Sympathy

Forum March

The Human Heart - Shrine of God - 1

from: Hazrat Inayat Khan:

'In an Eastern Rosegarden'

(see also Counsellor)

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How beautiful are the words of the Prophet: 'The shrine of God is the heart of a human being'. How true that is! Is God to be found in a mosque, or temple, or church, or in any place where people sing hymns and offer their prayers? Can He be found where there is no love? He is not to be found in the houses that human beings have built for worship.

These are only schools for children, and their playgrounds. Children like playing with toys, and yet they are preparing themselves for something else. When we have come to know the real beauty of God, we will find that it dwells only in one place: in the heart of a human being. God is love, and He is found in the heart of us human beings.

He who understands this can worship God even in a human being, for when he abides by this philosophy he will always be aware that in every aspect and at every moment he may be injuring or hurting the feelings of God, that he is in danger of breaking the shrine of God in breaking the heart of his fellow-being.

It might be thought that the philosophers and mystics and sages, who are so near and close to God, might take too much liberty with the world. But they are, on the contrary, the most tender and sensitive towards mankind. They are ready to share anyone's trouble, to share anyone's sorrow, to share everyone's depression and despair. They are ready to console any and every person with their words, to help with their service, and to give their sympathy always to those who need it. They shrink at no sacrifice of time, money, pleasure, or comfort.

As Christ teaches, 'Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him two miles'.

What does all this teach us? It is all a lesson in sympathy for our fellow human being, to teach us to share in his troubles, in his despair. For whoever really experiences this joy of life, finds that it becomes so great that it fills his heart and his soul. It does not matter if he has fewer comforts or an inferior position than many in this world, because the light of his kindness, of his sympathy, of the love that is growing, the virtue that is springing up in his heart, all fill the soul with light. There is nothing now that he lacks in life, for he has become the king of it.

Such a person becomes a healer, a real healer. He heals a person with his glance, with a kind word, with his hand, by his comfort, by his nature. What a healing that is!

Unpretentious, unassuming; the real healing is when a human being is in sympathy with another's trouble and gives him a helping hand. He is the possessor of the true wine. He who can send from his eye the glance that proves the sympathy and help he is anxious to give, what a healing power he has! Is it not like a young bird being taken in beneath the brooding wings?

There cannot be a more beautiful process of healing than this among all the different methods by which people have endeavored to heal.


My heart patiently awaiteth Thy Word,

deaf to all that cometh from without.

O Thou, who art enshrined in my heart,

speak again to me;  Thy voice exalteth my spirit.

 

Gayan - Ragas


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