The Inner Life

Wisdom only appears when the mind is purified from dogmas, speculative theories and preconceived ideas. The many names, forms and doctrines which have been applied all down the ages are like veils covering the phenomena of the spirit of guidance, which manifests constantly at every level of human understanding. For example, this inner guidance is constantly present in nature's mysteries, communicating a never-ending message of Love, providing one's attunement to that message awakens one's heart to a broader outlook, beyond the limitations of an individual perspective. And when one offers to partake in carrying the burden of others' misunderstandings, one then uses the language of the heart to communicate sympathy and dedication to others in support of their various interpretations of the one and only Truth.

Among the numberless purposes in our lives, one might take for granted that the ideals which secure a balanced condition of body, mind, heart and soul are all those which are related to life itself, such as living life fully, the urge for knowledge and the longing for happiness. As to whether a material ideal could lead to inner realization, one might say that from the point of view of the Divine Purpose, even a material ideal could very well be the fulfillment of a spiritual one, because every effort made, whether material or spiritual, brings one consciously or unconsciously nearer to the ultimate goal. Each small step may be seen as a humble contribution to the fulfillment of the Divine Purpose, which could be understood as a constant state of formation inspired by a central theme, life in all its infinite variety.

The purpose of life is not only found in rising to the greatest heights, but also in diving deep into the deepest depths, whereby the self is lost, but paradoxically finds itself again in the widening of its consciousness, just like the seed which, after having been buried under the earth, finds the fulfillment of its purpose in rising as a plant and spreading out in full bloom under the rays of the sun. This teaches us that there is no experience in life which is worthless. There is no single moment which is really wasted, providing one is wise enough to carefully assemble the bits and pieces of past memories and discover in these as many memories as may be needed on the path of inner awakening.

The self, 'the consciousness,' rejoices or suffers unrest from positive or negative thoughts or actions, but when losing hold over itself and focusing all its energy on the Divine Presence, it becomes radiant. The self is only a channel, however; it is the soul which is ultimately the life within, and the spectator of happenings; and like a mirror, impressions reflected upon the pure surface of the soul leave no trace whatsoever.

The path to the development of inner consciousness is a thorny one, and it can only be said that this is truly awakened when one chooses to forge one's character so as to be an example to others. This art of personality teaches one that happiness is only there when one strives to become an inspiration of happiness to others, overlooking all that disturbs one, such as opinions which are not in accordance with one's own thinking. At the same time, one must try to rise above one's own failures, knowing that in every fall there is a hidden stepping stone to success, providing one is willing to attune oneself to the rhythm of all those who cross one's path, and in whom one might eventually discover a spark of hidden guidance.

The inner life is a journey which requires thoughtful planning and constant dedication so as to avoid a regrettable return to the starting point. Among the obligations which pull one back during the journey, one which is by no means to be underestimated is the debt owed to those left behind. The fulfillment of one's obligations is not only essential from a material point of view but is also a most sacred duty on the inner path, and as such it is the first step to be made toward God-consciousness. The inner life can be described as the realization of one's nothingness when the heart becomes empty of the self and at the same time full of the object of one's ideal. However, this state becomes more and more elusive, owing to the constant interference of the ego which bars the way to further progress on the path of inner realization.

The ego constantly puts one to the test when one strives to attune oneself to all those conditions in which life places one, such as communicating with others at their own level of understanding, answering their smiles with a smile, offering tears to their tears, standing side by side with them in their joys and pains, helping them when they stumble over their own self assertion, performing conscientiously all those outward roles which are expected from us while experiencing inwardly the great tragedies and comedies in human nature. Naturally, the one who succeeds in this certainly appears to be a mystery to the average person, who cannot possibly measure selfless behavior.

Inner life means making God the very ideal to which we relate, calling God by sacred names illustrating such attributes as Judge, Forgiver, Friend and Beloved, as well as numberless other qualifications traditionally adopted by other religions. By this means, belief in God becomes such a tangible reality that the feeling heart turns to the Divine Presence for help and guidance. One looks up to God, the Beloved, when one is broken-hearted. One looks up to God, the Helpful Friend, when deprived of sympathy in this cruel world. One looks up to God, the Lord of Justice, when worldly disillusionment has broken one's trust. One looks up to God, the Forgiver, when one is tortured by an unrestful conscience. Obviously, however religious or pious one is, unless one discovers the reality of a living God, living in one's own heart, one is like a fatherless child. It is therefore that the task on the inner path is to establish a godly relationship in our lives, for in so doing, a new dimension of understanding with God is revealed, making oneself a living God. But the one who is God-conscious speaks little about the inner life, whereas the unbeliever displays all doubts and fears in endless arguments and debates.

The inner path is a path of freedom, which is why every effort is made to free oneself from all those regrets which are a hindrance to progress: regrets such as unfulfilled worldly ambitions, past torments, hatred and an unrestful conscience. The vehicle used during the journey is an energy with two poles, Will Power and Wisdom. When these two polarities are synchronized it secures a perfect state of balance at all levels of consciousness; balance of thoughts and feeling; balance of action and repose; balance of material and spiritual ideals. It is then that the traveler on the path of the inner life is able to offer treasures of thoughtful deeds and uplifting examples of love, harmony and beauty to all those left behind. Although the traveler on the inner path is clad in 'veils of silence' out of respect for the sacredness of the journey, yet the traveler is never alone because the Divine Presence is always present. It is then that one conceives God as Love, Lover and Beloved. As lovers of God, our love reveals to us that we are the beloved ones of God when we become at the same time human and Divine.

Hidayat Inayat Khan

June 26, 1994