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There are many chances of disappointment
The world is evolving from imperfection towards perfection; it needs all love and sympathy; great tenderness and watchfulness is required from each one of us.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
In order to awaken love and sympathy in our hearts, sacrifices must be made. We must forget our own troubles in order to sympathize with the troubles of others. To relieve the hunger of others we must forget our own hunger. Everybody is working for selfish ends, not caring about others, and this alone has brought about the misery in the world today. When the world is evolving from imperfection towards perfection, it needs all love and sympathy.
Souls on earth are born imperfect and show imperfection, and from this they develop naturally, coming to perfection. If all were perfect, there would have been no purpose in their creation. And manifestation has taken place so that every being here may rise from imperfection towards perfection. That is the object and joy of life and for that this world was created. And if we expected every person to be perfect and conditions to be perfect, then there would be no joy in living and no purpose in coming here. ... When in this world of imperfection we seek for all that is good and beautiful, there are many chances of disappointment. But at the same time if we keep on looking for it, not looking at the dust but looking for the gold, we shall find it. And once we begin to find it we shall find more and more. There comes a time in the life of a man when he can see some good in the worst man in the world. And when he has reached that point, though the good were covered with a thousand covers, he would put his hand on what is good, because he looks for good and attracts what is good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
return to the root of the root
How long will you move backwards? Come
forward! Enter not into unbelief, come to religion!
Behold the elixir hidden within the venom --
come to the venom! And come, return to the root of the root
of your own self!
Although in form you are earthly, you have
been kneaded from certainty's substance.
You guard the treasury of God's Light -- so come,
return to the root of the root of your own self!
Once you have tied yourself to selflessness, you
will be delivered from selfhood
And released from the ties of a hundred
snares -- so come, return to the root of the root of your own self!
Though you are the talisman protecting the
world's treasure, within yourself, you are the Mine.
Open your hidden eyes and come, return to the
root of the root of your own self!
You were born of the rays of God's majesty and
have gained the good fortunes of your auspicious star.
How long will you suffer at the hands of
nonexistent things? Come! Return to the root of the root of
your own self!
You are a ruby in the midst of granite -- how
long will you try to deceive us?
We can see the truth in your eyes -- so come,
return to the root of the root of your own self!
You came here from the presence of that
haughty Friend, so you are drunk, gentle, and heart-ravishing,
And your eyes are sweet and full of fire -- so
come, return to the root of the root of your own true self!
The king and saki, Shams-i Tabrizi, has placed
before you the everlasting cup.
Glory be to God! What marvelous pure wine!
So come, return to the root of the root of your own self!
-- Translation by William Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983
(Above 2 are reposts from Sufimystic)
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:
In order to awaken love and sympathy in our hearts, sacrifices must be made. We must forget our own troubles in order to sympathize with the troubles of others. To relieve the hunger of others we must forget our own hunger. Everybody is working for selfish ends, not caring about others, and this alone has brought about the misery in the world today. When the world is evolving from imperfection towards perfection, it needs all love and sympathy.
Souls on earth are born imperfect and show imperfection, and from this they develop naturally, coming to perfection. If all were perfect, there would have been no purpose in their creation. And manifestation has taken place so that every being here may rise from imperfection towards perfection. That is the object and joy of life and for that this world was created. And if we expected every person to be perfect and conditions to be perfect, then there would be no joy in living and no purpose in coming here. ... When in this world of imperfection we seek for all that is good and beautiful, there are many chances of disappointment. But at the same time if we keep on looking for it, not looking at the dust but looking for the gold, we shall find it. And once we begin to find it we shall find more and more. There comes a time in the life of a man when he can see some good in the worst man in the world. And when he has reached that point, though the good were covered with a thousand covers, he would put his hand on what is good, because he looks for good and attracts what is good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
return to the root of the root
How long will you move backwards? Come
forward! Enter not into unbelief, come to religion!
Behold the elixir hidden within the venom --
come to the venom! And come, return to the root of the root
of your own self!
Although in form you are earthly, you have
been kneaded from certainty's substance.
You guard the treasury of God's Light -- so come,
return to the root of the root of your own self!
Once you have tied yourself to selflessness, you
will be delivered from selfhood
And released from the ties of a hundred
snares -- so come, return to the root of the root of your own self!
Though you are the talisman protecting the
world's treasure, within yourself, you are the Mine.
Open your hidden eyes and come, return to the
root of the root of your own self!
You were born of the rays of God's majesty and
have gained the good fortunes of your auspicious star.
How long will you suffer at the hands of
nonexistent things? Come! Return to the root of the root of
your own self!
You are a ruby in the midst of granite -- how
long will you try to deceive us?
We can see the truth in your eyes -- so come,
return to the root of the root of your own self!
You came here from the presence of that
haughty Friend, so you are drunk, gentle, and heart-ravishing,
And your eyes are sweet and full of fire -- so
come, return to the root of the root of your own true self!
The king and saki, Shams-i Tabrizi, has placed
before you the everlasting cup.
Glory be to God! What marvelous pure wine!
So come, return to the root of the root of your own self!
-- Translation by William Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983
(Above 2 are reposts from Sufimystic)