Continuing from the previous instalment, Hazrat Inayat Khan concludes his remarks on association and answers two questions on the subject.

It is not a thing of little importance to consider association. It is of great importance; and from a psychological point of view; it makes all the difference, for a wise person is not always positive against a foolish person, nor is a good person always positive against a wicked one. The one who is positive cannot always be positive; he has his times when he must be negative for a change. Therefore, association certainly brings to one that which is received by the contact, and there is a great wisdom in the saying that a person is known by his associates.

In the East, much thought has been given to this, especially from a spiritual point of view. For those who seek after spiritual truth, association with friends on the same path is more precious than anything in the world. Everything else comes after. Association is held as the first and most important thing.

Question: How can we overcome the disagreeable vibrations of people in our immediate surroundings with whom we daily have to live?

Answer: By being positive. It is true that one cannot always be positive. At such times, one may retire from one’s associates. However, as one evolves, so one’s contact becomes more powerful than the influence of the other person. Therefore, the other person receives more benefit from you, while the harm you receive is less. If by receiving a little harm you are able to do more good for the other person, it is just as well. It is only a matter of self-discipline, and love can conquer all things. In every person, however wicked, there is a good string somewhere, and you must know where to find it. If one always thought about it, one could always touch the best point of the other person and overlook the other points. Nevertheless, it is a struggle!

Question: How can we protect ourselves from association with a wicked person?

Answer: In order to answer this, we must go into the law of harmony. A person harmonizes with his like, and he harmonizes with his opposite. A wise person may harmonize with a thoughtful person, and he may harmonize with a foolish person. The half wise is a greater trouble for him than the foolish one because the half wisdom makes a barrier. The foolish person is open, so a harmony can be established at once. The wisdom of another wise person makes him closer, and there is a kind of response between the two, so there is harmony. It is not surprising that one often finds two persons becoming most harmonious or great friends in whose evolution there is so vast a difference that one cannot understand how it can be possible.

However, as said before, association must have an effect. However thoughtful and wise a person may be, there can come a cloud upon his thought and wisdom through association. Perhaps that cloud may be dispersed after a time, but it can cover the light of the sun. The cloud is much smaller compared to the sun, but often it can cover the whole sun from our sight. The influence of a wicked person may cover the light of a good and wise person, and this may remain until the clouds have dispersed.

To be continued…