VOLUME VIII - I

Index of Inayat Khan Books
Bowl of Saki Subscription

Contents of Volume VIII:

PART I - BODY AND MIND

Health Physical Condition Physical Culture Control of the Body Balance Balance in Solitude Balance in Greatness Life's Mechanism Harmony Mastery Self-Mastery Self-Discipline Question about Fasting Self-Control Physical Control Vaccination and Inoculation Breath The Power of Silence A Question about Feelings The Control of the Mind The Mystery of Sleep Dreams Spiritual Healing

PART II - BEING HUMAN

Man, Purpose of Creation Character-Building Human Nature Self-Realization The Art of Personality Man likened to the Light Truth Selflessness-Inkisar Indifference-Vairagya Indifference & Independence Overlooking-Darquza Graciousness-Khulq Conciliation-Ittifaq Consideration-Muruwwat Tact Spirituality Innocence Holiness Resist not Evil Resignation Struggle and Resignation Renunciation Sacrifice Ambition Satisfaction Harmlessness Vegetarianism Unselfish Actions Expectations Be a Lion Within Humility Moral Culture Hope Patience Confidence Faith Faith and Doubt The Story of Orpheus Happiness Privilege of Being Human

Volume VIII - The Art of Being

Health and Order of Body and Mind

Chapter VII
Balance in Greatness

One way of being great is to take all we can. The more we take the greater we become, and all the world will call us great. Another way is to give all we can. In the Bible we read, 'If a man takes away your coat, give him your cloak as well.'

The question arises: how much can we give? The more we give the more will be taken from us. When Shams-i-Tabriz had given his skin, the worms and germs also took his flesh and blood. They did not say, 'This man has given his skin, let him have the comfort that he may still have;' they took all.

We who are giving the message of liberty cannot give a message from which the world will run away. If we say, 'Give all,' the world will run away from such a message. The world will say, 'If I give all, I shall have nothing to eat, I shall have nothing with which to cover myself. I must at least have something to eat and I must be covered.'

There is a story told of our Murshid Farid Shakr Ganj who was worshipping in the jungle. His way of worship was the ascetic way. He hung himself up in a well by his feet, head down, and in this way he practiced. The animals did not come near him, but the birds came and ate his skin and flesh. He let them eat, because he was practicing this moral, but when they came near his eyes he warded them off with his hand and said, 'O bird, I would also give thee mine eyes, if thou wouldst bring them first in the presence of the Beloved, that they might have a glimpse. Then thou couldst eat.'

We must not give away the soul, the intelligence, the power of distinguishing. If we give these, we are like the tree: everyone may eat its fruits. Our arms were not given to us that we should fold them, but that we should work; our feet were not given to us that we should be motionless, but that we should walk. Our power of distinguishing is given to us that we may distinguish, and by distinguishing we also may learn not to distinguish. We must take a middle course: we must distinguish when to give when not to give, to whom to give, to whom not to give.