The following report is taken from the “Sufi” magazine of June 1919.  Benefitting from the continued interest of the Theosophical Society, Hazrat Inayat travelled from London to Scotland, and in addition to public events, also met wth mureeds who had come, most probably from the north of England.  His reply to their request for advice is a model of modesty, and profoundly inspiring.

Inayat Khan’s Visit to Scotland

Inayat Khan has recently visited Scotland, at the invitation of the Theosophical Society. He first visited Dundee, where he gave two lectures, and was much pleased with the kind response of the audience.  He met with great success at Glasgow, where he was warmly welcomed and much appreciated.  Inayat Khan then visited Edinburgh and gave a series of philosophical lectures and a veena recital with short explanations. His music and his lectures made a great impression upon his audience there.

Some of the new pupils of Inayat Khan came from a distance to Edinburgh to see him; they asked him if he could give them some advice with regard to their life in the world. Inayat Khan replied that he gave freedom to everybody, and even to his mureeds, to have whatever way in life they considered to be the best  He did not believe in forcing his principles on others, considering that each person must live his life according to his evolution, and the principles of one are not necessarily suitable for another. They still continued to ask him, saying that they had followed him, being won by his teachings, and they would greatly value any words of advice that they might hear from his lips. Inayat Khan then said, “As you really desire to hear a few words on that subject, I will tell you how, under certain circumstances, I at least try to act.  In all things I see from the point of view of another, as well as from my own. I therefore give freedom of thought to everybody, since I take it myself. I appreciate what is good in another, and overlook what I consider is bad. If anyone behaves selfishly to me, I take it naturally, as it is human nature to be selfish, and I am not disappointed by it.  But when I appear myself to be selfish, I take myself to task and try to improve.  There is not anything that I am not ready to tolerate, and there is nobody whom I would not forgive. Those whom I trust I never doubt; whom I love, I never hate; whom I once raise in my estimation, I never cast down. I wish to make friends with everybody I meet; if I find them difficult, I make an effort to gain their friendship. If I cannot succeed in my effort, then I become indifferent to them. When once I make a friend, I never wish to break the friendship. If anyone causes me harm in any way, I think that it is probably because I deserve it, or that the one who harms me knows no better. I have no enemies, but every soul that raises his head in life gets much opposition from the world. It has been so with all the prophets, saints and sages, and that is why I cannot expect to be exempt; under such circumstances I see in it the law of nature, and also God’s plan working and preparing something desirable. I consider no one is either higher or lower than I am.  I see in all sources that suffice my need of life one source, God, the only Source, and in admiring, and in bowing before, and in loving anyone I consider I am doing it to God. In sorrow I look to God, and in joy I thank Him.  I do not bemoan the past, and I do not worry about the future, but try to make the best of today. I know no failure; even in a fall I see a stepping-stone to rise, and yet to me the rise and fall in life matters but little. I do not repent for what I have done, and I think, say and do what I mean. If I wish to accomplish anything in life, I do not fear consequences; I simply go and do it, and hold that what will be, will be.

“Take from these ideas what seem to you to be best, and forget the rest.”

“Sufi”
Vol III, no. 4
June 1919