The Teaching of Hazrat Inayat Khan1
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Topic ArchetypesAstrologyAttainmentChakrasCharacterChristCompassionDervishDesire and renunciationDestiny and Free WillDimensionsDiscipleshipDreamsDuties and debtsEgoElementsGodGuidanceHealersHealingHealthHeartImmortalityInitiationLight and LoveLoversMagnetismMasteryMaterial lifeMeditationMessageMindPhysical BodyPlanesPoetsPowerPrayersPurposeReconstruction of WorldRelationshipsReligionsSaintsSchoolScientistsSexualitySleepSpeakingStagesStoriesSufismTeaching StyleVoiceWomenWorldWounds of the Heart | Sub-Topic AlchemyAttitude of a DiscipleChildren SchoolConfidenceDiscipleshipFinding a GuideFive NecessitiesIdeals and AimsInitiationInner SchoolKinds of DisciplesResistance of PupilsScience of BreathSufi TrainingSymbol of the Sufi OrderTen Sufi ThoughtsThe fire I have lightedThe MurshidTwo DutiesWay of WorkingYoga and Sufism |
Vol. 5, Pearls from the Ocean UnseenThe MurshidThe Murshid is one who is passive to the word of God from within, who is illuminated, and who holds communion with God. There are two kinds of murshid.
The system is only the outer garment, the coat as it were. Many people claim to know all about Sufism from simply reading about it in books, but what such people know is in reality only the system, the outer garment, not the inner truth.
Let people call it what they will; Sufism being the essence of all religion, it matters little what faith people profess, provided they understand rightly. In the East there are many such schools. There is a great spiritual advantage in being initiated into one of them, as the initiate has the help, not only of his murshid, but of all the former murshids who have passed over to the other side. He is, in fact, as a link in a chain. The murshid is like a gardener who knows all the flowers, plants, and fruits in his garden, and carefully tends them. In like manner the murshid tends all those who have entrusted themselves to his guidance. The murshid is also like a physician. He prescribes to each mureed medicine suited to his needs. The same medicine could not be given to all. A true murshid is looked upon as a bridge to unite his mureeds with their Lord. He is, as it were, the gatekeeper of the king's palace, and he can guide only to the inner door which leads to the presence chamber. The murshid is far greater than an earthly sovereign, for by his glance or his word he can change the life of another who comes to him in faith, for his kingdom is the Kingdom of Heaven, which has its domain over all the kingdoms of the earth. Hafiz says, "Do not mistake the ragged sleeves of the dervish, for under those sleeves that are full of patches, most powerful arms are hid." The murshid desires all earthly as well as heavenly blessings for his mureeds; but he can do but little where there is no response and faith. The murshid sets far greater stress on the life of his mureed than on the punctuality of his meditation. He teaches that it is of far greater importance to cultivate in one's life attributes such as kindness, gentleness, and love. It is when the mureed fails in this that the murshid is unable to inspire him, for the mureed is standing in his own light. A story is told of a mureed who had been under the guidance of a murshid for some years, and had not yet attained his goal. He had seen many come and depart inspired. In the end he went to the murshid, and asked why this was so. The murshid said in answer, "My son, the fault is not with me, but in thyself." A mad dog was passing at the time, and the murshid glanced at it, and the dog was cured instantly of its madness. He then pointed out that it was not lack of power on the part of the murshid, but lack of response on the part of the mureed. About this, Hafiz says, "The dark-fated ones cannot be guided even by the illuminated ones." |