With this post, which gives the responses to several questions, we conclude the series of lectures given in Katwijk in September 1922. Readers may find great hope in the answer to the ultimate question. As noted in the previous post, Hazrat Inayat Khan uses the language conventions of a century ago, speaking of ‘brotherhood,’ and ‘man’, while people now would doubtless employ more inclusive language. As it would require rather intrusive editing to bring his speech to this present-day standard, and as it should be clear that in his heart and spirit and intention he included all members of humanity in his address, the text remains as it was recorded.
Q.: In what way can we bring this ideal of spiritual brotherhood to mankind?
A.: The first way is understanding for yourself, making it clear in your mind. The next process will be to try to explain it to your fellow man, and when you find that you have succeeded in making an impression with the ideal in which you sincerely believe, then you must proceed to spread this idea to a wider circle. But note at the same time that it is the will of God that this be known to the world, and souls who will become channels of this have this as their life’s privilege. Therefore we must consider that there is no doubt that it will spread – only the contribution of our efforts is a life’s privilege.
Q.: Does the recognition of brotherhood tend to keep people in contact even on the physical plane?
A.: Yes. If the spirit of brotherhood is understood in the way I have explained in my address, it would not only keep people conscious of their contact on the physical plane but people would realize their contact with one another in the spirit.
Q.: Does not the present system in schools of working for prizes encourage a spirit of competition which is harmful to children?
A.: Yes, it does to some extent, but there are many other sides to the spirit of competition which develops in the world which are still worse. When one rejoices in one’s gain that comes to one as the loss of another, and when one pushes one’s way through life, regardless of pushing another and causing him to fall, all these things close the doors of the heart, the only opening for the soul to breathe and to look out into the world, throwing its light upon life. When the doors of the heart are closed, and when the soul is unable to throw its light and see into the world, then whatever may be man’s gain, and however much man may be provided with the things of this world, he can never experience happiness; for the true happiness comes from within, for the light and life which is within is the only source of happiness, and even the worldly happiness experienced is increased and added to when the inner life and light have manifested outwardly. And those [i.e. inner life and light –ed.] cannot manifest outwardly so long as the doors of the heart are closed.
Q.: Will Brotherhood ever be strong enough to prevent war in the future?
A.: Yes. Man will not always remain the same; the child is not always a child and the youth is not always a youth. As there comes a time in the life of an individual when he thinks better than he thought before, so there comes a moment, a time, in the life of multitudes, of the generality, when they think better than they have thought before. There are many things which the people in the past did that make us tremble even to hear of, and we experience discomfort at the idea of those happenings in the past. And in the same way, when the world has evolved and humanity is different, it will give them a feeling of awe when they hear of what the world has gone through during this period.