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Sayings of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

GAMAKAS
(Feelings in the Poet's heart, keyed to various musical notes)

Why was I born, O God, if not to find Thee?
Why do I die, O God, if not to come to Thee?

When the unreality of life pushes against my heart, its door opens to the reality.

The past was my dream, the present is my play, and the future will be my plan.

I reach Thee before my feet can reach Thy dwelling place, and I see Thee before mine eyes can reach Thy spheres.

I was perfected by heaven, but am limited by the earth.

Can anyone break me? No. By doing so, he may as well prepare to break God. Neither I nor God can be broken; but the one who would wish to break me, he is broken.

I draw all my strength from my humility.

A tongue of flame rises from every wound of my heart, illuminating my path through life and guiding my way to the goal.

The rapidity of my walk the imagination cannot follow.

People often ask me questions which I cannot very well answer in words, and it makes me sad to think they are unable to hear the voice of my silence.

By every hurt or harm one causes me, he only makes me know him better.

I came as I was made to come; I live as life allows me to live; but I will be what I wish to be.

With every pinprick a drop of blood comes out of my heart, and that drop becomes the Wine of Sacrament.

I have not come to teach those who consider themselves teachers; I have come to learn from the teachers and to teach my pupils.

When my heart is perturbed it upsets the whole universe.

When my heart is asleep, then both worlds fall into a deep slumber.

The whole creation wakes up with the wakening of my heart.

When the shell of my heart breaks, pearls are scattered around.

My heart attains self-sufficiency by eating its own flesh and by drinking its own blood.

I tremble at the sight of the task that has been given to me, and I feel confounded when I weigh my ideal with my limitations.

What the world calls success, is to me like a doll's wedding.

I am the Wine of the Holy Sacrament; my very being is intoxication; those who drink of my cup and yet keep sober will certainly be illuminated; but those who do not assimilate it, will be beside themselves and exposed to the ridicule of the world.

My heart drinks its own tears and puts them forth as pearls.

I prefer failure to success gained by falsehood.

I am what I am; you make me what you will make me; but I become what I wish to become.

The true exaltation comes to me from the insults I have to endure in life rather than from the respectful attitude of my mureeds.

Many underestimate the greatness of the Cause, seeing the limitation through which I have to work my way out.

The Message is a call to those whose hour has come to awake, and it is a lullaby to those who are still meant to sleep.

How can a man claim to be a teacher and at the same time be sane? His teaching must prove him a teacher, not his claim.

The essence of today's Message is balance.

You are my life, it is in you that I live,
From you I borrow life and you do I give;
O my soul and spirit, you I adore,
I live in you, so do I live ever more.
You are in me and in you do I live,
Still you are my King and my sins you forgive.
You are the Present and Future and Past;
I lost myself, but I have found you at last.

Why, O my feeling heart
Do you live and die?
What makes my feeling heart
To laugh and to cry?
Death is my life indeed;
I live when I die.
Pain is my pleasure; when
I laugh, then I cry.

Some did say that I knew nothing,
Some still held that I knew all.
Some did turn their back to me, and
Some quickly answered my call.
Some on hearing my words exclaimed,
"Nothing he said that was new."
Some said, "I have always thought this;
That is my own point of view."
Some asked, "What mystery he revealed?
What wonder did he perform?"
Some answered, "We ask no wonder,
So long as his heart is warm."
Some said, "He is a man as we are,
What difference in him do you see?"
Some answered, "It is not to know;
What is needed, is to be."

Before you judge my actions,
Lord, I pray, you will forgive.
Before my heart has broken,
Will you help my soul to live?
Before my eyes are covered,
Will you let me see your face?
Before my feet are tired,
May I reach your dwelling-place?
Before I wake from slumber,
You will watch me, Lord, I hold.
Before I throw my mantle,
Will you take me in your fold?
Before my work is over,
You, my Lord, will right the wrong.
Before you play your music,
Will you let me sing my song?