuminated Souls, who form the Embodiment of
the Master, the Spirit of Guidance .

DHYANA MED ITATION

In the Silent Life all this confusion that appears on the outside sub-
sides into a gentle hum, a humwhich can be called the music of the spheres .
These vibrations fill all space within andwithout one's being andcan be
heard by a keen ear . They maybe cal led the vibrations of I ife itself wh ich
fill the Ocean of Life . All things live and move and have their being in
them .

In Meditation as one approaches unity, one begins to perceive more

of this inner silent I ife, and as it is expressed through one, one feels more of
the Divine Purpose of being . Al I thought, action and speech then affect the
heart favorably or unfavorably . This is much higher than conscience, for
while conscience gives one the best in oneself, the illuminated heart can
receive even the best that is in God .

Meditation is the suppression of al I conscious personal thought and

feeling . It is not the prevention of consciousness, feeling and thought . The
conditionsof Allah are these : That He became aware of Himself (Wahdat) ;
that He gave rise to Love and all feelings because of this awareness
(Wahdaniat) ; that He brought this consciousness to the surface through
thought and so projected the created worlds .

Man, through habit, perceivesthe outerworld and then carries that

experience inward to his mind and then carries the thought deep into his
heart . This can be regarded as the opposite of the Divine activity, but
really it is the reciprocal . From the condition called Wahdaniatcome all
activitiesof Sifat, which manifest inall forms . It isonlythe powerofspirit
which makes this possible . While spirit condenses, soto speak, in matter,
matter also etherializes into spirit . When man transforms action into
thought, he does it, andwhen he transmutes action or thought into feeling,
he does it still more .

From the cosmic view it can be seen that all this work of man
transmuting action into thought and action or thought into feeling i s

Document O.t See Introduction to Gita Dhyana, p . 219

32 2

nothing but the reciprocal method Allah has used to bring spirit back to
spirit, after it has entered the dense condition of matter . In otherwords, all
this comes from the Divine Inhalation and Exhalation bywhich vibrations
become coarse when passing from the One to the many and become fine
again in passing from the many t o w a r d t h e O n e .

Even animal bodies are too coarse to complete this refinement . Only
in man, the hu-man, is it possible, and only then when man has perceived
thisspecial union with God, which was true all the time, only the truth had
not embedded itself in his consciousness . In his spiritual awakening he
realizes this and so serves as the means by wh ich the spirit can return to God
Who gave it, as the Bible and Qur'an teach .

So while Meditation may be considered as the means bywhichman

returns to God, as the means by which matter isretransformed into spirit, as
the meansby which the cosmic balance and reciprocal activities andme-
chanicsare maintained, in its final aspect it isthemeansby which God re-
turns to God, bywhich Sifat is permanently united tothe Zatand the ulti-
mate and absolute Unity of the Cosmos eternally maintained .

For circulation among the Members of the A .S .C. ONLY .

 32 3
From a newspaper, the American of Philadelphia, no date .

Phil adeIphia,May 1

The philosophies of the orient and the occident which have as their
basic principles the rendition of service to man and the spreading of the
gospel of love and understanding, while necessarily similar in essence, are
expressed in widely different ways, he said .

"In America we find this philosophy finding expression chiefly in

big business and thru such organizations as your Rotary clubs . In other
words, it is expressed in action . In India our great philosophers are poets
and mystics . They mix little with theworldof business ."

"Each of these schools could learn much from the other . Perhaps you
in America have got a I ittle too far away from the more ascetic side of the
phi losophy, whi le we in India have, perhaps, lost touch with the material .
A welding of the two schools into one thru an interassociation of ideas and
methods of expression would result greatly to the benefit of both and would
hasten the coming of world-wide understanding and co-operation . "

Note:

This article seems to be based on a personal interview on 30 or 31 May, the two days Pir-o-M .rshid In-
ayat Khan is known to have been in Philadelphia.
324

From a newspaper, name unknown, Philadelphia,

2 June 1923.

Philadelphia , May 31 1

Commercialism is ruling the art of America and the progress of

music, art and literature, including the stage, follow the desire of the
masses rather than setting a standard for the masses to I ive up to, according
to Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan . . . .

He holds the individual as the panacea for the evils of the future .
He . . .explains that the ultimate salvation of the world I ies in the inherent
good of individual humanity .

HeseesAmerica asa pleasure-seeking Nation, childish and playful .

"I f ind among the people here a gayety of l ife and a desire to do good . The
nation is filledwith people of open minds . Thisspirit of pleasure seeking
means a prosperous country . "

"It is the individuals of the country that count . They are ultimately
responsible for the action of the Nation as a political entity . We can trust to
the goodness of the human soul and we can reach far . "

"I have visited your playhouses and find that though art is good
here, there is a bowing to these things that the masseswi l l like, and there-
forewill succeed financially . That is a fault which gives too much of a ten-
dency to commercialism, but which will be corrected as the Nation ages . "

"The United States is an example of how the humans can live in ac-
cord without the national strife and interracial feeling that is seen in
Europe . It is an example for the world, and when the power of the individual
risesto its height in Europe itwill live in a I ike peaceful manner . "

Note:

1 . From an interview.
 32 5
A photocopy of an old typescript

NewYork, June 1st, 1923 1

The Path of Initiation .

There is very much written and very much said about the Path of In i-
tiation, and people who have touched different schools of occultism have
understood it differently, and have different ideas as to initiation . But
when one considers the word initiation, it only means a step forward, which
can be taken with hope and with courage . For without courage and without
hope it would be most difficult to take a step forward .

If I were asked to explain the meaning of initiation in plain words,

should say, it is l ike when a person who has never known how to swim, for
the first time takesa step into the river or into the sea, and does not know
whether he wi l l swim or whether he wi l l be swept off . Every person has an
initiation in the worldly sense in some form or other . The businessman when
he begins a new enterprise, something which he has never done before, and
there is something new he wants to bring into it, and there is nothing else to
support him, except that at this moment he thinks, no matter whether it is
lossorgain, 1 will take a step forward, I will go into thisenterprise, and I do
not knowwhatwill happen afterwards ." He has gone into a worldly initia-
tion . And a person who wants to learn to ride, and he has never before been
on horseback, he has never controlled a horse and does not knowwhere the
horse will take him, he has never had the practice, and therefore his first
attempt of riding on the horse is an initiation .

But initiation in the real sense of the word, of the word as it is used
in the spiritual path, that initiation is, when a person in spite of having a
religion and bel ief, an idea, an opinion about spiritual things, in spite of
all this, he thinks that he can take a step in a direction which he does not
know, so when he takes the first step, that isan initiation . Gazzal i, a grea t

Document:-

'01" (a photocopy of an old typescript from the United States, where the lecture was given and from
which it passed on to International Headquarters in Geneva.

The lecture has been published in The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Volume X (1964), with
many omissions, addi tions and changes .

Notes :

At the bottom of the "o.t." appears the following note : "Given at the Sufi Center in New York, Jane 1st,
1923. Written down by Khushi Marya Cushing" .
A f ter having been initiated by Pir-o-Mirshid Inayat Khan at Suresnes in 1922 during the Summer School,
t ts . Marya Cushing (Khushi) helped to organize Pir-o-Murshid's tour through the United States in 1923,
and she had famed a group of interested students in New York .
32 6

Sufi writer of Persia, has said that entering the spiritual path is just like
aiming an arrow at a point which one does not see, so that one does not
know what it isgoing to hit . One only knows hisown action, and doesnot
see the point aimed at . Therefore the path of initiation is difficult for a
worldly man . Human nature is such that aman born in thisworld, and who
has become acquainted with the life of names and forms, he wants to know
everything by name and form, he wants to touch something in order to know
that it exists ; it must make an appeal to some of h is physical senses before
he thinksthat something exists ; without that he does not think anything can
exist . Therefore for him to take an initiation on a path which does not touch
any senses is difficult . He does not know where he is going . And besides
this, man has been taught from hischildhood a certain faith and a certain
belief and he feels himself so bound to that particular faith or religion that
he trembles at every step that he may have to take, which may seem perhaps
for a moment different or in a contrary direction to what he has been
taught . Therefore to take the first step in the path of initiation for a
thoughtful person is difficult . Of course a person who is driven by curiosity
may jump into anything, but to him, whether he has initiation or not, both
are the same . Toone who goes seriously into initiation, the first step isthe
most difficult .

Initiations, according to the mystics, are twelve, divided into four

stages; just I ike the twelve semi-tones in the octave, orthe twelve drums in
the ear . The first three initiations are the first three steps, takenwith the
help of a guide on the earth, whom one calls in the Sufi terms a Mursh id, a
teacher . In Vedantic terms he is cal led a Guru, a teacher . It is someone who
iswalking on the earth, someone who isa human being andwho isplaced in
the same situation as everyone else, in the midst of the active life and sub-
ject toall tests and troubles and difficulties as everybody else ; and there-
fore the help of a friend who is a human being is the first and most important
step on these first three stages of the path .

In the East you will rarely find a person taking the spiritual path
without the guidance of a teacher, for it is to them an accepted fact that it
is most necessary that these first three steps at least be taken by the help of
someone living on the earth a human life . And when we trace in the tradi-
tions we fi nd that al I the great prophets and masters and saints and sages,
however great, they had an initiator . In the I ife of Jesus Christ one reads
that he was baptized by John the Baptist, and in the I ives of al I great
prophets and seers there is always someone, however humble or modest or
human, and very often not at al I to be compared with the greatness of those
prophets, but at the same time, there was someone who first took these three
steps with them . The mother is reallythe first initiatorof all the prophets
and teachers in the world ; no prophet or teacher, however great, no saint,
has been born who haswalked alone without the help of the mother, she had
to show himhowtowalk . Therefore it isonlyawisethingtotakethehelpof
a Guru on the path of Truth .
 32 7

Then there comes the question of how to find the real Guru . Very of-
ten people are in doubt, they do not knowwhether the Guru they see is a
true Guru or a false Guru . Very often a person comes into contact with a
false Guru in this world where there is so much falsehood . But at the same
time I am sure that areal seeker, who is not false to himseIf,will always
meet with the truth, with the real, because it is h isown real, sincere faith,
his own real sincerity in earnestly seeking that will become his torch . The
real teacher iswithin, that loverof reality is one's own sincere self, and if
one is really seeking Truth, one will certainly find, sooner or later, atrue
teacher . And suppose if one came into contact with a false teacher, what
then?Then the real Onewill turn the false teacher also into a real teacher,
because reality is greater than falsehood .

There isastory, toldabout adervish, asimple man, who wasiniti-

ated by a teacher, and that teacher passed away, and that man came into
contact with some clairvoyant, who asked him if he had guidance on his
path . The man replied, "yes, my Master, who passed from this earth . I had for
some time his guidancewhen he was living, and now what I want is just a
blessing of someone l ike you ." But the clairvoyant said : "I see by myclair-
voyant power that the teacher that has passed away was not a true teacher ."
When this simpleman heard that, he would notallow himself tobe angry
with him, but he gently said : "this teacher of mine may by false, but my
faith isnot false, and that insufficient ." Asthere iswater inthe bottomof
the earthsothere istruth atthe bottomof allthings,false ortrue . Insome
places you have to dig deep, in some placesonly a little, that isthe only
difference, but there is no place where there is no water . You may have to
dig very, very deep in order to get it, but in the depths of the earth there is
water, and in the depth of all this falsehood which is on the surface, there is
.truth, and if we were seeking for the truth we shall always find it some time
or another .

When one wants to protect oneself from being misguided he shows a

tendency, a kind of weakness that he thinks in himself there is no right
guidance . If he realizesthat in himself there is right guidance he will al-
waysbe rightly guided, and hispowerwill become so great that if hisguide
is going wrong, the power of the pupil will help himtogo right, because the
real Teacher is in the heart of man . The outward teacher is a sign . The Per-
sianpoet has said that the one who is a lost soul, even if he be with a Savior
he will be just the same, because his own clouds are surrounding him . It is
not a question of a guide or teacher ; the obscurity which his own mind cre-
ates surrounds him and keeps him blind . What can a teacher do ?

There is a story of the Prophet Mohammed, that living next to his

house there was a man who was very much opposed to the Prophet and
talked against him, but he sawthat the people towhom he spoke had belief
in the Prophet, and nobody had in him . Then years passed, and many be-
ieved and many gave their I ife for the Message of the Prophet . And it so
32 8

happened that there came a time when there were hundreds and thousands
of people coming from hundreds of miles, thousands and thousands, from
different countries to pay a visit to the Prophet, and that man st i l l lived in
the neighbourhood, but he had never discarded his opinion once formed .
And one day someone asked the Prophet, "What is the reason when th is man
has seen a day when nobody listened, when nobody adhered, and he has
seen the time when thousands of people have been benefitted, and those
who come here are fi l led with bl iss and joy and blessing, and that thisman
next door always criticises, always opposes ." And the Prophet said, "His
heart has become a fountain of obscurity ; he produces from his own self the
clouds which surround him ; he cannot see ." And he was sorry for him . The
idea is that that perception of the light shows the thinning of the veil that
covers the heart, and the more the veil becomes thin, the greater becomes
the powerof the light with into illuminate .

The next step, the second step in initiation, is to go through the tests
that the teacher gives . In this initiation there is a great deal that isamus-
ing, if one thinks about it . It is I ike looping the loop ; sometimes the teacher
gives such tests to the pupil that the pupil does not know where he is ;
whetherthis istrue, orthis isfaIse . For example, I will tell you, therewasa
great Sufi teacher in India, a Chishti and he had a thousand adherentswho
were most devoted pupils, and one day he said to them : "I have changed my
mind ." And the words "changed my mind" made them so surprised, - they
thought then2 our teacher has changed hismind, what is the matter?" And
they asked him, "what is the matter, how have you changed your mind?" He
said, "Now I am beginning to feel that I must go and bow before the Goddess
Kali ." And these people, among whom there were doctors and professors,
well qualified people, could not understand this whim, that their great
teacher in whom they had such faith, wished to go into the temple of the
Goddess Kali and bow before the Goddess of the h i deous face, - a God-rea l-
ized man, inwhom they had such confidence! And the thousand disciples
went away at once, thinking : "What isthis?- it is against the religion of the
Formless God, against the position of thisgreat Sufi, that he wants towor-
ship the GoddessKali ."And there remained only one pupil, ayouth whowas
very devoted to histeacher . He followed his teacherwhen he went to the
temple of Kali . The teacher was very glad to get rid of these thousand
pupils, who were ful l of knowledge, full of their learning, and who did not
really knowhim, itwas just aswell thatthey should go .And asthey were
going towards the temple of Kali, he had spoken to this young man three
times, saying : "Why do you not go? Look at these thousand people, who had
such faith and such admiration, and now I have said just oneword, and they
have left me . Why do you notgowith them?The majority is right ." But this
pupil would not go, but followed him . And the teacher had such a revela-
tion and inspiration in all this, to see how strange human nature is, how
soon they are attracted and how soon they can flyaway, it was such an in-
teresting phenomenon for him to see the play of human nature, that he was
full of feeling, and when they arrived at the temple of Kali he had such a n

2 . It is not clear if the wad "then" refers to "thought" or to "oar teacher has changed . . ." .
 32 9

ecstasy that he fel I down and bowed his head low . And the young man who
followed him did the same . Andwhen he got up he asked thisyoung man :
"Why do you not leave when you have seen a thousand people go away, why
do you fol low me?" The young man answered : "There is nothing in what you
have done that is against my real isation, because the first lesson you taught
me wasthat'Nothing exists, save God' . If that is true, then that is not Kali,
that is God also . What does it matter whether you bow to the east or to the
west or to the earth or to heaven, when nothing exists except God, then
there is nobody else except God to whom to bow, even in bowing to Kal i . It
was your first lesson to me ."Al I these Iearned men were g iven the same les-
son, they we re students and very clever in these things, but they could not
conceive of that main thought, which was the center of all the teaching . It
was this same young man who became then the greatest teacher in India,
Moinuddin Chishti .To his tomb at Ajmer every year thousands of people of
all religions make pilgrimages, Hindus, Mohammedans, Jews and Chris-
tians . For the Sufi all religions are one .

There are tests of many k inds that the teacher may give to his pupil,
to test his faith, his sincerity, his patience . The reason is that before the
ship starts to go out into the sea the superintendent first goes and sees
whether every screw is right before starting the voyage, and that is the duty
of the teacher . Of course it isa very interesting duty . Besides that the path
of the mystic isa very complex path . What he says perhaps has two mean-
ings : the outer meaning is one and the inner meaning is another . What he
does has perhaps two meanings, an outer and an inner meaning, and a per-
sonwho only sees things outwardly cannot perceive the inner meaning . He
cannot understand his action, his thought, his speech, his movement, what
he means by it, because he only sees the outer . And in th isway the pupi I is
tested .

There is another example that is given in the mystic booksof the

East, the example of Moses . One dayMoseswaswalk ing with his teacher and
guide, and there they saw a mother sitting on the bank of the river, and a
child that was playing there suddenly fel I into thewater and got caught by
the waves and was being drowned . And Moses called out to his teacher to
extend his arm of might tosavethis child, and exclaimed "This child isbe-
ing drowned ." The teacher did not say one word . He did not make one move .
Moses thought, "How unk ind, what kind of a person is my teacher ; are we
learning wisdom from him,- he is not evenmoved by this accident, he is
walking there calmly and not even answering ." They went a I ittle further,
and there was a boat with some people in it, and there was something bro-
ken in the boat and the waterwas coming into it and the people were being
drowned . AndMosessaid, "Odosomething to save the people in thisboat ."
But the teacher did not even answer . Moses could not understand that this
was amystical lesson . And when Mosesspoke about it, the teacher said : "I
told youthefirst lessonwas tobequiet ." Mosessaid : "howcouldl bequiet
when a child was drowning?" The teachersaid : "Are you learning mysticism?
33 0

I gaveyou yourfirst lesson tobe quiet ."After sometime theteacher gave

him the explanation, when the time came, why he did not save the child,
and showed him the reason behind it, and how just was the scheme of Nature
behind all this, and where there was a greater power there was a greater in-
sight ; with the power there was insight . As the teacher had the power, he
could have saved, but at the same time he had a greater insight into what
was meant by it . And therefore very often to the pupi I the teacher may ap-
pear to be very unreasonable, very odd, often very meaningless, very often
unkind and cold and unjust . And during these tests if the faith and the trust
of the pupi I do not endure from the second initiation hewil I step backward,
but if he enduresthrough al I this, then there comesthe .third step, the third
initiation .

The third initiation containsthree stages : Receiving the knowledge

attentively, contemplating upon all one has received patiently ; as-
similating all the outcomeof it intelligently . Thereby themission of the
teacher in this world is finished . Gratitude still remains, but his principal
work is finished .

The fourth initiationwhich theseeker gets is from his ideal . And if

you ask me who isthis ideal, who can give that, the answer isthat no I iving
creature on earth, however great, can prove to be the ideal of anyone else .
Yes, fora time he may be, but not for always . The great ones I ike Buddha,
Zoroaster, Christ and Krishna who have been the ideal of humanity for thou-
sands of years, when did they become the ideal?During their lifetime? No .
Yes, during their I ifetime they gave a sense of being the ideal, they left im-
pressions that afterwards proved them to be ideals, but in their lifetime
they could not prove to be the ideal . And what isthe reason? The reason is
that even perfect man is I imited in that imperfect garb of humanity . The
human limitation covers perfection . However great, however deep, how-
everspiritual a person is, with al I h is goodness, with all his inspiration and
power he is limited . His thought, speech, word, his action, everything is
limited . A man cannot make himself as the imagination of his pupil . Imagi-
nation goes further than the progressof man ; the imagination of everyper-
son is hisown, and therefore one can only make one's ideal oneself . No one
has the power to make the ideal of another person, and therefore the great
Saviours of humanity, it is their impression, it istheir goodness, it iswhat
little seedof an ideal they leftbehind themthat became just likea little
grain, and that grain put into the soil of a devotee's heart developed into a
plant and bore fruitsand flowers as it was reared . Therefore in this fourth
initiation there isthat ideal of man's imagination . He may call it Christ or
Buddha, he maycall it Mohammed or Moses or Zoroaster; it ishis ideal ; it is
he who hasmade it ; it ishis Saviour, and certainly it will save him if he
considers him his Saviour . But he has to make it ; if he does not make it, the
Saviour will not save him . Hemust make it hisSaviour . Whenonce hehas
made his Saviour then he is face to face with that perfection which his
heart has created, that impression of Christ or Buddha which he has taken in
 33 1

himself hasnow floweredand grown intothe formof atree, andbears the

flowers and fruits which he has desired . No doubt this initiation isa phe-
nomenon in itself . If once this initiation is received man begins to radiate,
to radiate his InitiatorWho iswithin him in this ideal .

And there isthe second stepwhich is the fifth initiation . In the fifth
initiation man does not imagine his ideal, but man finds his ideal a living
entity within himself, a friend who isalways close to him, within him ; he
can just bow his head and see his friend, - he is there . To the real devotees
of Christ, Christ is near, as near as they are to themselves, their own self . In
theirtimeoftrouble, in their difficulty, alwayshe isthere .

The third stage, which isthe sixth initiation, is the one where Christ
then speaks, where Christ then acts ; their acts become the actions of Christ,
their speech becomes the speech of Christ . And when one arrived at that ini-
tiation one need not declare before humanity how greatly he loves his
Lord, or Saviour, orMaster, he becomes a proof himself, his I ife isthe proof,
hisword, his action, his feeling, his attitude, hisoutlook .And, friends, life
is such that no falsehood, no pretence, can endure, nothing false can go
far ; it will onlygoastep and tumble down; it isonlythe real whichwill go
on, and the3 real, the less it expresses itself . It is the lack of reality that
makes a person express "I am so and so," "I have such great love for God,"
and "I am so spiritual" or"pious"or 'so clairvoyant' or "I have such psychic
power" or "I say that 4 that ." When one sees one does not need to say that he
sees, everybody sees that he has the sight . If one's eyes are closed then such
a one tries to say "I see," although the eyes are closed . But when the eyes
are open one need not say one sees . How difficult it istoday, when so many
people ask "are you clairvoyant, can you see?"And what do they see?They
have perhaps seen some colour or some I ight here and there, or something
peculiar, which means nothing . Perhaps it is their imagination . And then
there areotherswho encourage them 4make them more S . In this way the
man of the spiritual path is being spoiled ; people feed their pride by tel I ing
how much they see . When one begins to see one cannot say it ; it is some-
th ing which'cannot be said . How can you say its When you see with the eyes
of Christ you can only see, you cannot say ; when you hear with the earsof
Christ you can only hear ; there is nothing to be said .

The further initiation, which is the seventh, is the initiation in God .

There is an account in the story of Rab ia, a great Sufi . She once saw in her
vision the Prophet, and the Prophet asked her, "Rabic, to whom have you
given your devotion?"And Rabia said : "To God ." And the Prophet said : "Not
to me?" Rabia said : "Yes, Prophet, you include God, but it is God ." Ther e

3. One illegible word before "real", which may be 'more '

4. One wad illegible at the erd of a line of the photocopy, which could be "ard"
5. One wad unclear, probably ' mad'
33 2

comes a stage where a person rises above even the ideal he has 6 . He rises
to that perfect Ideal Who is beyond the human personality, Who is a perfect
Being , because every human personality has a limitation . And therefore in
this initiation one rises to the spheres where one sees no other than God .

And in the second stage to it, which is the eighth initiation, is when
one communicates with God, so that God becomes to him a living entity ;
God is no longer an ideal or an imagination ; God is no longer one whom he
has made, but the one Whom he has once made has now become alive, a I iv-
i ng God . Before that there was a belief in God, there was a worship for Him ;
perhaps He was made in the imagination, but in that stage God becomes I iv-
ing . And what phenomenon this shows! This faith and this stage is a miracle
in itself . The God-realized person need not speak or discuss the name of
God ; the godly person's presence will inspire God in every being, a godly
person's presence wi I I charge the atmosphere with the sense of God . Every
person that comes spiritual or moral or reI igious, or the one who has no rel i-
gion, he wi l l feel God in some form or other . The prophets and the holy ones
who have come from time totime togive to the world some religion, some
ideal, they have not brought any new ideas, they have not brought a new
belief in God, because belief in God has always existed in some form or
other . What they brought was a living God . When there only remained
God's name in the scripture or in the people's imagination, or on the lipsof
the fol lowers of a certain religion, andwhen that name began to become a
profane name, a vain repetition, then such souls have been born on the
earth and they have brought with them a I iving God ; if they gave to human-
ity anything else besides, law and ethics and morals, they were secondary .
The principal thing that they gave to the worldwasa living God .

And the ninth initiation is what in the Sufi terms is cal led Akhlak
Allah, which means the manner of God . Aperson who touches that plane or
that realization expresses in his manner the mannerof God ; his outlook in
Iife is God's outlook, his action, his thought, his word is God's action,
thought and word . Therefore the prophetswho came at different times said
that this isKalam-Ulla which means"the word ofGod," just likethe word
"Bhagavad Gita" means The Song Celestial ." Why?Because at that stage
God himself speaks . Those persons turned into that Perfect Spirit, and
moved bythatPerfect Spiritthey acted, for theiraction isno longertheir
own act ion, - it is the action of God . Their word is no longer a human word,
it is the word of God .

And the last three initiations, of course very few arrive in their I i fe-
time totouch them, because after these nine initiations then begins what
are cal led the phase of Self-Realisation . Those who have not yet arrived at
that, when they begin to declare such affirmations as "I am God," and "We
are Gods," they are nothing but vain repetitions, they spoil the God-Ideal .
They do not knowwhat they are saying . If we only knew that to say ever y

6. One wod unclear , ply "made'

 33 3

such word we ought to be authorized, we ought to be entitled to say it, - if

we only knew, wewouId be very careful what we say . But it is that stage,
after having gone through al I these different stages of consciousness, when
one arrives at that stage one can speak very little, because it isthe Self-
expression . It is beyond the stage of religion and even God-act ion, it is the
stage of Self-expression . But that stage of Self-expression comes when a
person hasthoroughly dug himself out deeply, so that nothing of himself has
remained but that divine substance, then alone he is authorized to express
himself . And therefore the ninth initiation is the awakening of the real
Self, the real Ego . Therefore this comes by meditation, the meditation
which makes one forget one's false self, one's limited self, one's small self .
The more one isable to forget it, the more that Self awakens . And in the
next stage a sense of splendour comes . In the Persian language it is cal led
Hyra . . . . . . . . . . .7 It is the same stage as when a child is born and he begins to
see everything so new, -this oldworld, which one has gone through, -and
he nowbeginsa newworld again . As soon as the point of view is changed by
the help of meditation, alI this world which is before everybody and which
everybody is seeing, one sees it quite differently . One begins to see reason
behind reason, one begins to see cause behind cause, and one's point of
view alsochanges forthe religion . It changesbecause forthe samething,
for one action for which the average man would accuse, would want to pun-
ish a person, would want to blame a person, the soul who has risen to that,
neither can he judge norcan he blame, he only sees, but he sees the cause
behind the cause . Now whom shal I he accuse, whom shal I he blame? How
can he keep from forgiving, whatever be the fault, because he seeswhat is
behind the fault, he sees the reason there, - perhaps a greater reason than
the person seeswho has committed the fault . Therefore, naturally, all that
manner, the manner of continually sacrificing, the manner of spontaneous
love and sympathy, the manner of respect for the wise and for the foolish,
and forthe deserving and the undeserving, thisall comes and expresses as
divine I ife, and it is at that stage that the human soul touches perfection
and becomes divine and does fulfil its real purpose in life .

7 . The ward "Hyra" and the sentence appe ars Lobe mfinished . Possbly'Hayrat" is meant, meaning
bewilderment (see Glossary) .
334

A typescript of unknown origin (Tp.c . )

New York, Sufi Centre .

Between June 1st and 7th, 192 3

Self-Realization .

Many people cIaim that self-realization is the ultimate attainment

of Truth, orthe attainment of God ; but I think it is not by selfreal ization
that God is attained ; it isby God-realization that the real self is attained .
Although it isonly a twist of words, in point of fact both idealsmean the
same .

Many think that self-realization may be learned, but really speak-

ing every person in this world, in whatever he is doing, whether right or
wrong, or good or bad, he istreading the same path,which maybe called
sel f realization . If a person isdoing good, he is realizing the self, if he is
doingwrong he is realizing theself too . He isseeing in this lifewhathorri-
ble effects his life produces, what results his actions, his attitude produce .
Therefore both realize self just the same . Self-real ization is nothing but
projecting the self before one, and looking at it . That is self-realization
which everybody does . An artist realizesself byputting hisheart andsoul
into his art ; he produces it before him, and so he sees the colour and the
beauty and the genius that was hidden in him reproduced before him, and it
gives him a satisfaction . Asingerrealizes hisself when he sings, and when
he hears hisvoice and it pleases him and inspires him, in that he realizes
the fulfilment of his being born on earth . A person who has the desi re to do
good, he realizes himself in his good actions . Every little good he does, tha t

Documents:

D .tp. (a draught, rather poorly typed, of the lp.c. ) .

Tp.c. (a typescript of urrcnown origin) .
Km .t. (a typewritten copy made by Km from the p.c . with some emas corrected) .

Between ).ne 1st and 7th, 1923, a series of Iechres was given at the Sufi Centre in New Yak on the
subject of 'Self -realization,' which may have been taken down in sh . by Khushi Marya Cushing . She
took down anther lechre, given at the same place on June 1st, 1923 (The Path of Initiation) .

The typescripts in the archives present the teachings on 'Self -realization' as one long lechre; however,
since Piir-o-M.gshid seldom gave lechres of such length, and since the date written above is 'between
Jive 1st and 7th,' the typescripts must combine Iechres on the same topic given over several different
days . The breaks between the lectures seem to come at the f Blowing points :

par. 7 : 'All fear and confusion. . .' ,

par. 11 : 'All these different religions . ..',
par. 14: "What is wanted to-day. . .' .
 33 5

brings to him a new joy and a new happiness, it produces in him that satis-
faction which his soul is looking for, and that comes out of self-realization .
When a person goes wrong and he doeswrong in this life, by that wrong he
realizes the self ; he sees where he was wrong, and what was its effect . By
his own dissatisfaction and by the outcome of that wrong he has realized
the self . He begins to know, if he has some sense, that : Myself does not
choose that effect, although the action I have done, by its results it is not
desirable . Therefore the next time he choosesa betterwayand adifferent
way . If he does not trouble about it then he goes on the wrong path until
that experience comes, when he says : No, myself has not sought that path,
myself always sought a path which not only in the beginning was pleasant,
but which is pleasant aswel I in its results . That is the self-realization . Self-
realization isto allow that beauty, that harmony, that love, that kindness
which is hidden in us to manifest and when it has manifested through the
form of art, or science, or one's action in l ife, or one's manner, or one's at-
titude, or everything one does, one sees oneself produced before him and
that iswhatcauseshissatisfaction .

And again, you will see people depressed and in despair, people
sorry andworriedabout nothing, and if you ask them, they wi l I give you a
thousand reasons for their distress . And yet they do not know what is the real
reason for their distress . There is only one reason behind it all, although
outwardly there seem to be many different reasons, and that one reason is
that either the condition of life, orsome situation in life, or something has
hindered the path of theirself-realization . All that is there in the realm of
beauty, or goodness, or manner, or the tendency to love or to be loved, or
the desire to do something, to express something, has been choked . There
are a thousand forms in which that self-realization might take place, and
yet it may not happen . And the person may begin to feel uncomfortable, be-
cause the soul has come upon the earth for that reason, -- its one desire is to
realize itself . Whether it be a material person or a spiritual person, or
whatever be the character of a man's evolution, his innermost ideal, his
continual craving, his greatest longing and desire is to realize self . He
does not say it in those words, but it is so just the same .

Apersonwill realize the self in the form of vanity, in thedesirethat

he must have such a position, and when he has come to that position, there
comes asatisfaction tohim, and he thinks : "I have arrived at this position
where I wanted to be ." That is again a form of self realization . A person
thinks : "I must learn so much ." After having acquired that knowledge he
thinks he has realized the self also . Another person thinks he must be so
rich, or must have such an environment, position or rank in life, or do some-
thing good or bad in life, -- whatever be his conception . But at the same
time, the ideal behind it all isthe same, --the self-realization ; and it is in
something that man has left after coming into thisworld, -- it is the nature
of the soul, it is the innate nature of God .
336

And again, withal l the desire of realizing these If, and with every
effect 1 that man makes in accomplishing that idea, there always remains
something missing in his life . And what is it that ismissing?It is the true self-
realization . Although man realizes self in the different expressionsof his
mind and heart, the soul is not realized fuI ly, because the manner of real iz-
ingthese If is different . As man begins to realize the self outwardly, so man
goes further and further away from these If . When a person says, (and natu-
ral ly every person thinks in that way) for instance, when a person is in a
palace, in beautiful surroundings, al I that isthere is inspiring him with the
idea of riches and grandeur . He naturally begins to think : "I am rich ." He
does not know that he is not rich, but it is the environment that is rich, yet
he begins to think at once that he is rich . It isso intoxicating, that he does
not stop to think that it is not so . As soon as one is brought into a richer, bet-
ter surrounding, he feels the riches and grandeur . It seems that everything
that is there impresses him so much that it intoxicates him entirely, and
makes him feel he is a different person altogether . And when a person finds
himself in rags he beginsto think he is poor . In reality his rags are poor, not
he . If he knewwhat he isl And asthe poor rags make him feel poor, and as
the palaces make h im feel rich, that shows how man lives day after day far
removed from self-realization, --always living in the circumstances before
him, what is around him, always impressed by what he is looking at, what he
is conscious of, and always unconscious of what he himself is . No doubt, it is
not his fault ; it is the nature of life, the illusive nature of life which is
called by the Hindus "the amazing2Maya ." It is such that if once we stop to
think about it, we shal l find that there is not one single moment that th is i l-
lusive life, full of falsehood, al lows a person to rest and th ink of himself . It
is constantly thereto make him unaware of himself, that man may always
remain farapartfrom hisown self, ignorant of his true self . Andtherefore,
all doubts and confusions and al l worries, al l ignorance, every kind of de-
spairand distress, and the lack of power and of inspiration, all iscausedby
the lack of that true self-realization .

There isa very interesting story often told in the East . Once a lion
was roaming in the wi I derness, and came upon a flock of sheep, and to his
very great surprise in this flock there was a young I ion running about . It
happened that this young I ion had been taken in its infancy and brought up
among the sheep . What amazed the I ion the most was that this I ittle I ion
became frightened too and began to run away . Then the lion forgot all
about the sheep and just went after the little lion and all the sheep ran
away, and this l ittle I ionwas caught by the big one, and stood there fright-
ened and trembl ing . And the big I ion said : "What are you, my son, why are
you so afraid of me?" The young I ion tremblingly said : "Oh, I am frightened ;
I am a sheep, I am afraid of you . I have never seen you before ." The I io n

Notes :

1 . D .lp., Km.t.: 'effort'

2. Km.L : " mazing"
 33 7

said : "Certainly you are not a sheep, you are a I ion ." "Oh," the young one
said, "no, no, I am a sheep, let me go among the other sheep ; I am afraid of
you ." The lion said : "I will not let you go unless you see for yourself that you
are a lion . Come with me ." So that young l ion, trembl ing for h is l ife had to
walk with that big lion, until they came to a pool of water . And the big l ion
said : "Now you look into the water, and then look at me, and then look at
yourself ; if the likeness is the same, then you are a lion also, you are not a
sheep ."And the more the young lion looked into the water, the more he saw
that yes, he was not a sheep, he was a lion, although a small one, but yet he
was a lion . And all his fearthen disappearedand theyoung lion wenthap-
pily away .

Al I fear and confusion is the outcome of ignorance of the self, and

al I the wisdom and happiness and every kind of bliss is in the real izat ion of
self . But when a person opens his eyes and Iooks out and does not see what
he is, then, as the nature of his being is l ike a mirror, according to the Per-
sian mystics, therefore in this mirror becomes reflected all that is exposed
to it . And therefore the3mirror- I ikesou I begins to say that, "I am that which
is exposed before me or what I reflect ." It does not know that "if I reflect
something it must not necessarily be myself ." If the mirror reflects some-
body's face, it does not mean that the mirror is that person ; the mirror is the
mirror ; the person is the person ; but for that moment the mirror is reflecting
it . It isa very great point that sometimes intellectual people interested in
the study of metaphysics or philosophy, become so interested in themeta-
physical side of it and want to f ind out the reason of everything, that they
find everything but themselves . All the events of the past life and al l the
conditions of the future l ife, and all the names of different planes, colours
and spirits and everything, and all the namesof elementals,andif there is
anything remaining it isthe self, --all else is found . And they are so con-
tented and pleased with the knowledge that they think that is all the
knowledge there is and there is nothing more to be learned . But at the same
time there is a continual craving to learn and know and understand some-
thing, --they cannot find where it is orwhat it is ; and if they are digging
they are digging in the same direction in which they have been digging .
They have found something, which appeals to their reason, and theywon-
der if they could find something more . They think it isan added knowledge .
If one only knew that self-realization cannot be an added knowledge ; it is
the original knowledge . It is not a knowledge which is acquired ; it is
knowledge which is there already . One has to find it ; it is something to dis-
cover ; it is not something to attain . If a person will go on attaining for
thousandsof years he will not attain to it, because it issomething tobedis-
covered . It is, really speaking, the uncovering of the self-knowledge that
is the discovering of the Divine Knowledge .

And now the question comes : How can one attain to it? What is the
way of attainment to that self-knowledge? It must be attained by a contrary
process,-- by the process, not of learning, but by the process of unI earning .

3. D .Ip., Km .t. : "this"

33 8

There are some who are born with that attitude ; they are born mystics . Their
soul has that attitude from the beginning . And there are others who have to
find it, who have to attain to it . But at the same time the longing is in every
heart .

There is an interesting story told of a Master, a weI I-known Sufi, in

the Punjab . He was aborn mystic . And when he was averyyoung child, he
was sent to school . The first lesson they teach is the lesson of the figures .
And the first character given isthe straight line, which makes o ne, and
which is called in the Eastern language"Afepk ." "Alif"4, the first letter . And
thischild, thesameas all the children, had this letter given to him .Allthe
other children learned five or six letters at the same time, but that child
continued with the first letter . And when the teacher asked, "Have you fin-
ished with that, shall I give you another?" he said, "No, I have not yet
finished . So the teacher did not give him any other lesson that day . And the
next day the child again replied that he had not yet finishedwith that fig-
ure . And so it went on fora whole week, and the teacher could not under-
stand it, and he said to the parents : " I do not th i nk this ch i l d wi l l learn any-
thing, please take him home ." And at home the parentsbegan to be annoyed
with him also, thinking that he did not learn what he ought to learn . And as
the child grew, the dissatisfaction of the parents and the conditions at
home made him go away from home . But he did not forget the lesson the
teacher had given him . And he lived in the sol itude of the forests indiffer-
ent places . After many years when he had grown up, he had developed a
wonderful personality . Then he went back to his village, and his great de-
sirewas'tovisittheold school and the old teacher, who happened to be still
there . And he went and saluted the teacher very humbly, but the teacher
did not recognize him, so he said, "I am that same pupil of yours who could
not learn anything more ." The teacher was amused, but very glad to see
him . Then he asked the teacher if therewas anything else to learn, because
now he wasbeginning to understand the first lesson . The teacherwas im-
pressed by this developed personality saying such a thing, because now this
person was a power in himself . He said, "If you wish, I shat l write the lesson
on thewal l ." And he made a sign on the wall and thewall divided in two,
making one l ine of the f igure he had written . The teacher seeing the mi ra-
cle, bowed before him . He said, 'Do not bow, you are my teacher, you have
taught me the first lesson . But after that first lesson I have not found that
there is any second lesson to learn . That is the first lesson and the last
esson ."

If the sacred scriptures, the Vedas, have taught anything, it isthat

there are not two, but only one, theOnly Being . If any prophet or any seer
or any religion, if Jesus Christ hastaught anything, it was Unity . And so it
was, time after time, when religion was presented in different forms, when
man's ideal seemed to have disappeared . Since it is the natural tendency of
man to realize the self in the outer l ife, so he has forgotten that oneness ,

4 . D .tp., p.c.: 'Aleph', afterwards charged by sk. to "Alif

Km.t : 'Aleph'
 33 9

and becomes5 interested in the duality of I if e, and his search for something
that his soul is craving, continues in a direction in which he wil I never find
it, and that is the direction of duality . And there is a reason . The reason is
that the direction of duality has for some time a great interest for a person .
But although duality is very pleasing, duality is not satisfaction . Satisfac-
tion isfound in unity . In dualitythere ispleasure, and as long asman has
not distinguished between pleasure and satisfaction hewill not enjoy the
truth that unity gives .

All these different religions that we have to-day in the world and
again in every religion so many different sects and churches, each thinking
that the. other is wrong, and everyone thinking that their own particular
idea is right, -- in this way theworld is going on, and humanity is going on,
everyone thinking that they are pious and they havea religion and they
have a bel ief, -- if we only knew that the rel igion, or bel ief, or church, or
community, or sect, that these things cover the soul and prevent it from
finding the ultimate Truth, -- the Truth which alone is the Saviour, the
Truth which alone isGod, the Truth which alone is al l the satisfaction there
is, and al l the treasure that man hasto attain . And al I the power and inspira-
tion and all that man requires, it is there in the Truth . And still man
wonders, and people dispute over their religious beliefs and faiths, and
their sects and communities . Think of how many battles have been fought in
all differentcivilizationsover the religious ideas and differences of their
churches . They have fought because the God of that particular peoplewas
different from the God of the others ; because their Saviour or Lordwasdif-
ferent from the others .

Is it not time someone could see from this point of view, from the
point of view of unity, upon which the foundationsof all religions have
been bui It? And noMessenger, no Lord or Saviour, prophet or seer ever came
and preached and taught humanity and elevated humanity without having
been inspired by that spirit of unity, of oneness . And yet the followers of
each of them have taken the words as the truth, and not what is behind the
words . They have taken a particular scripture, changed perhaps a thousand
times in the history of the world . That scripture wassomething, but not the
living inspiration . They have fought those living souls who sympathized
with them and gave their I ives to I ift them, and who sacrificed everything
to go and teach them, and who have risked their I ives and suffered al I the
tortures that could be put upon them . They have crucified and flayed them .
And yet, in spite of all they have named religion orbelief, and all they
have called virtue, and even knowledge, -- now it seems that humanity
does not awaken to understand what is beyond all sects and religions, what
is behind al I those different bel iefs and faithswhich are al I different forms
in which the truth is expressed, -- the one and the same truth, the re-
alization of the one life which is beneath and beyond all beings and all
things .

5 . Km.t : •beccme•
340

And if you ask me, what benefit has one, what does one gain by that
realization, the answer is: That if there is any gain, it is in the real izat ion
of truth, and al I the loss belongs to ignorance . If there is any phenomenon,
if there isanymiracle, if there is anyhappiness, if there is any inspiration,
if there is any harmony or peace, if there is any beauty, or any great at-
tainment to be made, it is al I in the realization of truth . And imagine how
man wanders away from that main thing, interested in everything else but
that most important th i ng in life . There are many who are seeking for some
power, power in orderto attain some little worldly advantage . Whenever
man realizes what power the thought of unity has, what power the real iza-
tion of that oneness gives, he will not seek for limited powers, because
there isthe unlimited power there at hand . Or peopleseek forsome little
inspiration here and there . One can study little things, but at the same t ime
that study cannot give that living inspiration, and in the realization of
unity there is a l iving inspiration . As soon asone has touched it, one has
touched the universal treasury . Every knowledge, the knowledge of every
person, and the knowledge of al I that has vanished and gone, al I belongs to
that soul,because that soul then touchesthat perfect goal inthe realiza-
tion of that oneness . That all the different communications that people
seek for, what communication is there that is not there? Are we not in one-
ness? If we seem to be many, it is only the illusion of our eyes . In realitywe
are not many, we are the one and the only life there is . It isthe realization
of that onenessthatwill put us in connection, in contact, with all the souls
there are, those who are living here and those who have passed away . The
communication then is not difficult, because once you contact with the
One, then you contact with al I . But when a person will contact with a little
drop, it does not mean that he is in contact with the ocean, he is limited and
in this waywe l imit ourselves by our smal l ness of view, by our ch i ldish fan-
cies, by our pleasure in seeing a I imited horizon in I ife .

What is wanted to-day is to elevate one'sself and the life around

and about one to the higher spheres, the greater realization . What a pity it
is that at this time when there is a worl d-awakening of people, so that there
is aworld-awakening in spiritual matters also, at such a time when we be-
gin to work in the spiritual life, the first great difficulty that comes before
the spiritual worker andwhich he hasto combat, is the satisfying of these
childish fancies and imaginations . And if the spiritual worker wants to
make a success in his work, he cannot but feel tempted and inclined to sat-
isfy those childish fancies, and by that I mean, to keep them asleep, to keep
them interested in their childish fancies . It is just like giving the child a
toy ; whereas Iwould have given the toy andthe lesson at the same time,
that by that toy the child would have learned something else, instead of
giving the child the toy and saying : "just play, and do not learn ; it does not
matter, it isyourpleasure, so just play ." It istrue, let them play, but at the
same time give them something so that by that play they may be able to re-
alize the truth,that their playmay be inspiringto them andmay elevate
them . If that play interests them so, that they do notwant tosee anything
 34 1

else, it is really speaking, dragging them along on a road which is not the
road their soul is seeking, which is not the attainment that is for them .
Therefore what is wanted to be learned is not only for those who are seeking
after truth, but for those also who areworking in the spiritual field, --the
lesson is for us also, because we are doing what little spiritual work we can .
We are all responsible forworking at thistime of spiritual awakening each
in our own way, doing what l itt l e we can .

The one thing we can do is to keep man away from substitutions, not
to give him more substitutions, but to keep him away from them ; to keep
man away from dabbling in things which are not so very important, which
are only amusement for him, which are I ike moving pictures for him ; to ele-
vate him to the higher consciousness that he may come closer and closer to
the ideal he is constantly seeking for . The best means that can be adopted is
the only means that has always been considered to be the best, and that
means is God . To awaken man to seek God, to promote that ideal which
JesusChrist hastaughtwhen he says :"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and
all elsewill beadded unto you ."To promotethat ideal let manseek first,
above everything else, the God-ideal . By that I do not mean, let man be-
ieve in God . If man only believed in God he might just as wel I bel ieve a
thousand years in Him, he will not progressany further . No, the bel ief in
God is not sufficient ; it is only the preparatory step . It is that man must be
taught the making of God . The first essential of the process is to make our
God, make Him in the thoughts, make .Him with your imagination, make
Him with your ideal, make Him with your devotion, make Him with your
service and worship ; make Him with yoursurrender in humbleness, make
Him by kneeling down before His perfect Being and humbling yourself,
which is limited . And once God is made, when He is made to sit on a throne
and He is crowned with God-hood, then one part of the journey is per-
fected . Nowthen another part begins . Theother part is to know what rela-
tion God is to man, and how close man can be to God . Then one sees that the
relation between God and man is a I ine ; one end of the I ine is God, the
other end of the I ine is man himself . The I ine is one ; the ends are two ; one
end is perfect, the other end is imperfect . And when one wi I I raise the con-
sciousness from this imperfection andwil I desire to attract and come closer
to that perfect Being , one wil I be drawn towards perfection, because the
law of gravitation draws its own element . Man ismade of the earth and the
part of our being which belongs to the earth wi I I be drawn by the earth . The
part of our being which belongs to the soul will be drawn by that part of
man's being which is his true being, which is not his coat, like the body,
which is histrue self, which is God Himself . And if man will raise himself
and make the attempt to arise, and if he will make the inclination to go
toward that perfection, he wi I I be drawn by that perfection, because he be-
longs to that Perfect Being , he is the very self of that Perfect Being, and
that is why God was made and worshipped . That is why, in this ideal, the
purpose of I ife becomes fulf i I led .
342
 34 3

UNA : INTRODUCTION

The play Una was begun by Pi r-o-Mursh id I nayat Khan in June, 1923,
while on board the S .S . "Olympic", returning to Europe after a tour of five
months in the United States . The last two weeks in New York had been hec-
tic, and the time on board ship was no doubt a welcome respite . Pir-o-
Murshid Inayat Khan was accompanied by Mr . Fatha Engle, an American
mureed whowas going toSuresnes at the Pir-o-Murshid's request, and Mrs .
Eggink-van Stolk, whowas given the name Bhakti during this trip . The play
was originally cal led The Artist," and the main character called "Bhakti,"
certainly with Mrs . Eggink in mind, as Pir-o-Murshid also selected her to
play the role in the first performance . The manuscript still exists, and con-
tainsmuch of the first act of the play and some of the material for the third
act . Because Pir-o-Murshidmadeso many revisions later, it was decided to
present this manuscript in a typed reproduction, so the reader would be
able to see the play in this formative stage (the manuscript itself is very
hard to read) ; this appears first following this Introduction .

When Pir-o-Murshidwas back at his home in Suresnes, he dictated

the play toMurshida Sophia Saintsbury Green, no doubt using the sketch he
had made on shipboard . We also have this manuscript, which forms the basis
for our text of Acts 1 and the earlier version of Act IV . Many revisions are
evidenced in this manuscript, including the changing of the name of the
main character to "Una" from "Bhakti,"which was apparently considered
too exotica name foran American . Pir-o-Murshid assigned parts tovarious
mureeds, and left it in their hands to produce the play . This was accom-
plished, aftermany rehearsals, in August of 1923, with Pir-o-Murshid Inayat
Khan in attendance, and it seems to have been a great success .

Act 11 of the play appears suddenly in a latertypescript (of which no

date or provenance are known), but the language makes it clear that it was
written by Pi r-o-Mursh id .

Act III was not yet finished in the version in Murshida Green's
handwriting, and therefore we have taken a later text, which is complete,
as the text for this act (though the differences from Green's manuscript are
noted) .

For Act IV, Green's manuscript is the basis of the first text we give ;
however, later, on a copy of a typescript made byMurshida Goodenough,
Kismet Stam indicated the moving around of some speeches or parts of
speeches, with a note "Changes dictated by Murshid* on the top, and this re-
arrangement has formed the basis of all subsequent texts . Because these
shifts would prove impossible to follow if only shown in footnotes, it was
decided to present a second version of Act IV, which, however, differs from
the first version only in the order in which the I inesare said .
344

Not long afterthe first performance, adiscussion of the playwith

Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan took place, which Sakina Furnee took down in
shorthand . For the text of this discussion, see Complete Works of Pir-o-
Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan, 1923 II, July-December, East-West : London
and The Hague, underAugust3l .
 34 5
[A typed reproduction of the manuscr ipt in the hard of P ir-o-
Mtrshid Inayat Khan, written on board ship on the way back from
America in Xme, 1923]

UNA

Toward the one the perfection o f

love harmony and beauty The Artist
united with alI the iIumminate d
soulswho form the embodimen t
of the Master the spirit of guidanc e

(Bhakt i -Comm i ng to her studio)

after a . long absence .

It isa breath of joy indeed to be in my studio again,

away f rom aI I the turmoi I of I ife . It is a jo y
which is beyond words, a happiness which can
-not be found else whare .
My studio has been neglected for such a long time .
I have been occupaiedwith no end of things, bussy
answering I ife's unseassing demands, but when
ever I find time any one and the only though t
is to come to the studio and be my self again .
Niether home has joy for me nor do I find happi
-ness a Ise where . No one at home understands me
and those out side home are absorbed in thai r own
ives . Every step I take I am drawn back an d
from everything I try towithdraw I am thrown
into it's very depths . Whilewalking I find pit s
on the way and by standing my legs become stag . . . . . . .
The rop there is to hold breaks it iswithered th e
rock I find to sit upon crumbles, it is of sand
Everything I purchase costs me more than it isworth
andall that I sale I sale fornothing-
my enthusiasm is pinched at every move I make,
and my hope breaks under every blow that falls
upon it . By the pinprics I have every day in I ife
my heart has becom ful of wholes . I continually
experience the tragedy caussed by I ife's I immitat ion s
Life, I if e, what a puzzle you are tome the
only distraction in Iife I have is my art .
346

(Taking the instruments in her hand )

Now my instruments you be my companians

(looking above )

The sun is glorious spreading its raysto

ift my heart to cheerfulness .

(a knock upon the door )

Heart Some one is already cal I ing even before

I started to work .

(opens the door Maya a girl)

enters-
Maya-

Hal low Bhakti dear I have been looking for yo u

all over the place, where have you been al I this time .
Were you hidding yourself from friends? Bu t
dont we find you i n the end? you cant very we
hide from us can you! Well Bhakt i
darling tell me how are you getting on with your
work? (Looking at the half done statue)
Isthissomething that you are working with?
Dear me, what a dul I occupation Cant you fin d
anything else to do? (Bhakti perplexed but speech)
-less
Bhakti dear you spend hourswith thi s
useless kind of work in this solitary studio
I cant understand how you can do it .

(Bhakti after a moments pause )

My dear g i rl When have I anytime to work?

all day long I am bussy doing some th ing at
home at night for hours I Iay awake thinking
about making the ends meet . As you well know
that my parents now anc i ng to the age are no
longer responcible, it is 1 upon whom the care
of home rests .
 347

When ever I find a spare momment I come her e

to my studio and try to forget life's doingthiswork,
cares
the on ly work I I ive for .

Maya-My simple girl is this the work you live

for? I would not g ive that much for a work that
brings nothing in return . It is simply a wast of time .

I-woe44 Bhakti A real art will never bring the

appropriate rewafds and to exact returns f e

return s
for the art would be I ike bringing beauty a to
the market pfa e.. Maya_
I cannot understand how you can lock yourself
up in this sol itary studio . If I had no one arround
me to talk to I ife would become so monotonous
that I would not khnowwhat to dowith it .
Bhakti-Maya my dear girl I am only happy when
I am left to be by my sel f . I dont need anyon e
to talk (with, & sillence is never too long for me .
Maya-you peculiar girl you Berta in ly area riddle to
solve .

read
Now tel I me dear, did you 144s the morning gossip ?

Bhakti-you know that I dont read pepers I have

much to do at home besides I am not particularly
interested in the senssational storysof the papers
announcin g
tafk-k g abort- some ladys death in the morning and
of the same person still I iving in the Evening news .
Maya-But do you know the rate of money exchange how
much our money has gone up Bh akt i -It does not
make much defferance in our life we who 1 ive
hand to mouth from day to day and more ove r
the iedia of profitting once self by the loss of another
has Aewer-ppea1ed4e .me- more or less been foraign
to my nature . Maya-I am sure Bhakti you
34 8

do not even know the name of the mair who is very recently
eI lected in our town do you? No I dont know May a
quite another than that of your's
My dear girl I do-not- I ive in yoMc .woc 4 Maya-
You certainly are behind time . ALast night I was invite d
at the Society banquet given at Mrs . Wi Ikinson's every one
in the town who issome bodywas invited therewe had
music and dance jaz playing al I night long, and w e
had lotsof fun there .
We have a fancy dress ba l l comm i ng next week X
the loca l
itwil I be a grand affair indeed all A papers are
r xIc RtaIking a lot about it .
speak-i~g aboet-i rbet4arn•gett+ g t r-edo these .-
howeve r
afternoon teas I can manage to go to four or five
receptions a day but I i.Adeed cannet- gO4O-a4-L-
attend any more .

written sideways along edg e

all comming thair will guise them selves as what thaywere in thair past
life
wont itbeafun? it wilI be agreat paintoany 'promise?Ye s
(Bhakti smiles) disappointment body if you I know you do .
Maya-eons+nue&.. to us al I and ca n
You must Bhakti dear l possibl y
come to this know well that avoid . Good
fun event for it you do-not always you must com e
y" d-kapp avoid giving now do you

Bhakti-This kind of Iife i s

I.t4saf( for you big people A not forme . Maya-I really
wish Bhakti you were not living such a retired lif e
it issuch a pitytobe like this it is living like not
do
living, of what use isthe life, if you did•not live it .
Bhakti-I am not at all interested in the society I ife
it is for the fashionable people I am quite contente d
Maya mus t
with my life as an humble artist . now l A leave
Bhakti dear I am sorry to have taken much of your time
from your work .
(thay kiss each other good buy)
But be sure and come : orava- and Bhakti closses the door
 34 9

Bhakti (to herself) -Thay-• nevcr-hake I dont know why

me
people dont leave yoei-alone, thay have thair I if e, I have
my own life to I ive I cant understand people urgin g
way of I iving other s
thairown l-i#e upon you . Well, I suppose that isthe
way of the world .
join in Soc+et-y
Thay tel l me I dont yactompa y-them to tha i r ba4&
entertainment s
and thearters, tome the very world is a stage, life is
unseassinly
a continual play running on Awith itsmeria d
it is
varietys, old asold can be and yet A ever new .

Fancy dress bal I takes place people enterMaya recieving

them in the decorated ball room . First comme r
enters
Maya-who are you? I am pitter the great of Russia
Maya We I come your majesty-the commer-and
thisistheZarinaac -t. 4s-+-,the.cown-pc4 e• . . . . . . . .
Some of them anothen enters The Maharaja dhiraj a
All-And who is this- I am Veer Shamsher ran e
Jang BahadoorofNepau4 i . India and this
is the Maharani 6+fawat4 dhe K+tat-ak-e
great •• •• •• • •
dlmFna-l 4aka-dha Maya-Mat-how-do yow
Welcome Raja and Rani
ca~lie ;!avla~ia~aj,3~e~o~g+c~f4~t-4e4<:K~idaraa-
K+ a- a ega y-g her eyes
aed4+eeef-a ;coaod4ef.head-&says Sa l a m
to you both .€ome-ira . Another enters-Al I-who are
Al
you I am the qeen of Sheeba-Come income in .
of sh ibavery Another one enters .
queen we are glad to see you . All-- All-
and who are you-I am the King Hwangti of China
this iswel beloved wewelcom e
and t +s-i&,,my queen- All -we bow-to yourMajesty
All- KindLuissethe6th
Another enters and who is this-I am the•Nepol+ara$oraapar#
350

another enters Al I-
the•wor4d-coraquefef - and who is this w¢t -you-t+s
I-am she-I am the Mary Antonet-anothe r
enters ? she•says what is your name marl antonet
all isone already ther e
al lWoroao.entewbut she Meri I am the real Mary antonet
of4 e•Al I how can the / marl antonetenkarne t
and maybe
as two persons- she- i&&rong in her memmory of
a
the past I am right-the 1st one no I am right i n
both
roy-c-oraeept on-yotra-Fef.,efts+rafy-fong .Thaybeg4n.to-fight .
dear parant (?) told me that I am the MaryAntone t
Al I ask the Nepol ian to tel I who was the real
Mariantonet but Nepol ian h+m se4f says I my
self am not quite clear in my mind about this
question then thay both fight with Nepolian until l
he runs away and al I seperate them .
says
(Another enters) I am the Khesraw the great Sha of Percia
Som e
Welcome your majesty welcome another I am
some one Rissen
King That the Pharoh (r-i-,{,eF4for-the$fwe-
the night(? )
from tie-grave that was recently dug up by-the
his up
am under the guide of my spirit guidewhowas a n
American Indian & had died on the battle feald he
i&.,alwayswith me he never leaves me alone even
keeps eve s
where-a y
for a single moment . And tel Is me e'efy-
sheukl• what
tfeg+do+~►et(iert+aao<,~do+t o~ot I must do &
what I must not do . if hetellsmetohaldwh4l-e+l halt
when every he tellsme toobey I obey .
Maya-afmoeoc,cg +
(announces) the Maharaja will sing an Indian
Song .
(He sings)
Maya (announces) The Shah wiI I sing a percian Song .
(He sings .)
then (thay all dance .) (Thay move about and
talk ing-"d another)
with one
 35 1

Maya-(on one side) And when did you come

taking Wedidnotseeyoucomming .
Dhobi-I just came in .

Maya-what were you in your pest imn I ife ?

Dhobi-I dont know anything about the pest I ife

I only know ef44444ewhat I was in this I ife
before I ente red the soc i ety- Maya-and what were
Maya-We l I dont fight you are both Mar y
roa Atonets born at different times .

sideway s

you wi l I you tell me-Dhobi I was a londriman .

Have you always been a Iondriman Dhobi not atal I before
Do
that I was a barberMaya you mean to say you began
to your I ife as barber no in the beginnang 4 .as-a-
amazed l ife as a
chimnisweep- Maya(6acigedmuch in herself) how
amusing, but how you happened to enter the Society
Dhobi-it i<swastha t
during the war time I made ammunitions & becam e
rich since then everywhere I am be+raginvited & received
in the society-but to tel l you the truth I do not lik e
this sort of I ife-I feel lonesome do you know what I
would like? I would like tomary a Me-el,.yr-nice looking
youn g
girl , do you knowwhat I mean I would l ike tomary
a real good good girl-tell me if you knowof any .
a I ready
Maya-Did you not mary before-Dhobi The Past has passed'
now tha t
the pressent is pressant it is the future to se.b we look forward
to . Maya-Do you mean to say that you never marrie d
before I-Dhob i-I married twenty times before but
hav e
what is about it just now . Whare ace-all your wife's
gone, thay did not all die . Dhobi . I alwayspassed
them over before thay ever did die . I can assure you
that I did not kill one but devorced them all .
35 2

sideways (other direction)

Marya every evening

Some-4-w at-awonderfuI opera(?) do you go to any spitscllences yesi do
even
how yoee-
weIce, e-athe home o f
a trumpet med i u m

sideway s

a most splendid medium and she gives most wonderfu

magnatic treatments in one momment she can make
the pain run from head to heart . aid-ira same--what
a wonderful power . Are you a-med-kim too-have you
pcichi c
anyClarevoyant power Marya-no I have not yet
acc+e,red atta ed~to41 a arrieved to t a sore such
worderful attainment I am an simple wema n
ordinary person
an humble artist .
 35 3

Ba I I room

Maya standing at th e

Entrance to recieve people a s

they come .
1st (enters ) Maya (announces ) Pitter the great of the caz r
of Russia .

d ----=-------------=-------- =----------------- een• E4 abe*e4og#and:

34d-----=-------------=-------- =----------------- - G+eg ~Eri~f ee 6Lo#~r,~c e

42th King Hawangti of Chin a

53th " KhasrawtheShahofPerci a

64th " Jung Behedonmeharaje o f

Nepau l

75th Mary Antonet of Franc e

86th King That the Farrow of Eg ip t

Some - just arose from h is grave that was dug up . )

97th Mary Antonet of France

354
355
35 6
Ms . Murshida Gree n

UNA 1
2L ist of Characters2

Una Mrs . Eggin k

Statue S i rdar3
Helen Mme . Lafitt e
Father4 Mrs . van Hoens3
Ouvrier5 Mr . Baue r
Aunt6 Mme . van Hogendor p
King Tut Mushraff Kha n
Queens 1 & 27 Lakme3 & Judy Shea f
Shah of Persia Maheboob Kha n
Sultana Shadi 3
King Akbar8 Ali Kha n
Queen of Sheba G. I . L .3
Snake Charmer Saida 3
Greek Philosopher Miss Hoeber 3
Dante Mrs . Shemetsk y
Beatrice Mrs . Shea f
American Indian Mr . Enge l
I4assa4 Yusuf & Zuleika Mr . van Engen3 & Miss van Braam
9

Documents :

Ms .I .K . (a manuscript in the hand of P1-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, incomplete, reproduced in types cr ipt
above) .
Ms .Gr. ( dictated by Pir-o-Murshid to Mtrshida Sophia Green and Kefayat Gladys LLoyd ;) .
Tp.1 . (an old typescript showing some corrections , used by the person playing Helen in an e ar ly perfor-
mance) .
Gd.t.1 ( a typescript corrected by Gd.) .
Gd.t.2 (another copy of the last act from Gd.t.1, with changes written in medium blue ink by Kismet Stam,
and a note in the upper right hand comer of the fist page, 'Changes dictated by Mirshid" ) .
Tp.2 (carbon copy of a typescript without corrections) .
Tp.3 (Acts II and IV only, with corrections in ink and pencil) .
Bk . (Three Plays , Deventer, Netherlands, 1939) .

Notes :

1 . Tp.1, Gd.t.1 : add, "A Play in Three Acts" ; Tp.1 further adds 'by Hazrat Inayat Khan' . As the use of
the title "Hazrat' during the lifetime of Piir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan is not attested, the cover sheet may
have been added later.
2. Tp.1 ., Gd.t .1 : 'Characters" ;
Tp.2 : "Persons" ;
Bk.: "Characters of the Play '
3 . "S'vdar" refers to Baron van Tuyll ; the name "van Hoens" is properly spelled "van Goens' ; "Lakme'
refers to the daughter of Mr. and Mrs . van Hogendorp; 'Shadi" refers to the wife of Maheboob Khan;
"G .I .L .'refers toKefayatGladys I . LLoyd;'Saida" refers to Baroness van Tuyll; 'Miss Hoeber"was
actually Mrs . Hoeber; the name 'van Engen' should be spelled 'van Ingen' ; "Engel' should be 'Engle" .
For information on these and others in the list, see Biography.
 35 7

ACT 11 0

"(In studio)! !

812 UNA 13(Coming into studio after a long absence) 1 3

It is a breath of joy indeed to be once again in my studio,

away from all the turmoi l of life . It is a joywhich is beyond
words . It isa happiness which cannot be found elsewhere .
My studio has been neglected for such a Iong while . I have
been occupied with no end of things, busy answering I ife's
unceasing demands . But whenever I find time, my one and
only thought is to come 14to the studio14 and be myself
again . Home has no joy for me, nordol find happiness any-
where else . No-one understands me and alI those whom I
know are absorbed in theirown Iives . Every step I take I am
drawn back, and al I that I try to15 withdraw from is forced
upon me . The rope I try to15 hold breaks, for it is rotten ; the
rock I seek to rest upon crumbles, for it is made of sand . In
the world's fair, everything I purchase costs more than it is
worth, and if I have anything tosell, I get nothing for it . By
the continual pinpricks that I feel through life, my heart
16becomes 14k-e perforated16 . Ah7--k+fe4---your--a-r-e ---i .n-
p-uzzl e
deed•~~fob~er~a~d-=s€~t-wer~~ot ~of~y-A~~ ~-eou~d~o-t er~-
dufe-yott! Ohl I ife you are indeed a puzzle! the only solace
have is17 my Art .

4 . All other documents : 'Una's Father" ; Tp.2 and bk. also add 'Una's Mother "
5 . In Tp.1 and all subsequent documents, this character is called "Workman" ; only in Ms .Gr. is he called
"courier", French for "worker" . Bk. reads "A Workman (M . Jules Ferrier)" .
6 . All other documents : "Helen's Aunt "
7 . All other documents : 'Fist Queen" and 'Second Queen'
8 . All other documents : 'Emperor' instead of "King "
9 . Bk.: adds "Butler" and "Guests" ; following the list of characters, all other documents add : "The scene
is laid in the United States ./ Time: the Present." Tp.1 and Gd.1 further add: 'Act I : Una's Studio ./ Act
II : Ballroom./ Act III : Una's Studio. '
10. For Act I, Ms . Gr., the oldest "complete" (except for Act II, added later on) manuscript, dictated by Pir-
o-Murshid to Murshida Green (and, in a few places, to Kefayat LLoyd) is used as the basic text . This
copy was used by a prompter in an early (the fist?) performance, and in several places is marked
•Prorrpter* and 'cue' ; these incidental markings have been ignored in the text . A standard format has
been adopted (name of character speaking in upper case letters in margin, stage directions in parenthe-
ses, etc .), and the very haphazard punctuation of this handwritten ms . has been minimally normalized.
11 . All other documents : "Una's studio"
12. For the fist six pages of Ms .Gr ., everywhere "B" is written, then crossed out and "Una" written instead.
Apparently Piir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan decided to change the name of the character from Bhakti to Una
while dictating this ms . From its page 7 on, the ms . has only 'Una', except for a single instance in the
last act (see footnote 146) .
13 . Tp .1, Gd.t 1 : "Enter Una (af ter a long absence)' ;
Tp.2: 'Enter Una, who has long been absent from her studio' ;
Bk .: "Enter Una, who has long been absent "
14. Bk.: "here '
15. Tp.2, Bk . : this phrase omitted, probably a copying error (from the repetition of the wards "try to")
16. Bk. : "is riddled "
17. Tp.1, Gd.t.1, Bk.: "in" added
358

(Takes eh-i<,one of her tools in her hand )

My tools! you are the companions of my solitude .

(Looks up at the glass roof )

The sun! The glorious sun is sending its rays to I ift my heart
to cheerfulness .

(Begins to work at the incomplete18 statue )

My statue! for19 how long have 119 not touched you !

(A knock at the door 2 0is heard20 )

Here is some-one already calling before I even21 begin

work !

(Opens the door ; H E L EN enters )

HELEN : My dear B Una, I have been looking everywhere for youl

Where have you been all this long time? Were you hiding
yourself22 from your friends? If so, besurewe shall find you
in the end . You cannot29 run away and hide from us l

BUNA : I did not mean to hide . After a long time I just had a moment
to come to my studio . I have not even begun to work yet .

HELEN : (Looking at the half-done2statue )

Is this something that you are working at? Dear me, what a
dul I occupation . Can't you find anything else to do ?

(B UNAperplexed and speechless )

Una dear, you spend24 hours wither this useless work in this
solitary studio . I can't understand how you can do it .

18. Tp. 1 : 'incomplete ' changed to 'unfinished", followed by all other documents
19. Tp.1 : " fa' omi tted;
Gd.t.1 , Tp .2, Bk . : ' How long is it since I have '
20. All other docunents : 'is heard' moved to between 'knock ' and 'at the door"
21 . Tp.1 : ' even' omi tted
22. Bk. : ' yousel f ' omitte d
23 . Tp .2, Bk . : 'finished' in place of 'done'
24 . Tp . 1 : 'you" added
25 . All other documents : 'at'
 35 9

B UNA : ( After a moment 's pause )

My dear g i rl , when have I anytime towork?All day I am busy

at home . At night I lie awake for hoursthinking howto make
both ends meet . You know that my parents are no longer able
to be responsible for the household ; they have both aged
very much, and it is upon me alone that the care of the
householder depends . Yet, whenever I have a moment, I
come hereto the studio and try to find forgetfulness 27
in doing thiswork , the only thing I real ly care for .

HELEN : You simple girlt Is this the work you live for? I would not
give that much28 for work that brings nothing better; it is
simply2waste of time . Excuse me for tel l ing you so t

UNA : Art seldom brings any material returns . Besides, to expect

any would be to me I ike offering beauty in the market-
place .

HELEN : I cannot29 understand how you can shut yourself up in this

solitary studio30 . If I had no-one round me to talk to Iife
would become so monotonous that I should not knowwhat to
dowith it .

UNA : Well, I am happy only when I am by myself ; I don't want

anyone to tal k to ; silence is never long enough forme .

HELEN : Well, you certainly are a riddlet Now tel I me the truth, Una,
did you read the "Morning31 Gossip" thismorning ?

UNA : You know quite well that I don't read the papers ; I have too
much to do . And besides, I am not particularly interested in
the sensational stories in the newspapers ; they generally
an-sad-one'-tkt ~= -tbe-two + ►g- d-cot diet-+t-+ct•-tlie
eve g-
nounce32 one thing in the morning and quite its33a opposite
in the evening .

HELEN : Do you know the rate of the33b exchange today ?

26a. Bk.: 'house" in place of "household"

26b. Bk.: "to the studio" omitted
27. All other documents : "oblivion" in place of "forgetfulness" ;
Gd.t.1 : fist 'forgetfulness' was typed, then erased and *oblivion" typed instea d
28. Tp.1 : *(snapping her fingers)' added, followed by all other documents ; also, all other documents insert
"a• before 'waste of time "
29 . Bk . : "can't"
30. Ibid. : "place"
31 . Ibid . : "Daily'
32. Ibid . : "say "
33a . All other documents: "the'
33b . Ibid. : "the" omitted
360

UNA: Whether33c money goes up or down does not make muc h

difference to-me-An in our I iveswhen we I ive from
hand to mouth 34from day to day34 . Moreover, the idea of
profiting by the loss of another has alwaysbeen foreign to
my nature .

HELEN : Do you know the name of the new mayor who has just been
elected ?

UNA: No, indeed I donot351 My deargirl, I live in quite another

world from yours .

HELEN : You certainly are behind the times36 . Last night I was at a
ball given byMrs . Wilkens . Everyone 37a in the town who is
somebody37b was present . There was music and dancing al
night and great fun . There is a Founder'sBal I coming off next
week and Auntie is on the committee . She has asked me to
help her . Everyone has been asked to come disguised as
someone theythought38 they were in their past fives . Won't
that be amusing ?

(UNAsmiles )

You wi l I come, Una dear, won't you? Though I know that you
always avoid social functions. But all the local papers are
talking about this . Do come, please .

UNA : Society life is for people I ike you, Helen, not forme .

HELEN : Unal I really wish you were not I iving such a retired I ife .
What is the good of I ife if you don't I ive it ?

UNA : I am not at al I interested in society 1 ife39 . I preferthe I ife of

a humble artist .

HELEN : It seems that no-one can change your ideas, Una . I must be
going now . I am sorry to have kept you so long from your
work . Now be sure and come to the ball . Au revoir.

(They kiss40one another40 . Exit Helen )

33c. Tp .1 : "the" added

34 . Bk . : "day by day"
35 . Ibid . : 'don't'
36 . Tp .2 : "time "
37a . Tp.1, Gd.t.1, Bk .: "everybody" in place of "Everyone"
37b . Bk . : "anybody" in place of "somebody"
38. All other documents : "think"
39. Bk .:'life" omitted
40. Tp.1, Tp .2, Gd.t .1 : "each other" ;
Bk.: omitted
 36 1

UNA : (sol i loqu ises4l )

I don't know why people can't leave me alone! They I ive

their own lives, why can't they let me live mine! (Sighs)
Well, I suppose that is the way of the world .

(A knock at the door . UNA opens it42 )

Father! Is that you? Yes, I'm here . I had a spare moment so I

thought I would come and try to f in ish some work I was doing
here .

(43UNA brings43FATHER in, holding his arm, and seats him in

an armchair )

Wei I, Father, what have you come to tel I me ?

FATHER : My dear chi Id, you are wanted at home, as your mother is no t
wel I . When you are out, everything goes wrong .
bcooght-you-u p•
Besides, I have never/liked the idea of your being an artist .
44as-yoa4*+~ow-very effwe aave-badoo-Aft+sts4 4
Inour family/and therehasnever beenanywish forany of
the familytobecome artists . Our people look upon it quite
differently 45to theway in whichyou do45 ; asfor myself, I
never could have imagined you an artist .

UNA : DearFather, these46are theold ideas! Nowscience andart

are the great qual ificationsof the age . And you know, dear
Father, I do not do this asa profession ; it is my love for art
which occupiesmewith it .

FATHER : Una, my ch i ld, thouh we have been for some time in poor
circumstances, sti114 we have always considered our dig-
nity ; your mother is depressed and very often feels sad to see
you so unlike the other girls in our familywho go into So-
ciety .

UNA : Father, my society consists of the little works of art which

are round me in this studio . I feel at home here, and every
moment while I amworking here I am happy .

41 . All other documents : "soliloquises " omitted

42. Ibid.: • die door "
43. Ibid.: 'Leads her' in place of 'Una briu g s '
44. Tp.1, Gd.t.1 : "as you know very well, we have never had any artists' ;
Tp.2, Bk . : the same, except 'artist' instead of "art ists '
45. All other documents : ' from you'
46. Ibid. : "those"
47. Ibid. : "yet"
362

FATHER: My dear child, there are many things in the world besides art
which are to besought in order that one maybe real Iy hap-
py . If you never see anyone, no-one will ever know you .
wh4c amuse-yo u
There are many other things in life / if you will seek for
them . Art is al l very wel l /to amuse oneself with, but it is not
as.a4h4F g
everything that one needs in life .

UNA : (Is48 silent ; after a moment )

Al I I need , Father, is to make you and Mother happy in every

way I can ; that is the only thing that interests me in I ife, and
o
if I have any personal interest , it is/ in my art .

for
FATHER : My child, I must go home and / 49atake care of49a you r
mother . She is not at al I wel I . Come as soon as you can .

UNA : Yes, 49b dear Father4 9b, I wi 11 .

(They k iss 50each other50 and he-51 goes out )

(Sol i loqu ises52 )

Never a moment have I to concentrate my mind on my work .

How true it is that the world of every soul is different, for
the life of one is not the I ife of another . I wish I could be
here to53 continue mywork, but life in theworld hassomany
obl igations54 that one cannot ignore them and at the same
time live happily . Well, I must hurry or I shall keep poor
Father wa it i ngl My works When shal I I be free to come to you
again? Especially now that I have to make preparations for
this ball .

48. Ibid . : "remains '

49a. Tp .2, Bk . : "look after'
49b . Al I other documents : ' Father dear"
50. Bk . : 'each other' omitted
51 . All other documents: 'the f at4w '
52 . Ibid. : 'soliloquises' omitted
53 . Ibid. : 'and '
54. Bk : "duties'
 36 3

(UNA puts away her tools and leaves 55the studio55 for her
home)

-56End of Act I -56

55. Ibid. : the studio ' omitted

56. Tp. 2, Bk . : 'Cut h'
364

An old, typed document (Tp.2 )

ACT 1157

Scene : Mother's bedroom ; Mother i I I in bed .

Una enters, embraces her mother .

UNA . Dear Mother, I was sorry to hear that you 58did not58 feel
well . No sooner had father left the studio than I hurrieds9a to
see, Mother dear, how you were . Ass ' much as I love my art,
I do not wish to be away from home, Mother dear, when you
are not well .

MOTHER . Dear girl, with us, old people, there is alwayssomething60 ;

one moment we feel wel I, the other61 moment we 58do not-r8
feel well . Whatworries my mind, is tosee you given to one
direction . The art to which you are so much devoted, 62to us
is62 a foreign word . For you know, however poor we may be
in our family, there is63not such a thing63 known among us as
an artist .

UNA : DearMother, it is not that I love art in order to become an

artist ; I want to become nothing ; it is beauty that I love .

MOTHER . My simple child, beauty is to be seen in nature, you need not

64 go for64 art in order to see beauty . Besides as they say : the
country is made by God, the65a town is made by man .

UNA : DearMother, I have always felt that what is not completed

in nature, is finished in art by theMaster6-9b of a I I things . The
hand of the artist is gu ided by the eyes unseen .

MOTHER . But what do you gain by devoting a I I your time to something

in which you 'do not-58 wish to make your career?You must
think of the future, my dear girl I

57. This act appe ars for the first time in Tp .2, which therefore is the basic text used here .
58. Bk . : " don't"
59a . Tp .3 : 'home' added
59b . Ibid.: " As" omitted
60. Bk.: *wrong' added
61 . Ibid . : "next" in place of "other"
62 . Ibid . : reordered to' is to us '
63 . Ibid . : ' no such thug '
64 . Tp.3 : 'go in for' ;
Bk .: 'go to "
65a. Tp. 3: "die " omitte d
65#x. Ibid. : "Maker " in place of 'Master '
 365

UNA : Mother dear, we al I make our future with whateverwe do .

But it is the future that will tell what we made . L ife to me is
the making of something ; it only depends what we make .
66bWe each make someth ing, even67 it is we who make our
highest ideal .

MOTHER . What do you mean by ideal, my dear ch i Id? There is no such

a68 thing, my darling girl . Ideal is not to be found in this
world . You are yet too young, my darling, to know this .
When we were young, we thought also of ideal, but alas, in
the end we found that it was only a word .

UNA : 69Right you are69, Mother, there is never an ideal to be found

underthe sun if we did70not make it . It iswewho, out of our
own selves, give al I that the ideal wants for it to become an
ideal . What we make remains, what we are is destroyed .
Rumi says in hisMasnavi : "71Beloved isall in all, the lover
only veils Him ;71Beloved isall that lives, the lovera dead
thing ." One creates a heart out of a rock, another turns a
heart into a rock .

MOTHER . Say simple things , my dear girl . This is all confusing to me ;

what your mother wants is your welfare , your happiness, this
is al l we wish for you, I and your father both .

FATHER: ( Enters .)72 Are you here , Una? Prepare73 to go to the ball .
74'Did youforget74a youwere invited to go toMrs . Wilkins'
house ?

UNA : I had quite forgotten, Father . Thank you for reminding me .

I'I I just go and get74b ready . (She embraces her mother and
departs .)

CURTAI N

66a . Ibid.: " ipm" adde d

66b . Ibid.: " Each makes something"
67. Bk. : " even" omi tted
68. Tp.3: 'a" crossed out with typed slash ;
Bk.: 'a" omi tte d
69. Bk.: reordered to "You are right"
70. Tp.3, Bk.: "do"
71 . Tp.3: ' The' added
72. Bk. : '(Enter Father) "
73. Ibid.: "Get ready'
74a . Ibid.: 'Have you for go tten" ;
Tp.3: 'that' added
74b . Bk. : 'be' in place of "get"
366
 36 7
An old, typed document (Tp. 1 )

ACT 11175

76Scene : Ba I I room i n Aunt' s house .

Aunt, aided77 by Helen, receives the guests, who are an-

nounced by the names of the characters they have assumed :
Shah of Persia, Sultana78, King Tut, 79Queen of Sheba79, Em-
peror Akbar, Greek philosopher80, Dante and Beatrice,
Yusuf andZuleikha arrive and are announced and received
by Aunt and Helen .

81Fi rst Queen of Egypt enters .8 1

BUTLER . The Queen of Egypt, Consort of King Tut .

82Second Queen of Egypt enters.8 2

BUTLER . The Queen of Egypt, Consort of King Tut .

FIRSTQUEEN . (To Second Queen) . You were83 not the consort of King Tut, I
waste his consort .

SECOND QUEEN . Not at al 1, it is I whowas his consort .

FIRSTQUEEN . Nonsense! You don't know what you are saying .

HELEN . Let us ask him which washis Queen . He has just risen from
his grave . (She is seen 85to ask85 King Tut . )

75. For Act III, originally known as Act II, Tp.1 has been taken as the basic text , since Ms .G . lacks the
whole fist part of the act and has no text fa Una's recitation later in the act All differences between
Ms.Cr .--the earlier text -- and Tp . 1 have of parse been noted.
76 . For this whole section, Ms.Gr . has only
"Queens arrive & quarre l
Masl'.o t Kart
Helen 'Let us ask him
One
(he has just risen from his grave)
Tutankamen
h slvaf4 K4w - looks at both Queens slowly & carefully then says seomfully .. ..
77 . Bk .: ' assisted "
78 . Ibid . : omits "Sultana'
79 . Ibid. : ' Queen of Saba'
80. Tp.2 : 'philosophers '
81 . Bk .: ' (Enter Fist Queen ...
82 . Ibid. : '(Enter Second Queen . .
. Gd.t1 : fist' are" was typed, then
.W crossed out, and 'were' typed instead.
84 . Ibid. : similarly, fist 'am' was typed, then crossed out and 'was ' typed above.
85. Bk .: 'asking'
368

KING TUT . ( Looks slowly and carefully at both Queens . Scornfully :)76

I don't think that either of them has ever been my Queen .

(Turns away . )

86(American Indian arrives86, Helen greets him .)

HELEN . Were you an American Indian in your past I ife?8 7

AMERICAN INDIAN . No, I don't knowwhat I was in the past , but for the last
twenty years I have had an American Indian guide .

HELEN . Do you mean a I iving guide?

AMERICAN INDIAN88 . No89a, a spirit .

H E L EN . How did you find a spirit guide 8% ?

AMERICAN INDIAN . l began by heari ng taps at the door fora year before th is
guide appeared tome , and since then he is always with me .

HELEN . How wonderful I And what does he look like ?

AMERICAN INDIAN . 90(With importance .) 90 Just I ike me l

(91Walksabout92and iswelcomed by all . )

(To93First Guest93 .) Are you a medium ?

FIRST GUEST .94 No .

AMERICAN INDIAN . ( To95Second Guest95 . ) Are you a% psychic?

SECOND GUEST .94 Not yet .

AMERICAN INDIAN : (To Aunt97) Are you c l a i rvoyante ?

AUNT94: I don't even know what you mean by clairvoyante .

86 . Ibid. : '(Enter American Indian .. .

87 . Ms .&. : "Mr. Engel's Part'
88 . Ibid. : this part is designated "Mr . Engel' instead of "American Indian" .
89a . Ibid. : 'No! No! '
89b. Ibid. : 'guide' crossed out
90. Ibid. : ' importantly "
91 . Bk . : 'He' added
92. Ms .Gr.: "nand'
93 . Ibid. : 'anopev.,arr hots . van Goens"
94 . Ibid.: 'Answer '
95. Ibid.: 'ano 6
96. Gd.t.1, Tp.2, Bk.: 'a' omitted
97. Ms .Gr.: 'to-&**d To tame v Hogendap'
 36 9

AMERICAN INDIAN : If you want to know you must go to a seance and hear the
Trumpet Medium .

98(Cont i nues conversation . )98

BUTLER: Monsieur JulesFerrier .99

FERRIER (WORKMAN) : (Enters, 100 looking nervous . )

(Aunt101 greets him and passes him onto Helen . )

H E L EN : How extraordinaryt Among al I these102 kings and queens you

come as a plain workmant Were you that in your past I ife ?

WORKMAN : I don't know anything about my past life, and l only know
what I was in this one before 1031 joined103 the Four Hundred .

HELEN : And what was that ?

WORKMAN : I was a workman104 .

HELEN : But have you always been a workman104 ?

WORKMAN : No, before that I was a barber in England .

HELEN : And before that ?

WORKMAN : Oh, wel I, before that I was a chimneysweep .

H E L EN : You amusing man! But how did you get into Society ?

WORKMAN : Oh, I made a lot of money in the war, and now I am invited
and received everywhere . But, to tel I you the truth, 110'do
not105 I ike the I ife . I feel out of place ; I feel lonely too, and
I would106 like to marry . Do you know of any nice girl to
introduce me to ?

HELEN : Have you107 been married before ?

98 . Ibid. : 'Pretends to go on talking etc . '

99 . Ibid.: 'At the door they arnance M. Jules Ferrier'
100. Ms .Cr. : 'F . enters' ;
Bk.: ' (Enter Ferrier, a workman, . . . '
101 . Ms.&.: 'Lady Austruther' in place of 'Aunt"
102. Bk.: 'the '
103. Ms.&.: ")oining '
104. Ibid.: 'Workman' everywhere called 'Ouvrier', French for worker.
105. Bk.: ' don't '
106. Ibid. : 'should'
107. Ms .G.: 'not'
37 0

WORKMAN : (Nodding his head and looking mysterious) The past is past,
the present is present ; it is the future that we look forward
to l

HELEN : I asked you if you had been married before .

WORKMAN : (Impatiently) Suppose I had been married twenty timesbe-

fore, what about it just now ?

(At this moment UNA is announced . While H E L EN g reets her,

the WORKMAN looks at herwith interest . )

HELEN : What a pleasant surprise to see you at lastl Are you really
here? I can't believe my eyest But why aren't you dressed
108as anything10B? What are you supposed to be ?

UNA : Myself .

H E L EN : But what were you in your past I ife ?

UNA : Myself .

H E L EN : Yoursel fl What do you mean by that ?

UNA : Self means alwaysself ; it cannot be any other .

H E L EN : You have the queerest ideas , my dear girl 1

(Aside) What fun it would be to introduce that odd man and

thissimple girl to each other . I wil I presently .

(Snake dance)109

HELEN : (T0 WORKMAN) There is a young lady over there whom you
would like . I am going to introduce you to her .

WORKMAN : (Eagerly) Right you are! I am sure I should like herl For
among all these kings and queens °she and I are110the only
two who are dressed simply .

108. Bk . :'as anything' omitted

109. Ms .Gr. : the following, later crossed aL "looks at her with interest, after some long interval Helen inho-
dwes him to her--after Snake dance'
110. Bk . : 'we're'
 37 1

(H E L E N introduces them 111to each other111 . The 112WORK-

112 h is hand , but UNA 113draws back slightly 113MANholdsut ,
then 114puts out her hand114 , but 115without looking115 at
him . )

WORKMAN : I'm glad to meet you, Miss .

UNA : (116Silent, 117 eyes cast down . )

H E L EN : Now you two must excuse me, I have other things to do .

(She leaves them ; they sit down . )

WORKMAN : I wonder, Miss, how it happens that among al I these 118who

are here only you and I are so simply dressed . I suppose you
don't know your past incarnations any more than I do
mine119? I am so glad to have found you among all these
smart people .

UNA : (Still silent, looking down . )

WORKMAN : Can you dance, Miss? Everyone can but me, it seems . I would
not mind trying if you would be my partner, for I am sure we
should make a good pair .

UNA : (As if waking from a dream ) Dance ? I never dance .

12DWORKMAN : But I am sure you would I ike it .

UNA : I do not mind looking on while other people dance . 120

(Aside) I feel my soul dance when my body isstill .

WORKMAN : (To himself) She seems to be i n the clouds . I ' l l try my I uck .

(Enter H E L EN )

H E L EN : (To UNA) PI ease come and sing or dance .

111 . Ms.G.: no 'to each other'

112 . Ibid.: 'Owner puts '
113 . Ibid.: 'sl'ightly draws back'
114 . Ibid.: 'gives it '
115. bid.: 'does not look'
116. Ibid.: 'still' ;
Bk.: 'remains '
117. Gd.t.1, Tp.2, Bk.: 'her'
118. Bk.: 'those'
119. Ms .&.: no'mne'
120. Bk. : this exchange omitted (probably a typographical error stemming from the repetition of the wad
'dance')
372

UNA: 105Do not105 ask me to take part 121a in it121a , I am enjoyin g

looking on 121b .

HELEN : 122But do take part 122 .

UNA : The spectators alone know 123t he re a 1123 .

HELEN : Come and do something .

UNA: What shat I I do ?

HELEN : If you cannot 124sing , recite something .

UNA : Ve ry we l l .

125 (126Re c i tes : )

I have loved in I ife and I have been loved . ,

have drunk the bowl of poison from the hands of love as
nectar, and have been raised above I ife's joy and sorrow .
My heart aflame in love set afire every heartthat came in
touch with it .
My heart has been rent and joined again ,
My heart hasbeen broken and again V made whole,
My heart has been wounded and healed again ,
A thousand deaths my heart hath died, and thanks be to love,
it I iveth yet .

I went through Hell and sawthere love's raging fire, and I

entered Heaven illumined with the light of love .
I wept in love and made al I weep with me ,
I mourned in love and pierced the hearts of men ,
And when my fiery glance fel I on the rocks, the rocks burst
forth as volcanoes .
The whole world sank in the flood caused by my one tear,
With my deep sigh the earth trembled, and when I cried
aloud the name of my beloved I shook the throne of God in
Heaven .

121a. Ms .Cr. : no "in it"

121b. Ibid. : 'at it'
122 . Ibid. : 'take part in it'
123 . Bk . : 'reality '
124 . Ibid.: 'can't "
125 . Ms .Cr. : has only 'Recitation from Love & [sic] Human & Divine', a book prepared by Murshida
Goodenough in 1919, based on Pir-o-Murshid's teaching, entitled 'Love : Human and Divine," where
the passage appears as the 'Conclusion," p . 78.
126. Bk. : "She... "
127. Ibid.: moved to of ter "whole"
 37 3

I bowed my head low in humility, and on my knees 1 begged

of Love ,
"Disclose tome, I pray thee, 0 love, thy secret . "
She took me gently by my arms and I ifted me above the
earth, and spoke softly in my ear ,
"My dear one, thou thyself art love, art lover, and thyself art
the beloved whom thou hast adored ."125

WORKMAN : 1 28 Hownice , Miss! I enjoyed your poetry so much . I could

not understand what it was all about . What interested me
was one word . You know what that was , don't you ?

UNA : No, which ?

WORKMAN : " Love ," that is all there is to think about . All these people
are al I interested in that one thing : love .

UNA : I do not know it yet . Tome it seems a blasphemy to hear it on

the Iips of ordinary people . I105do not105know a being liv-
ing on earth 129 an example of this word .

WORKMAN : Miss1 30, you are talking of big things . I don't mean that at
al I . What I know about love isto be cheerful and gay . See
how happy the other people are . Why should not you and I
be the same ?

UNA: Gaiety is not my way of being happy . What are these

pleasures to me ?

WORKMAN : Miss1, you are too seriousfor me . What's the use of being so
melancholy ?

UNA : If I do not join in the gaiety, it does not mean that I am

melancholy . I seek happiness in myself .

WORKMAN : 131But I want you to seek it in me . For you know how 1 feel
when I look at you . But132you are trying to hold me off by
talking so beautifully, but you look so beautiful when you
are sad that I feel I ike kneeling at your feet . 133You know
that the thing I want most in the world is to see you laugh-
ing .13 1

128. Ms .G.: this passage in hwr . K f .

129. Tp.2, Bk . : "who is" added
130. Bk . : "Miss" omitte d
131 . Ms .Cr.: the wards "longish speech" with a mark + after, then on the back of the page, following a
the rest of the speech in hwr . K f .
132. All other documents : "but" lacking, but reinserted in hwr . Gd. in Gd.t.1
133 . Ms .&. : "But"
37 4

UNA : You can see many people here laughing . You must enjoy it
with them .134 Poor man, 135look for your135 gaiety some-
where else .

("Turns away and I eaves him . Wa I ks 137across the stage137 .

Stands sti 11 . )

UNA : 0 human nature! It's a continual study to see the dif-

ferent directionsthat the mind takes .'-'8 Yet how few there
are whom you can really cal l human beings . Alone at home,
alone in the societyof others, I suppose tobe alone is my
lot .And it never wearies me .139Life intheworld ismost in-
teresting to me , but solitude away from the world is the
longing of mysoul .140

(Minuet)

141CURTAINI 28

134. Bk . : adds "( to herself) -

135 . Ibid. : "Why does he not look fa his . . ."
M . Ms .Cr. : "she*
137 . Ibid. : 'down stage' ;
Tp.1, GdL1, Bk .: 'across stage'
138 . Ms .Gr. : 'Any' [sic]
139 . Ibid. : ' Repeats from Gayan'
140. See Gayan, Gamaka 20.
141 . Ms .G. : 'Then'
 37 5
Ms. Mursh'ida Green

ACT IV (Version 1)14 2

UNA . 143Beloved image! the ideal of my soul you-4avethou hast

been conceived in my heartl44, and I have nursed you thee
so long with my tears untiIyou thou hastmanifested to my
vision . Did I make sacrifices for youthee?No! You Thou art
the outcome of my love . How Iong! How long shat I I wait to
hear a word from you thee? Whether in the studio or else-
where I have worked for you thee and thought of you thee
alone! Dear, dear image, you thou art the ideal of my heart .
Ohl Speak to me . I have yearned to hear thy voice if it were
but once .
145Bhak. 146 UNA : Thy whisper to the ears of my heart moveth my sou I to ec-
stasy . The waves of joy which rise out of my heart forma net
in which thy living word may swing . My heart patiently
awaiteth thy word . Deaf to all that cometh fromwithout, 0
thou who art enshrined in my heart, speak aga-i . to me ;
147thy voice exalteth my spirit147 . When thou art before me,
my beloved, I rise upon wings and my burden becomet h
ight, but when my I ittle self riseth before my 148 eyes, I drop
to earth and at I itsweight fal leth upon me . 145

STATUE : Yes, I speak , but I speak onlywhen thou art silent . Thou hast
found thy happiness in working in the studio which is my
world . Thou 149f i rst imagined my d istance149 as l lived in thy
imagination . Nowthy imagination has become tfua real-
ity and my existence has become truth . So thou madest me to
be the masterpiece of thine art . Now I am the result of thine
artw+ thandin finishing me thou fulfil lest the purpose of thy
Iife .

142. For the first version of Act IV, known earlier as Act III, Ms .Cr. has been used as the basic text and
compared with Tp.1 and Gdt. 1 . For the second version, see footnote number 156 .
143 . Tp .1 : ' (addressing statue)' added;
Gd .LL: orignally'Alone" was typed, then erased
144 . Tp .1 : 'soul' in place of 'heart' ;
Gd.t1 : 'soul', later crossed out and 'heart' added in hwr . Gd.
145 . Ms .G . : this passage in hwr. K f .
146 . Ibid . : this is the sole recurrence of the name Bhakti in the play of ter the 'B's of the f irst f ew pages .
147 . Tp .1, Gd.L1 : omitted
148 . Ibid. : 'mine '
149 . Ibid . : 'didst fist imagine my existence'
37 6

15OUNA: I would will ingly die a thousand deaths if by dying I could

attain gain thy mo r.,t
.4ofty- beloved presence . If it were a
cup of poison thy beloved hand offered, I would prefer that
poison to the bowl of nectar . I value the dust under thy feet,
my precious one, most of al I the treasures the earth holds . If
my head could touch the earth of thy dwelling place, I
would proudly refuse Khusrou's crown . I would gladly151 sac-
rifice al I the pleasures the earth can offer me if I could only
retain the pain I have in my feeling heart .15°

STATUE : Dost thou love me? Then first learn what love means . Love
means sacrifice , one continual sacrifice from the beginning
to the end . I come to life only when thou 152becomest
dead 152.

(153aCue for153a bowl )

I offer thee this cup of poison ; take it if thou wilt .

(UNA 15T' takes cup153b )

STATUE : Awaket Awakel Thou hast gone through death but hast not
died . The sacrifice thou madest did not after al I rob thee of
thy I ife , it has only raised thee above death . Now thou art
living with my Iife . Now it is thy love which has given thee
the I ife after death, a I ife to I ive forever .

154UNA : Thy light hath illumined155the dark chambers of my mind .

Thy love is rooted in the depth of my heart . Thine own eyes
are the I ight of my soul . Thy power worketh behind my ac-
tions. Thy peace alone ismy I ife ' s repose . Thywi l l is behind
my every impulse. Thy voice is audible in the words I speak .
Thine own image ismy countenance . My body is but a cover
over thy soul . My I ife is thy very breath , my beloved, and my
self isthine own being .

CURTAIN1 M

150. Ms .G . : this passage in hwr. KC

151 . Tp .1, Gd .t.1 : 'gladly' omitted
152. Tp .1 : 'comest to death'
153a. Tp .1, Gdt. 1 : 'Molds out a '
153b. Ibid. : 'takes the ap, falls down as though dead'
154. Ms .Gr . : this passage in hwr. K f .
155. Tp . 1 : ' il krninated'
 37 7

Ahrshida Goodeno gh's type, with emen-

dations by Pir- o-Murshid Inayat Khan .

ACT IV ( Second Version)1 %

Scene : Una'sstudi o

UNA . (Addressing 157 STATUE) Beloved image , the ideal of my soul,

thou hast been conceived in my soul and I have nursed thee
1 58 so Ion g158 with my tears , until thou hast manifested to my
vision . 1 When thou art before me, my Beloved, I rise upon
wings and my burden becometh I ight, but when my I ittle self
riseth160 before mine eyes I drop to earth and al I its weight
falleth161 upon me . t59 Did I make sacrifices for thee? No .
Thou art the outcome of my love . How long, how long shal
wait to hear a word from thee? Whether 162i n the stud io162 or
elsewhere I have worked for thee and thought of thee alone .
Dear, dear Image , thou art the ideal of my heart . 0 speak to
met My heart patiently awaiteth163 thy word, deaf to al I that
comethiM from without . 0 thou who art enshrined in my
heart , speak to me . I have yearned to hear thy voice if it
were but once .

STATUE : Yes, I speak, but I speak only when thou art silent .

UNA : Thy whisper to the ears of my heartmoveth165my soul toec-

stasy . The waves of joy which rise out of my heart forma net
in which thy I iving word may swing .

156. For the second version of Act IV, the basic text (Gd .t.2) is a (carbon?) copy of Gd.t.1 fa this act, on
which corrections have been put in a medium blue ink by Kismet Stam, with a note in the upper righthand
caner, 'Charges dictated by Murshid' . Because these charges almost all invdve shifting a speech or
part of a speech to another position, the changes are very dif f icult to follow if only put in f ootrrotes ;
because this represents the author's final revision of the act, we give it in a separate text, compared
with the later Tp.2, Tp.3 and the Bk.
157. Bk.: *the" added
158. Tp.2, Bk: 'so Iorg' omitted
159. Tp.3: this sentence later crossed out by hard
160. Bk.: 'rises '
161 . Ibid.: 'falls'
162. Ibid. : 'here'
163. Ibid. : 'awaits'
164. Ibid. : 'comes'
165. Ibid. : 'moves'
37 8

STATUE : Thou hast found thy happiness in working in 1 66thestudio1 66

which is my world . Thou didst first imagine my existence as I
Iived in thy imagination ; now thy imagination has become a
reality and my existence has become truth . So thou madest
me to be the masterpiece of thine art . Now I am the result of
thine art , and in finishing me thou fulfiI lest the purpose of
thy I ife .

167a(Holdsout a bowl)167 a

Dost thou love me? Then first Iearn what love means . Love
means sacrifice, one continual sacrificefroml67b beginning
tot end . I come to life only when thou 168becomest
deadl68 .

UNA: I would wiI I ingly die a thousand deaths if by dying I could

gain thy beloved presence . If it were a cup of poison thy
beloved hand offered , I would prefer that poison to the bowl
of nectar. I value the dust underthy feet, my precious one,
most of alIthe1 69 treasures the earth holds . If my head could
touch the earth of thy dwelling place , I would gladly170
refuse Khusrou ' s171 crown . I would sacrifice all the pleasures
the earth can offer me if I could only retain the pain I have
in my feeling heart .

STATUE: (Holdsouta bowl)172 l offer theethiscupof poison . Take it

if thou wilt .

(UNAtakes the cup, fal Is down as though dead )

STATUE: ( Raises her in his arms , embraces her, and kisses her and
brings herto I ife again ) Awakel Awakel ( She opens her eyes)
Thou hast gone through death but hast not died . The sacri-
fice thou madest did not after al I rob thee of thy I ife . It has
only raised thee above death . Now thou art I iving with my
life . It is thy love which hath given thee the life after
death, a I ife to I ive forever .

166. Ibid . : 'this place '

167a. Tp .2, Tp.3, Bk . : omitted
167b . Ibid
. : 'the' added
168 . Tp.3 : marked out and changed to'comest to death'
169 . Bk . : 'the' omitted
170. Ibid. : 'proudly' in place of 'gladly'
171 . ibid. : spelled ' Khusiu's '
172 Gdt.2: the intention may have been to move this inst+uction . (See note 167a.)
 37 9

UNA: Thy light hath iI I umined173 the dark chambers of my mind .

Thy love is rooted in the depth of my heart . Thine own eyes
are the I ight of my soul . Thy power worketh behind my ac-
tions174 . Thy peace alone is my I ife 's repose . Thy wi I I is be-
hind my every impulse . Thy voice is audible in the words I
speak . Thine own image is my countenance . My body is but a
cover over thy175 soul . My life is thy very breath, my
Beloved, and myself is thine own being .

CURTAI N

173. Tp.2, Bk . : ' illtminated'

174. Tp.2, Tp.3, Bk . : 'action'
175. Tp.2, Bk. : •the' instead of 'thy'
 38 1

APPBNDIX A

VE N
SPRING
- SERIES
and
=-= San Francisco -
engagement of -

INAYAT
Pi V im of M
MUSIC - _
LITERATURE•PHILOSOP FY
 382

A Pilgrim of Music, Literature and Philosophy

Paul Elder Announces a Notable Season
The San Francisco Engagement of

Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Kha n

A Series of six Wednesday morning lectures on Music, March 28th to May 2nd, at 10 :30
o'clock ; a Series of six Tuesday afte rn oon lectures on Sufi Poets, April 3rd to May 8th, at 2 :30
o'clock ; a Series of six Thursday evening lectures on Spiritual Philosophy, March 29th to May
3rd, at 8 :15 o'clock . A Special Easter Discourse, Sunday evening, April 1st, at 8 :15 o'clock.

In the Paul Elder Gallery, 239 Post Street, San Francisco

(Air conditioned and vitalized by electro- ozone equipment .)

[R-O-MURSHID INAYAT KHAN, Sufi Mystic, Philosopher,

Poet and Musician, was born in 1882 at Baroda, India, and is
descended from sixteen generations of spiritual teachers and
five generations of distinguished musicians . His life has bee n
-`-'devoted-to-the study of philosophy and music, the two studies linked
and interwoven, the mysticism of pound and the mysticism of life being
one and indivisible .
Music and mysticism were his heritage from both his paternal and
maternal ancestors, among whom were numbered Moula Bux, the Bee-
thoven of India (whose portrait is in the Victoria and Albert Museum
at South Kensington, England), and St. Jummashah, the great seer of
Punjab, who was canonized and is revered as a saint to this day by the
people of India.
The Pir-o-Murshid (Great Master) came from India to the United
States in 1910, and, after spending something less than a year in this
country lecturing at universities and other centers, went to Europe,
where he has been ever since, lecturing, writing and teaching . He is
devoting his life to spreading the Sufi message of the fundamental unity
of humanity, and to restating the inner wisdom common to all mankind,
in terms of the religious philosophy of Love, Harmony and Beauty .
Through his lectures and his books he is well known in London,
Paris, Geneva and other European cities . Following are quotations
from a few of his press notices, the earnestness and enthusiasm of
which attest the greatness of his genius :
"As a lecturer Inayat Khan is thoughtful and earnest and has a pleasant manner . He is a man
of great intellectual abilities, of vast learning and of profound knowledge of human nature ."
(From the Kentish Independent .)
"This musician is at the same time a poet and philosopher, as were all the great Sufis of by-
gone days. His great strength lies in a radiating faith in the religion of unity ."
(From the Comnedia, Paris.)
 38 3

"Inayat Khan is a man of striking personality , possessed of glowing and eloquent eyes, and
strangely deliberate and sedate in his bearing. He says : " Sufism takes music as the sou rce of all
perfection, since sound was the first source of creation ."
(From the Dully Cfti en, London.)
"Inayat Khan speaks English excellently , and his tall figure in a long robe of apricot colored
cloth, with the great Sufi jewel on his breast , is very impressive. "
(From the Evening News, London.)

During his stay in San Francisco, the address and headquarters of

Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan will be at The Sufi School of Philos-
ophy, 133 Kearny Street . Studio 308 .
His public lectures will be delivered in The Paul Elder Gallery,
239 Post Street .

MUSIC : A series of six Wednesday morning lectures , March 28th to

May 2nd, inclusive
It is refreshing in these days when some of the most prominent "realist" composers
in Europe seem to be trying to debase the art hitherto called the "divine art ." to know
that with the Orientals music has always been based on a philosophical and spiritual
foundation . As the history of Ancient India is a sealed book, and its time-honored civili-
zation is undoubtedly of a very high standard, so their ancient music is a locked treasure
of which the key is lost . The Aryans of India . however, were first and foremost in devel-
oping the art very nearly to perfection. Music was correlative with the teaching of
Vedas. and singing was an inseparable part of devotion . The Hindus use quarter-tones.
making their scale twice as refined as ours . Twenty-four tones are used where we only
use twelve . This is a refinement beyond our present dreams. The originator of the
Hindu music was Mahadeva . the Lord of the Yogis, and the performer of it was Parvati,
his beloved consort . Krishna, the Hindu incarnation of Cod, was also an expert musi-
cian who charmed both worlds by the music of his flute, and inspired the Yogis to dance
to its rhythm . This is called Raslila, or Sacred Performance. The whole system of
the Hindu religion and philosophy is based on the Science of Vibration . As Sufi Shams
Tabraz says in his poem on the origin of Creation, "The whole secret of the Universe
is wrapt up in Sound ."

Wednesday Morning, March 28th, at 30 :30 o'clock

THE SCIENCE AND ART OF HINDU MUSIC .

Wednesday Morning, April 4th, at 10 :30 o'clock

THE PSYCHIC INFLUENCE OF MUSIC .

Wednesday Mo rning , April 11th, at 10 :30 o'clock

THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC .

Wednesday Morning. April 18th, at 10 :30 o'clock

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT BY THE AID OF MUSIC.

Wednesday Morning, April 25th, at 10 :30 o'clock

THE MYSTERY OF SOUND AND COLOR .

Wednesday Morning , May 2nd. at 10 :30 o'clock

THE MUSIC OF THE SPHERES .

Tickets : Single lecture, One Dolla r

Season Ticket, six lectures , Five Dollars
38 4

SUFI POETS : A series of six Tuesday afternoon lectures, April 3rd to

May 8th, inclusive

Tuesday Afternoon, April 3rd, at 2 :30 o'clock

THE POET AND THE PROPHET .
The various scriptures of the nations are interpreted by the Prophets and Spiritual
Poets of eve ry age, not as dogmas , but as appeals to the heart of man. They point the
way to our spiritual freedom ; with one stroke of the pen they emancipate us as souls,
and with the other they have shown us to speak straight from the heart, and with all
spontaneity , breaking the barriers of human limitation and spiritual bondages . To inter-
pret Persian religious and philosophic poet ry with full understanding of the sense intended
by the writer, requires intimate acquaintance with Moslem thought, and in particular
with theology and mysticism .

Tuesday Afternoon, April 10th , at 2 :30 o'clock

OMAR KHAYYAM .
All authorities, intellectual and spiritual ( despite the fallacies of modern interpreta-
tions ), describe this poet as one who drank deeply of wisdom, and this is revealed through
his many famous works on astronomy, mathematics. metaphysics and philosophy. He
was a master of the exact sciences.
Tuesday Afternoon, April 17th, at 2 :30 o'clock
JALLAL-U-DIN-RUMI .
The Masnavi has all the beauty of the Psalms, the music of the hills, the color an d
scent of roses ; but it has more than that, it expresses in song the yearnings of the soul to
be reunited with God .

Tuesday Afte rn oon, April 24th , at 2 :30 o'clock

SHAIKH MUSLIH-UD-DIN SAADI . .
The Gulistan (Rose Carden) represents the consummation of a wide knowledge of
life and men, and though Saadi's own life was fraught with hardships and trials, he
maintained serenity of spirit and a heart attuned to the great problems of humanity. In
the simplicity of his heart he says tenderly of his own work :
"We give advice in its proper place,
Spending a lifetime , in the task.
If it should not touch any one's ear of desire,
The messenger told his tale ;
It is enough."

Tuesday Afternoon, May 1st, at 2 :30 o'clock

HAFIZ.
Hafiz breathes originality in all his works ; he has defects, but only his own ; he
has beauties, but only his own . He may be condemned, but . cannot be compared . He
is considered by some authorities to be the greatest poet of any age or country . The
name Hafiz literally means "the man who remembers." He spent his life remembering
God and preserved these remembrances in verses which to this day are consulted as
oracles .

Tuesday Afte rnoon, May eth , at 2 :30 o'clock

FARID-DU-DIN ATTAR.
The Mantiqu't Tayr is a description of the Mystical Quest of the Birds (Sufi Pil-
grims) for the Simurgh (God) .
1st . Valley of Search .
2nd . Valley of Love .
3rd. Valley of Knowledge.
4th . Valley of Non-attachment .
5th . Valley of Unity.
6th . Valley of Amazement.
7th. Valley of Realization of God .

Tickets : Single lecture , One Dolla r

Season Ticket, six lectures, Five Dollars
 38 5

SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHY . A series of six Thursday evening

lectures, March 29th to May 3rd, inclusiv e
Thursday Evening , March 29th , at 8 :15 o'clock
A UNIVERSE IN MAN.
Thursday Evening , April 6th, at 8 :15 o'clock
THE SPIRIT OF GUIDANCE.
Thursday Evening. April 12th, at 8 :15 o'clock
REVELATION WHEN AWAKE AND WHEN ASLEEP .
Thursday Evening. April 19th, at 8 :15 o'cloc k
THE LOST WORD .
Thursday Evening, April 26th, at 8 :15 o'clock
THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE DAY .
Thursday Evening. May 3rd, at 8 :15 o'cloc k
THE COMING WORLD RELIGION .

Tickets : Single lecture, One Dolla r

Season Ticket, six lectures, Five Dollars

THE MESSAGE OF THE AGES. A Special Easter Discourse

In the East , the wise men of all ages have followed the Star . For many generations
the East has given the great teachers for mankind. Again it will sing the song for
humanity. The fl owering of humanity. God's ideal, still remains the Message of the Ages.
Sunday Evening, April 1st, at 8 :15 o'clock
Tickets, One Dolla r

.BIBLIOGRAPHY
A Sufi Message of Spiritual Liberty, Inayat Khan .... ..... . ... . .. . . . . ..... . _. ... . ...... . ... .. . ..$1 .50
The Confessions of Inayat Khan---------- -... .. . . .... . . . ...... . . . .... . . ... .. . .. . . ._.. . . ...... . ...... ...... . .
The Message, Inayat Khan..--__.. . . .... . . .. .... . . ._... . . . ..._-.. . . ..... . _. .... .. .. ._. . . ...... . . .... . . ..... . .. .3 5
In an Eastern Rose Garden, Inayat Khan _ ... ._..._ . ._.._.. . . ..... . ......... . . . ...._ . .._ . . ....... . _ 2 .5 0
The Bowl of Saki, Inayat Khan ..... . . . .... ._......... . ...._. . .._.. .. . ..... . ........ . . ..... . . .... . . . ... .. . . _ 1 .0 0
The Inner Life (Lectures), Inayat Khan ..... . . ....... . . ..... .. . .._ . ...... . -.. .... . . ... (ready soon )
Notes from the Unstruck Music, the Gayan Manuscript, Inayat Khan . . ... . . . ....
_... . . ._._ . ..... . . .... . . ... . . ...... . ..... . .. ... . . ..... .._ ------------ - . ._ .._ .. ..._ . ..._._ . ._..._ . ...(ready soon )
The Path to God, S. E . M . Green . . .. ...... .._ . ... . . . .... . . _._. .. . ...._. .... _ . ..... ._ . . . .... . . ..... . ... . . .3 5
Diwan of Inayat Khan, Jessie Duncan Westbrook _. ._ . . ... .. .... .. ._..... . .... . . . . _.. .. .... 1 .5 0
Sufism, C. H . A . Bjerregaard.. . . . . .... . . ....._ . ._ ..... . . . . .... . .. . . ...... .... .. ....__-.. . . . ... . . .... . . ...... .... 1 .5 0
Pearls from the Ocean Unseen, Zohra Mary Williams . . ..... .. ...___..__ . . .... .. ..... . ... .7 5
The Phenomenon of the Soul, Sherifa Lucy Goodenough ... . . . _ .___.. . .._ . . ...... . .. 1 .0 0
Love : Human and Divine, Sherifa Lucy Goodenough -_ . .... . . ._..._ . . .... . ..... . ..... . .. 1 .5 0
Akibat : Life after Death, Sherifa Lucy Goodenough ... . ._. . . . . ..._ . . . . .... . ..... . .... . . 1 .00
Selections from the Rubaiyat and Odes of Hafiz, rendered into English vers e
by a member of the Persia Society of London .. . . ..... . .. ... ._...... ..... . ...... . .... . . . 4 .00
The Way of Illumination, Inayat Khan ..... . . . ..... . . . . .._. .._..._... ._ . . _ ._... .... .. . _... . . .. 1 .00
The Alchemy of Happiness, Inayat Khan ... . . ...... . ........ . . .. _.. . . _ .. .. . . ___ .. ... ....... _..-_ .1 5
Sufism (a quarterly magazine for seekers after truth) . ... . .. .... ... . ...... ..... . ..... . .... . . .25
The Scroll of Wisdom, Saadi. . . ..... .. .. .... ._....... . . .... .. . . .. ._ ..._. . .. ._. .._. .. .. ..._.... . . ... ... . . 1 .00
The Rose Garden of Saadi . . ..... . . . . . .... .. .... _ ._..... ._ .. . . ..._. ._ .. ..._ . ... . .. ...... .. .. . .. ...... . .. 1 .00
The Confessions of Al Ghazzali . . .. .. . . .... .. . ....... . . ..... . . . .... . . . . . .... . . ...... . . .. ...... . . . . . . ...... . . _ 1 .00
The Persian Mystics, Rumi . .... . . . . . ..... . ...... ..._-... . . . ...._ . . ... ... .. . . .... . ...._.. ._.... .. ..._ . .. .._. .. .. 1 .5 0
The Persian Mystics, Jami ...... .. . . ..._ . . ...... . .. . . -------------- _ ._. . . . ...... . .. __.. ._..._ . ... _ ....-.. . .... . 1 .5 0
Bustan ("Garden"), Saadi . . . . ... . . . . . . ... . .. ...... . ... . .... . . . . ...... . . . ...... . . . .... . .. .._.._ . _ . . ..... . .._.. . . . . 1 .5 0
The Rubaiyat of Hafiz, translated by L . C. Byng . . ...... . ..... . . ..... . . . . ... . . .... . . . ..... . . ... 1 .0 0
Odes from the Divan of Hafiz . . ..._. . .. .... . . .. . ..... . . ...... . . . ... . .. .. ... . . ....... __..._-- .. . ...... . . ..._ 3.0 0
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, translated by Edward Fitzgerald . ... . . .... . . . ...
_ . . . .... . ....... . . . ... . ....... . . . .. . . . .. ...._ ...... . . . . . ...... ._ . ..._. . . ...$1 .'25 up to $15 .0 0
The Kasidah, Sir Richard F . Burton . . .... . . . . .... . . ...... . . . .. .. ... . . .. . . . ...... .- . .. ..----.. . .----. . . .. 1 .2 5
Masnavi . Rumi . 2 vols.... . . .. . . . ....... . . . . ... . . ... .. . .. . . .... . . . .. ... . .__.... . . .. ... .. . .. .. . .. . . . ... . . . .... . . .... .. _ 12 .0 0
MIantiqu't Tayr, Attar. ... . . . ... . . . . . ... ... . . . ... . . . .. . .. . . . . ... . . ...... . . . . .... . .. . . .... . . . ...._ . . ..... . . .... . . . .. . .. . . . ..
(These books are on sale at Patti Elder's .)
386
 38 7

APPENDIX B

General Note on Classification .

It should be noted that the classifications--"Gatha," "Social

Gatheka," "Gita,"etc .--under which the teachingsof Pir-o-Murshid Inayat
Khan have come down to us, are not necessarily original ; many were added
later according to an intended use for the teaching .

For example, the large category of "esoteric papers" received their

classifications gradually according to the needs of the increasingly or-
dered coursesof instruction for initiates . Even though from the very early
days in London (1915-16) Pir-o-Murshid gave "lessons", some of whichwere
restricted to members and/or initiates, the systematization of these into
series did not begin until considerably later . The first sets assembled be-
came known as "Gitas," though these are not al I the same as the Gitas known
today . From 1921 to 1923 several new serieswere made, mostly of teachings
given 1920-22, which were eventually cal led "Gathas ." However, the word
Gatha does not appear originally on any of the documents (often it was
written on later), suggesting a relatively late date for the adoption of this
word (perhaps Iate 1923) .

Another use to which many of the lectures were later put was for
reading aloud at meetings of one of the activities of the Sufi Movement
(after October, 1923) . Thus, for example, a seriesof "Social Gathekas" was
made, from already existing texts of lectures, for reading at meetings of the
World Brotherhood . "Religious Gathekas" were assembled for reading, in
place of a sermon, at the service of the Universal Worship ; "Gathekas"were
made to read to candidates for initiation in the Sufi Order . "Cherags'
Papers" were gathered for the instruction of those ordained to perform the
Universal Worship . Many of these papers were later publ ished as parts of
books ; for instance, many of the ReligiousGathekas were incorporated in
the book The Unity of Religious Ideals (London, 1929) .

As this indicates, material for publication could be taken from a

category established for a different purpose . The texts of many lectures,
particularly later copies, are marked "Public", which generally does not
mean that they were g iven to the publ ic, but that the editor orworker con-
siders them suitable for publ ication . Those marked "Private", on the other
hand, were to be reserved for some special use . Many lectures have had
their categories changed over the years . Classes originally given to initi-
ates only, or papers made for restricted classes, have later been published .
Recently (1982), the whole set of Gathas has been published as a book ; ear-
I many of the Gitas had appeared as parts of books .

Taking all this into consideration, it wouldseem prudent toavoid

any assumptions about the original intended use of aparticular teaching
based on any subsequent classification .
38 8

Classification of Lectures Given from January to June 1923 .

In the left-hand column are I isted the names of the Headquarters'

papers and their numbers . In the right-hand column appear the titles and
dates of the corresponding lectures in their original form .

Original texts of the lectures :

Gathas:

Originally classified asGatha - "Divine Grace isa loving im-

Tassawuf (without number), pulse . . ." . . . ... . . . . 1st week Jan .
then included in the boo k
The Unity of Religious Ideals,
lsted . (1929) .

Gitas :

Gita Dhyana - Meditation These lectures are known only in

their al ready classif ied form .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring 1923 .
Social Gathekas :

Social Gatheka no . 18 - "Shaikh Musl ih-ud-Din Saadi"

Social Gatheka no . 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Apr .

Social Gatheka no . 26 - " Khwajah Shamsu-d-Di n

Social Gatheka no . 27 Mahomed Hafiz" . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ma y

Social Gatheka no . 30 - "Farid-ud-Din Attar" . . . . . . . . . 8Ma y

Gathekas :

Gatheka no . 28 - "Innocence " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7?Jan .

Gatheka no . 29 - "Influence " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Jan .
Gatheka no . 40 - "Ideal among nations . . ." 26 Febr .

Sangathas :

Sangatha I no . 82 - "How to Progress in the Spiritual

Path in Everyday Life . . . . . .9 Jan .
 38 9

.• ,~
N.le i o /

.4M I

TL 6 y
!-.- -mow
s #.x r. 3~df~
q j

!1.
' 1a~d~tssssi w .~ L i4 O JL .~..~ t~ 4 : J = ~r~.wr. ~ r°

{tor„ • oti,a ,►~ t... 4 .A .i7 . : , y ,/

List of papers issued by I .H .Q. isider Mushid's supervision, in handwriting of Mahtab van Hogerdap .
390
 39 1

APPENDIX C

LISTOFMISSING LECTURES : January-June 192 3

The informationon missing lectures fromthe periodJanuary -June

1923 has been found in newspaper articles, in public announcements and in
Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan's letters to his mureeds . Only if the newspaper
articles on missing lectures contain quoted words of the Pir-o-Murshid have
these partsof the articlesbeen inserted inthisbook .

6 Januar y The Hague Brotherhood, from a newspaper

(Netherlands) article inDeNieuweCourant,
Anna Paulownastraat The Hague .
18 January Belgiu m Sight Development
21 January London Reading the Future
23 January England Nature's Religion
25 January London Thought Readin g
26 January England The Coming World Religion
28 January London Character Readin g

27 February New Yor k World Brotherhood (see news-

paper article 27?February), 8 :15
pm in the League for the Larger
Life . On 28th February Pir-o-
Murshid wrote to Fazal Mai (Mrs .
Egeling, "Last night I spoke to a
crowded and most appreciating
audience . . . "
28 February New York The Path of Initiatio n

Beginning March NewYor k Sufism (see newspaper article

earlyMarch )
BeginningMarch Boston subject(s) of the lecture(s) un-
know n
9March Detroi t International Brotherhood (see
newspaper article 9?March )
10March Detroi t Sufi Philosophy (see newspaper
article 9/10 March )
11 March Detroit Man, the Master of His Destiny
12 March Detroi t A Message over the Radio
21 March San Francisc o 4 pm : Mystic Philosoph y
8 pm : The Awakening of the
Sou l
22March San Francisco 4 pm : Mystic Philosoph y
8 pm : Sound and Color: their
Psychic Influence and
Healing Power
392

23 March San Francisco 4 pm : Mystic Philosoph y

8 pm : Revelation, when a -
wake and when aslee p
24 March San Francisco 4 pm : Mystic Philosoph y
25 Marc h San Francisco 4 pm : Mystic Philosophy (se e
newspaper article 25 ?
March )
8pm : TheComing World Re -
ligio n
26 Marc h San Francisco 4pm : Women's Influence in
the World (see news-
paper article 26 ?
March )
8 pm : Sufi Philosophy (se e
newspaper article 2 6
March )

1 Apri l San Francisco First Universal Worship in th e

Church of All, held in the Nativ e
Sons' Hall : The Message of th e
Ages (a special Easter discourse )
2 Apri l San Francisco Radio talk about the Message . O n
1st April Pir-o-Murshid wrote t o
Fazal Mai (Mrs . Egeling), "tomor -
row I am to deliver the Message t o
the whole world by radiowireless

8Apri l San Francisco Service of the Universal Worshi p

in which Mrs . Martin was or -
dained Siraja and two other mu -
reeds became Cherags . The sub -
j ect of the sermon is not known .
10 April San Francisco 2 :30 pm at the Paul Elder Gallery :
Omar Khayyam, the second lec -
ture in the series of six lecture s
on Sufi Poets announced in th e
program of the Paul Elder Gal -
lery, the only lecture announce d
there of which no text ha s
reached the archives . A newspa -
per article in a San Francisc o
Sunday's paper refers to Pir-o -
Murshid Inayat Khan's word s
about Omar Khayyam, but thi s
may have been said by him in a n
interview and does not prove that
the lecture was actually given .
 39 3

13ApriI San Francisco Sufism (see newspaper article 13?

April )
15April San Francisco 11 am . Universal Worship in the
Church of All (in the buildingNa-
tive Sons' Hall) . The subject of
the sermon is not known . On 15th
April Pir-o-MurshidwrotetoFazal
Mai (Mrs . Egeling), " . . . At the
wireless I spoke twice by now
which has reached many thou-
sands hearts, and I am told many
letters of appreciation are re-
ceived by that center . . . "
22April San Francisco evening, in the Native Sons' Hal I :
Brotherhood (see newspaper arti-
cle 22April) .On 23rd April Pir-o-
Murshid wrote to Fazal Mai (Mrs .
Egel ing), "The work here is sud-
denly floorishing and will spread
throughout the States as time
passes . . . "

9 May Santa Barbara in the afternoon a talk at a tea ,

given by Mrs . Bach -
mann, subject un -
known .
8pm : in the Woman's Clu b
House : Man, the Mas -
ter of His Destin y
1OMay Santa Barbara in the afternoon a talk at an in -
formal tea, given b y
Mrs . Browns, subject
unknown .
8pm : in the Woman's Clu b
House : Revelatio n
when awake and whe n
aslee p
11 May Santa Barbara 8 pm : The Healing Power of
Music at Woman's Clu b
House
12 May Santa Barbara 3 :30 pm : Art and Religion at Wo-
man's Club House
39 4

13May LosAngeles 2 :30pm : The Awakening of th e

Soul, at the Ambassa -
dor Hotel Theatre .
8 pm : The Message of th e
Ages in the Lincol n
Hall, WalkerAuditori -
um Building .
14 May Los Angeles 10 :30 am : Music and Color: Their
Psychic Influence and
Healing Power in th e
Ambassador (Italia n
Room) .
8 pm : Love, Harmony and
Beauty in the Unio n
League Club Auditori -
um .
15 May LosAngeles 10 :30 am : The Power of the Wor d
in the Ambassado r
(Italian Room) .
8 pm : Revelation When
Awake and Whe n
Asleep in the Unio n
League Club Auditori -
um .

See the announcement of the lectures on 13th, 14th and 15th Mayon the
following page .
 39 5

foreword
IR-0-MURSHID INAYAT KHAN, Sufi Mystic, Philosopher, Poet and Musician, was born,
in 188a at Baroda , India, and is descended front sixteen generations of spiritual teachers andi
five generations of distinguished musicians. His life has been devoted to the study of philoa . .:i
ophy and music, the two studies linked and interwoven, the mysticism of sound and the mysti-
cism of life being one and indivisible.
Music and mysticism were his heritage from both his paternal and maternal ancestors
among whom were numbered Moula Box, the Beethoven of India (whose portrait is in the Victoria and Albert
Museum at South Kensington, England), and St . Jummashah, the great seer of Punjab, who was canonized'
and is revered as a saint to this day by the people of India .
The Pir-o-Murshid first came from India to the United States in igio, and, after spending something less
than a year in this country lecturing at universities and other centers, went to Europe, where he has been ever
since, lecturing, writing and teaching . He is devoting his life to spreading the ancient Sufi message of the funda-
mental unity of humanity, and to restating the inner wisdom, in terms of the religious philosophy of Love, Har .
tnony and Beauty.
Through his lectures and his books he is well known in London, Paris, Geneva and other European cities . :
Following are quotations from a few of his press notices, the earnestness and enthusiasm of which attest the great-'
ness of his genius :
Asa Mouse, tnayat Kbaa I. tboughiful and sarnot and has a pleasant manner. Fie it a taan of suss inte llec tual abilities, or east learning and of pio.
bond hendulge of human Desserts"-(Ftom the Kewith Iodsprwdeat)

"This ens idae is at the a to u time ■ poet and philosopher, no were all the great Sufis of bygone days. His great strength lies I. a radiating faith in the
religion of unity.--(Peon . the Ce edi., Patin )

"1-yat Khan it.

is a mesa of atrihint
fail pt a li ty, poeoe
.e eed of tbeiag and eloquent eyes, and strangely deliberate and aeduc in his bearing . He sayat 'Su .
isst tahn manic as wutw pafadw, ainte aoaed ~aa she first souses o(aeatioe ' "-{Ftom the Deity Chian, L d. )

"Inayat Khan speaks English atelkndy, and her tall. figure in a long robe of apricot edmed cloth, with the great Sod jewel on his breast, is may in
.,
rrtriva"-(Ftum the Ea
.eiog Ns
.s, London .)

"If faddiw have held away hitherto in toattm of the Fast, Iwrat Kb . n bolds away by his depth of knowledge and sincerity."-(Ss Feuerwc. 7--d-)

The Series of Six Xeeturer

Sunday afte rnoon, May 1 3th, at 2 :3o, The Ambassador Hotel Theatre - The Awakening of the Soul. :'.

Sunday evening , May 13th, at 8 o'clock, Lincoln Hall, Walker Audito ri um Building, 730 S . Grand Ave..-
The Message of the Ages.
Monday morning,' May 14th, at io :3o,"The Ambassador ( Italian Room),-Music and Color ; Their Pry-
chic Influence and Healing Power .
Monday evening , May 14th, at 8 o'clok, The Union League Club Auditorium, Third and Hill Sts .
-Love, Harmony and Beauty.
Tuesday morn ing, May iSth , at 10 :30, The Ambassador (Italian Room),- The Power of the Word.

Tuesday evening , May i th, at 8 o'clock, The Union League Club Audito ri um , Third and Hill Sts.
-Revelation When Awake and When Asleep .

Ticket,, tingle lecture, One Dollar . The courre of fix lectures, Five Dollars.

Tithat, (ot a-6 at the Pxttoaewteaa laaatar, pa a. Grand A.anw.

During his stay in Los Angeles, the address and headquarters of Pir-o-Murshitl lnaynt Khan will Ito at The
Philosophical library, Walker Auditorium Building, 730 S . (:rand Avenue . Munn, 6sSJ9 .
39 6

18 May Chicago afternoon : The Power of Silence

18May Chicago evening : Life an Opportunity
20 May Chicago The Power within us
23 May Chicago The Sufi Movement and its Mes-
sage
24 May Detroit afternoon : Music and Color, Their
Psychic Influence and
Healing Power
evening : The Solution to th e
Probl ems of the Day
25 May Detroit Revelation, when awake and
when aslee p

The lectures on 23rd, 24th and 25th May were announced in a newspaper ar-
ticle in the Detroit Times of 20th May 1923 .

27 May New York The Message of the Ages

28 May NewYork 8 :15 pm : The Solution of th e
Probl ems of the Da y
29 May New York The Expansion of Consciousnes s
8 :15 pm: Development of Per -
sonalit y
30 May Philadelphia afternoon : Different types o f
Revelation (see news-
paper article 30/3 1
May )
8 pm : World Brotherhood
31 May Philadelphia 3 pm : The Freedom of th e
Sou l

1 June NewYork the first of a course of six lec-

tures, given atthe SufiCenter i n
the evening, subject unknown .
2 June NewYork the second of a course of six lec -
tures, given at the SufiCenter i n
the evening, subject unknown .
3 June New York afternoon : The Reality of the Un -
seen, Sufi Cente r
4June NewYork the third of a course of six lec -
tures, The Power of the Sacred
Word, given at The Forum .
5 June NewYork the fourth of a course of six lec -
tures, The Spiritual Democracy ,
given at The Foru m
6 June NewYork the fifth of a course of six lec -
tures, Reciprocity, Beneficence,
Renunciation, given at The Forum .
 39 7

7 June New York the last of a course of six lec-

tures, Self-Realization, given at
The Forum .

See the announcement of the lectures given on 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th June on
the bottom of this page .

SPECIAL NOTIC E

INAYAT KHAN1.~SUFI LECTURES

For the accommodation of a larger number who may wish to benefit

by the instruction and guidance of this great teacher, the last four lec-
tures of the course of Instruction lectures, advertised to be held at the
Sufi Center, 129 West 79th St ., will be held instead a t

THE FORU M
279 MADISON AVENUE NEW YOR K

Monday, June 4th-" The Power of the Sacred Word."

Tuesday, June 5th-" The Spiritual Democracy . "
Wed. June 6th-"Reciprocity, Beneficence, Renunciation ."
Thursday, June 7th-"Self Realization . "
EVENINGS AT 8 :15 SINGLE LECTURES, $1 .00

Those interested may interview the Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan, by applying to

Mrs. Marya Cushing, Representative, Sufi Center, 129 W . 79th St ., Phone, Endicott 6598
398
 39 9

APPENDIX D

ILLUSTRATIONS OF DOCUMENTS
40 0

Sirdar's longhand reporting in his copybook of January/February 1923 .

Divine Grace , first week January 1923 .
 40 1

H `

/1►W, E~t .~✓1 +t LK L:- .rl~ ~v T,~.j Ci.+• -

1,

tY. . i .t.~. /
44-
f , - jO. 9 . yt~ Ad .1 . i .-I Ef~r~u+.,nr . . - ~cr~• AM-. _✓ ~+

A,%14- ive

. . 1. .. 9 --

-LA

Sakina's I ist with corrections . The double underlining means that so itwas
written in her shorthand reporting and it should not be changed . Fate and
Free Will, 13 January 1923 .
 402

vo~

COV
'J( .~ d1 '~ ~fi4
~I✓ hj7i~Ll~ /

~c .Ze e:✓~ Q ~4 L - .~y> t~ 't - . . ~~ 4114

• 1 "

"- a_ :..:-t-.,.a ..a' .-

a_~~= r .Y ,J "~%a: .:i .~:~::_ .-c ._Gc44 / ~~lQ""-
~~'•`~/i-
~"

\ - X25
AG y/
^\ . -`_
IN/1f / 4Ct 0 - A S ` À4 !iN / d
/lciA
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~ 1 ; 2e2.4 - H,tea., k t'e

..l ~ l/ i~~r0•~~I/w ~
/ / 1, ( Crf/ ~~.` / ✓,, / ~ .i r• NI' / / i

~. .✓~io 6'14 :~~ .~r'~vz 7~~ y~ .'~ ~o>.~~r .-f jcG ,r j~.=o^► .,

Ile ot~

L.c_ .
..:
6`:.t / t~lc/ D . . Gam'. c y rc( -t •~L u 4~/ ._ .:.~/~ Lfi`~ / sue' .:

Mrs . E . Leembruggen's longhand reporting, with additions and corrections

in the handwriting of Sherifa Goodenough . The Word that Was Lost, 15 Jan-
uary 1923 .
 403

p( (4 o* Cw~.O~ ~~.c C A9~Yw~~ .o vYt . x,. ; ~+-~L

06 ll~ .6

•4Oven. U v Gv' "

o w .t~ cam. cam.

oti ~, L O-V"

ZuIeikha van Ingen 's handwriting with corrections in Sherifa Goodenough's

and Sirdar van Tuyl I's handwritings . Sufism , 15 or 17 January 1923 .
 404

v 8ti`d N°i o c ~
.' n' ~
< ~i off,< `~ Nr~.~ Ylt '-. Ad.C~Gt .W .-. #-. . .
`• .v.... . w ~S• ,.. Ya.d ~t G~a+.a . ► ~.~vv-t•w0

a~n .,~we,.. 4o ,
0 0 . ... . ~v+..a a-v-s •1ta .. . .. d ".
n94 n ,L~ /

s .~ . o~ .i~o-.G'-o,, I ti •- wv o.i *4`1 w

:!^^w`~~^~" 40

v
V /
~~ w[i :. CLa .

~l ~.1. . .. ~/ f/* ✓YrV ./wnva 0_ .

"^-
j

4, 40

~ J /,
a ' P!' a-~.-1 ~•w-u.J 4
✓ -s-u re 1 ..Q
XG~Larti '- :..d A..-,,- ow ✓ >tior~t_ , c.s i!'o `u .:.A a .-~~
I

Pif~ ✓ Gi ~i! C-d 4- .l I•~/ F~~r a- i~~ - c_' .a ~ Y •

a..& 4i .. ' m .a

y,,;a .:~ . ~C~ ~...va. ire-v.., -,•n.: ~( ~ l 4 o-r c~

.., . y

.~ n,.. .- .. ,~ a .. P'i .R/~'T-C~n, il . v• ,t . tG/J 'r -

' ,~ w in•TJ-/ r
( ' p
V 'f~ ~►•~ truce /~rva tiw y S-KD ~ .~ i•a C~ -.n2c~ i
~ ..i.Q (%J

'/s . S - .-• r "// ,. d c.:. 0 0-,. 1

CLa•%/li~ .G.,..~ i~rr~.ft : .,yv~•-n- ..~•i ~L~ ~- f
G.' •l~,rW /Y~

J~`.v-C(S-~ ..c~. ...l , O-o~r:=- .~o

0-d=^t. .a •w1Qi am tr, ra .w n a ~ ^-v) • i(.✓1:.+ a..~r
rte""' ~--

6%7i /
.tom 7~.L~JlO~c1•~^-L~ j2 1 D
C4~w X . ~v~.d YVLlA^ . ,' .P'Y

,-v ✓ ~Y•~,,~ i•-! F•cir . 1 C' . -L r

• t.-~Al- . ~ Y'f .o ^'rvV..t. ~' /may ~C .cot1s.J C/

'~f ~Lta ., ~: ✓'+ .~T ~n ~A / fin( .~~

y ~R .► 2/ .: L : ✓ l '1 s. Of a 9

J_n
~~ a...-c G4~c .J+•~•~c
~~1 . : w+ . .cr. ~ n.~• ..lt [• a r cLL~/ ✓ , v~►-lw.--N^v„r

Miss Kerdijk ' s longhand reporting with corrections in the handwriting of

Sherifa Goodenough . The Powerof Silence , before 18 January 1923 .
 405

~' .,_, .,_J .: ,y~ ~' . .:/' • fir' _ '. .'✓ . .: -J.~~ . .C r-~..~~.:~ ~

e ;I

A 'e

llll` . / /

i /

Sakina's shorthand reporting . Although the original shorthand is a little

clearer than the photocopy, it shows that at some places the shorthand signs
are fading out . The line was drawn through bySakina to indicate that she
had transcribed the lecture . The Life a Continual Battle , 5 February 1923 .
406

..

y I

;~-
.

Reporting in the handwriting of M .l le Lefebvre of a simultaneously given

French translation of the lecture The Life a Continual Battle , 5 February
1923 .
 40 7

Gam- -
6-1

"
~,. 7K

A page in the handwriting of Sophia Saintsbury Green, to whom Pir-o-

Murshid InayatKhan dictated this text . Una, June 1923 .
40 8

J t~/l~e4 lr ,u a d- dJu. G e-4~1-01"C tr.

Y

'O e
A,-r- &A4Uv.,Cz t
le

&e W-

k~c Lu y S~ JwiaQ,'" ~`f

%'~--
YI(d

A page in the handwriting of Keyafat Lloyd, from dictation by Pir-o-

Murshid Inayat Khan . Una . June 1923 .
 40 9

GLOSSARY OF FOREIGN WORD S

The language to which the word belongs is indicated after the word :

Arabic - A
Greek - G
Hebrew - Hb
Hindustani, Hindi - H
Latin - L
Persian - P
Sanskrit - S
Tibetan - T
Turkish - Tk
Urdu - U

The usual meaning of the word, if any, is given first ; if theword has
a special use or additional interpretation in Sufi terminology, thismeaning
is given second, indicated by (Suf) ; the number at the end indicates the
page numberwhere the word appears .

Transliterations were made according to the fol lowing systems :

forArabic : The Encyclopedia of Islam , ( New edition,

Leiden , 1960-), except that "k" has been re-
placed by "q", and "dj"by "j" .

for Persian : F . Steingass , Comprehensive Persian-English

Dictionary, ( 8th edition , London, 1977) .

for Sanskrit : M . Monier-Williams, Sanskrit-English Dic-

tionary, (New Delhi, 1976 ; originally pub-
lished in 1899), mainly following the Trans-
literation Committee of the Geneva Orien-
tal Congress, September, 1894) .
41 0

advaita (S) - a-dvaita, destitute of duality, unique ; non-

duality ; identity of Brahma, the supreme
soul with the human soul ; identity of spirit
and matter ; the ultimate truth, 20 4

Aka a (S) - open space, vacuity ; ether; sky, arc of

heaven .
- (Suf)-capacity, receptacle, 17 3

a kh lfiq(A) - pl . of khulq : morals ; morality ; good quali-

ties ; manners .
- (Suf)- akhlaqAllah, themannerof God ; the
ninth initiation, 33 2

alif(A) - the first letter of the Arabic, Persian and

Urdu alphabets ; also the number one (in the
Greek alphabet : alpha), 33 8

'amal (A) - work ; practice ; effect ; dominion .

- (Suf) - a spiritual practice, 57 note 7 9

'arsh (A) - roof, canopy ; the highest (9th) sphere, the

empyrean (where the throne of God is) ;
throne, 313, 31 7

asana (S) - posture ; third I imb of Patanjal is raja yoga,

57

avatara (S) - descent, appearance of a deity upon earth ;

the incarnation of a deity ; the incarnations
of Vishnu .
- (Suf) - lord of humanity, 1 7

baba (T,P,H) - father ; grandfather ; child ; old, respected

man ; a sanyasi, a faqir ; head of the Order of
Qalandars, an Islamic Order of faqirs ; a
leader in the Bektashi Order of dervishes, 5 6

baqa (A) - remaining ; duration, permanence ; eternity ;

immortality ; I ife, I iving .
- (Suf) - realization, an aspect of spiri-
tual development, 25 2
- one of the last stages of medita-
tion, 30 1
- the l ife of God, 317
 41 1

bay'at (A,P) - allegiance ; investiture ; homage, fealty .

- (Suf) - initiation, 30 2

bhakti (S) - devotion, piety, love .

- bhakti yoga, 191, 30 9

bodhisattva (S) - essence of reason .

- (Suf) - the Spirit of Guidance, 125
- the Universal Mind, 20 3

Brahma (S) - God, the Creator in the Hindu rel ig ion, 110
- andAbraham, 20 3

brahmana (S) - a member of the highest Hindu caste of

traditional religious leaders and scholars,
11 0

cherag h (U), chirag_

h (P) - lamp, light ; guide , director ; client, depen-
dant .
- (Suf) - a person authorized to officiate in
the Universal Worship, 24 9

czar - Old Russian : tsesari, in Latin : Caesar ; title

of the emperor of Russia, 2 9

dharma(S) - morality ; duty, anygivensocialgroup'spar-

ticular caste obligations; law, religion, 57
note 78, 19 8

dharnfi (S), dhgrana - sixth accessory to yoga in the Yoga-sutras of

PataiijaIi ; concentration of mind,
contemplation, 57 note 7 8

dhAt (A), (zfit) (P) - endowed with ; essence, nature ; soul, man's
self .
- (Suf) - ~ifat and dhat, 32 2

dhikr (A), (zikr ) (P) - to remember , to mention ; remembering,

memory ; recital , reading or reciting of the
ur'An .
- (Suf) - praise and glorification of God .
- a certain spiritual practice (cf .
mantra ), 44, 57 note 79, 252,
254, 267
41 2

dhyana (S) - meditation, contemplation ; profound and

abstract religious meditation ; seventh limb
of PataiijaI i's raja yoga .
- (Suf) - name of a part of PTr-o-Murshid
'I nayat Khan's teachings made into g ita s

djabanUt - q .v. jabarot

djali l - q .v. jala l

djamal - q .v.jama l

durud (A,P,U) - benediction, blessing ; prayer, praise (esp .

of the Prophet Muhammad) .
- (Suf) - a spiritual practice, especially
for those concentrating on the
fans fi 'r RasOl, 223, 236, 255,
267, 271, 283, 31 2
- words of one such, very general,
durud prayer :
"O Almighty Lord, shower Thy
blessings and benefactions on
Muhammad and his followers as
Thou didst on Ibrahim and his fol-
lowers . Praised be Thou and ex-
alted .
O Almighty Lord, be gracious to
Muhammad and his followers as
Thou wert gracious to Ibrahim
and his followers . Praised be
Thou and glorious . "

fakir - q .v . faqi r

fans (A) - to pass away, to perish ; mortality, death .

- (Suf) - self effacement, 25 2
- fans fi Shaikh, surrender before
the teacher for the mureed's own
sake, 25 5
- fans fT Murshid, attunement to
the teacher, 25 7
- fans fT 'llah, absorption of the
soul in God, 301
 41 3

faqir(A) - poor, needy ; a poor man, a religiousmendi-

cant, a darwish .
- (Suf) - negative to God, positive to man, 22 5

fikr (A), (fikar) - thought, consideration ; reflection ; idea,

imagination .
- (Suf) - one of the courses in Sufism, 57
note 7 9
- a spiritual practice, 233, 260,
281, 31 2
- fikrand faqir, 27 9

gfitha (S) - verse, song, metre ; part of the Scripture of

the Parsis .
- (Suf) - name of a part of Pir-o-Murshid
'I nayat Khan's teachings, passim .

gathaka (S), (gatheka) - chanter, chanting of a sacred poem .

- (Suf) - name of a part of Pir-o-Murshid
'Inayat Kh an's teachings, passim (See also
Appendix B . )

guru ( S) - teacher , venerable or respectable person ; a

spiritual preceptor . Cf . Murshid .

bakim (A) - philosopher, sage ; physician, 31 3

bal (A) - condition, state .

- (Suf) - ecstasy, 31 3
haryat( S) - eager , willing, glad ; desired, pleasant,
dear, precious .
- (Suf) - divine Grace, a step in attaining to
unity, 31 6

bayrat (A) - being astounded ; amazement .

- (Suf) - a stage of self-realization in which a
sense of splendour comes, as a child when
born sees everything new in this old world,
33 3

hierophant (G) - high priest, official interpreter of sacred

mysteries or ceremonies, 26 6

HindO(S,P,U) - meaning both Indian andHind0,100-5

41 4

Iblis(A) - the Devil, Satan, Lucifer ; in the Islamic

tradition the angel of light, or perhaps a
j inn, punished by God because he disobeyed
by refusing to bow down before the first cre-
ated man ; king of the angels, expelled from
Eden, 31 8

'ilm (A) - knowledge, science, doctrine .

- (Suf) - real knowledge, after having es-
caped from the thought of self, 309

'inayat (A) - intending, meaning ; preserving, care ;

favour ; gift .
- (Suf) - divine grace, 264

Invocation, the - (Suf) - "Towards theOne, the Perfection of

Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only Being,
united with all the illuminated souls who .
form the embodiment of the Master, the
Spirit of Guidance", 236, 237, 241, 266, 26 7

jabarut (A) - might, power, omnipotence, dominion ;

heaven .
- (Suf) - a sphere of the soul, 309, 31 8

jalal (A), (jelfil) - greatness, majesty ; power .

- (Suf) - self-discipline, mastery over one's
self, 44

jamal (A), (jemal) - beauty, elegance .

- (Suf) - beauty ; responsiveness, the l ight
of the moon ,
- mercy and compassion, 4 4

japa (S) - muttering, whispering ; repeating passages

from scripturesor names of a deity . "Japa is
the repetition of any mantra or name of the
Lord" ($ivananda, Divine Life Society), 57
note 7 8

jasna - s .v . yajra

jri na ( S) - knowledge, the higher knowledge ; con-

science , intel I igence .
- ji5 na yoga , the path of knowledge, 25 note
4
 41 5

kafi (A) - to be sufficient, sufficiency ; entire, per-

fect .
- (Suf) - the Al I-Sufficient (a Name of God), ya
Kafi, Oh, All-Sufficient One (in the
Purification Breath), 28 5

kafir (A) - an ungrateful one, hence, unbeliever, infi-

del, heathen, 1 2

kalamu 'Ilah(A) - thewordofGod .

- (Suf) - way of referring to akhlfik Allah,
q.v., 332

KAI i (S) - as a Hindu goddess, a black and destructive,

terrifying aspect of the supreme goddess
Devi, associated with the goddess Durga
328- 9

karma (S) - act, work ; result, the rhythm of past actions;

law of action and the consequences it pro-
duces in the present or in a future birth, 84-
5, 309

kasb (A) - acquirement, gain ; wealth, knowledge .

- (Suf) -a spiritual practice, 57 note 79, 28 5

kashf (A) - opening, disclosure, revelation ; intuition,

divine inspiration . Cf . prajna .
- (Suf) - intuition, the living light from
within ,
- name of subject category of a
part of PTr-o-Murshid 'Inayat
Khan's teachings, 26 3

kh alif ( A) - successor (particularly the successors of the

Prophet Muhammad) ; the man of God ; repre-
sentative , vice-regent .
- (Suf) - deputy of the head of a Sufi Order,
309, 31 7

kh atm (A), (khatum) - conclusion, end, seal .

- (Suf) - name given by Pir-o-Murshid 'Inayat
Kh an to the final prayer in the Universal
Worship, 313-4

khi twat (P), khalwat (A) - solitude ; seclusion ; a cel l (for rel ig ious re-
tirement), 279
41 6

KhudA (P) - self-revealing, God, 15 9

compounded from (P) khud (self) and a (com-
ing) to mean 'who comes from his own vo-
lition, self-revealing, as a counterpart to
Hari (H), "He Whodrawsall unto Himself" .

makfim - q .v . maga m

maIak[it (A) - Kingdom, Heaven ; spirits, angels .

- (Suf) - sphere of thought and imagination,
304, 30 9

mammon - Armenianword, used inthe Bibletopersoni-

fy fortune and profit . The meaning has be-
come that of a power opposite to God, 31 5

mantra (S), mantram - sacred text, prayer, to be repeated for the

purpose of spiritual attainment, 15 4
- more powerful than a weapon, 4 4

magAm (A) - place ; halt, station ; residence, abode ; posi-

tion ; basis .
- (Suf) - a stage of spiritual attainment
earned by effort, 31 4

maya (S) - a substance subject to change, death and

destruction ; cosmic illusion .
- (Suf) - the illusive nature of life, 336

mleccha (S) - foreigner, barbarian, outcast, 12 note 12

mudra (S) - a certain class of exercises in hatha yoga ;
symbols shown in hands during worship, 57
note 7 8

mukti (S) - liberation, freedom ; the realization of the

soul's freedom, 120

murid (A), (mureed) - willing ; aspiring ; an aspirant, follower, dis-

ciple of a murshid, passim

murshid (A) - guide, spiritual teacher .

- (Suf)-PTr-o-Murshid : q .v .
 41 7

najat(A) - liberation, salvation ; mukti (in Hinduism),

nirvana (in Buddhism), 5 7

nafs (A), (nufs) - breath ; essence; self ; desire ; evil eye .

- (Suf) - ego, false ego , 227, 255, 267,
304

namaz (P), nimaz - prayer, adoration, worship ; the prayers,

salat in Islam .
- (Suf) - a course or process of training in
Sufism, 5 7
- former name of the prayer "Saum"
(cf . Authentic Versions of the
Teachings of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat
Khan on Sufism, Sayings Part I, p .
200) .

nasOt (A) - humanity, human nature .

- (Suf) -the physical plane, 309

neophyte (G) - the newly initiated one, 26 6

nirvana (S) - a Buddhist term : colourless; no difference,

no distinction, 57- 8
- (Suf) -the realization of the soul's freedom,
120, 301, 304, 31 1

niyfiz (P,U) - poverty, necessity ; petition, prayer ; wish ;

present, offering .
- (Suf) - Nayaz, the name of a dawn time
purification prayer, 22 7

nor(A) - light, brilliance, splendour, illumination ;

knowledge, truth ; a Name of God .
- (Suf) - Intelligence, 2 5
- Light of God immanent in the
world of names and forms, 39-4 0
- Nor Mubammad (A), Nor-e-
Mubammadi (P), Light or Spirit of
Guidance, 315-16
41 8

PT r-o-Mu rsh i d ( P) - Pir (P ), elder , .senior; o (P), wa , ve (A) -

"and", "along with" or indicating the joining
of two words into a single concept or ex-
pression ; Murshid (A), director, preceptor,
leader .
- title used by 'Infiyat Khan during his l ife in
the West .

prajna (S) - discernment, intuition ; consciousness,

awareness ; cf . kashf, 26 3

prana (S) - breath, vitality, life .

- (Suf) - the central breath, 23 3
- life in its physical form as per-
ceived through the physical
spheres, 128, 30 6
- breath manifested outwardly,
11 7

pranaygma ( S) - regulation and restraint of breath ; fourth

branch of Pataiijal is raja yoga , 57 note 7 8

raga - a particular musical mode in Indian music,

10 1

rQb(A) - sg . of arwah , soul, spirit , the vital princi-

ple, 31 5

~gf (A), $afA (A) - pure, clean ; purity .

- (Suf) -purification process, 223, 31 7

samadhi (S) - state of superconsciousness when Absolute-

ness is experienced ; identification of the
mind with the object of meditation ; eighth
branch of Patailjal is raja yoga, 57 note 78,
299, 31 9

Sarasvati (S) - the Hindu goddessof learning, patroness of

art, music and literature, the personifica-
tion of the sacred river, the Sarasvati, also
identified with the goddess of speech, Vac .
In later Hinduism she is usually considered
the consort of Brahma, 108-9
 41 9

taut-e-surmad (A) - continuing sound, eternal sound .

- (Suf) - abstract sound, 25 7

shafi (A) - health-giving ; healer .

- (Suf) - the Healer (a Name of God) ,
- yA Shafi, 0 Healer (in the Puri-
fication Breath), 28 5

shag_hl (A), (shag_hal) - work, study ;

shughl i shaghi l means an exertion of the
truly diligent , an al I-absorbing work .
- (Suf) -a spiritual practice , 57 note 7 9

shifayat (A,P) (shefayat ) - restoring to convalescence, health- giving,

healer, 23 5
- (Suf) - a rank given in the Sufi healing ac-
tivity .

~ifat (A, P) - description ; quality, attribute ; form, man-

ner .
- (Suf) - manifestation, what is known by the
Self, the activities coming from the condi-
tion of awareness, 32 1

simurgh (P) - a fabulous bird in Persian legend, symbol of

the Divine Ideal in the Mantiq-ut-tair, q .v .,
31 6
- in modern Persian can also stand for
si murgh, "thirty birds", hence in the Mantiq
the only ones, the true mystics, to attain to
the simurgh and realize their identity with
him .

Sufi (A, G) - usually derived from~uf (A),wool, apieceof

wool, orcloth, orthread ; woollen (woollen
garments were worn by certain groups of as-
cetics as a mark of penitence and renuncia-
tion) .
- often related by preference to oaf (A), pure,
clean .
- with possible influence from the Greek
sophos , wise, intel I igent .
42 0

Sufi, the - in the words of PTr-o-Murshid 'Inayat Khan

during the first half of 1923 : "The Sufi seeks
first to become humane, asto give happiness
to the others . The Sufi develops friendli-
ness, giving and taking sympathy, sharing
one another'sburden through life ; enjoying
alI that is beautiful, he seeks divine beauty
even in the crowd" (57 )

tal ib (A) - seeker, inquirer ; desirous of knowledge ;

beggar .
- (Suf) - murTd, disciple , 227, 242, 246, 250,
257, 259, 261, 273, 285, 29 0

ta6bOra (H), tanbOr(P) - a drone instrument of simpler construction

than the vina,supplying a rich droning ac-
companiment . The bowl is formed by a gourd
in Northern India and is usually of wood in
southern India . It has three steel strings and
one brass string which are played with the
fingers, 103

tapas(S) - austerity, mortification ; ascetic self-

denial ; part of the prel iminary side of raja
yoga (PatanjaI i), 57 note 7 8

tasawwuf (A) - verbal noun (infinitive of $of ; Sufism, mysti-

cism, contemplation) .
- (Suf) - the title of some of Pir-o-Murshid
'Inayat Kh an's lectures on metaphysics, and
the name of a subject category of his teach-
ings in his gathasand gitas, 1 note 1

Vedanta (S) - end (complete knowledge) of the Veda ;

name of the second and most important part
of the third of the three great divisions of
Hindu philosophy, called Vedanta either as
teaching the ultimate scope of the Veda, or
simply as explained in the Upanishads
which come at the end of the Veda . Its chief
doctrine is that of advaita, non-duality, 57,
69, 17 1

Vedantic - of Vedanta, used in the Vedas, 25

 42 1

Vedantist - a student of Vedanta .

vina (S), bin (H) - Indian musical stringed instrument, often

used for meditation purposes, played with
great mastery by PTr-o-Murshid 'Inayat
Khan, 11 8

wahdaniyat (A,P) - unity, singularity ; the belief in the un ity of

God .
- (Suf) - a condition of God, 316, 32 1

wabdat (A,P) - the being single or alone ; unity, oneness,

solitariness .
- (Suf) - condition of unity of God, 316, 32 1

wazifah (A), waZTfah (P) - wazafah : to follow ; pension, allowance ;

task, daily performance, daily worship .
- (Suf) - aspiritual practice, 57 note7, 271,
273,31 2

yaj ►a - "jasna" in note 78 of the lecture on Suf ism on

p . 57 may have been heard instead of yajrna,
meaning : worship, devotion, prayer, offer-
ing, sacrifice .

za t - q.v. dhat

zikr, zikar - q .v.dhik r

Zoroaster (G) - Greek name for Zarathushtra

422
 423

LISTOF PERSONS, PLACES AND EVENT S

Abraham, Ibrahim, Brahim Patriarch and prophet, flourished ca . 1750

B .C. Regarded as the ancient founder of
their religious tradition by Jews, Christians
andMuslims, p .48,54,70, 141, 203

AbOSa'Td ibnAbi'l Khayr (967-1049), Persian Sufi teacher and poet,

known for his discourses and paradoxical
sayings, p . 28 2

Ajmer(e) city in Rajasthan, India, famous as location

of the shrine ofKhwaja Mo'inu'd-DinChishti
(died 1236), the great disseminator of Suf-
ism in India, p . 32 9

Akbar Generally regarded as the greatest Mughal

emperorof India (1542-1605), who aimed at
optimal religious, cultural and social at-
tunement of Hinduism and Islam . He
foundedthe Din-e-ilahi, a ceremonial court
cult of religious character, in which differ-
ent religious rites were included . His
palace at Fatepur Sikri and his tomb near
Agra are among the finest examples of
Mughal architecture, p . 29 8

'Ali ibnAbiTllib (ca . 600-661) younger cousin, early ad-

herent and later son-in-law of the Prophet
Muhammad, and his fourth successor, reign-
ing from 656-661 . Regarded by Shi'ite
Muslims as the only true successor, and re-
garded by many Sufis asthe origin of their
spiritual pedigree, p . 10 6

Angkor architectural site in Kampuchea (Cam-

bodia),capital of Khmer Empire fromthe9th
to the 15th century, containing the famous
temple ruins of Angkor Wat and Angkor
Thom, p . 29 8

'Attar, Muhammad celebrated Persian Sufi poet fromNishapur,

b . IbrihimFarid-ud-DTn traditionally said to have been born in 111 9
A.D . and to have been killed by the Mongol
invaders in 1230 at the age of 110 (now dis-
puted by some scholars) . 'Attar' means per-
fumer . Many of hiswritings are wel [-known,
424

including theMantiq-ut-tair (Conference of

the Birds), Tazkirat-ul-auliya (a prose work
on the lives of Sufi saints), the Ilahi Nama
(an epic) and others, p . 142 .,206-12, 31 6

Avicenna Latin rendering of Ibn Sina, q .v .

Baucis and Ph iIamon in Greek mythology, humble couple who en-

tertained the gods Zeus and Hermes, and
thus became priests, and ended their Iives
by becoming trees together, p . 22 6

Baum, George an American mureed, ordained a Cherag and

made a Sheikh by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
in America in 1923, p . xi i
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp . 172, 49 0

Best, Ceci I Eric Britten (1882-1974), met Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

in England in 1916 . He was ordained a
Cherag in 1921, then went to Brasil where
for thirty years he represented the Sufi Mes-
sage . He is the author of several books,
p . 108 (Documents)
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp . 143, 433, 49 3

Bhagavad Gita (S) (The Lord's Song), one of the sacred books of
the Hindus . It is part of Book VI of the
Mahabharata (great epic of the Bharata dy-
nasty), presented as a dialogue between the
warrior prince Arjuna and his friend and
charioteer, Krishna, who is an avatara
(incarnation) of the god Vishnu, p . 262, 33 2

Bhakti ( S) meaning devotion , love . A Sufi name given

by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan to a Dutch
mureed , Mrs . G . Eggink-van Stolk, q .v.

Bible (from the Greek biblos, book), the name

given to the combined collection of the
Hebrew scriptures (known to Christians as
the Old Testament), and the NewTestament
(Greek Christian scriptures), see Index .
 425

Borobudur great Buddhist architectural monument in

central Java (Indonesia), built around 800
A .D . It combines the stupa (relic mound)
with the mandala (ritual diagram) . It was
neglected from about the year 1000, but was
restored by the Dutch, 1907-1911, and
again in the early 1970's with the help of
UNESCO, p . 29 8

Buddha (PaI i, S) meaning enlightened one, title of Sid-

dhartha Gautama (ca . 563 - ca . 483 B .C.),
founder of Buddhism, the great religious-
philosophical system, see Index .

Burbank, Luther American horticulturist . Pir-o-Murshid

Inayat Khan visited him in Santa Rosa, Cal i-
fornia, during his lecture tour in 1923,
p . xii i
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp .172, 462, 55 5

BustAn ( P), Bostan ( T,U) meaning place of fragrance , orchard, gar-

den, a 13th century book of verse on ethical
subjects by the Persian poet Sa 'di, q .v.,
p . 164

Chaldeans ancient Semitic-speaking nomad dwellers

in the areasat the headof the Persian Gulf
between Arabia and the Euphrates delta .
Abraham (q .v .) in the Old Testament is said
to have come from the town of Ur in this
area, p . 5 5

Christ, Jesus (4-6? B .C. - 30?A .D .), Jewish mystical-reli-

gious teacher and reformerwho became the
founder of Christianity, in which he is con-
sidered the son of God ; in Islam, one of the
greatest of the prophets and a "murshid of
murshids" ; see Index .

Connaughton, E.P .A. born 1887 in Ireland, joined the Sufi Order,
(later cal led the Sufi Movement) in 1918 in
the U .S .A . where he became apupil ofMur-
shida Martin in San Francisco . Pir-o-Murshid
Inayat Khan initiated him as a khalif (au-
thorized representative of the Order head)
in England in 1919 . He was back in San
426

Francisco for hismarriage in 1923 and again

met the Pir-o-Murshid on his lecture tour
through the U .S .A . that same year, p . xi i i
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
(London, 1979) pp . 172, 463, 49 4

Coomaraswami,AnandaK . (1877-1947), a leadin art historian, who

lived and worked in the U .S .A ., p . x i
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), p . 557f .

Cushing, Mrs . Marya an American who became a mureed in 1922

during the first Summer School at Suresnes,
France . She again met Pir-o-Murshid Inayat
Khan at the end of February, 1923 on hisar-
rival in New York, andwas able to arrange
his disputed entry in the United Stateswith
the immigration authorities . She assisted in
typesetting the MS of Notes from the Un-
struck Music from the Gayan of Inayat Khan,
published in 1923 . A part of the Pir-o-
Murshid's lecture tourthrough the U .S .A . in
1923 was organized by her, especially in
New York, ands he took down a number of his
lectures in shorthand,
' p . xi, 325 note 1, 334
(Documents )
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
(London, 1979), pp . 169, 173, 208, 464, 49 5

Daniel (Hb), Daniyal (A) Jewish prophetic figure, 2nd century B .C.
about whom a book appears in the Old Tes-
tament (partly in Aramaic) of which the
basic theme is the conflict between the re-
ligion of the Jews and the paganism of their
foreign rulers . In one of the stories of the
first six chapters Daniel is thrown into a
lions' den but is saved from harm through his
prayers, p . 7

Darwin, Charles (1809-1882), a British scientist, a biologist .

As a young man he travelled by ship in the
southern hemisphere for five years, col lect-
ing the evidence on which he based his later
theories . He is famous for his studies and
works on the process of natural evolution
and formulated a theory (natural selection)
to explain itsoperation, p . 154
 42 7

David (Hb), Daud, Dawud (A) (ca . 1030? - 962 B .C.), second king of Israel,
who established Jerusalem as its capital and
enlarged its borders to their greatestexten-
sion . He alsowas a musician and poet, and
half of the 150 psalms (see Old Testament :
book of Psalms) are ascribed to him, p . 4 8

Debussy, Claude (1862-1918), French composer and pianist

who revolutionized the technique and style
of music in the early 20th century . He in-
cluded Oriental musical characteristics in
Western music . Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
met him in Paris in 1913, p . 11 9
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp . 129, 418, 55 8

Diwan-i-Hafi (P) collection of lyrical poems (ghazals) in the

Sufi tradition by Hafiz (q .v.), celebrating
love and the spiritual beauty of nature ;
there is a remarkable freshness and sincerity
in his poetry, which remains popular today,
p . 18 8

Duce,Mrs . IvyOneita (1895-1981), an American mureed of Mur-

shida Rabia Martin (q .v .) . When Mrs . Martin
died in 1947, she named Mrs . Duce as her
successor to head the Sufi Order in the
.-United States, which was separate from the
European organization . Mrs . Duce had only
been studying Sufism for about two years,
and felt unprepared for her assignment . Re-
calling having heard Mrs . Martin refer to
Meher Baba of India as a "perfect Master",
she went to seek his advice in 1948 . Meher
Baba, whose followers regard him as the
avatar of this age, confirmed her appoint-
ment, accepted her as his disciple, and told
her to establish a Sufi organization "safe,
sane and stable enough to last 700 years" .
He said as long as shewould remain honest,
he would help her in her work, and his let-
ters to her show an ongoing encouragement .
Earlier in her life she had studied law,
served abroad with the American Red Cross,
and worked in an international commercial
bank in NewYork and South America . Later
she was an editor at Century Magazine . Her
marriage toTerryDuce led to her role asan
428

accomplished international hostess in

Washington, D .C. After her encounter with
Meher Baba, her organization became
known as "Sufism Reoriented," and in 1952
some of the mureedsfrom Murshida Martin's
days left . However, from 1960 on, many
mostly young people came to seekMurshida
Duce's guidance, and hertwogroupsinCali-
fornia and Washington, D .C. numbered
about 300 . In these groups the teachings of
Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, including
Gathas and Gitas N . Glossary), continued to
be given . Mrs . Duce wrote to the compiler :
"Meher Baba put in our charter that we had
to study Inayat Khan, Rumi, Hafiz, and other
Sufi Saints" . She established successful
schools in California and edited and pub-
ished many of Meher Baba's books . She also
wrote four books of her own, in one of which
(How a Master Works), she describes her
relationship with her teacher .

Egel ing -Grol, Mrs . Nel ly (1861-1939), a Dutch lady, who became Pir-
o-Murshid Inayat Khan's mureed in Switzer-
land in 1921 . She dedicated the rest of her
life to the Sufi work and to Pir-o-Murshid
Inayat Khan and his family . She placed at
his disposal a stately house at Suresnes, Rue
de la Tuilerie (France), named"Fazal (Fadl)
Manzil", Mansion of Blessings , where she
ivedwith the family from 1922, p . x
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
(London, 1979), pp . 185f, 468, 498f .

Eggink -vanStolk,Mrs .G . a Dutch mureed, who joined Pir-o-Murshid

Inayat Khan for part of his lecture tour
through the U .S .A . in 1923 , p . x i i i, 35 6
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London , 1979 ), pp . 173, 200, 47 9

Egypt a nation in the northeast of Africa along the

Nile river, whose history extends back to the
4th millennium B .C ., p . 266
 42 9

Engle, Earl (1888-1955), an Americanmureed whostud-

iedwith MurshidaMartin, initiated by Pir-o-
Murshid Inayat Khan in March, 1923, and
given the name Fatha . He returned to
Suresnes with Pir-o-Murshid, and performed
several functions in the household, includ-
ing appointment as secretary and chauffeur .
When he returned to the United States, he
had a Sufi centre in New York and later in
Cleveland (Ohio), p . xii, xi v

Furnee,Miss j .E .D. (1896-1973), joined the Sufi Order in 1921

as one of the first mureedsfrom Holland, and
became Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan's secre-
tary . She l earned shorthand and took down a
great number of the lectures given byPir-o-
Murshid from 1921 to 1926 . She had various
functions, among them "keeper"of the Bio-
graphical Department, created by Pir-o-
Murshid in order to safeguard all sorts of
documents and objects in connection with
the Sufi Message . Pir-o-Murshid gave herthe
name Sakina, later changed to Nekbakht . In
1950 she created theNekbakht Foundation,
including in it the Biographical De-
partment, p . xv i
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp . 159, 194, 200, 452,
505f .

Ghazali,AbuHamid (1058-1111), a native of Ghazal, aviIlage

Muhammad al near Tus in Khurasan (Persia), Muslim jurist ,
theologian and mystic, whose work formed
the basis of reconciliation between Sufis
and the orthodox religious establishment,
p . 32 6

Goodenough, Miss LucyM . (1876-1937), an English mureedwho joined

the Sufi Order during World War land acted
as Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan's secretary . A
gifted linguist and a valuable assistant in
the Sufi work, also at the International
Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland ; she
edited Pir-o-Murshid's lectures for publica-
tion in book formbr for restricted distribu-
tion among the Sufi centres . Pir-o-Murshid
430

gave herthe name Sharifa, and in August of

1923 initiated her as a Murshida, passim
(Documents )
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
(London, 1979) . pp . 141, 154, 166, 180,
202, 427, 506f .

Green, Miss Sophia Saintsbury q .v . Sainstbury-Green, Miss Sophi a

GuIistan(P) meaning Rose Garden, an important poeti-

cal work of Sa'di (q .v .), on ethical subjects
ike the Bustan, but written in prose, inter-
spersed with verse, p . 164, 16 6

Hafig, Shams-ud-Din (1325?-1389), famous Persian poet, who

Muhammad spent most of his I ife in Shiraz . He receive d
a classical religious education, and lec-
tured on Qur'anic and other theological sub-
jects and was an adherent of Sufism . His
name Hafizdesignates onewho has learned
the Qur'an by heart . He became a poet at the
court of several rulersof Shiraz . The princi-
pal verse form used by him was the ghazal, a
lyric poem of six to fifteen couplets . His
poems can be read on different levels of sig-
nificance, as a picture of the life of
medieval Shiraz, as atribute to his princely
patrons, and above all as an expression of
the Sufi mystical theology . His best known
work is the Diwan . (q .v .), p . 113, 186-92,
20 4

Hogendorp-van Notten, A Dutch mureed living in Vevey, Switzer-

A . Baronesse van land with her husband and daughter . She
was initiated by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
in 1921 . At times she acted as a secretary at
the International Headquarters of the Sufi
Movement in Geneva, p . 38 9
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
(London, 1979), p . 154, 194, 202, 44 9

lbn Sina'Ali al Husayn (980-1037), the most famous and influential

Arab philosopher-scientist of Islam, whose
medical works (The Canon of Medicine)
were widely known in medieval Europe,
where he was known asAvicenna, p . 107
 43 1

'Inayat Kh an, Pir-o-Murshid (1882-1927), Indian gentleman-musician

Hacirat and mystic who came to the West in 1910 ,
where he taught Suf ism and establ ished the
Sufi Order (from October 1923 called the
Sufi Movement) . Travelling widely, he
ived in London during World War I, there-
after in France, where he eventually settled
in Suresnes (near Paris) in 1922 . In 1912 he
married Ora Ray Baker, an American, from
then on known as Amina Begum ; they had
fourchildren . He died, whileon his first re-
turn tour through India, on February 5th,
1927, passim .

Ingen-Jelgersma, J .C. van- an early Dutch mureed, one of the most bri l-
liant of Pir-o-Murshid InayatKhan's follow-
ers, married to H . Baron van Tuyll van
Serooskerken from 1910 to 1920 . Her second
husbandwas JonkheerYusuf E . van Ingen, by
whom she had a son . They led an active Sufi
centre in Utrecht, a city in the central part
of Holland . Becoming a widow in the early
thirties, she continued Sufi work in Holland
and elsewhere until she passed away in
1969, p . 53 (Documents )
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp . 200,47 8

Jami, Nur-ud-Din (1414-1492), Persian Sufi poet and scholar,

'Abd-ur-Rabman often regarded as the last great mystica l
poet in Persian . Besides his many poetical
works he wrote in prose on the exegesis of
the Qur'an, on the prophethood of Muham-
mad and the lives of the saints . He is the
author of : the Lawa'ih, a theosophical trea-
tise ; several treatises on mysticism and on
music ; an Arabic grammar ; and other writ-
ings, p . 20 8

JamshTd figure in Persia's national epic, the Book of

Kings by Firdausi, as one of the earliest and
most glorious kings of the legendary
Peshdadi dynasty, owner of the lam-i-
jahannuma, the "world-showing cup"
through which he could "drink in" all the
world's events . One syllable of his name or
the other was often used in Persian names
and titles, p . 226
43 2

Jerusalem, although usual ly said to mean "city of

Yerushalayim (Hb) peace," it could also be derived from words
Bayt al-Muqaddas (A) meaning "the whole city" (on the assumptio n
that it was once divided and then unified) .
Ancient Palestinian city which under King
David was conquered by the Jews and be-
came their capital and central religious
shrine (the Temple of Solomon) . The city is
still regarded as holy, for different reasons,
by Jews, Christians and Musl ims, p . 17 6

Jesus,'Isa (A) v . Christ, Jesus

John the Baptist (4-6? B .C. - 28? A .D .), Jewish reformer who
performed ritual baptism in the Jordan river
in Palestine . He baptized Jesus and is re-
garded by Christians as the forerunner of
Jesus Christ, p . 32 6

Ka'ba the shrine in Mecca which isthe focal point

for the direction of prayer and for the Hajj,
(the pilgrimage for Muslims), connected in
tradition with Ibrahim, p . 5 5

Kabir (1440-1518), Indian mystic and poet, whose

ethnic origin isstill subject to dispute, but
who was adopted by a Muslim weaver . He at-
tempted to unite Hindu and Muslim thought,
and was a forerunner of Sikhism, founded by
his disciple Nanak . He was greatly influ-
enced by theMuslim mystics, the Sufis . His
poetry, in Hindi, was written in a simple
language and understood also by the com-
mon man . Some of it became part of the
sacred book of the Sikhs, the Adi Granth,
p . 109-10, 20 0

Karima a thanksgiving poem by Sa'di (q .v .), p . 162-

16 3

KerbeIa ( Karbala ') a place in central lraqwhere Husayn, son of

'Ali ibn Abi Talib (q . v .) and heir to the
Shiite leadership after his father' s death,
was massacred with his family ( Battle of
Karbala ', 680 A. D .), and where histomb re-
mains an object of pilgrimage, p . 176
 43 3

Kerdijk,MissA . one of the first Dutch mureeds, who trans-

lated Pir-o-Murshid InayatKhan's handwrit-
ten texts on Sufism into Dutch and together
with another mureed, Mr . van Ginkel, in
1921 brought out two books : Een Inleiding
tot het Soefisme (An Introduction to Sufism)
and De Soefi Boodschap van Geestelijke
Vrijheid (The Sufi Message of Spiritual Lib-
erty), p . 11, 59 (Documents )
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid lnayat Khan,
(London, 1979), p . 15 7

Khan v . 'Inayat Khan .

Khayyam, Omar v . Omar Khayya m

Koran v . Qur'a n

Krishna (S) said to be the eighth avatara (incarnation)

of the god Vishnu, widely taken as an object
of devotion in Hinduism ; speaker in the
Bhagavad Gita (q .v .), p . 15, 48, 49, 19 5

Leembruggen, Mrs . E . an early Dutch mureed ; she was married for

a time to A .H . Baron van Hardenbroek, by
whom she had a son and a daughter . Pir-o-
Murshid Inayat Khan stayed in her house
when lecturing in Arnhem, in January 1923 .
She took down in longhand some of his lec-
tures . In 1923, at the Summer School in
Suresnes, she once took over from Sakina
Furnee when she for some reason had to in-
terrupt her shorthand reporting of a lecture,
p . 35, 4 6

Lefebvre, MI le . H . an early French mureed from Paris, in whose

handwriting many lectures given by Pir-o-
Murshid Inayat Khan are preserved . In one of
her notebooks P i r-o-Mu rsh i d wrote : "Blessed
are the innocent who believe and trust sim-
ply . Blessed are the unselfish friends whose
motto in life is constancy . With blessings,
Inayat Khan ." Part of these lectures have
been written down by her from a simultane-
ous translation in French while they were
being pronounced ; another part seems to
have been copied, p . 73, 78
43 4

Lewis, Samuel L . (1896-1971), an American, who began his

studies on Sufism with Mrs . Martin in San
Francisco, having been initiated by the Pir-
o-Murshid in San Francisco in 1923 . In later
years he alsowas initiated in several other
Sufi Orders and in Hindu and Buddhist eso-
teric schools . He had his own Sufi group in
the U .S .A ., named Sufi Islamia Ruhaniat
Society . He is the author of Toward Spiritual
Brotherhood, in which he attempted to ap-
ply the principles of mysticism to science,
p . xi i
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp . 172, 56 9

Lincoln,Abraham (1809-1865), 16th president of the United

States from 1861 to 1865 . He preserved the
Union through the American Civil War and
worked for the emancipation of the slaves .
Shortly after his victory he was assassi-
nated, p . 8 8
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp . 126, 57 0

LLoyd,Mrs .Gladysl . An English follower of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat

Khan from London . From 1921 she took an ac-
tive part in the Sufi work in England and at
the Summer Schools atSuresnes, especially
as a conductor of prayers and in the Spiri-
tual Healing Branch of the Suf i Order (later
called Sufi Movement), p . 356, 373 note 128
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
(London, 1979), p . 485, 518f ., 52 3

Mahabharata (S) great epic of the Bharata Dynasty, one of

the two major Hindu epics of India along
with the Ramayana, consisting of almost a
hundred thousand couplets describing the
struggle for supremacy between two related
families, the Pandavas and the Kauravas,
based on actual history from ca . 1400-1000
B .C . The BhagavadGita is part of it . (q .v .),
p .176
 43 5

Mantiq-ut-tair meaning "colloquy of the birds", an alle-

gorical poem on the mystic's progress toward
unity with God . It was written by 'Attar
around 1175 and consists of a hundred thou-
sand verses, p . 206-12, 31 6

Martin, Mrs . Ada an American pioneer Sufi worker, Pir-o-

Murshid Inayat Khan's first disciple in the
United States (1911), made a Murshida and
given the name Rabia . She I ived in San Fran-
cisco with her husband and daughter . In
1923 she received the Pir-o-Murshid in San
Francisco during his nearly seven weeks'
stay there, and after having visited India,
attended the Summer School of 1924 at
Suresnes, x, xi i, 219 f f
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
(London, 1979), p . 359f ., 520f ., 61 1

Mapnawi ye ma'nawi meaning "The Spiritual Couplets", didactic

Mathnawi (A),Mesnevi (T) epic poem in Persian by Jalal ud-Din Rum i
(q .v .), consisting of 26,000 rhyming coup-
lets, treating alI the mystical thought, theo-
ries and images of the Sufism of the 13th
century . This work, widely regarded as the
greatest work of Persian poetry and very in-
fluential in Sufism, has been called "the
Persian Qur'an", p . 145-6, 31 5

Mecca (Makka) a city on the Arabian peninsula where the

Prophet Muhammad was born in 570 A .D. ;
long before histimeMecca wasprobablyal-
ready a station of the 'incense route" and
continued to bean important intersection of
great commercial caravan routes . The
Prophet conquered Mecca for Islam in 630 .
It is mainly known for its shrine, the Ka'ba
(q .v .), p . 5 5

Miller, Mrs . Rebecca C. initiated in 1912 by Murshida Martin, she

met Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan in March
1923 in San Francisco, p . xi i
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp . 172,460

Mo'in-ud-DinChishtT (1135- 1229), became a disciple of Hadrat

'Usman Haruni and was the eighth in the
ine of succession from the founder of the
436

Chishti Order, Abu IshagShami Chishti . His

first visit to India took place in 1165 and in
1191 he came for the first time to Ajmer,
where he later settled . He is credited with
establishing the first important Sufi Order in
India, the Chishti Order, which I ine of Sufi
teaching was the main background of Pir-o-
Murshid Inayat Khan (q .v .) . Even today his
shrine at Ajmer (q .v .) is a major object of
pilgrimage , p . 328- 9

Moses , Musa Jewish prophet , political leader and law-

giver, who may have lived at the time of the
Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II (1301-1234
B .C .) . He led his people from slavery in
Egypt to forty years of wandering in the
Sinai desert . On a mountain top he is said to
have received the divine law . He died just
before hispeopleentered the land they had
been promised by God . He is traditionally
believed to have been the author of the first
five books (Torah) of the Hebrew scriptures,
see Index .

Mubammad (570-632 A .D .), Prophet whose messages

from God (Allah) constitute the sacred scrip-
ture of Islam (the Qur'an) . He l ived in Mecca
(q .v .), but when his Message was not ac-
cepted there, he moved to Yathrib (later
Medina), from which he conquered Mecca
and much of theArabian peninsula . Hisfol-
lowers continued the conquests after his
death, eventually establishing a vast em-
pire and extending Islam from Spain to
China, see Index .

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), French general who became

emperor, extending French domination over
a large part of Europe . Asa political leader,
he made many legal and educational re-
forms, but most of his career centered on
military expeditions . In 1815 he was de-
feated by the British at Waterloo (Belgium)
and exiled first to the isle of Elba in the
Mediterranean and then to the South At-
lantic island of St . Helena, where he died .
His invasion of Egypt and his intended al-
 43 7

iance with Tipu Sultan of Mysore were of

notable importance for developments in the
Middle East and India, p . 2 9

Omar Kha l i f (A) v . 'Uma r

Omar Kh ayyam born nearNishapur(prov . Khurasan, Persia) .

The year of his birth is taken to be 1025,
1040 or still later . His name Khayyam,
.meaning tent-maker, shows the profession of
his ancestors . He studied at Nishapur and
became a well-known scientist (mathema-
tician, astronomer) and poet . His sharp
intellect was in conflict with his deep rel i-
gious feelings . He died atNishapur in 1123 .
His collection of hundredsof quatrains, the
Ruba'iyat (pl . of ruba'i, quatrain, stanza of
four lines) is st i l l famous today and has been
translated into almost every languages,
p . 39 2
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
(London, 1979), p . 568 .

Panjab, Punjab (S,H) parlic ab, meaning five waters : Indus and its
tributaries ; an area of the Indian sub-
continent, now divided intoa northwestern
state of India and a northeastern state of
Pakistan . The Indian state has a large Sikh
population, whereas the Pakistani state is
predominantly Muslim . With a combined
area of more than 250,000 sq .km ., the states
are populated by more than 50,000,000
people, p . 33 8

Paul the Apostle, Saint (ca . 2?B .C . - ca . 64? A .D .), Jewish Pharisee
who underwent a dramatic conversion to
Christianity and became a major force in
spreading the new faith . He was born in
Tarsus (Asia Minor) and was named Saul ;
later, after his conversion, he was re-named
Paul . His writings in the New Testament
have had a profound influence on Christian
thought and practice . He travelled widely
and was martyred in Rome, p . 5 1

Philamon q .v . Baucis and Phi lamon

43 8

Purana (S) meaning old, ancient ;

collections in Hindu sacred literature of
myth, legend and genealogy (ca . 400-1000
B .C.) . The eighteen principal surviving
Puranas vary greatly in date and subject
matter, p . 20 3

Qur'an (Koran) (A) meaning reading, recitation ;

the collection of texts revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad (q .v .), written down as
he had recited them . Considered as the
words of God (Allah) Himself, these scrip-
tures are authoritative for Islam, p . 75, 171,
223, 298, 309, 32 2

Rabi'ah al 'Adawiyya (713?-802), or Rabiah Basriyy, as she I ived

in Basra, whereshewasborn into a family of
slaves . She devoted herself to the love of
God and lived an ascet is life . She became
one of the greatest of Sufi saints and recited
prayers and mystical poetry, p . 33 1

Rama (S) or Ramacandra, the seventh avatara

(incarnation) of Vishnu, the hero of the
Ramayana (see Mahabharata) and con-
sidered the embodiment of virtue and
chivalry, p . 48, 11 2

Rrrni, jalal-ud-Din (1207-1273), also called Mevlana (T) (our

Master),famous Sufi poet in Persian, whose
Masnawi (q .v .) has been widely influential .
Hewas born in Balkh (now Afghanistan), but
his familyfled the approach of theMongols
and eventually settled in Konya (now
Turkey), in what was then known as Rum be-
cause of its earlier connection with the East-
Roman Empire . There he succeeded his
father as head of a university and was
trained in mysticism . However, his en-
counter with the derwish Shams-e-Tabriz
had a decisive effect on his I ife and career,
and after the latter's mysterious disappear-
ance, he began addressing spontaneous
poems to him (Diwan-e-Shams-e-Tabriz) . He
continued throughout his life to speak po-
etrywhile whirling around a column,which
 43 9

was later ritualized into the famous "Turn"

of his followers, the Mevlevi derwishes,
popularly known as whirling derwishes . His
poetry remains immensely popular in all Is-
lamic lands of Persian or Ottoman culture,
and has been translated into many lan-
guages, p . 113, 141-7, 20 6

Sa'di of Shi raz . (1184 - 1291), an important Persian poet and

Mu'l ib ud- Din writer who , after his studies , spent man y
yearsof his l ife in travel l ing . On the mystic
path he received instruction from Abdu'l
Qadir Jilani, founder of the Qadiri Sufi
Order . Sa'di's Bustan ( q .v .) and Gulistan
(q .v .) became immensely popular and well-
known even in the West, p . 138, 162 - 8, 18 1

SaintsburyGreen, (18 . .?- 1939), one of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat

Miss Sophia E . Khan's earlymureeds and and pioneerwork-
er in England, and his close collaborator in
the Sufi work . She was the first Cheraga of
the Universal Worship, andwas initiated as
a Murshida . She was an outstanding lec-
turer, the author of several books, and a
poet, p . 343, 35 6
cf Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
(London, 1979), p . 149, 152, 443 509f .

Scriabin, Aleksandr, (1872-1915), Russian composer of orchestral

Nikolayevich and piano music . Astudent of Theosophy, h e
sought to express in his experimental music
certain mystical ideas, and even attempted
to fuse music, poetry and dance with colour
and scent to create an ecstatic form of wor-
ship . Hispiano works, lyrical and polished,
are still admired, p . 11 9

Shams ud-DTnTabriz, (13th centuryA .D.) . H is name means sun of

Mubammad religion . His parentage is uncertain and I it-
tie is known about his I ife . In or about 1244
Rumi (q .v .) met him in the streets of Konya as
a wandering derwish, and became his dis-
ciple . He disappeared in 1247 and Rumi
dedicated his Divan to him, p . 55 note 45,
142- 4

Shiva (S) q .v., Siva

44 0

$iva (S) meaning the auspiciousone ;

name of the absorbing and reproducing
Hindu deity, the third god of Hindu
Trimurti, represented as a great Yogi and as-
cetic . Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan considered
him as one of the great prophets, p . 4 8

Solomon, Shlomo (Hb), (flourished 10th century B .C.), third king of

Suleyman (A) Israel, successor to his father David, an d
builder of the Temple in Jerusalem . During
Solomon's forty-year reign (972-932 B .C.),
he greatly strengthened the economic and
military position of his country, and formed
many foreign alliances through marriage .
The Ark of the Covenant, which his father
had brought to Jerusalem, was housed in a
fine structure, later destroyed . The kingdom
he had built divided, after his death, into
Israel (north) and Judah (south, including
Jerusalem) . He was famous for his wisdom,
and several books in the Jewish scriptures
are attributed to him, p . 48, 126, 154, 18 7

Stadl inger, Miss Hayat an American mureed, who first met Pir-o-
Murshid Inayat Khan when quite young, in
1923, at the lectures given at the Paul Elder
Gallery, San Francisco, U .S .A . In 1926,
while travelling with her mother, she en-
countered Pir-o-Murshid in Paris by acci-
dent" and then attended part of the Summer
School in Suresnes, where she was initiated
by Murshida Saintsbury-Green (q .v .) . She
lives in Oakland, California, where she has
maintained a Sufi Centre and performed the
Universal Worship throughout her long life,
p . 100 and passim

Stam,MissD .K . a Dutch mureed, initiated by Pir-o-Murshid

Inayat Khan in Switzerland in 1922 and
given by him the name Kismet . She learned
shorthand and typewriting and became one
of Pir-o-Murshid's secretaries from 1923 on,
beginning at the Summer School in
Suresnes . Her handwriting in this function is
found for the first time in one of theMSS of
the play Una, where Pir-o-Murshid dictated
some changes to her, p . 356
 44 1

cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,

(London 1979), pp . 11 , 12, 202, 204, 271,
480, 525f .

Taj Mahal I (A, P) taj meaning crown, tiara ; mahall meaning

place, place of alighting, town quarter ; ar-
chitectural monument in Agra (south of
Delhi), India, built in 1632-54 by the
Muy,hal emperor Shah Jehanas amausoleum
for his deceasedwife, Mumtaz Mahall . Built
of white marble inlaidwith preciousstones,
this world-famous building, which over-
looks the Jamna river, became the emperor's
tomb aswel I, p . 29 8

Taneyev, Sergey (Tanieff) (1856-1915), Russian pianist and composer

who studied with Tchaikovsky and suc-
ceeded him as director of the Moscow Con-
servatory, where he taught Scriabin (q .v .) .
He left a few finely wrought compositions
which are rarely performed, but helped to
spark an interest in Renaissance music,
p . 11 9

Tuyl I van Serooskerken, (1883-1958), an early Dutch mureed of Pi r-

H .P . Baron van o-Murshid Inayat Khan, initiated in 1921 ,
-and given the name Sirdar . Hewasa pioneer
worker for the Sufi Message, and itsNational
Representative in Holland . From 1910-1920
he was married to Miss J .C. Jelgersma (v .
Ingen - Jelgersma, van), and in 1922 he mar-
riedMiss H . Willebeek LeMair . He made his
house in The Hague into a Sufi Centre and
had a congregational hall built onto it for
the Universal Worship and other Sufi meet-
ingsto be held, p . 5 3
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp . 166, 200, 529f .

Tuyl I van Serooskerken- (1889-1966), met Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

Willebeek LeMair, in 1921 and became hismureed . In 1922 she
Mrs . H . van married H .P . Baron van Tuyll van Seroos-
kerken and helped him with the work in
their Sufi Centre . She was an artist and is
well-known for her designs and paintings,
and also for her luxury-book illustrations .
442

She also took interest in dance and music

and Eastern languages, p . 5 3
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
( London , 1979), pp . 529f ., 587f .

'Umar ibn al Khat%ab (ca . 586-644), second khal ifa (successor) to

the Prophet Muhammad, under whom the
Arab conquest of Syria (including
Jerusalem) and Mesopotamia was carried
out . He was an imposing figure noted for his
simplicity and sternness, p . 19 6

Veda (S) meaning knowledge ; the name of certain

celebrated workswhich constitute the basis
of the first periodof the Hindu religion . The
oldest of its hymns is assigned to a period be-
tween 4000 and 2500 B .C. (by others to a
period between 1400 and 1000 B .C.), when
the Aryans had settled down in the Panjab .
These scriptures in Sanskrit are in poetical
form, comprising a I iturgical cycle of hymns
and prayers, and are regarded as the most
sacred of Hindu writings, p . 102, 128, 338- 9

Wilhelm, Kaiser (1859-1941), German emperor from 1888 to

1918, who presided over his country's defeat
in World War 1 (1914-1918) . He became and
remained famous inAsian andAfrican lands
as the hero who severely threatened and de-
cisively shook the colonial powers, England
and France . He l ived and died in exile in the
Netherlands, p . 2 9

Wolff, Mr . and Mrs . American followers of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat

Khan from Los Angeles, U .S .A ., who in 1923
drove Pir-o-Murshid by car from LosAngeles
to San Francisco, p . xii, xi v
cf . Biography of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan,
(London, 1979), pp .169, 173 .

Zarathushtra (Avestan), prophet who I ived in the northeast of old

Zoroaster(G) Iran (Bactria), flourishing probably in th e
6th c . B.C . or earlier . He is the founder of
the religion which bears his name (also
 443

known as Parsiism--meaning of Persian ori-

gin--in India, where it mainly survives in
the Bombay area), emphasizing the benefi-
cent role of Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) and
promising immortality and bl iss in the after-
life tothe faithful . Thisreligion hada pro-
found, if now mostly unacknowledged
influence on the development of the moral
and monotheistic tradition in Judaism,
Christianity and Islam . Thus, e .g ., the word
and conception of Paradise (Firdaus) is of
Zoroastrian origin, p . 48-9
444
 445

INDE X

Abraham, astrology,
- and the ancient school of Suf ism, 54 -, a source of the science of music, 102
Abu Said, atmosphere,
- on the spiritual condition of the f aqr, 282 to create harmony, 24 3
activity , - in meditation, 235, 237, 252
- and repose, 197 - of the Murshid, 252, 253, 257
creation of -, 22 9
advancement ,
zdv, to restore -, 252
how to attain spiritual -, 7
signs of spiritual -, 7 atonement ,
- with God, 196
agreement, how to experience -, 197
- and disagreement, 9
attachment ,
Ajmer,
- and above -, 144
- and the to" of Moinuddn Chishti, 329
attainment ,
akasha (see capacity), 173
-of Godard self, 33 4
Ali tbn Abi Talib, - of self - knowledge, 337
-'swards about self -knowledge, 106 spiritual -, 145,159,182-3
Allah, passim, 267-322 what is sp ir itual -?, 148-9
-'s attributes, 315, 317 attitude,
-, the Benef icent and Merciful, 307 what is-?,207
-, and cosmic consciousness, 318 at tenement ,
conditions of -, 315, 32 1 a gradual charge in pitch, 261
essence of -, 318 - to the key -note, 257, 26 1
grace of -, 312 - in the Universal Worship, 253
light of -, 310, 31 4 - with each other, 257
listening to - in meditation, 314 - with God, 225, 237
love of -, 320 - with saute sarmad, 257
amal, 57 - with the teacher, 253, 257, 261
grades of -, 30 1
amazement,
what is ?,237
-, the sixth valley in Mantiq-ut-tair, 211
America,
- and brotherhood, 87-8
greetings to -, 87
balance,
animals, -, the goal of all medita tion, 285
man's contact with domestic -, 157 - of knowledge and heart, 208
annihilation , between meditation and activity, 240
- by attunement to the teacher, 255, 257 spiritual -, 307
- of the f al se ego, 301 baqa,
-, the fourth valley in Mantiq-ut-tair, 209- -, the lif a of God, 317
21 1 -, one of the last stages of meditation, 301
appreciation, -, a realization, 30 1
faculty of -, 150 battle,
- for the work of the Message, 21- 2 - and peace, 73, 76
art, intoxicatio n of -, 79-80
- commercialized, 177 knowledge about the - of life, 73
- and inspiration, 137 Baucis,
- and intuition, 10 1 - and Philanan, the pitcher of, 226
- and self -saaif ice, 343-379 passim
beauty,
uniformity in -, 11 9
- and harmony, 14 9
artist(s), -, the key to awakening the love element, 188
- and meditation, 297 - and wisdom, 297
satis faction of an -, 334 God, the Perf ection of -, 298
asana, 57
446

belief, the - of the teacher, 259,61

- brings the abject man wants, 31 the divine -, 32 2
- in God, and the living God, 116 energy entering through -, 227, 3 1
- and knowledge of God, 7 1 language of colour and sound, seen in the -,
-, a stepping stone to perf ection, 124 173
- and truth, 19 the power of -, 65, 233
the PRrif ication -, 285
beloved,
pu f f ication of -,102
eommurtication with the -, 191 refinement of -, 223, 224, 227
God, the -, 19 0
results of -, 285-6
to see one's - in everyone, 211
rhythmic -, 302
the spirit of the -, 19 1
brotherhood,
Ben Israel,
-, an aspect of the Sufi Movement, 72
the prophets of -, 54-5 consciousness of -, 87- 8
Bhagavad Gita, theobject of -,70- 1
-, explanation of a best road, 262 silence in the - meetings, 271
Bhakti, the spirit of -, 181
- yoga, 191, 309 Buddha,
the name -, 343 -, bearer of the lantern, 48, 51
Bible, - meaning 'reason', 125
Christ walkiir an the water, 144 -'s teaching, 303-4
rebirth, mentioned in the -, 211 Buddhism,
spirit returning to God in the -, 322 -andSufism, 53
wards f ram the - :
in the beginning was the word . . ., 171
fist was the word.. ., 154,155
knock at the gate .. ., 47
capacity,
seek ye the Kingdom of God. . ., 158-9
- of our being, 170-3
bird(s), - of an electric body and - of a talb, 250
Blue -, or Bird of the Sky, 207 - in our hearts, 170
one - is foremost, 123 movement and -, 171-2
birth, sky, a -, 207
- of the soul, 211 capital,
blood, . straggle between - and labor, 178
activity of the -, 302, 305
Chaldean, the,
-'s part in physical existence, 307
- and the Sufi Order, 55
body draws sustenance from -, 306
c ange,
Bodhisattva,
annihilation is nothing but,-207
-, the Christ Spirit, 126
-, the Spirit of Guidance in Buddhistic terms, child(ren),
125 a - crying for food, 157
- and the wise, 6
body,
education of -, 162-3
- drawing sustenance from blood, 306
- in meditation, 225, 229 Christ,
control of the -, 31 1 -, the Alpha and Omega, 50
preparing the - in seeking God, 158-9 - and the Beloved, 21 1
- dividing loaves and fishes, 226
Brahma,
- and Jesus, 50
- and Abraham, 203
- and Krishna, 1 5
B rahman(s), - and Suf ism, 53, 55-6
the -' feast and the Hirx i poet, 109-10 - walking on the water, 144
breath, personality of -, 51
all conditions reflected in the -, 285 words of - :
- attractsg elements, 128-9 be perfect as yaw Father . . . . 28,40
- to be made into a vehicle of the soul, 302 1 am Alpha and Omega.. .. 50
- in meditation, 223, 227, 229, 242, 247, 255, I have not come to give a new law. . ., 14
283,303 love yoLr , neighbor, 18 1
- in sing ing, 13 1 many are called but few are chosen . ..,
- and the sound of voice, 117-8 301
 44 7

my yoke is easy ..., 266 Sradual-, 65

... pearls befae swine ..., 250 cosmos ,
resist not evil ..., 75 - working by the law of music, 195
Thy Will be done ..., 27- 8 unity of -, 322
. . . undo him that smiteth thee on the one
creation,
cheek ..., 21 5
-, a jarney of God, 46-7
Christianity, - of the world, 75
- and Suf ism, 53, 55 nature of -, 46
Church, reason for -, 188-9
not one - with all prophets and sak*ses, 22 curiosity,
Church of All, -, the first valley in Mantiq -ut-fair, 207
-, an aspect of the Sufi Movement, 72 man's -, 153
colour,
a f ter sound came -, 171
beliefs about -, 17 1
- and movement, 172 dance,
- of music, 172 - and natural spiritual life, 150
effect of -, 170 Darwin,
language of -, 169 -'s theory of evosutan, 431
liking for a certain -, 170
death,
what is -t, 171-2
life after -, 210
commercialism, life and-,209
- of this time, 177, 181-2
denseness ,
cmununicationfs), - in human nature, 149
- with nature, 135 - of material existence, 14 8
telepathic -, 135
desire,
corrrrrnion, - coming to an end, 319
- of saints, 293 - to learn, 15 7
- with God, 257 - of the soul, 335
- with life, 157 man's innate -, 157-8
competition, destirry ,
spirit of -, 177 slave and master of -, 10
complexity, development, spiritual,
skoicity and -, 15-6 - and science of breath, 173
concentration, difference(s),
- for control of the mid, 66 religious -, 12, 70
- drawing blood to a centre, 305
discrimination,
- lea rned by music, 104
- in healing, 150
- and meditation, 307
- in medita tion, 30B disease,
- With mind, 307 - in body, and in race and nation, 17 6
consciousness , - and crime, result of irregular breath, 285-6
- and pain, 231, 301, 319
attaining and retaining cosmic -, 318
centering - in the heart, 307 dream(s),
- of man' s own being, 4 0 difference in time of the activity in -,172
- and unconsciousness, 25 -,away of revelation, 137
discussing cosmic -, 315 the language of a person's -, 138
limited and unlimited -, 36 duality,
two aspects of cosmic -, 313 _ and unity, 1S2
consideration, durood,
- for the well-being of one's f elbw aea- - before meditation and healing, 236
Ures, 123 - for contnl of breath and mind, 312
contraction, -, a help to refine breath, 223
- and expansion, 305-6 - for meditati n in everyday life, 255
control, -, to ptri f y the breath, 283
-, a wazif a, repeated silently, 271
-of life, 59
over Ought wad and action, 134
448

ear, faith,
- and heart, 43- 4 -, trust in onesel f, 167-8
a location in the -, 43 understanding of each other's -, 4 1
East, fakir,
- and West, 216 -, like a strainer, a cup, 225
education, falsehood,
- of children, 162- 3 - on the surf ace, truth in the depth, 327
- and rel igion, 19, 177 family feuds,
- today, 88 - of the past, 179-80
in - psychological value of music to be
fanafi4illah,
taught, 119
-, a state of realization, 301
ego, fans-fknurshid ( see fans- fi-sheikh)
awakening of the real -, 333 fans-fi-sheikh ,
- and nirvana, 304
-, fa the disciple's own sake, 255
the false - in meditation, 267 meaning of -, 257
-restraining the -, 223, 227,231, 240, 255, 283
the tendency of -, 267 fate,
- and free will, 26-7
Egypt,
ancient Egyptian mysteries, 266 f ikar,
- and the f ak% 281
electricity,
- for guidance in problems, 260
the law of -,249-50
purpose and use of -, 279, 312
elements , rhythm in -, 233
all - in a human beirig,107
flute,
- medicine, 127
-, the f irst instrument, 101
the f ive - represented by sound, 172
the - in Rumi's poetry, 145
meanings of the names of the five s, 172
prang at tracting the -, 128 forgiveness ,
science of - (philosophy), 102 God's - and man's -, 190
the split of -, 23
elephants,
leader of -, 123 freedom,
- attained by evolution, 10
endurance,
-, a natural tendency, 26
- to get on with people, 10 -, the nature of the soul, 194
power of -, 8
free will,
energy,
- and fate, 26- 7
- controlled by postures, 65 - and karma, 84-5
engineer,
future,
machine and -, 25,84
perceiving - by insight, 31 9
ether,
meaning of -, 17 2
evolution,
colors and tone in -, 171 gentleness,
Darwin's theory of -, 154 -, fist sign of wisdom, 133
man, acting according to his -, 181
Ghazali, Al,
man's -, 27 - about entering the spiritual path, 326
man's grade of -, 170
sign of -, 9 God,
spiritual - and the power of music, 118, 120 all coming from-,289
attainment of -, 334
exaltation,
belief in -, and God, 116
forms of spiritual - (worship), 200 belief in - and knowledge of God, 71
expression, belief in -, and a living God, 332
tendency for -, 156, belief in -, a preparatory step, 341
eye, belief in - and self -knowledge, 106
head and -, 43 conruiication with -, 191
consranion with -, 257, 293
conditions of -, 311, 316, 321
difference between the world and -, 146
 44 9

giving up belief in -, 189 guide, a,

- the Beloved, 190- 1 - on the spiritual path, 44
- and areati n, 47
- and His manifestati n, 188-9
-, the key to love, 132
-'s own light, 50
Hafiz,
-, the Perfect in intelligence, lost by man, 39
the poetry of -, 113
-, the Perfection of beauty, 298
- performing all actions, 297 hakim,
- in the prayer Khatm, 313 attue-,313
- speaking to man, 17-8 handwriting,
- the only Teacher, 251 reading -, 195- 6
- is TPA, 16, 18, 50 happiness,
hearing the voice of -, 265 - depends on right living, 168
initiation in -, 33 1 -, man's very being, 165
the justice of -, 189-90 - and material progress, 33
the knowledge of -, 43
harmony,
the living -, 34 1
- and inspiration, 137
making -, 315, 317
- in meditation, 26 1
man and -, 31 5
- and music, 150
man approaching -, 315
- of the universe, 150
the mamer of -, 33 2
inner -, a help on the path to God, 251
meaning of the Pers ian ward for -, 159
the law of -, 195
means by which - returns to -, 322
object and method to attain -, 149-50
merits of -, 316
the way to produce -, 243, 26 1
the name of the real -, 147
what is - ?, 149-50
the names of -, 55
the Oneness of -, 199, 204-5 haryat (hariat), 316
the personality of -, 147, 204-5 hay rat , 333 note 7
the presence of -, 187-8 head,
the real - and the man-made -, 147 - and eye, 43
realization of -, 7 1 the way of knowing by the -, 43
relation between - and man, 341
healer,
union with -, 317
how must a - be?, 131-2
unity of -, 31 6
to unite the soul to -, 285 healing,
the word of -, 17, 332 attuning to trod bef ore -, 237
worship of 106 darood and invocation in -, 236
energy in - and in meditation, 235
God ideal,
from - to samadhi, 127
-, an aspect of religion, 204-5
- by the atmosphere, 229
- one God or marry gods, 204
- of mind and soul, 130
promoting the -, 34 1
- Service, 243, 245, 247, 249
use of the -, 183
- through music, 127-32
God-realization, power of -, 233
- and eighth initiation, 332
-, pupose of Suf ism, 274 health,
and lorg life, 23 1
- for the he Sufi, 30 1
-, by understanding proportions of rhythm
the stage of -, 317
and tone, 128
grace,
heart,
inayat, divine -, 264
control of -, 31 1
Hariat, -, 31 6
- affected by music, 307-8
what is -?, 1-2
- behind the voice, 13 1
guidance, - controlling the mind, 303
divine -, 257, 265 - and ear, 43
- in solving a problem, 259-60 - healing body, mud and itself, 303, 305
a human being for -?, 251 - and knowledge, 208
right - is in oneself, 327 - of man, 145-6
Spit of -, 251, 258 - quality, 20 8
importance of - life in all worlds, 307
450

joining mind and -, 31 1 illusion,

keeping the - f iced on God, 242 losing -, the fifth valley in Mantiq -ut- tair,
keeping the - tuned, 9 21 1
lifein the -,303,309 the world called an -, 169
a location in the -, 43 ilm,
meaning of -, 303, 307, 319
what is called - by Suf is, 309
raising the pitch of the -, 225
reaching inner recesses of 307 impression(s),
sensitivity of the -, 250 what is -t, 13 5
the teacher's -, 248 Inayat Khan, PiroMurshid Hazrat,
So watch the -, 264 autobiographical accounts :
the way of knowing by the -, 43 - and the beautiful answer of the maid,
heaven, 132
reaching - by meditation, 304 -'s blessing received from his Teacher,
16 8
heaviness , -'s belief in ghosts, 21 6
- and lightness, 150
-'s conversation with Tanief f about De-
helplessness , bussy, 119
- of man, 29-30 - about India's freedom, 216- 7
hierarchy, - and the person complaining of neuritis,
spiritual -, 320 130
Hindu(s), -'s purpose of coming to the West, 217
coexistence of -and Muslims, 70 - seeing that his friend was cross, 195
- and cif f erent yogas, 30 9 - when on the stage, 21 5
what is called samadhi by Hirdis, 319 's visit to a circle in England, 51
- working as an artist, 21 7
Hinduism,
vegetarian diet and -'s habits of taking
The Brahmans, 109-10
food, 217
Sarasvati, 108-9
India,
humanity,
- in its search for bu h,100
- is one body, 88
individual,
life of an-,26
individualism,
Iblis, - and uniformity, 103
-, rejected from Heaven, 318 individuality,
Ibn Sna, giving attention to progress of -, 66-7
-'s scientif is point of view, 107 - and personal ity, 66
ideal, inf h ier c,
awakening of the spiritual -, 22 - of prang, 117-8
- of God, 364- 5 - and spritual advancement, 7
- and idol, 179 man's -, 7
- lacking, 88, 179 psychic - of music, 117-21
-, a living entity in fifth initiation, 33 1 inharmony ,
- of man' s imagination in fourth initia tion, no one wishing -, 149
330- 1 init iat ion(s),
- and material gain, 19-20 -,difficult for worldly man, 326
rising above one's -, 331-2 - and self -trust, 167
the want of an -, 177, 179 -ntheSufiOrder, 7 1
idol, meaning of -, 325-6
- and ideal, 179 purpose of -, 302, 325
idol worship, 50-1 worldly and spiritual, 325-6
ignorance, innocence,
- of the self, 337 how to develop -, 3-4
- and s impleness, 5
illness,
insight,
- to be understood best by onesel f, 138
inward and outward -, 13 0 cultivation of -, 255
the reason of -, 128 inspiration,
reducing the power of -, 131 divine - and beautiful f orm, 109
 45 1

- and lone, 11 1 Jesus Christ ,

- and pain, 111-2 - and John the Baptist, 326
- in poetry, 109 -, outer person and spirit, 124
what is -?, 136-7 -'s teaching of unity, 338
intellect , -'s wads to so few people, 126
- and intelligence, 133, 156 wads of - :
- and wisdom, 69, 133 • seek ye f irst the K ingdom of God . .. •,
intelligence, 25 158-9,34 1
fist was -, 155-6 Jews,
-, the divine in man, 133 - waiting f or the Bearer of the light, 49
- and intellect, 133, 155 John the Baptist ,
limited and unlimited -, 36 -, guide of Jesus Christ, 326
perfect -, 39 journey ,
the tendency of - in nat ze, 156
- of God, 46-7
use of -, 133-4, 136 man's - in darkness, 47
interpretation, the speed of one's -, 156
- of the scriptures, 201-2
Judaism,
intoxication , - and Suf ism, 53-5
- by creation of variety, 47
justice,
- in lif es battle, 76,80 God's - and man's -, 189-90
intuition, ultimate - and ultimate truth, 192
faculty of - in the heart, 43
Kaaba,
-, a kind of warning, 135-6 the - and the5ufiOrder, 55
- by meditation, 293
-, origin of science and art, 100- 1 Kabir,
- at the root of poetry and prophecy, 114 -'s book of verses in ordinary language, 110
a physician's dependence upon -, 128 -'s expression of wisdom, 11 0
- invited at a Brahmans' f east, 109-10
invocat ion (Suf ),
- before meditation and healing, 236 Kali, (the Hindi goddess) ,
repetition of -, 237, 242, 266-7 -, test for Moirxddn Chishti, 328-9
Islam, karma,
- spreading with the sword, 215
- and 5uf ism, 53-4, 21 5 kasab,
souls enlightened by -, 49 practice of -, 285
Israel, key-note,
mystics of -, 54- 5 attunement to the -, 257, 261
khalif,
-of God, 309, 317
Khan, v. Inayat Khan
jabrut,
khatm,
arsh-throne higher than -, 318 words of prayer -, 313-4
soul being in -, 309
khilvat ,
Ja, the practice of -, 272
wards of - about love, 208
kingdom(s) ,
Jamshyd, all - in a human besg, 107
the cup of -, 226
knowledge,
lw,
all - in realizing oneness, 340
- and jemal in A r, 44 gaining - f ram within and without, 133-4, 136
ice. illuminating -, the third valley in Mantiq -ut-
- and jelal in zikr, 44 tair, 208
Jesus, importance of -, 309
-, bearer of the lantern, 48-9 inspiration is a - barn from harmony, 137
- and Christ, 50 - and belief in God, 7 1
-'s wards about the rich man and the Kingdom - in its completed f am, 152
of God, 31 5 - of God, 43
Suf is recognizing -, 70 - and heart, 20B
- and knowing, 155
452

- in third initiation, 330 light,

of life's battle, 73-6 divine -, 31 5
receiving - in rhydvn, 109 inner - in meditation, 303-4
self -and divine -, 337 the lantern and the -, 47-50,52
self -realization, the original -, 133 - of Allah, 310
the source of -, 133 - always refused, 4 9
worldly and spiritual -, 3-4 - needed on the Jamey, 47-8
Krishna, names and farms of the -, 48
-'s teadimg on realization of Nis being, 30 1 lightness ,
- and heaviness, 150
limitation,
-, by what one's capacity contains, 210
labour, - of life, its gain and loss, 194
struggle between capital and -, 178 - of man, 106
lack, - and unlimitedness, 212
- seen by man outside himself , 31 Lincoln, Abraham,
language, ( see also Persian) , -'s re form, 88
the - of music, 195- 6 living,
- of sound and colon, 169, 172-3 right -, 88
lantern, true - in the pursuit of truth, 139
bearers of the -, 48-50 locat ion,
f lame of the -, 48 a - in the ear and in the heart, 43
- and light, 47-50, 52 a - for the knowledge of God, 43
law(s), longing,
-, an aspect of religion, 199 the feeling of -, 38
- of beneficence, 88 - in man and in nature, 15 6
- given aga in, 14
love,
- of music, 193 divin e -, 308, 313, 320
- of vibration, 128
divine - in the hea rt of man, 146
life's -, 17 3 the key to - is God, 132
love above -, 19 0
- above law, 190
same - in spiritual and physical wafd, 24 7 -, the divine in man, 188
learning, - and the '1,145
- and unleamirg, 151-2, 337-8 the - principle, 189, 191-2
liberty, the - quality, 206- 9
the ideal of -, 89 - reflected by the guide, 253
life, - and savif ice, 376, 378-9
communicating with -, 135 -of aSufi, 144- 5
control of -, 59 - taught by all great souls, 191-2
giving -, 128 -, the wine in Jamshyd's cup, 226
inner - and outer -, 287, 289, 298 he moral is -, 317
lack of -, 128
the law of -, 173- 4
- of composer and musician needed, 121
- a continual battl e, 73-77 machine,
- egresses itself , 169,173 and engineer, 25-6,84
- and harmony, 149 magnetism,
- in the heart, 307, 309 developing -, 65
- is movement, 59 - of body and mind, 313
- and music, 193- 4 - in healing Se rv ice, 245
the real source of healing, 121 - of scientist and vital -, 247
- is revealing, 134-5, 13 8 - through meditation, 227,229, 231, 233, 256
-, the secret of all magnetism, 120 - of wards, 60
- within, 13 8 the secret of -, 129
natural, spiritual -, 150
the secret of -, 146- 7 dfiime -, 203
spiritual - and worldly -, 345-374
God and -, 315, 317, 319
three ways of living -, 144
the heart of -, 146
 45 3

how can - approach God?, 31 5 -, concentra tion and contemplation, 168

-'s consideration for his fellow creatures, 123 - fa control of maid, 66
-'s contact with domestic animals, 157 - and everyday Iife, 255
-'s cuiosity, 153 -, a general practice, 27 1
-'s inmate desire, 157 - and intellectual study, 239
-'s Journey in darkness, 47-8 - leading to unity of one's being, 310
-'s kmging,156 - in nature, 24 1
-'s perplexity, 46 -, not merely relaxation, 225
-'s possibility to be master of his destiny, 30 - for personal benefit, 263, 265
- is proud, 50 - and sleep , 225, 264
-, responsible for his actions, 122 - and thoughts , 263, 271, 309
- and spiritual refinement, 322 -, the spin of religion, 66
needs of -, 4 6 mind in -, 225, 227, 229, 241-2
regard f or the heart of -, 24 perfection in -, 299-30 1
relation between God and -, 341 perf amance of -, 255, 257
spiritual -, 31 7 posture in -, 223, 233, 287
trees' attraction for -, 156 prayer and -, 28 7
the working of -'s spirit, 32 prep ar ing f or -, 254, 255, 257
manifestation, purpose of -, 285, 316
the key to-, 155 questions and answers in -, 236, 263
origin of -, 155 results of -, 267-8, 293-4, 302, 307, 309-10
the process of -, 155 rhythm in -, 223, 227, 229, 231, 233, 261
samadii in -, 284, 29 9
mart ram,
silent -, 307
power of -, 44
5uf i -, 22 3
mastery, what is -, 223, 287, 303, 317, 319, 321
- to be gained f rom within, 32 will power for -, 227
material, Message,
- and spiritual outlook of man, 154-5 application of the - in everyday life, 45
- and spiritual point of view, 1%-7 carrying out the -, 2 1
materialist, expectancy of the -, 20
- and mystic, 35-6 how the - is received, 20
mathematics, the - comirg in the same way, 14
-, a source of science of music, 101 the - given in the West, 44
the - of the prophets, 126
Mathnawi,
the Sufi-,24
Story in the -, 315-6
Messenger(s),
matter,
- and spirit, 149 the great support of all the -, 70
mind,
maya,
control of the -, 66, 312
-, the illusive nature of life, 33 6
joining - and heart, 31 1
Mecca, - also in animals, plants, etc ., 36
- and Kaaba, 55 the - of an inspired soul, 11 1
medicine(s ) , - in meditation, 223,225,227-9,241-2,263-
- and breath, 129 264,265,303- 4
two schools of -, 12B - at periods used for thought, 255
what is it in - that heals?, 127-8 - standing between man and the Spirit of
meditation, Giidance, 125- 6
artists and -, 297-8 peace of -, 272
awakening of real Self by -, 333 perfect tune of - and soul, 105
blessings in -, 294 preparing the - in seeking God, 159
concentration and -, 307-8 purif ication of -, 255
conditions for -, 223, 231, 233-4 mirror,
duration of time in -, 256 the - in Persian mysticism, 337
greatest obstacle in -, 267 Moinuddin Chishti,
highest -, 31 1 -, and his teacher testing him, 328-9
inner light in -, 302
monkeys ,
knowledge and thought in -, 309
leader of -, 123
- can care every ill, 305
45 4

Moses, - and one's training for harmony, 15 0

-, bearer of the lancer, 48 the - of the universe and what we call -, 193
-'s full vigor, 231- 2 the object of Indian -,104
-'s Message, 126 origin of science of -, 100- 2
- tested by his guide, 329-30 the power of - and spiritual evolution, 118,
mother , 120
the - gives fist initiation, 326 psychic influence of -, 117-21
right use of - f or healing, 129- 30
movements , spiritual attainment by -, 148-52
what is called - by the scientist, 171 studying the - of our life, 128
Muhammad, the Raphet, three aspects of -, 129, 13 1
an Arab's vision of - on the value of his sigh the tone of a -, 12 9
and of prayer, 20 0 the way - is taught, 104
-, bearer of the lantern, 48 why - attracts us, 194-5
-, the pen of God, 298 musician(s) ,
- said 'every soul has his own religion', 198 - not restricted to a programme, 120
obsaiity of heart of a man liv ing next to -, - restricted to uniformity, 119
328 story of the - playing for God and his pupil
Rabia's vision of -, 331 playing f or the king, 11 8
Suf is recognizing 70
muslims,
mukti, coexistence of Hindus and -, 70
-, the real izati n of the soul's freedom, 120
mystic,
mureed,
- and materialist, 35-6
murshid and -, 249-50, 253, 255, 259
mysticism,
the purpose f a the -, 233, 245, 259
three thugs necessary for a - under his Mur- f ul f ilment of all religion, philosophy and -,
147
shiid's guidance, 44- 5
- and knowledge, 152
murshid, - of Suf ism and Vedanta, 5 7
the - like a dynamo, 249-50 value of all religion, philosophy and -, 146
- and nxreed, 249-50, 255, 259, 261, 293 what is -, 128, 170
the -, a positive power, 249
Mysticism of Sound,
prescriptions given by the -, 233
the presence of the -, 253, 257, 259 lesson taught in -, 257
what is the-,25 3
music,
atonement with God manifested as the - of
najat,
the spheres, 197
conditions in giving -, 119-20 - and niwana, 57
theoffectof -,121 nature,
healing power of -, 127-32 -'s longing, 15 7
highest ideal of -, 120 nayaz,
Hindu (Indian) -, 100- 5 the energy in -, 227
India's search for truth through -, 100 nirwana,
the law of -, 19 3
attainment of - dif f icult for man, 311
- affecting the heart, 307-8 God enjoying -, 31 1
- as anaesthetic, 306 - and najat, 57
-, a bridge between form and f omdes s, 152 -, the realization of the soul ' s freedom, 120
- commercialized, 120 - and the true reality of life, 30 1
- not commercialized, 109 true -, 303-4
-, expression of wisdom and poetry, 109
non-attachment,
- and the harmony of the universe, 149-50
-, the fourth valley in Mantiq - ut-tair, 210
-asahelp f or lif e in the world, 104- 5
-, a help to concentrate or meditate, 152 nufs ( see also ego) ,
- and meditation, 267 greatest obstacle in meditatio n is -, 267
- in nature and in art, 194-5 means to gush the -, 227
- reveals everything, 195-6 - and rirwana, 304
- is rhythm and tone, 128 nuri Muha nwd, 315
- f a the soul, 102- 3
the - of the spheres, 193-197, 321
 45 5

oneness, planet (s) ,

- of God, 199, 204-5 - and ragas, 102
- of life, 36,41-2 plants,
optimism, - responding to human beings, 37
- and pessimism, 79 ' and trees' attraction for man, 156
outlook, poet(s) ,
man's - on life, 181 Hindustani -, 206-7
Persian -, 206-7
- and prophet, 108-116
the work of the - and of the prophet, 115
pain, poetry,
- and disease , 231, 303, 319 India's search for truth thragh -, 100
- and the rush of blood, 305 inspiration in -, 109
- and thought, 303 - expressed none's life, 112
- in the form of manner, 112
patriotism,
family - and national -, 180 the - ofHafiz, 11 3
-, the music of ideas, 109
Paul, Saint , - in ordinary language, 110
- and the Book, 51 - and prophecy, 108, 114
peace, the - of Rumi, 11 3
how - is obtained, 232, 320 bu h expressed in -, 112
- through meditation, 307,32D writing -, 110-11
- through realization, 212 posture(s) ,
perfection, - in meditation, 223, 233, 287
how to go toward -, 34 1 - in order to attain control, 65-6
- in meditation, 299-300,301-2 power(s) ,
realization of -, 40 limited - and unlimited -, 340
Persian language, 187 the - of man's spirit, 32
personality (ies) , - reflected by the guide, 253
the charm of the Sufi's -, 144 - of silence, 59-68
- of the bearers of the light, 50 seeking for - in the wrong direction, 30
the - of God, 147,204- 5 practice(s),
- and individuality, 66 purpose of all -, 285
preparing our - in seeking for God, 159
prana,
ref ined - of the Masters, 164
of luence of -, 118
ref ant of -, 164 - attracting the elements,128
thcrn- We influence of -, 164
- is breath manifested outwardly, 117
pessimism, -, life in its physical form, 12 8
- and optimism, 79 - in singing, 131
phenomena, prayer(s) ,
investigating 134 - for the dead, 31 3
seeking after -, 67 - durood, 236, 255, 267, 271, 283
philosophy, -khatm,31 3
fulfilment of all religion, - and mysticism, - namaz, 57
147 - nayaz, 227
India's search for truth through -,100 presence,
the value of all rel igion, - and mysticism, 146 divine -, 306, 309, 314
physician, principles,
a -'s use of intuition and of his musical qual- use of -, 6
ities, 128 problems,
pitch, giving up one's -, 266
a consonant -, 243 meditation for -, 263, 265, 293
the - in meditation, 26 1 - of today, 175-8 4
raising the -, 225, 237, 255, 257 receiving guidance in -, 259-60, 263, 265
per, progress ,
i nn er - and outer -, 155 material - and happiness, 3 3
mechanical - and - of the individual, 1 19, 121
456

partial -, 175- 6 reason,

- in the spiritual path, 9-10 outside - and inside -, 3 9
prophet(s) , - causing illusion in man, 39
meaning of the word -, 108 reform,
poet and -, 108-11 6 of farts towards -, 70
the - and the Ward of God, 17-9
reincarnation,
what did the - tell man, 1 8
parody of certain aspects of -, 367-374
work of the poet and of the -, 115
religion(s) ,
psychoanalysis ,
abuse of -,1 2
old way of -, 131
the coming world -, 11-24, 198-205
pupilship, every sad his own -, 198
- on the spiritual path, 151 five aspects of -, 199-205
purification, the fulfilment of all -, philosophy and mysti-
- of body, mind and heart by meditation, 305 cism, 147
the - breath, 285 lack of -, 4 1
- of breath, 283, 304 the motive of - and of the authorities of -, 70
- of mind, 255 one -, one God, 199
purpose, real -, 1 2
knowing our -, 166- 8 the - far today, 22
- of bringing lantern with light, 49 - is the farm, meditation is the spirit, 66
- of every soul is striking his note, 16 6 - and the light of truth, 88
- in I i f a to be f and through man's paws of - and the rain, 14
feeling, 11 4 - and right living, 88
- of life, 165- 6 - and truth, 11- 2
puzzle, sprit and form of -, 11- 4
Suf ism and the dif fereru -, 53-8
man, pref erring - to truth, 191
Suf ism, the essence of all -, 69
two dons of the - of life, 12 5
he sense of the ward -, 198-9
truth in every -,50
value of all -, philosophy and mysticism, 146
wisdom, the essence of -, 6 9
questions,
renunciation,
and answers in meditation, 236, 259-60,
what to renounce in l i f e, 146
263,265-6
taking one's - to God, 293 repose,
- and activity, 197
Qur'an,
creation of the world in -, 75 revelation ,
man, khalif of God in -, 309 all - is in the heart of man, 146
manifestation and sound in -, 171 how to rise to -, 138-9
Muhammad, the Prophet, about -, 298 rhythm,
ninety- nine Names of God in -, 223 creation of - f or our cure, 128
sprit returning to God in -, 322 irregularity of -, 305-6
proportions of - and tone, 128
- of breath in meditation, 223-4, 227, 229,
231,233,26 1
Rabia (of Basra) , -, the secret of music, 12 9
-'s vision of the Prophet tvtharmiad, 331 tone and - of color and sound, 170
tone and - of oar being, 17 0
ragas , (see al so scales) ,
- in Udian music, 101-2 right,
Rama, - and wrong, 122
- bearer of the lartem, 48 Rumi,
life and message of -, 141-7
realization ,
poetryof -, 11 3
an aspect of spiritual development, 252
of inner life, 3 3
of the scriptures, 22
-, the seventh valley in Mantiq-ut-tair, 212
- of truth, (2 items), 147,340 sacrament,
of unity, 340 - of Vow and bread, 51
 45 7

sacrifice, self-expression,
- and love, 376, 378- 9 the stage of -, 333
safa, self-knowledge,
-, a process to ref ine breath, 223, 317 how to attain -, 337-8
sageliness , - and divine knowledge, 337
sign of -,6 -, the purpose of belief in God, 106
what is -, 17
saint(s) ,
conminion of -, 31 3 self-realization,
patterning our outer and anger life of ter a -, good and wrong leading to -, 334
317 lack of -, causing di s tress, 335
- called upon to preserve stillness, 228 the outcome of -, 337
the phase of -, 332- 3
salvat ion,
- berg the original knowledge, 337
-, the realization of the soul's freedom, 120
- and God - realization, 33 4
sama& , - and illusive life, 336
-, realization of God, 299 -, the nature of God, 335
what is called - by Hindus, 319 true -, 336
Sanskrit , what is -, 334-41
- language, 10 0 self-surrender,
- words not only names but also nature and - in spiritual unfol dment, 251
character, 12 5
senses,
Sarasvati, goddess of music and literature, 108-9 -, closing and disclosing, 64
saute sarmad, sensitiveness,
attunement with -, 257 - and will power, 82-3
saviour, Shams Tabriz,
man, to make his -, 330 -'s explanation of Light, 55
scales, Shiva,
- of five and seven notes, 172 -, bearer of the lantern, 4 8
science, sifat,
medical - as the philosophy of the soul, 107 - united to zat, 322
- and intuition, 100- 1
silence,
- and mysticism, 170
comma cation of wisdom through-, 251,
scientist(s) , 255,257
discoveries of -, 15-6 entering -, 311
Scripture(s) , practice of -, 65-6
how the - are made, 17-9 real - and breath, 283
interpretation of the -, 22 - of all-life, 287
realisation of the -, 22 - before meditation, 244, 247
the -, an aspect of religion, 201-2 -, a blessing and healing, 259
search, - in brotherhood meetings, 27 1
man's -, 207-8 - containing begi nn ing and end, 302
- giving energy, 227, 23 1
seed,
the - and the f lower, 107 - for long periods, 268
to a mystic, 59
self, - for obtaining peace, 232
an artist, realizing -, 33 4 - practised by Christian morns, Brahmans,
ending confusion caused by -, 309 Muslim saints, 65-6
everybody is realizing the -, 334 - and prayer, 287
ignorance of the -, 336 - and stillness, 59
knowing the -, 160 - for th e undeveloped, 24 4
study of -, 74, 174 - in Universal Worship, 244, 249,271
unity of real -, 309 - for Western people, 66
self-c ontrol, simplicity,
- by power of silence, 64 - and complexity, 15, 153
self-effacement , - of the living words, 15
-; an aspect of spiritual development, 252 truth and-,173
-, the way to pupil ship, 151
45 8

simurgh, -- and worldly life, 345-374

tales of the - in Mantiq-ut-fair, 316 a teacher on the --, 326-7
sin, spirituality,
- exists because of the Spirit of Guidance, attaining -, 149-50, 152
122 longing far -, 18 1
sky, stories,
the process of mastery of the - in the Seven the Arab's sigh worth more than prayer, 200
Valleys of Martiq-ut-tair, 207 faith in a false teacher, 327
-, a capacity, 207,210 gil passing where a man was praying, 184
-, our own being, 21 0 great musician playing before God and pupil
sleep, playing before the king, 118-9
- and meditation, 225, 30 6 healer giving magnetized sweets to talkative
woman, 62- 3
Solomon, Hindu poet at Brahmans' f east, 109-1 0
-, bearer of the lantern, 48 Moir aldin Chishti and the test of his teacher,
- and Haf iz, 187 328- 9
-'s sayi g 'nothing new under the sun', 154 Moses and his guide, 329-30
-'s wisdom, 126 obscurity in heart of man Iiveg next door to
songs, Raphet t 41iammad, 327- 8
- of India, 103 Panjabi Sufi as a child only learning the alif,
soul, 338
craving of the -, 102 the physician and the sceptical patient, 129
dancing -, 11 2 Rabia's vision of the Prophet Muhammad,
music for the -, 102- 3 331-2
perfect tune of mid and -, 104- 5 the young lion, thing he was a sheep, 336-
a stage of the -'s development, 345-79 337
what is-,31 5 success,
sound, - belongs to truth, 126
effect of -, 170 suffering,
fist was -, 17 1 change and -, 303
the five elements represented by -, 172 moments of -, 47
language of -, 169 Suf is,
the source of -, 117 brotherhood of -, 271, 313
vibration, the of f ect of -, 171 charm of the -'s personality, 144
what is -?, 17 1 the - and his Beloved, 187
spirit, - and their explanation of truth, 187
bringing - back to -, 321-2 the -, lover of beauty, 298
the power of -, 32 1 - methods in meditation, 223, 302
- and matter, 149 - poets and meditation, 297
the working of the - of man, 32 - trying to attain spiritual independence here
Spirit of Guidance, and now, 309
listening to -, 123- 4 - wisdom with Hirdus and Muslims, 70
-, all (ram the same source, 124 - with Jesus and kkilarmiad, 70
- called the lighted lantern, 47-50, 52 - and Yogi, 57
-, God's own Light, 50 the true work of the -, 301
- in the heart, 251 dhe work of the -, 42, 52
- in nature, 12 3 yoga and the - system, 309
what is the -?, 46-52, 122-6,257-8 Sufi Message,
spiritual , -, the answering to the world's cry, 58
- evolution, in the midst of life, 165 - brings reco gnition of the divine in man's
- and material outlook of man, 154-5 soul, 88
- and material point of view, 196-7 -, the service it has to render, 24
spiritual path, -, a warning to unite, 89
what is the -?, 72
difficulty in the --, 151
entering the --, 325-6 Sufi Movement ,
on the - - to keep tuned to the necessary pitch, the cenfral theme of the -, 68
7-8 method of the -, 34
preparation on the --, 43 the teaching of the -, 71
 45 9
three aspects of waft in the -, 71-2 test(s),
the work of the -, 67-8 - given by teacher to pupil, 328-30
Sufi Order , thought(s) ,
initiation in the -, 71-2 battle against -, 225, 227, 235, 251, 255, 257
Sufi poets , control of -, 304
recognized as -, 162 meditation and -, 263, 271 , 285, 309
Suf ism, mid used for - at periods, 255
purpose of instruction in 272 Pan and-,303
yoga arid -, 144 - and action, 32 1
-, a balanced life, 232 - drawing blood to brain, 305
- and Islam, 21 5 - and self, 309
-, means of unity, 34 tone,
- and the message of Rumi, 141 - raising a soul, 130
-, name for wisdom, 69 - and rhythm of colour and sound, 170
-, the path of blame and satis f action, 290 - and rhythm of air being, 170
- and other religions, 53-6, 21 5 trees,
- says to fdlow the conditions of God, 316 -' and plants' attraction for man, 156
- in the time of Abraham, 70 trinity,
true -, 242 -, three aspects of God, 20 4
what - will bring back to humanity, 40
truth,
suggestion,
attaining -, 159
value of -, 305 belief arid -, 19
superstition, knowing -, 17
what is called -, 136 looking for -, 153
symphony, loving 139
the universe, one -, 166,168 man is -, 16- 7
man pref erringa puzzle to -, 191
realization of -, 122, 339
re-awakening of spiritual -, 68
talking, religions and -, 1 1
excessive -, 59-63 simple -, 192
- to people of different terrperaments, 63-4 success belongs to -, 126
- in every religion, 50
tambura,
- and falsehood, 327
tuning of the -, 103
- given in the farm of poetry, 11 2
teacher, - given by the presence of the bearers of the
consulting the -, 185 lantern, 52
how the nxreed should look on the - for - is God, 126
help, 193 - and religious belief, 339
the ideal -, 202 - and the Scriptures, 1 8
mission of - in this wcrld, 330 - and simplicity, 15- 6
presence of the -, 228 ultimate - and ultimate justice, 192
real and f al se -, 327 unveiling the covered -, 159
real - in man's heart, 327
-, an aspect of religion, 202, 251, 253, 255
- and pupil, 327
a - on the spiritual path, 326
understanding,
thinking of the -, a hindrance, 259 - between man and wife, 34
the tue -, 253 - of one another, 183
the vibrations of the -, 259, 261
unity,
teadung,
cosmic -, 318
the best way of -, 115
li fe of -,307
temperament(s), realization of -, 34 0
talking to people of different -, 63-4 state of - : wahdat, 316, 321
temple, step towards - : haryat, 316
body, mind, personality, to be the - of God, teaching of - in religion, 338-9
158- 9 - of our being, 31 0
- of Kali, test f or Moinuddn Chishti, 328-9 - in brotherhood, 313
460

- of cosmos, 322 water ,

- and duality, 152, 318 walking of Christ on the -, 144
- of the self, 309
wazifa(s ) ,
- and silent life, 321-2
caYid of breath and mid by -, 312
- and spirituality, 152
pose and use of -, 273
Universal Worship, repetition of -, 27 1
atMxment in -, 253 - and f irst stages of meditation, 27 1
blessing in -, 249 -, a fans of instruction, 27 3
silence in -, 224, 249, 271 - used as durood, 27 1
universe, West ,
- in man, 106-7 active lif a in the -, 66
-, one syrn}ny, 149-50
will power ,
unlearning, - for meditation; 227
- and learning, 151-2 - and sensitiveness, 82- 3
unselfishness, wine,
what gives man -?, 183 saaament of - and bread, 5 1
wisdom,
balance between power and -, 83- 4
the perfect - of God, 26
vanity, - and beauty, 297
-, a form of self-realization, 335 - corrimunicated through silence, 25 1
Vedas, -, the essence of religion, 53 note 4
mysticism of the -, 128-30 - expressing itself in beauty, 109
the science of elements in the -, 102 - to help oneself and others, 264
teaching of the -, 338-9 - and intellect, 69
Vedanta, - and lack of courage, 85- 6
manifestation of sound in -, 171 - in life's battle, 80-1, 83- 4
mysticism in -, 57 wonders ,
Suf ism in -, 53 trust in -, 134
- and Suf ism, 57 - asked by people, 51- 2
Wisdom known as -,69 words ,
vibration (s), the living -, 12 6
establishing fine -, 227-8, 229-30 the lost -, 35-4 2
the law of -, 128 magnetism of -, 60
meaning of -, 16 the power of a -, given as an exercise, 4 4
science of cosmic -, 102 speaking useless -, 59-62,6 3
- to be created in the body, 127-8 the - coming from man's soul, 6 4
- of f eeling in the heart, 43 the - of God, 17
-, an inside organ of the ear, 43 the - of man, 178
- is movement, 171 the - that was lost, 35-4 2
the - of the teacher, 259, 261 world,
Vino, difference between the - and God, 146
- players in India, 118 world-awakening ,
vision (s), - and childish fancies, 340
differentkinds of -,138 worship,
-, a way of revelation, 137-8 forms of -,an aspect of religion, 199-200
voice, - necessary for man, 201
-, its psychological power, 117-8 wrong,
what must be behind the -?, 131 - and good leading to self -realization, 334

war(s), Yoga(s),
end of the - but strife continued, 176 ghakti -, 309
famines a f ter the -, 176 different -, 191
loss of fives in World - I, 175-6 )wu -, 309
- and religions, 12 Kama -, 309
 46 1
- and Suf ism, 144
Yogi(s), 173
-andSufi,57
- and Suf ism, 14 4

zat,
sif at united to -, 322
zikr,
before doing zikr, 4 4
the of f ect of zikr chant, 254
- and meditation, 26 7
- to restore the atmosphere, 252
-, to turn the heart into the ear, 43
Zoroaster,
in -'s time, taking lantern for light, 48
souls enlightened by -, 49
Zoroastrianism,
- and Suf ism, 53