The Quality of Heart
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And the wise man (Inayat Khan) said
When the spark that is to be found in every heart, the spark that may be called the divine spark in man, is blown upon and the flame arises, the whole life becomes illuminated and man hears and sees and knows, and he understands. A Sufi poet says that every leaf of the tree becomes like a page of the sacred book, when the heart is open to read it and when the soul has opened its eyes.
No one can know anybody, however much he may profess to know, except the lover, because in the absence of love the inner eyes are blind. Only the outer eyes are open, which are merely the spectacles of the inner eyes. If the sight is not keen, of what use are the spectacles? It is for this reason that we admire all those whom we love, and are blind to the good qualities of those whom we do not love. It is not always that these deserve our neglect, but our eyes, without love, cannot see their goodness. Those whom we love may have bad points too, but as love sees beauty, so we see that alone in them. Intelligence itself in its next step towards manifestation is love. When the light of love has been lit, the heart becomes transparent, so that the intelligence of the soul can see through it. But until the heart is kindled by the flame of love, the intelligence, which is constantly yearning to experience life on the surface, is groping in the dark.
Everything becomes spiritual once this door of the chamber of the heart is open. If a man is a musician, then his music is celestial. If he is a poet, then his poetry is spiritual. If he is an artist, then his art is a spiritual work. Whatever he may do in life that divine spirit manifests. He need not be a religious person, he need not be a philosopher, he need not be a mystic. It is simply that what was hidden in him and thereby was keeping his life incomplete begins to manifest to view, and that makes his life perfect.
There is only one thing in the world that shows the sign of heaven, that gives the proof of God, and that is pure, unselfish love. For, all the noble qualities which are hidden in the soul will spring forth and blossom when love helps them and nurtures them. Man may have a great deal of good in him and he may be very intelligent; but as long as his heart is closed, he cannot show that nobleness, that goodness which is hidden in his heart. The psychology of the heart is such that once one begins to know it, one realizes that life is a continual phenomenon. Then every moment of life becomes a miracle. A searchlight is thrown upon human nature and all things become so clear that one does not ask for any greater phenomenon or miracle; it is a miracle in and of itself. What one calls telepathy, thought reading, or clairvoyance, and all such things, come by themselves when the heart is open...What keeps man from developing the heart quality? His exacting attitude. He wants to make a business of love. He says, 'If you will love me, I will love you.' As soon as a man measures and weighs his favors and his services and all that he does for one whom he loves, he ceases to know what love is. Love sees the beloved and nothing else.
peace,
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Peace alpha97 and all. Beautiful post. ! D idea
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Peace elke. Yes,thats a very true point you have there.
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Salaam all,
Perhaps what is meant by the saying above is that we will see that the person has some bad points, but because of our pure love we accept them as being good points instead. Or the bad points in fact make that person more "lovely"
Perhaps... D
=adley=
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Peace adley. Maybe the word bad is a little harsh..how about points that are a little annoying,but we still can tolerate? On a serious note,we shouldnt constantly overlook truely bad behaviour from anyone,even our closest loved ones. It doesnt always do them,others,or ourself any favours.We have to stand up for justice and truth,...favouritism and different rules/allowances for loved/close people can be dangerous.
Peace all. -
Salaam Enquirer,
Well, I used "bad points" because the wise man used it D
But you have brought up something interesting. According to the wise man (TWM), we will not look at the bad points but just the good ones. Also, you are right about overlooking truely bad points (I mean behaviour D) that is not doing anyone any favors. Thus, is TWM a bit overlooking things here (just like my post above)? I mean about only looking at the good points part, if by saying this he does not mean accepting the bad points but still love the person (as sis Elke pointed out).
=adley=
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Peace brother Adley. Sister elkes point is very relevant .Love should be tolerant and unconditional,but not blind,ignorant or indifferent to wrongdoing.
You know even wise men(like twm.) are fallible and overlook certain things. D Maybe alpha97 can clarify what twm(the wise man.) meant?
Peace all. -
Peace Elke, Adley, Taj, Enquirer, All
Couple of different reactions from my side
1- It is Divine to believe that only God is perfect and nobody els. So also every Wise man can have his shortages either in his idea,s or his explanation.
2- It is beautiful to stay aware and be intelligent. There is no need to accept 100% of an idea.
The message of Inayat khan here as I understand is See goodness, be goodness, create gooness. Once the lights are lit, darkness vanishes per definition. Set your mind set on goodness and tolerance. If you have to defend justice, do not let hatred come into your HEART or envy or selfishness.
Our HEART is the place wherein GOD placed from his Spirit. It is HOLY. That is why the ANGELS had to prostrate before man.
If the crystal of heart is polished, HIS light will shine through.peace,
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Peace,
The Wise man said
Love is like the fire; its glow is devotion, its flame is wisdom, its smoke is attachment, and its ashes detachment. Flame rises from glow, so it is with wisdom, which rises from devotion. When love's fire produces its flame it illuminates the devotee's path in life like a torch, and all darkness vanishes.peace
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peace all,
The Wise said
You can know much about love. You can go and look in the libraries, you can look in the Encyclopedia Britannica, and you will know much about love. But it will be ABOUT love ? it will not be love. To know love, you will have to fall in love; there is no other way, there is no shortcut.peace,
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God loves those who do kindness. (2-195)
If you are loved by GOD, your fear will become AWE and there remains only love.
LOVE will become the source of your Compassion, justice, creativity and all.
You will illuminate and your LOVE for HIM and all that he created will gorw by the day to MANIFEST HIS PLAN OF MANIFESTATION.Peace,
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peace all,
from another wise man
When love beckon to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings unfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God?s sacred feast.And these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge becomes a fragment of life?s heart.
But if you fear you would seek only love?s peace and love?s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love?s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, ?God is in my heart,? but rather, ?I am in the heart of God.?
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires,
Let these be your desires
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love?s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide and gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.peace.
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peace adley,
you wrote
Good job everyone! Keep the wisdom coming!
You were born together, and together you shall be for evermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness.
And let the winds of heaven dance between you.Love one another, but not make a bond of love
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other?s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.Give your hearts, but not into each other?s keeping.
For only the hands of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other?s shadow.
)
peace.