In the story of Aladdin – or at least in one version of the tale, for like all well loved stories it is told by different tellers in different ways – after Aladdin finds a guide who assures him he can lead him to the lamp that will win the favour of the Princess, they set out upon a long journey. At first their way leads through green and pleasant lands, and Aladdin feels both hopeful and uplifted by his surroundings. Gradually, though, the landscape changes into a harsh desert, and their going becomes more difficult. Aladdin starts to lose heart, and doubt weakens his resolve. To give him strength, his guide reminds him of the love he feels for the Princess, saying there is no other way to win her, and encourages him to keep going.

It is faith that puts our feet on the trail, but we must always expect our faith to be tested. If by some chance we feel our faith has not been tried, then we have not yet gone far enough in our journey, for the traveller on the spiritual path must draw the will together and overcome doubt as part of the necessary purification.

In this maxim, the Buddhist teacher Han Shan said that we should go forward with both heart and head; each contributes something towards our attainment of the goal. The heart can give unshakable faith, whereas the head offers understanding. Faith without understanding will not always be wise, but understanding without faith is susceptible to doubt and fear. Then we risk the fate of Orpheus, who lost all when the prize was within his grasp. The Divine decrees was that Orpheus could rescue Eurydice from the underworld, but only if he showed no doubt and did not waver. When he began to lead her to the sunlit lands, he must not look back to see if she were following him. In the legend, he did look back as they came to the border of the underworld, and then tragically saw her vanish from his sight forever.

Those who live with frozen hearts are unable to know how much doubt they carry. It is only when the heart awakens, and starts to fulfil its function as the hearth of our being that we may recognize how the looming clouds floating through our mind try to overshadow our will. In the tale of Aladdin, the guide could perhaps have put forward logical reasons to keep going, such as ‘we are nearly there,’ but instead of appealing to his mind, he reminded Aladdin about his love, and that was what helped him to go on. It is the mind which doubts, not the heart, and when the heart is focused on its goal, then the mind can fulfil its purpose as the willing servant of the ideal.

Therefore seekers make an altar of the heart, and guard the flame that burns there. If they feel doubt, they discard it, knowing it cannot belong to their ideal. In this way, the flame burns more brightly, and throws ever more light on the path before them. When it becomes inextinguishable, then this saying from the Gayan Chalas is realized:
Love in its fullness is an inexpressible power which speaks louder than words;
there is nothing that man is too weak to do when it gushes forth from his heart.