Hazrat Inayat Quotes & Sayings

Your heart is not living intil it has experienced pain ... the pain of love breaks open the heart, even if it is as hard as a rock. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

I played the vina until my heart turned into the same instrument. Then I offered this instrument to the Divine Musician, the only muscian existing. Since then I have become His flute, and when He chooses He plays His music. The people give me credit for this music which, in reality, is not due to me, but to the Musician who plays his own instrument. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

As water in a fountain flows as one stream,
but falls in many drops divided by time and space,
so are the revelations of the one stream of truth. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

And yet the most valuable things are attained with the least effort. But one does not realize their importance. One would rather have something which is attained with a great effort — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Many say that life entered the human body by the help of music, but the truth is that life itself is music. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Have you known what it is to give your meal to another and to go without yourself? It gives a happiness that no dinner eaten by yourself can give. Have you known what it is to give your coat to another and do without it yourself? It gives a joy that the satisfaction of your own wants cannot give you. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

He who once burns his mouth on the hot soup, blows even the buttermilk. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The discrimination between good and evil is in man's soul. Every man can judge that for himself, because in every man is the sense of admiration of beauty. Happiness only lies in thinking or doing that which one considers beautiful. Such an act becomes a virtue or goodness. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

We, the human beings in this world, if there is a spark of goodness or kindness in our hearts, avoid judging people. We prefer forgiving to judging. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

But why must man suffer and sacrifice for God? At the end of his suffering and sacrifice he will find that though he began to do so for God, it has proved to be for himself. It is the foolishly selfish who is selfish, and the wisely selfish proves to be selfless. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

In Sufi terms the crushing of the ego is called Nafs Kushi. And how do we crush it? We crush it by sometimes taking ourselves to task. When the self says, 'O no, I must not be treated like this,' then we say, 'What does it matter?' When the self says, 'He ought to have done this, she ought to have said that,' we say, 'What does it matter, either this way or that way? Every person is what he is; you cannot change him, but you can change yourself.' That is the crushing ... It is only in this way that we can crush our ego. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

True power is not in trying to gain power; true power is in becoming power. But how to become power? It requires an attempt to make a definite change in oneself, and that change is a kind of struggle with one's false self. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

People who have never had an ideal may hope to find one; they are in a better state than the people who allow the circumstances of life to break their ideal. To fall beneath one's ideal is to lose one's track in life; then confusion rises in the mind, and that light which one should hold high becomes covered and obscured, so that it cannot shine out to light one's path. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The peace for which every soul strives and which is the true nature of God and the utmost goal of a man is but the outcome of harmony. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Divine sound is the cause of all manifestation. The knower of the mystery of sound knows the mystery of the whole universe. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The more sincerity is developed, the greater share of truth you will have. And however much sincerity a person may have, there is always a gap to fill, for we live in the midst of falsehood, and we are always apt to be carried away by this world of falsehood. Therefore we must never think we are sincere enough, and we must always be on our guard against influences which may carry us away from that sincerity which is the bridge between ourselves and our ideal. No study, no meditation is more helpful than sincerity itself. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

My heart is tuned to the quietness that the stillness of nature inspires. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

I have found in every word a certain musical value, a melody in every thought, harmony in every feeling, and I have tried to interpret the same things with clear and simple words to those who used to listen to my music. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The more one studies the harmony of music, and then studies human nature, how people agree and how they disagree, how there is attraction and repulsion, the more one will see that it is all music. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

If someone strikes my heart, it does not break, but it bursts, and the flame coming out of it becomes a torch on my path. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

All ignorance is the lack of love. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Belief and disbelief have divided humankind into so many sects, blinding its eyes to the vision of the Oneness of all Life. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

It is through this physical body that the highest and greatest purpose of life is achieved. A person only calls it the physical body in ignorance. Once the knowledge has come ... he begins to look upon it as the sacred temple of God. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

If a person is cold and rigid, he feels within himself as if he were in a grave. He is not living, he cannot enjoy this life for he cannot express himself and he cannot see the light and life outside. 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. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Every passion, every emotion, has its effect upon the mind. Every change of mind, however slight, has its effect upon the body. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

A person does not hear sound only through the ears; he hears sound through every pore of his body. It permeates the entire being ... — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The greatest fault of the day is the absence of stillness. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The mystery of sound is mysticism; the harmony of life is religion. The knowledge of vibrations is metaphysics, the analysis of atoms is science, and their harmonious grouping is art. The rhythm of form is poetry, and the rhythm of sound is music. This shows that music is the art of arts and the science of allsciences; and it contains the fountain of all knowledge within itself. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Reason is the illusion of reality — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The religion of the Sufi is the religion of the heart. The principal moral of the Sufi is to consider the heart of others, so that in the pleasure and displeasure of his fellow-man he sees the pleasure and displeasure of God. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Every form seems to be derived from another, all figures being derived from Alif which is originally derived from a dot and represents zero, nothingness (In Arabic the zero is written as a dot.) It is that nothingness which creates the first form Alif. It is natural for everyone when writing to make a dot as soon as the pen touches the paper, and the letters forming the words hide the origin. In like manner the origin of the One Being is hidden in His manifestation. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

According to metaphysics, fear is caused by the lack of light. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

There are two ways in which we may attain control over our activity. The first is confidence in the power of our own will; to know that if we have failed today, tomorrow we will not do so. The second is to have our eyes wide open, and to watch keenly our activity in all aspects of life. It is in the dark that we fall, but in the light we can see where we are going. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

I have seen all souls as my soul, and realized my soul as the soul of all. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Life is a symphony, and the action of every person in this life is the playing of his particular part in the music. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Love manifests towards those whom we like as love; towards those whom we do not like as forgiveness. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The object attained by both good and bad methods is the same, but the way one tries to attain it turns the object into right or wrong. It is not the object which is wrong, it is the way one adopts to attain it. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

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. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Everything in life is speaking in spite of its apparent silence. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Love is the merchandise which all the world demands; if you store it in your heart, every soul will become your customer. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Mankind is interdependent, and the happiness of each depends upon the happiness of all, and it is this lesson that humanity has to learn today as the first and the last lesson. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

What a great thing is understanding! It is priceless. No man can give greater pleasure to his fellow man than by understanding him. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

How can you be that which you possess? You cannot be the horse and rider at the same time. Herein lies the secret of mortality and immortality. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Music is the language of the soul; and for two people of different nations or races to unite, there is no better means than music — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The secret of life is balance, and the absence of balance is life's destruction. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

If the rays are the souls of living beings, then the light of that same divine Sun is the spirit of the whole of nature. It is the same light; but not divided, not distinct, as are the rays which we call souls. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

In this world of illusion, where at the end of the examination, we find everything to be of little importance, of little worth, if there is a sign of reality, of something one can depend upon, and in which one can recognize a sign of eternity, it is in the constancy of friendship. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

It is the peaceful one who is observant. It is peace that gives him the power to observe keenly. It is the peaceful one, therefore, who can conceive, for peace helps him to conceive. It is the peaceful who can contemplate; one who has no peace cannot contemplate properly. Therefore, all things pertaining to spiritual progress in life depend upon peace. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Intellect is the knowledge obtained by experience of names and forms; wisdom is the knowledge which manifests only from the inner being; to acquire intellect one must delve into studies, but to obtain wisdom, nothing but the flow of divine mercy is needed; it is as natural as the instinct of swimming to the fish, or of flying to the bird. Intellect is the sight which enables one to see through the external world, but the light of wisdom enables one to see through the external into the internal world. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Mastery lies not merely in stilling the mind, but in directing it towards whatever point we desire, in allowing it to be active as far as we wish, in using it to fulfill our purpose, in causing it to be still when we want to still it. He who has come to this has created his heaven within himself; he has no need to wait for a heaven in the hereafter, for he has produced it within his own mind now. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

In a small affair or in a big affair, first consult yourself and find out if there is any conflict in your own being about anything you want to do. And when you find no conflict there, then feel sure that a path is already made for you. You have but to open your eyes and take a step forward, and the other step will be led by God. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Vocal music is considered to be the highest, for it is natural; the effect produced by an instrument which is merely a machine cannot be compared with that of the human voice. However perfect strings may be, they cannot make the same impression on the listener as the voice which comes direct from the soul as breath, and has been brought to the surface through the medium of the mind and the vocal organs of the body. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The solution to the problem of the day is the awakening of the consciousness of humanity to the divinity within. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Externally we are a single being, but internally we are a world. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Our spirit is the real part of us, the body but its garment. A man would not find peace at the tailor's because his coat comes from there; neither can the spirit obtain true happiness from the earth just because his body belongs to earth. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

To attain peace, what one has to do is to seek that rhythm which is in the depth of our being. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

In the eyes of a seer, every leaf of a tree is a page of the Holy Book and contains divine revelation ... — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Whatever your life's pursuit
art, poetry, sculpture, music, whatever your occupation may be
you can be as spiritual as clergy, always living a life of praise. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Sarcasm is an abuse of the intellect. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

One is never so strong as when one is broken. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

In ancient times the greatest of the prophets were great musicians. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

He who gives love will receive a thousandfold in return. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

When I open my eyes to the outer world I feel myself as a drop in the sea. But when I close my eyes and look within, I see the whole universe as a bubble raised in the ocean of my heart. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

All names and forms are the garbs and covers under which the one life is hidden. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The voice therefore naturally expresses the attitude of mind whether true or false, sincere or insincere. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Moth: I gave you my life.
Flame: I allowed you to kiss me. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

It is a very high stage in the path of love when man really learns to love another with a love that asks no return. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

If people but knew their own religion, how tolerant they would become, and how free from any grudge against the religion of others. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The souls of all are from one and the same source but a soul which is unveiled shines out. Love and light come continually from such souls. We need no proof of it for it is living all else is dead in comparison. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Toward the One, the perfection of love, harmony and beauty, the only being, united with all the illuminated souls who form the embodiment of the master, the spirit of guidance. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The true use of music is to become musical in one's thoughts, words and actions. One should be able to give the harmony for which the soul yearns and longs every moment. All the tragedy in the world, in the individual and in the multitude, comes from lack of harmony, and harmony is best given by producing it in one's own life. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Our thoughts have prepared for us the
happiness or unhappiness we experience. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

A master sees the bad in the good, and the good in the bad. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

He is thoughtful whose mind is directed by his will, whose mind fulfills his intentions, whose mind is under the control of his intention ... It is not till a person has gained mastery over his mind, till he is above this activity, that he is a ruling power, a true person. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

God breaks the heart again and again and again until it stays open. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The person who is in tune with the Universe becomes like a radio receiver, through which the voice of the Universe is transmitted. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Atmosphere is a silent music. It has its effect upon the listener, exciting or peaceful, whatever it may be. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The body with its perfect mechanism loses power, magnetism, beauty, and brightness, when the soul departs from the body. This shows that the power, magnetism, beauty, and brightness belong to the soul. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

What is inspired comes already arranged beforehand and there is very little to be done by the brain and by the mind. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

What we call music in our everyday language is only a miniature, which our intelligence has grasped from that music or harmony of the whole universe which is working behind everything, and which is the source and origin of nature. It is because of this that the wise of all ages have considered music to be a sacred art. For in music the seer can see the picture of the whole universe; and the wise can interpret the secret and nature of the working of the whole universe in the realm of music. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

With love, even the rocks will open. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

From the metaphysical point of view there is nothing that can touch the formless except the art of music which in itself is formless. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Every mind has its particular standard of good and bad, and of right and wrong. This standard is made by what one has experienced through life, by what one has seen or heard; it also depends upon one's belief in a certain religion, one's birth in a certain nation and origin in a certain race. But what can really be called good or bad, right or wrong, is what comforts the mind and what causes it discomfort. It is not true, although it appears so, that it is discomfort that causes wrongdoing. In reality, it is wrongdoing which causes discomfort, and it is right-doing which gives comfort. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

As one can see when the eyes are open, so one can understand when the heart is open. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The sighing of the devotee clears a path for him into the world unseen, and his tears wash away the sins of ages. All revelation follows the ecstasy; all knowledge that a book can never contain, that a language can never express, nor a teacher teach, comes to him of itself. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Nothing is as old as the truth, and nothing is as new as the truth. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

It is living in sensation that makes man material, and after some time he becomes ignorant of the spirit. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Evolved. This evolution only means that the soul has adopted a more finished instrument in order to experience life more fully. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The sage said, "The best thing is not to hate anyone, only to love. That is the only way out of it. As soon as you have forgiven those whom you hate, you have gotten rid of them. Then you have no reason to hate them; you just forget. spiritual Dimensions of Psychology." — Hazrat Inayat Khan

This is the picture of the spirit world. It is the world of the optimist. The pessimist has no share in its great glory, because he refuses to accept the possibility which is the nature of life. Thus he denies to himself all he desires, and even the possibility of achieving his desires. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Stand through life firm as a rock in the sea, undisturbed and unmoved by its ever-rising waves — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Prayer from the depth and prayer from the surface are two prayers. One can utter what Christ has called 'vain repetitions', just repeating the prayer; one does not fix one's mind on the meaning of the prayer. If the depth of one's heart has heard the prayer, God has heard it. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

For a musician, music is the best way to unite with God. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

If there is such a thing as saintly renunciation, it is renouncing small gains for better gains; not for no gains, but seeing with open eyes what is better and what is inferior. Even if the choice has to lie between two momentary gains, one of these would always be found to be more real and lasting; that is the one that should be followed for the time. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

While people judge others from their own moral standpoint, the wise person looks also at the point of view of another. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

When one looks at the ocean, they can only see that part of it which comes within their range of vision; so it is with the truth. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

The soul of man is the spark of God. Though this spark is limited on the earth, still God is all-powerful; and by teaching the prayer 'Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven', the Master has given a key to every soul who repeats this prayer; a key to open that door behind which is the secret of that almighty power and perfect wisdom which raises the soul above all limitations. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

Now if I do anything it is to tune souls instead of instruments. To harmonize people instead of notes. If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony: that one must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others. — Hazrat Inayat Khan

He who sincerely seeks his real purpose in life is himself sought by that purpose. As he concentrates on that search a light begins to clear his confusion, call it revelation, call it inspiration, call it what you will. It is mistrust that misleads. Sincerity leads straight to the goal. — Hazrat Inayat Khan