13. Brotherhood/Sisterhood (1), Part 2
Beloved Sisters and Brothers,
The great teachers of the world have given the world the simple philosophy of brother/sisterhood–to love one another. Hazrat Inayat Khan furthers this teaching, saying that there may be many types of relations in this world, “But the great relationship is friendship, which is called brotherhood [sisterhood]. Brotherhood [Sisterhood] means perfect friendship.”
“May the Message of God reach far and wide
illuminating and making the whole humanity
as one single brotherhood [sisterhood]
in the Fatherhood of God.”
-From the prayer Salat by Hazrat Inayat Khan-
With Loving Regards and Prayers for an enlightened world,
Our Workers
Social Gatheka no. 13, Part 2, Brotherhood/Sisterhood (1)
by Hazrat Inayat Khan
The different religions which exist in the world, the followers of which are perhaps millions and millions, if one studies what is the central theme of it all, it is the one and same: Brother/Sisterhood, love one another, serve one another, be sincere one to the other.
But as man is more capable of loving his friend, so he is more capable of hating his neighbour. The first tendency of brother/sisterhood, of love, brings him satisfaction and happiness to the other. The other tendency of hating his brother brings him dissatisfaction, and unhappiness to the other. Brother/Sisterhood therefore is creative of happiness, and the spirit which is contrary to it, is productive of sorrow. When we read the scriptures of the great religions in this world, be it the Bible or Kabala, or Koran, Gita, or the Buddhist scriptures, in some form or the other in the manner best suited to the people to whom the religion was given, it was the same moral, the same symphony, it was the same music which was performed before them. The great teachers of the world, were they especially engaged in giving the mystical or occult teachings to the world? Or were they engaged in discussing philosophical problems? Not at all, though they were mystics, they knew philosophy, they knew occultism. But that was not the principle thing they came to give. If ever they have done anything, or given to the world anything, it was that simple philosophy which is never new to anyone. Even a child knows, love one another, be kind, be sincere, be serviceable to one another.
And one might ask, "When it is a simple thing, and so simple that even a child knows it, what necessity is there that the great ones, the Godly souls have come and taught it?” It is most simple and yet most difficult to live, and man does not accept anything from someone who does not live it. And if he accepts it, he will not hold it for long. Therefore they came with love from above the world, and lived that simple moral, that simple philosophy of brother/sisterhood. A Mongol emperor of Hindustan who was a great poet - -in history we read his name, Ghasnavi writes, "Born in a palace, and having reigned from the first day I came to earth, I saw nothing but thousands and thousands of people bowing before me. But the day in my life when I learned the first lesson in love, my proud head bent and bowed before every slave that I saw standing before me in attendance; and those who were standing before me as servants, I then felt that I was their slave." What does it show? It shows that coldness of heart hardens one's feelings and closes one's eyes from the light which shows the path of brother/sisterhood.
There are many relations, there are many connections in this world, by blood and by law also. But the great relationship is friendship, which is called brother/sisterhood. Brother/Sisterhood means perfect friendship.
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