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 14 to 18AwakeningDiscipleshipFana-fi-ShaikhFarid-ud-din-AttarFive DesiresFive StepsFour Personalities of GodFour stages of God ConsciousnessFour Types of PeopleFour Ways People EvolveGrades of EvolutionInner LifeOuter Signs of ProgressParamatmaPath of InitiationSigns of spiritualitySpiritual AttainmentSteps 4-10Steps in the Spiritual JourneyThe art of personalityThe Last 7 StepsThe ProphetThree StagesWakening to the Message |
THE SUPPLEMENTARY PAPERSPSYCHOLOGY 3The Art of PersonalityLearning the Art of PersonalityAnd now one might ask: how does one learn the art of personality? In the same way as one learns the art of painting or drawing. In the first place one learns how to draw a straight line, a horizontal line, a circle, a curve. And in learning the art of personality it is the same. How to say a thing, and how not to say a thing, and how to avoid to say a thing, and how to say a thing without saying it. Then one learns the art of light and shade which is the next thing. And that light and shade is how to hide a certain part in conversation and to make the other part brought to prominence. And then there is coloring. There is a great variety of colors. Every feeling, every thought, every idea has its particular color. And when a person knows how many of these colors there are and when he composes with them all he says and does in life, then it becomes an art of personality. It is nothing if a person has collected diamonds, or if he has got pearls or if he has got rubies. What is it if he has not developed in his personality that precious quality which makes a person precious. What is it? All those things are nothing. There are four grades through which one develops in the art of personality.
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