~~~ In man's search for truth, the first lesson and the last is love.
Posted by Kathleen McGinty on November 3, 2010 at 10:01am
Bowl of Saki, November 3, by Hazrat Inayat
Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
When we look at this
subject from a mystic's point of view, we see that love has two aspects. Love in
itself, and the shadow of love fallen on the earth. The former is heavenly the
latter is earthly. The former develops self-abnegation in a person; the latter
makes him more selfish then he was before. Virtues such as tolerance, mercy,
forgiveness and compassion rise of themselves in the heart which is awakened to
love.
The infirmities such as jealousy, hatred and all manner of
prejudice begin to spring up when the shadow of love has fallen on the heart of
the mortal. The former love raises man to immortality, the latter turns the
immortal soul into a mortal being. A poet has said that the first step in love
teaches selflessness, if it is not experienced then one has taken a step in the
wrong direction, although one calls it love. For man has learned from the moment
he was born on earth the words 'I am'. It is love alone that teaches him to say,
'Thou art, not I'. For no soul can love and yet affirm its own
existence.
from http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/XI/XI_III_11.htm
What the
Sufi calls riyazat, a process of achievement, is nothing else than digging
constantly in that holy land which is the heart of man. Surely in the depth man
will find the water of life. However, digging is not enough. Love and devotion,
no doubt, help to bring out frequent merits hidden in the soul, as sincerity,
thankfulness, gentleness and forgiving qualities, all things which produce an
harmonious atmosphere, and all things which bring men in tune with life, the
saintly life and the outer life. All those merits come, no doubt, by kindling
the fire of love in the heart. But it is possible that in this process of
digging one may only reach mud and lose patience. So dismay, discontentment may
follow and man may withdraw himself from further pursuit.
It is patient
pursuit which will bring the water from the depth of the ground; for until one
reaches the water of life, one meets with mud in digging. It is not love, but
the pretense of love, that imposes the claim of the self. The first and last
lesson in love is, 'I am not -- Thou art' and unless man is moved to that
selflessness he does not know justice, right or truth; his self stands above or
between him and God.
from http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/VIII/VIII_2_7.htm
~~~ In man's
search for truth, the first lesson and the last is love. There must be no
separation, no "I am" and "thou art not". Until man has arrived at that selfless
consciousness, he cannot know life and truth.