Inayat Khan
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Inayat Khan, the founder of the Sufi Order in the West and a teacher of Universal Sufism, died on this day in 1927.
Inayat Khan, the founder of the Sufi Order in the West and a teacher of Universal Sufism, died on this day in 1927.
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Inayat Rehmat Khan Pathan (Urdu: حضرت عنایت رحمت خان پٹھان) (b. July 5, 1882, Baroda, Bombay Presidency, British India – d. February 5, 1927, New Delhi, British India) was the founder of the Sufi Order in the West in 1914 (London) and teacher of Universal Sufism. Khan initially came to the West as a Northern Indian classical musician, having received the honorific "Tansen" from the Nizam of Hyderabad, but he soon turned to the introduction and transmission of Sufi thought and practice. Later, in 1923, the Sufi Order of the London period was dissolved into a new organization, formed under Swiss law, called the "International Sufi Movement".
Inayat Khan's message of divine unity (tawhid) focused on the themes of love, harmony, and beauty. He taught that blind adherence to any book rendered religion devoid of spirit. Branches of Inayat Khan's movement can be found in the Netherlands, France, England, Germany, the United States, Canada, Russia, and Australia. In his various written works, such as the The Music of Life and The Mysticism of Sound and Music, Inayat Khan interlocks his passion for music with his Sufi ideologies making a compelling argument for music as the harmonious thread of the Universe.
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1
I asked for strength,
and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom,
and God gave me problems to learn to solve.
I asked for prosperity,
and God gave me a brain and brawn to work.
I asked for courage,
and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for love,
and God gave me people to help.
I asked for favors,
and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted.
I received everything I needed.
and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom,
and God gave me problems to learn to solve.
I asked for prosperity,
and God gave me a brain and brawn to work.
I asked for courage,
and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for love,
and God gave me people to help.
I asked for favors,
and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted.
I received everything I needed.
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2
Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful.
2
Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful.
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3
Sound is the force of creation, the true whole. Music then, becomes the voice of the great cosmic oneness and therefore the optimal way to reach this final state of healing.
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4
What science cannot declare, art can suggest; what art suggests silently, poetry speaks aloud; but what poetry fails to explain in words, music can express. Whoever knows the mystery of vibrations indeed knows all things.
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5
When I open my eyes to the outer world I feel myself as a drop in the sea. But when I close my eyes and look within, I see the whole universe as a bubble raised in the ocean of my heart.
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6
It is a very high stage in the path of love when man really learns to love another with a love that asks no return.
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7
Each human personality is like a piece of music, having an individual tone and a rhythm of its own.
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8
Before making peace, war is necessary, and that war must be made with our self. Our worst enemy is our self: our faults, our weaknesses, our limitations. And our mind is such a traitor! What does it? It covers our faults even from our own eyes, and points out to us the reason for all our difficulties: others! So it constantly deludes us, keeping us unaware of the real enemy, and pushes us towards those others to fight them, showing them to us as our enemies.
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9
God breaks the heart again and again and again until it stays open.
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10
To attain peace, what one has to do is to seek that rhythm which is in the depth of our being.
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11
In Sufi terms the crushing of the ego is called Nafs Kushi. And how do we crush it? We crush it by sometimes taking ourselves to task. When the self says, 'O no, I must not be treated like this,' then we say, 'What does it matter?' When the self says, 'He ought to have done this, she ought to have said that,' we say, 'What does it matter, either this way or that way? Every person is what he is; you cannot change him, but you can change yourself.' That is the crushing. ... It is only in this way that we can crush our ego.
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12
Each individual composes the music of his own life. If he injures another, he brings disharmony. When his sphere is disturbed, he is disturbed himself, and there is a discord in the melody of his life. If he can quicken the feeling of another to joy or to gratitude, by that much he adds to his own life; he becomes himself by that much more alive. Whether conscious of it or not, his thought is affected for the better by the joy or gratitude of another, and his power and vitality increase thereby, and the music of his life grows more in harmony.
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12
Each individual composes the music of his own life. If he injures another, he brings disharmony. When his sphere is disturbed, he is disturbed himself, and there is a discord in the melody of his life. If he can quicken the feeling of another to joy or to gratitude, by that much he adds to his own life; he becomes himself by that much more alive. Whether conscious of it or not, his thought is affected for the better by the joy or gratitude of another, and his power and vitality increase thereby, and the music of his life grows more in harmony.
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13
Spiritual progress is the changing of the point of view.
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14
The person who is in tune with the Universe becomes like a radio receiver, through which the voice of the Universe is transmitted.
Spiritual progress is the changing of the point of view.
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14
The person who is in tune with the Universe becomes like a radio receiver, through which the voice of the Universe is transmitted.
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15
The soul is covered by a thousand veils.
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16
Life is a symphony, and the action of every person in this life is the playing of his particular part in the music.
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17
There is nothing in the world that does not speak to us. Everything and everybody reveals its own nature, character and secrets continuously. The more open our inner senses, the more we understand the voice of everything.
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18
It is not solid wood that can become a flute, but the empty reed.
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19
There is no difference in the destination, the only difference is in the journey.
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20
He who sincerely seeks his real purpose in life is himself sought by that purpose. As he concentrates on that search a light begins to clear his confusion, call it revelation, call it inspiration, call it what you will. It is mistrust that misleads. Sincerity leads straight to the goal.
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21
I have known good and evil, sin and virtue, right and wrong; I have judged and been judged; I have passed through birth and death, Joy and sorrow, heaven and hell; And in the end I realized that I AM in everything and everything is in me.
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22
Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which gems and jewels do not possess; a word may contain so much life that it can heal the wounds of the heart. Therefore, poetry in which the soul is expressed is as living as a human being. The greatest reward that God bestows on man is eloquence and poetry. This is not an exaggeration, for it is the gift of the poet that culminates, in time, with the gift of prophecy.
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23
Failure in life does not matter; the greatest misfortune is standing still.
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24
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.
*****
25
His constant fight is with the Nafs (self-interest), the root of all disharmony and the only enemy of man. By crushing this enemy man gains mastery over himself; this wins for him mastery over the whole universe, because the wall standing between the self and the Almighty has been broken down. Gentleness, mildness, respect, humility, modesty, self-denial, conscientiousness, tolerance and forgiveness are considered by the Sufi as the attributes which produce harmony within one's own soul as well as within that of another.
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26
Instead of lamenting your fate, create your world.
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27
One is never so strong as when one is broken.
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28
The bringers of joy have always been the children of sorrow.
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29
When one looks at the ocean, they can only see that part of it which comes within their range of vision; so it is with the truth.
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30
Love is the essence of all religion, mysticism, and philosophy, and for the one who has learned this, love fulfills the purpose of religion, ethics, and philosophy, and the lover is raised above all diversities of faiths and beliefs.
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31
If you will not rise above the things of this world, they will rise above you.
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32
Love is the merchandise which all the world demands; if you store it in your heart, every soul will become your customer.
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33
In the eyes of a seer, every leaf of a tree is a page of the Holy Book and contains divine revelation.
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34
Silence is the adornment of the wise, and for the foolish the only dignity possible.
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35
My heart is tuned to the quietness that the stillness of nature inspires.
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36
Our virtues are made by love, and our sins are caused by the lack of it.
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37
Everyone has his own imagination of God. It is best if everyone is left to his own imagination.
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38
A person does not hear sound only through the ears; he hears sound through every pore of his body. It permeates the entire being.
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39
As one can see when the eyes are open, so one can understand when the heart is open.
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40
He who with sincerity seeks his real purpose in life is himself sought by that purpose.
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41
For every loss, there is a hidden gain. And for every gain, there is a hidden loss.
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42
People often ask me questions that I cannot very well answer in words, and it makes me sad to think they are unable to hear the voice of my silence.
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43
Selfishness keeps man blind through life.
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44
The greatest fault of the day is the absence of stillness.
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45
You carry all the ingredients to turn your existence into joy. Mix them, Mix them!
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46
The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels.
*****
47
The more one studies the harmony of music, and then studies human nature, how people agree and how they disagree, how there is attraction and repulsion, the more one will see that it is all music.
*****
48
Love itself is the healing power and the remedy for all pain.
*****
49
Stand through life firm as a rock in the sea, undisturbed and unmoved by its ever-rising waves.
*****
50
When one bell is rung, by the sound of that one bell other bells will also vibrate. So it is with the dancing of the soul...it produces its reaction, and that again, will make other souls dance.
*****
51
What you are speaks louder than what you say.
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52
When people came to Christ accusing a person of doing wrong, the Master could not think of anything else but forgiveness. For he did not see in the wrongdoer what the others saw. To distinguish between right and wrong is not the work of an ordinary mind, and the curious thing is that the more ignorant a person is, the more ready he is to do so.
*****
53
Everything in life is speaking in spite of it's apparent silence.
*****
54
As water in a fountain flows as one stream,
but falls in many drops divided by time and space,
so are the revelations of the one stream of truth.
*****
55
Music seems to be the bridge over the gulf between form and the formless.
*****
56
With love, even the rocks will open.
*****
57
True power is not in trying to gain power; true power is in becoming power. But how to become power? It requires an attempt to make a definite change in oneself, and that change is a kind of struggle with one's false self.
*****
58
Now if I do anything it is to tune souls instead of instruments. To harmonize people instead of notes. If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony: that one must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others.
*****
59
Love develops into harmony, and of harmony is born beauty.
*****
60
Therefore it is the law of the mystics to see all things, to experience all things, either of heaven or earth, and yet to say little; for the souls incapable of understanding the possibility of their reach will ridicule them.
*****
61
One must always say every word with consideration, and should not say what one does not wish to happen. Those who do not understand the value of suggestion walk after their own fate with a whip in their hand, and those who understand its value and control their word and use it rightly, they are a bliss to themselves and a source of happiness to others.
*****
62
I first believed without any hesitation in the existence of the soul, and then I wondered about the secret of its nature. I persevered and strove in search of the soul, and found at last that I myself was the cover over my soul!
*****
15
The soul is covered by a thousand veils.
*****
16
Life is a symphony, and the action of every person in this life is the playing of his particular part in the music.
*****
17
There is nothing in the world that does not speak to us. Everything and everybody reveals its own nature, character and secrets continuously. The more open our inner senses, the more we understand the voice of everything.
*****
18
It is not solid wood that can become a flute, but the empty reed.
*****
19
There is no difference in the destination, the only difference is in the journey.
*****
20
He who sincerely seeks his real purpose in life is himself sought by that purpose. As he concentrates on that search a light begins to clear his confusion, call it revelation, call it inspiration, call it what you will. It is mistrust that misleads. Sincerity leads straight to the goal.
*****
21
I have known good and evil, sin and virtue, right and wrong; I have judged and been judged; I have passed through birth and death, Joy and sorrow, heaven and hell; And in the end I realized that I AM in everything and everything is in me.
*****
22
Among all the valuable things of this world, the word is the most precious. For in the word one can find a light which gems and jewels do not possess; a word may contain so much life that it can heal the wounds of the heart. Therefore, poetry in which the soul is expressed is as living as a human being. The greatest reward that God bestows on man is eloquence and poetry. This is not an exaggeration, for it is the gift of the poet that culminates, in time, with the gift of prophecy.
*****
23
Failure in life does not matter; the greatest misfortune is standing still.
*****
24
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.
*****
25
His constant fight is with the Nafs (self-interest), the root of all disharmony and the only enemy of man. By crushing this enemy man gains mastery over himself; this wins for him mastery over the whole universe, because the wall standing between the self and the Almighty has been broken down. Gentleness, mildness, respect, humility, modesty, self-denial, conscientiousness, tolerance and forgiveness are considered by the Sufi as the attributes which produce harmony within one's own soul as well as within that of another.
*****
26
Instead of lamenting your fate, create your world.
*****
27
One is never so strong as when one is broken.
*****
28
The bringers of joy have always been the children of sorrow.
*****
29
When one looks at the ocean, they can only see that part of it which comes within their range of vision; so it is with the truth.
*****
30
Love is the essence of all religion, mysticism, and philosophy, and for the one who has learned this, love fulfills the purpose of religion, ethics, and philosophy, and the lover is raised above all diversities of faiths and beliefs.
*****
31
If you will not rise above the things of this world, they will rise above you.
*****
32
Love is the merchandise which all the world demands; if you store it in your heart, every soul will become your customer.
*****
33
In the eyes of a seer, every leaf of a tree is a page of the Holy Book and contains divine revelation.
*****
34
Silence is the adornment of the wise, and for the foolish the only dignity possible.
*****
35
My heart is tuned to the quietness that the stillness of nature inspires.
*****
36
Our virtues are made by love, and our sins are caused by the lack of it.
*****
37
Everyone has his own imagination of God. It is best if everyone is left to his own imagination.
*****
38
A person does not hear sound only through the ears; he hears sound through every pore of his body. It permeates the entire being.
*****
39
As one can see when the eyes are open, so one can understand when the heart is open.
*****
40
He who with sincerity seeks his real purpose in life is himself sought by that purpose.
*****
41
For every loss, there is a hidden gain. And for every gain, there is a hidden loss.
*****
42
People often ask me questions that I cannot very well answer in words, and it makes me sad to think they are unable to hear the voice of my silence.
*****
43
Selfishness keeps man blind through life.
*****
44
The greatest fault of the day is the absence of stillness.
*****
45
You carry all the ingredients to turn your existence into joy. Mix them, Mix them!
*****
46
The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels.
*****
47
The more one studies the harmony of music, and then studies human nature, how people agree and how they disagree, how there is attraction and repulsion, the more one will see that it is all music.
*****
48
Love itself is the healing power and the remedy for all pain.
*****
49
Stand through life firm as a rock in the sea, undisturbed and unmoved by its ever-rising waves.
*****
50
When one bell is rung, by the sound of that one bell other bells will also vibrate. So it is with the dancing of the soul...it produces its reaction, and that again, will make other souls dance.
*****
51
What you are speaks louder than what you say.
*****
52
When people came to Christ accusing a person of doing wrong, the Master could not think of anything else but forgiveness. For he did not see in the wrongdoer what the others saw. To distinguish between right and wrong is not the work of an ordinary mind, and the curious thing is that the more ignorant a person is, the more ready he is to do so.
*****
53
Everything in life is speaking in spite of it's apparent silence.
*****
54
As water in a fountain flows as one stream,
but falls in many drops divided by time and space,
so are the revelations of the one stream of truth.
*****
55
Music seems to be the bridge over the gulf between form and the formless.
*****
56
With love, even the rocks will open.
*****
57
True power is not in trying to gain power; true power is in becoming power. But how to become power? It requires an attempt to make a definite change in oneself, and that change is a kind of struggle with one's false self.
*****
58
Now if I do anything it is to tune souls instead of instruments. To harmonize people instead of notes. If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony: that one must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others.
*****
59
Love develops into harmony, and of harmony is born beauty.
*****
60
Therefore it is the law of the mystics to see all things, to experience all things, either of heaven or earth, and yet to say little; for the souls incapable of understanding the possibility of their reach will ridicule them.
*****
61
One must always say every word with consideration, and should not say what one does not wish to happen. Those who do not understand the value of suggestion walk after their own fate with a whip in their hand, and those who understand its value and control their word and use it rightly, they are a bliss to themselves and a source of happiness to others.
*****
62
I first believed without any hesitation in the existence of the soul, and then I wondered about the secret of its nature. I persevered and strove in search of the soul, and found at last that I myself was the cover over my soul!
*****
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