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 A God of stoneA King and GarbageA Sigh for a PrayerA Wonderful TreeAbraham & IsaacAbraham's ideal of GodAfghan SoldierAladdinAlchemyAre you a thief?Ayaz 1Ayaz 2BedouinsBedouins UniteBijiliBowingBrother-in-law's WarningBullah ShahCatching the MindClimbing over the wallConserved energy of youthCounting YourselfCourt of IndraDervishesDestiny & Free WillDo you want more?Dog's JourneyDolls HouseDrunkard became a kingEating ChickenElephant LeaderElephant Leader 2Everyone is MurshidEverything is connectedEvolution of a JinnFour JudgmentsFuneralGive your raincoatGoing to CourtGolden SlippersGreat WrestlerHafiz!HalimHaris ChandraHeaven and HellI am your servantIndifferenceIraqiJewelled CapJinn EvolutionKaliKhalif OmarKilling in AngerKindness of a WarriorKing's ProcessionKissing FireKrishna and ArjunaLozengesMagic WandMagicianMagnetized SweetsMaharaja Ranjit SinghMan Who Knew My TeacherMohammad ForgivesMohammed ChehlMohammed GhauthMohammed in SolitudeMoses and KhidrMoses and the DrunkardMoses and the PeasantMoses Invites God to DinnerMuhammadMuhammed's CowsMureed Without ResponseMusic DownwardMyth of BalderNewspaper ReporterNo Outward SignNo ShoesNurse's DutyObsessionPalace of Seven StoriesParrot in Golden CagePope Gregory & ScriabinPower of a WordProstitutePupil with Many FaultsPuranPurifying a RoomQuarrel Over ToysRajput RajaReincarnationReincarnationResignationResurrectionSaint EliasSatiSayn AliyasSeeing While AsleepShah Alam's HaircutShameShams and RumiShankaracharyaShivajiSpeaking PersianSpirit entering AdamSpread Like InfluenzaSufi SarmadSurdasTake no notice.Tansen and AkbarTansen in RewaTeacher promises heavenThat is whyThe Chief of the RobbersThe Comedian of IndifferenceThe Court of IndraThe GlanceThe Greatest GamblersThe King Who PraysThe King's RingThe Maharajas sonsThe Spirit Of ProphecyThe time of my cureThe VinaThin and FatThrow the baggage overboardThrow the baggage overboardTie Your CamelToy CannonTree of DesireTruthful boyTwenty Thousand QuestionsWalking in the CityWho will save thee?Wine to Water |
Vol. 6, The Alchemy of HappinessPurity of LifeIdealThere is another story of a Rajput Raja, a man with a fine nature and high ideal, and who was also very fond of poetry. He waged war against the Mogul Emperor of Delhi, and the struggle continued for a long time. While the war was going on, other princes gave in and came to the emperor's court and did homage, but that one Raja said that as long as he lived he would never bow to the emperor. And at last, when the emperor became disheartened after a long battle, he told the warriors of his court that there would be a very large prize for the one who would bring him the head of this Raja who had caused such great trouble and expense. No one seemed to want to undertake this task except one man, a great poet at the court of the emperor. All the brave warriors laughed at him, but the poet went to the camp of the Raja, and his great talent made such an impression upon the Raja that he said, "Ask, O poet, for I really do not know what to give you; there seems to be nothing worthy of you in the treasury." "No," he said, "do not promise what will be difficult for you to keep." He replied, "My promise is a promise." The poet then said, "I feel very embarrassed at asking you, but it is your head I want. Will you keep your promise?" The Raja at once unsheathed his sword and put it in the hand of the poet and said, "It is a very small thing you have asked, it is not greater than my word." The people, his children, the ministers, were all very upset; but he was not upset at all. Then the poet said, "As you have promised me your head, why not give me your body also? Why should not this body also come with me?" The Raja agreed and left with the poet, the poet first and the Raja behind him; and thus he was brought alive to the camp of the emperor. And there was great excitement, and in order to satisfy his vanity the emperor asked the Raja to come into the court where all the nobles were gathered. After the poet had brought the Raja into the court, the emperor looked at him, at that enemy with whom he had been at war for so many years, and he said, "You have come after all, after so many years, but it does not seem that your pride is gone, for you do not think even now of bowing before me!" The Raja answered, "Who should bow, a dead person?" No doubt that iron hearted emperor did not see the beauty of that soul for he ordered that he should be beheaded. But the poet exclaimed, "No, if he is to be killed, then I must be killed first. I must be beheaded also, for I shall never find anyone who will appreciate my music as he has." So this poet died together with the Raja; and the sons of the poet, his whole family, all came and recited the most wonderful and inspiring poems which were just like the salt of the earth. Each one said one poem and died, for the merit of that Raja and the great wisdom he had shown. |