This post concludes Hazrat Inayat Khan’s lecture on the path of discipleship, a theme that he also addressed in other teachings. In the first instalment of this series he explained the need to develop consideration, which is a fundamental motive for such a journey, and in the second post, he set out the first two lessons on the path, the development of self-confidence and of sacrifice.

The third lesson on the path of discipleship is imitation, which means to imitate the Teacher in his every attitude—with the friend, with the enemy, with the foolish, with the wise. If the pupil acts as he wishes and the Teacher acts as he wishes, then there is no benefit, with all the sacrifice and devotion. And remember, no teaching or meditation is so great or valuable as the imitation of the Teacher on the path of truth. In the imitation of the Teacher the whole secret of the spiritual life is hidden. It is not the imitation of his outward action, but also of his inward tendency.

The fourth lesson that the disciple learns is still different and that lesson is turning the Teacher, whose thought is inward—to turn him outward, until the disciple grows to see in the wise and in the foolish, in all forms, his Teacher who teaches him.

The fifth lesson that the disciple learns is to give all that he has so far given to his Teacher—devotion, sacrifice, service, respect—that he gives to all, because in all he sees his Teacher.

There is one person who will perhaps not learn it all in his life, another will learn all five lessons in a short time. There is the story of a person who went to a Teacher and said to him, “Yes, I would like to be your pupil, your disciple.” The Teacher said, “Yes, I shall be very glad.” This man, conscious of so many faults, was surprised that the Teacher was so willing to accept him as a disciple. He said, “But I wonder if you know how many faults I have?” The Teacher said, “Yes, I already know your faults, yet I accept you as my pupil.” “But I have very bad faults,” he said, “I am fond of gambling.” The Teacher said, “That does not matter much.” “I am inclined to drink sometimes,” he said. The Teacher said, “That does not matter much.” “Well,” he said, “there are many other faults.” The Teacher said, “I do not mind.” Then he said, “I have accepted all your faults, you must accept one condition from your Teacher.” “Yes, most willingly,” said he, “What is it?” The Teacher said, “You may do all your faults, but not in my presence; only that respect you have to keep for your Teacher.” The Teacher knew that all five things of discipleship were natural to him. Afterwards he was made an initiate. And as soon as he would go out and have an inclination for gambling or to go and drink, he saw the face of his Murshid before him. When he came to the Teacher, the Teacher smilingly asked, “Did you commit any fault?” He answered, “Oh no, the great difficulty is that whenever I want to commit any of my usual faults, my Murshid pursues me.”

Do not think that this spirit is only cultivated, this spirit could be found in an innocent child. The other day I was most amused to hear a little child of four years say to me when I asked him, “Have you been naughty?” “I would like to be naughty, but my goodness will not let me.” This shows us that the spirit of discipleship is in us. Remember that he is the Teacher who is a disciple himself. In reality there is no such thing as a Teacher. God alone is a Teacher, we all are disciples. The lesson we all have to learn is the lesson of discipleship; it is the first and the last.