The Teaching of Hazrat Inayat Khan1

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Topic

Archetypes

Astrology

Attainment

Chakras

Character

Christ

Compassion

Dervish

Desire and renunciation

Destiny and Free Will

Dimensions

Discipleship

Dreams

Duties and debts

Ego

Elements

God

Guidance

Healers

Healing

Health

Heart

Immortality

Initiation

Light and Love

Lovers

Magnetism

Mastery

Material life

Meditation

Message

Mind

Physical Body

Planes

Poets

Power

Prayers

Purpose

Reconstruction of World

Relationships

Religions

Saints

School

Scientists

Sexuality

Sleep

Speaking

Stages

Stories

Sufism

Teaching Style

Voice

Women

World

Wounds of the Heart

Sub-Topic

A Cover Over the Soul

Care of the body

Developing will-power

Experience through the

Eyes

Eyes express

Fire Walking

Greetings

Intermarriage

Law of Heredity

Left - Right

Lips

Mind-Body Influence

Movements in Face

Physiognomy

Purpose of

Radiance of Face

Sense Organs

Sex determination

Spine

Stiffness

Vegetarian Diet

Vol. 13, Gathas

Insight

1.4, Divine Evidence

The first thing in the study of human nature is observation of the external part of man. This has two aspects, one is the head of man, the other his form. And this can be seen from two points of view, the first is the analytical point of view, the second the synthetic. The former is the understanding of the character of each organ and the meaning of its form, and the latter is the harmony of the different organs. And a person understands half if he considers one organ only and not its combination with other organs.

The study of physiognomy can help one as an interesting study, but one must have intuition also to help and guide him who wishes to judge. Nothing in life is so interesting as the study of human nature, and in attaining to knowledge of God, knowledge of human nature is the beginning. Therefore in occult study one must begin by studying human beings, and the first lesson is to study their form.

The prominence of particular organs and muscles shows the vitality which exists in these organs, and lack of it is lack of energy in these organs.

  • Therefore the straightness of any organ suggests straightness in the nature, and
  • curve, where it is natural, shows subtlety of nature,
  • a point, wherever it is natural, shows sharpness of nature,
  • roundness makes for subtlety, and
  • the oval form shows acute intelligence,
  • proportion of head and body and of each part of the head and body shows balance, and lack of it shows lack of balance.
  • Every organ represents a certain part of man's nature, that may have no connection with that organ.
  • A particular mode of standing or sitting denotes a certain nature.
  • Crookedness where there should be straightness shows lack of straightness in the nature.
  • Organs which should be symmetrical and are not show lack of balance.

In every face and form there is always some resemblance to the lower creation, and a person with keen insight can recognize it, and intuition helps us to understand it. Sometimes in face or form, sometimes in movements, we show a sign of one or other of the lower creatures, and this signifies some resemblance with the nature of that particular creature.

The more one observes from this point of view the clearer will the view become, and it shows the marvel of the Creator. It makes one tolerant and forgiving to everyone, by reason of understanding that none can act against his nature. Also he who looks at this marvel begins to see the divine evidence in every face, as a person can see the painter in his painting. And it is only natural to wish to study this part of occultism in order to recognize the divine part in the creature and worship Him.