Petama Topic June

School of Inner Life - 3

from: Hazrat Inayat Khan:

'Social Gathekas'

(see also Forum)

You can listen to all themes here

Thereis a Persian verse of Hafiz: 'However great the teacher, with the one whose heart is closed the teacher is helpless.'

Therefore, initiation means initiation on the part of the disciple and on the part of the teacher, a step forward on the path of both.

On the path of the teacher a step forward with the disciple, that the pupil may be trusted and raised from his or her present condition; a step forward for the pupil because he opens his heart, having no barrier and nothing to hinder the teacher in whatever form it comes: in silence, in words, or in seeing more deed or action on the part of the teacher.

In ancient times the disciples of the great teachers learned by quite a different method, not an academic method or way of study.

• With open heart, perfect confidence, and trust, they watched every movement the teacher made towards friends and towards people who looked at them with contempt.

• They watched their teacher in times of trouble and pain to see how he or she stood it all.

• They saw how patient the teacher had been in arguing with those who did not understand and how wise the teacher had been to answer everyone gently in his or her own language.

• They observed the mother spirit, the father spirit, the brother spirit, the sister spirit, the child spirit, the friend spirit, the forgiving kindness, the ever tolerant nature, the respect for the aged, the compassion for all, and the thorough understanding of human nature.

The disciples learned that all disputes and books on metaphysics can never teach all the thoughts and philosophy that comes up in the heart of a person. A person may either study for a thousand years or may get to the source and see if he or she can touch the root of all wisdom and all knowledge.

In the emblem of the Sufi Order there is a heart in the center as a sign for the Sufi that from the heart the stream rises, the stream of divine knowledge and inspiration.

There is nothing in this world without purpose,

and, though the place of one in the scheme of life

may seem different from that of another,

yet in the sum total of things we and the lower creation,

together with the jinns and angels, have our purpose;

that purpose is the realization of truth, and it comes to all in the form of bliss.

Aphorisms

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