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

Circulation of the Divine Blood

Closed and Open

Depth of Mind

Dwelling place of God

Emotions and Elements

Four Dimensions again

God is born in oneself

Heart & Mind

Heart Like Soil

Heart Like Water

Heart, Mind & Eyes

Love is will-power

Magnetism of

Opening the Breast of the Prophet

Power to open hearts

Rel. to Mind

Rel. to Soul & Body

Rel. to Third Eye

Religion of the Heart

Rumi

Sahib-e Dil

Soul & Heart

Spirit-Mind

Stretching the Heart

The Heart of God

The Throne of God

The Work of the Heart

Tuning of the Heart

Types of hearts

Voice of 9 Emotions

Vol. 2, The Mysticism of Sound

3. Harmony

Tone of the Voice

The harmony of life can be learned in the same way as the harmony of music. The ear should be trained to distinguish both tone and word, the meaning concealed within, and to know from the verbal meaning and the tone of the voice whether it is a true word or a false note; to distinguish between sarcasm and sincerity, between words spoken in jest, and those spoken in earnest; to understand the difference between true admiration and flattery; to distinguish modesty from humility, a smile from a sneer, and arrogance from pride, either directly or indirectly expressed. By so doing the ear becomes gradually trained in the same way as in music, and a person knows exactly whether his own tone and word, as well as those of another, are false or true.

Man should learn in what tone to express a certain thought or feeling as in voice cultivation. There are times when he should speak loudly, and there are times when a soft tone of voice is needed; for every word a certain note, and for every speech a certain pitch is necessary. At the same time there should be a proper use of a natural sharp or flat note, as well as a consideration of key.

  • mirth - in a lively tone
  • grief - in a pathetic tone
  • fear - in a broken voice
  • mercy - in a tender voice
  • wonder - in an exclamatory tone
  • courage - in an emphatic tone
  • frivolity - in a light tone
  • attachment - in a deep tone
  • indifference - in the voice of silence.

An untrained person confuses these.

  • He whispers the words which should be known, and
  • speaks out loudly those which should be hidden.
  • A certain subject must be spoken in a high pitch, while
  • another requires a lower pitch.

One should consider the place, the space, the number of persons present, the kind of people and their evolution, and speak in accordance with the understanding of others, as it is said: "Speak to people in their own language."

  • With a child, one must have childish talk,
  • with the young, only suitable words should be spoken,
  • with the old, one should speak in accordance with their understanding.

In the same way there should be a graduated expression of our thought, so that everybody may not be driven with the same whip. It is consideration for others which distinguishes man from the animals.