10. The Journey to the Goal, Part 5
Beloved Brothers and Sisters,
Whether we are a beginner or a seasoned traveller on a spiritual path, Hazrat Inayat Khan reminds us that struggles with one’s lower nature will arise and want to drag one down to earth. He encourages us that help through the struggles on the journey will come if we keep our aspirations toward the goal with a right attitude. May his inspired words in the prayer “Saum” guide us on the journey to the goal.
“Raise us from the denseness of the earth.
Thy Beauty do we worship.
To Thee do we give willing surrender.
Most Merciful and Compassionate God
The idealized Lord of the whole humanity
Thee only do we worship,
And toward Thee alone do we aspire.”
The prayer “Saum” may be read at http://www.sufimovement.us/prayers.htm
With Loving Regards and Prayers for an enlightened world,
Nuria, KarimaGita, Kabriya
Social Gatheka no. 10, Part 5, The Journey to the Goal
by Hazrat Inayat Khan
The beginning of each path is always difficult and uninteresting, hard for everybody. Ask the violinist, the first days when he practises the scales and he cannot even form the tones: often he has not patience enough to go on, till he can play so well that he is satisfied. The first part of the path is permanent strife, a struggle with life, but as one approaches the goal, the path gets easier: the distance seems larger, but the path is easier, the difficulties less. The journey is achieved first by realizing in oneself: what am I, am I body, mind, or what else am I? Do I originate from earth or from where else?
As soon as one has started on the journey, one's lower nature rises up, all his follies and weaknesses want to drag one down to earth and the struggle of breaking these chains requires the strength of Samson. Then comes the struggle between beauty in matter and spiritual beauty. Beauty in forms is more realistic: spiritual beauty is hidden in mist, until one comes to a stage that spiritual beauty becomes the beauty which is a shining light.
Another struggle is that when man has acquired knowledge, power, magnetism: he is conscious of having a greater power than others, of knowing more than others, of being able to do more than others. To use those faculties rightly is another struggle. He must not pride himself on those accomplishments. There is an enemy who starts with him on the journey, and never leaves him: his pride and spiritual egotism. It stays with him as long as he is on his path. Think of the temptation on having received inspiration and power, when one can think: I can do, know, understand more than you. That is a constant struggle till the end, and every moment one falls and tumbles down.
Only the steady traveller will persist in rising up every time, as without patience he may lose the path. Those who journey on this path will get help. As Christ said: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all things will be given to you." The goal is the important thing, and the right attitude of the soul towards it, and not the things you meet on the path. The inner culture of the Sufi School, which is now presented to the Western world is meant as a guidance on this path. Nobody in the world can carry a person on this path. The only thing is a little advice can be given by those who have journeyed on the path, to those who really wish to travel on it.
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