We continue with the series of teachings by Hazrat Inayat Khan on the subject of mysticism. The first post in this series may be found here.
I would like to speak of the knowledge a mystic attains by the head that prepares him to find his way to the truth. Reasoning is a faculty which the mystic uses and which he may develop like any man of common sense, a practical man, for the difference is only that the mystic does not stop at the first reason but he wishes to see the reason behind them all. Therefore in everything, whether right or wrong, the mystic inquires the reason. But the immediate answer to that is a reason that is not satisfaction, for he sees that behind that reason there is another reason. And so he goes on in the knowledge of all things, which is far greater than the knowledge gained by one thing. It is therefore that neither wrong nor right, neither good nor evil excites the mystic too much, nor does it give him a great shock or surprise. For everything seems to have its nature, and it is understanding which makes him feel at one with all things existing. And what can one wish more in life than understanding? It is understanding that gives one harmony in the home with those near and dear to one, and peace outside home with so many different natures and characters. If one lacks understanding one is poor with all that one possesses of the goods of this world, and it is understanding which gives a man riches.
If life could be pictured, one would say that it reminds one of a sea in the storm, with the waves coming and going; such is life. And it is this understanding which gives man that weight which can endure through the rain and the storm and all the vicissitudes. Without understanding he is like a jolly boat* on the sea which cannot go on through the storm. By understanding a mystic learns. He learns tact; he is tactful under all circumstances. And his tact is like a ship with a heavy load, which the wind cannot move, and which stands still in the midst of the storm on the sea.
The nature of life is such that it easily excites the mind, and makes man unhappy in a moment’s time. It makes man so confused that he does not know where to take the next step. Contrary to this the mystic stands still and inquires of life its secret, and from every experience, every failure or success, the mystic learns a lesson. Therefore failure and success both are profitable to a mystic.
The ideal of a mystic is never to think of disagreeable things. What one does not want to happen, one must not think of. All disagreeable things from the past, a mystic erases them from his mind. He collects and keeps his happy experiences and makes out of them a paradise. Are there not many unhappy people, who keep a part of the past before them which causes them pain in their heart? Past is past, it is gone. There is eternity before you. If you want to make your life as you wish, do not think of disagreeable thoughts and of painful experiences, and memories that make you unhappy.
It is therefore that life becomes to some extent easy for a mystic to deal with. For he knows every heart, every nature, whereas there are others, untouched by the mystic’s secret, who suffer from their difficulties at home and difficulties outside. They dread the presence of people they do not understand; they want to run away from them and if they cannot escape, they feel as if they are in the mouth of a dragon. And perhaps they are placed in a situation which cannot easily be changed. The consequence is that they heap confusion upon confusion. And how very often one sees that where two people do not understand one another, a third comes and helps them to understand each other, and the light thrown upon them causes greater harmony. The mystic says, whether it be agreeable or disagreeable, if you are in a certain situation, make the best of it; try to understand how to deal with such a situation. Therefore a life without such understanding is like a dark room which contains everything you wish. It is all there, but there is no light.
The world, after all, is a wonderful place, in spite of so many souls wishing to leave this world. For there is nothing which is not to be obtained in this world. It is all there: all things good and beautiful, all things precious and worthwhile, they are all there if one knows their nature, their character and how to obtain them.
*A small boat, typically carried on the stern of a larger ship.
To be continued…