As one of the secretaries of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Sirkar van Stolk was privileged to see certain aspects of the Master that others might not have observed, as this anecdote reveals.
Nearly always when Murshid and I were in a taxi on our way to one of his lectures, he would ask me just before arriving at the hall, “Sirdar, what is my subject tonight?” After he had done this several times, I asked him whether he never prepared his lectures. He smiled and replied, ‘If I had to do that, I would not be the bringer of a spiritual Message at all. It is not I who give the lectures!”
I began to understand that, just as a great composer like Mozart could say of one of his most moving compositions, “I saw a whole symphony with my inner eye and simply wrote it down,” so could a great Messenger open himself to inspiration flowing from a higher source, and declare that it did not come from him.
Thank you for bringing this beautiful revelation and teaching from the life of our Pir Murshid! So important! Not ‘I’. This is a treasure!
Has anyone ever gathered personal moments like this into one place?
Bowing with gratitude, Murshid Nawab.
Jelila
Dear Jelila, this was taken from a book by Sirdar van Stolk, together with Daphne Dunlop, called Memories of a Sufi Sage Hazrat Inayat Khan, 2nd edition (1975), published by East West Publications. But I doubt that it is in print – unfortunately, for the insights it gives are very precious. You would have to search online for a used copy. We have posted other small portions in the Inner Call, and there will be more, for it gives some of the perfume.
Thank you for writing! With loving greetings, Nawab