The Teaching of Hazrat Inayat Khan

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People have often divided the world between two spirits: a small part of humanity for God, and a greater part of humanity for Satan, making the dominion of that Satan-spirit even more extensive than the dominion of God. But if one understands the meaning of the word Satan, one sees that it is this spirit of error which has been collected and gathered in man after his coming on earth, this Nafs, which acts as Satan, leading him continually astray and closing the eyes of his heart to the light of truth. As soon as a revolution comes in the life of a man, as soon as he begins to see more deeply into life, as soon as he begins to acquire goodness, not only by receiving it but by giving it, as soon as he begins to enjoy not only the sympathy of others, but the giving of sympathy to others, then comes a time when he begins to see this Satan-spirit as apart from his real original being, standing before him constantly in conflict with his natural force, freedom, and inclination; and then he sees that sometimes he can do what he desires, but at other times this spirit gets hold of him and does not allow him to do what he wishes. Sometimes he finds himself weak in this struggle, and sometimes he finds himself strong. The result is that when he finds himself strong in this battle he is thankful and satisfied; but when he finds himself weak in it he repents and is ashamed, and wishes to change himself.


 
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