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Volume XIII The Gathas
by Hazrat Inayat Khan
PART I and II
PREFACE
IT WAS already announed earl!er that as the "orld no"adays !s more o#en $or the
understand!n% o$ myst!althou%ht& many dee#er letures "h!h Inayat Khan or!%!nally !ntended only $or h!s
d!s!#les "ould be #ubl!shed !n
the near $uture' It !s a##ro#r!ate that th!s ed!t!on o$ The Gathas o$ Inayat Kan an no" be
brou%ht out on thehundredth ann!(ersary o$ h!s b!rth'
These Gathas are& "!th $e" e)e#t!ons& un#ubl!shed teah!n%s %!(en to h!s d!s!#les !n
the early *+,-.s' In h!s
understand!n% and ons!derat!on o$ the !nd!(!dual.s needs and res#onse Inayat Khan#resented eah o$ the
se(en sub/ets o$ The Gathas !n three sta%es& eah sta%e ons!st!n% o$ ten lessons' Wh!lst
!n the tra!n!n% ourses
o$ the Su$! 0o(ement The Gathas ha(e been o$$ered !n a sl!%htly d!$$erent order& theed!tors ha(e hosen to
#ubl!sh them !n aordane "!th the researh made by 1e2ba2ht Furnee and S!rdar (anTuyll (anSeroos2er2en& "hose reords !nd!ate Inayat Khan.s o"n #ubl!at!on !ntent!ons& and "ho
to%ether "!th other
#u#!ls and lose asso!ates o$ Inayat Khan om#!led and #re#ared th!s (ers!on'
1o attem#t has been made to han%e the order o$ "ords or "hat m!%ht a##ear to bere#et!t!on $or the #ur#ose
o$ #rodu!n% on(ent!onally ae#table synta)' 1o on/eture has been made as to the
$e" m!ss!n% "ords !n3uest!ons and Ans"ers' In some ases alternat!(e s#ell!n% has been used to on$orm "!th
the $!rst t"el(e
(olumes o$ the Su$! 0essa%e'
PART I
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ETKA4& RAS0 5 RAVA6
Su#erst!t!ons& Customs and 7el!e$s
GATHA I
7el!e$ and Su#erst!t!on
E(ery ountry seems to ha(e erta!n bel!e$s "h!h are alled bel!e$s by the bel!e(ers and
su#erst!t!ons by those"ho do not bel!e(e' There are bel!e$s "h!h ar!se $rom some subtle e)#er!enes o$ l!$e&
and some "h!h s#r!n%
$rom !ntu!t!on& and they are bel!e(ed by some "ho are !nl!ned to bel!e(e and they are
mo2ed at by some "hoannot understand the!r mean!n%& and o$ten by those "ho do not "!sh to trouble
themsel(es to !n(est!%ate thetruth !n them' It !s easy to lau%h at th!n%s& and !t ta2es #at!ene to endure and tolerate
th!n%s that annot a##eal
to one.s reason' And !t !s d!$$!ult to !n(est!%ate the truth o$ suh bel!e$s& $or !t re8u!ressometh!n% more than
reason to #robe the de#ths o$ l!$e' Those $rom "hom the bel!e$s ome& naturally ould not
%!(e the e)#lanat!on
o$ those bel!e$s to e(erybody9 $or the man "ho !s a#able o$ bel!e(!n% a th!n% !s notneessar!ly a#able o$
understand!n% !t by an analyt!al e)#lanat!on' There are natures "h!h "ould be "!ll!n%
to bel!e(e a th!n% !$ !t !s$or the!r %ood& !$ !t omes $rom someone "ho they trust& but !t !s too muh trouble $or
them to %o dee#ly !nto the
matter' For some amon% them !t !s better that they should not ha(e an analyt!al2no"led%e o$ a bel!e$& $or to
some the bel!e$ !s hel#$ul but !ts e)#lanat!on on$us!n%' It !s a erta!n %rade o$ e(olut!on
that enables man to
understand a erta!n bel!e$& and a man must not be told "hat he !s !na#able o$understand!n%& $or & !nstead o$
hel#!n% h!m& !t #uts h!m o$$'
There !s a %reat deal o$ #syh! la" "h!h an be traed !n suh bel!e$s& and !n t!me suhbel!e$s turn !nto
ustoms' There !s a (ast $!eld o$ 2no"led%e !n the bel!e$s o$ Ind!ans' Ind!a has been a
ountry "here bel!e$s ha(e
e)!sted $or thousands o$ years unhan%ed& and some bel!e$s ha(e beome ustoms' At
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$!rst s!%ht an !ntelletual
#erson "ho annot loo2 any $urther than the sur$ae o$ th!n%s !s a#t to th!n2 that #eo#le
!n Ind!a are $ull o$su#erst!t!ons' The!r "hole l!$e seems based on them9 not only !n rel!%!on do they ha(e
bel!e$s& but e(en !n the!r
domest! a$$a!rs' In the!r e(eryday l!$e e(ery mo(e they ma2e& e(ery "ord they say !s !naordane "!th some
underly!n% bel!e$'
1o doubt a tendeny o$ ta2!n% !nterest !n su#erst!t!on should al"ays be a(o!ded9 $or the
more thou%ht one %!(es
to su#erst!t!ons& the more he seems to be dro"ned !n the thou%ht o$ su#erst!t!ons'
Where(er the su#erst!t!ousman loo2s he %ets an !m#ress!on o$ some $ear& some doubt& some sus#!!on& "h!h
%enerally leads to on$us!on'
7ut $or the "!se a d!sre%ard o$ su#erst!t!ons !s not sat!s$atory& $or by "!sdom man
beomes a#able o$understand!n% them& and understand!n% them !s better than to mo2 at them or e(en than
to bel!e(e !n them' Forthe one "ho bel!e(es !n su#erst!t!ons !s& so to s#ea2& !n the "ater& and 2no"s that he !s !n
the "ater9 but he "ho
mo2s at them !s !n the "ater& but he does not 2no" that he !s !n the "ater' 7yunderstand!n% them man !s
a#able o$ s"!mm!n% !n the "ater& and by master!n% them he "al2s on the "ater' The
man "ho 2no"s all th!n%s
and ats aord!n% to h!s 2no"led%e beomes the master o$ l!$e'
7el!e$
The term :bel!e$. !s used o$ an !dea that one bel!e(es and $or "h!h one annot %!(e
reason' When suh !deas are
o$ an ord!nary nature they are termed su#erst!t!ons& and "hen they are o$ a sared naturethey are all bel!e$s'
;$ten man on$uses bel!e$ "!th truth' 0any #eo#le& "!thout understand!n% the!r o"n
bel!e$ hold !t not as a truth
but as the truth& and thereby !%nore e(ery other bel!e$ "h!h seems to them d!$$erent $rom
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the truth they #ossess'
In real!ty bel!e$ !s not the truth nor !s the truth a bel!e$' When a #erson has r!sen to the
understand!n% o$ the truth!t !s no more a bel!e$ $or h!m& !t !s a on(!t!on'
The bel!e$s o$ a sared nature& "h!h ome !n the realm o$ rel!%!on& are as ste#s to"ards
the %oal "h!h !s alledtruth& and "hen man sto#s at a bel!e$ the bel!e$ holds h!m and he holds the bel!e$' 1e!ther
an the bel!e$ #ush h!m
on"ard nor an he ad(ane' In many ases bel!e$& "h!h should ser(e as "!n%s on "h!h
to soar to"ard thehe!%ht& beomes as na!ls $!)!n% man onto the earth' E(ery bel!e$ !n the be%!nn!n% !s a ste#
!n the dar2& but as man
dra"s nearer to the %oal& he at e(ery ste# beomes more and more !llum!nated' There$ore
there !s ho#e $or thebel!e(er& but the ase o$ the unbel!e(er !s ho#eless'
There are souls "ho are a#able o$ bel!e(!n%& e(en a#able o$ understand!n% the!r bel!e$&"ho yet $or some
reason or other are not "!ll!n% to bel!e(e and re/et a bel!e$ be$ore the understand!n%
omes' The "!se ourse !n
l!$e "ould be to try to beome a #u#!l& a #u#!l o$ one teaher as "ell as a #u#!l o$ allbe!n%s9 !t !s then that one
"!ll beome the #u#!l o$ God' Then the "!se ourse "ould be to !n(est!%ate the truth o$
bel!e$ !nstead o$ %!(!n%u# one.s bel!e$& also to be #at!ently tolerant o$ the bel!e$ o$ another unt!l one see $rom h!s
#o!nt o$ (!e" the truth
o$ h!s bel!e$' When man sees only $rom h!s o"n #o!nt o$ (!e"& he sees "!th one eye andthe other eye !s lose'
The om#lete (!e" !s !n see!n% $rom both #o!nts o$ (!e"& ho"e(er ontrary they may be'
It !s th!s tendeny
"h!h "!ll balane th!n%s and "!ll %!(e the r!%ht !dea o$ th!n%s' In order to (!e" abu!ld!n% one must stand !n the
street and (!e" !t& !nstead o$ stand!n% !ns!de !t and "ant!n% to see the outs!de'
In understand!n% bel!e$s one must be able to neutral!ze one.s s#!r!t& and to the e)tent to"h!h !t !s neutral!zed
man beomes a#able o$ see!n% the bel!e$ !n !ts r!%ht sense' When man says& on hear!n%
someth!n% $rom another&
:That !s not "hat I bel!e(e.& he sho"s h!s "ea2ness& he sho" h!s !na#a!ty to (!e" the
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(a%ue !n om#ar!son "!th
the analyt!al e)am!nat!on o$ a s!ent!st' And yet& "h!le the myst! sees throu%h ob/ets
the s!ent!st an reah as$or as the!r sur$ae'
;"!n% to the %reater at!(!ty !n Western l!$e all th!n%s han%e more 8u!2ly !n the West&"h!le !n the East han%es
ome (ery slo"ly' There$ore& one $!nds many ustoms o$ an!ent or!%!n !n the East "h!h
sho" the de(elo#mento$ Eastern #eo#le !n #syh!al th!n%s' E(en ord!nary ustoms& suh as that o$ sha2!n%
hands& or r!s!n% $rom one.s
seat to ree!(e someone& bo"!n%& bend!n%& "a(!n% the hands& or la##!n% the hands&
ha(e a #syh!als!%n!$!ane' When t"o #eo#le sha2e hands "!th one another ma%net!sm !s e)han%ed
bet"een them and a
balane o$ l!$e?$ore !s made bet"een them' The one "ho la2s stren%th& ener%y& or
ma%net! #o"er %a!ns& andthrou%h the one $rom "ho they o(er$lo" they are used $or a better #ur#ose' 7y r!s!n% to
sho" res#et to a#erson& and by "al2!n% a $e" ste#s to ree!(e a #erson& a man ma2es h!msel$ ready to
"!thstand the $ores o$
the one "ho !s om!n%' 7y stand!n% u# and "al2!n% a ste# or t"o he ma2es h!s #ulsat!onre%ular and #uts h!s
!rulat!on !n order& thus ma2!n% h!msel$ #syh!ally and morally ready to de$end h!msel$
!$ the one "ho !s om!n%
should ha##en to be a $oe& and ready to meet h!m harmon!ously and on the same le(elhys!ally& mentally& and
morally& !$ he ha##ens to be a $r!end' 7end!n% the head !n a bo" 8u!2ens not only the
!rulat!on !n the head butalso the ma%net! urrent !n !t& $or the head !s the h!e$ moral and s#!r!tual $ator !n man'
>ou "!ll al"ays $!nd that
a #erson "!th a tendeny to bo" !s thou%ht$ul& and !t o$ten ha##ens that the one "ho2ee#s h!s head eret and
a(o!ds bo"!n% !s $ool!sh' 0an.s l!$e de#ends u#on rhythm& rhythm !n h!s breath& !n the
#ulsat!on& !n the beats o$
the heart and head& and !t !s !rre%ular!ty o$ the rhythm o$ h!s heart or o$ h!s #ulse thatsho"s d!sorder !n h!s health'
It !s re%ular!ty o$ rhythm that 2ee#s man !n a $!t sta%e to %o on throu%h l!$e' And "hen
#eo#le a##laud a s#ea2er&a s!n%er& or a #layer& !t !s a su%%est!on $or h!m to ont!nue h!s rhythm& #hys!al& mental& or
moral' E(en the "a(!n%
o$ the hand !n #art!n% $rom a $r!end su%%ests the same mean!n%@ ont!nue to be !n a $!tstate to l!(e and en/oy l!$e'
There !s a ustom !n the East that "hen a #erson !s ya"n!n% a $r!end by h!s s!de la#s h!s
hands or sna#s h!s
$!n%ers' >a"n!n% naturally ma2es the rhythm slo"& !t !s %o!n% do"n& so to s#ea2& and the
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la##!n% o$ the hands
or the sna##!n% o$ the $!n%ers on the #art o$ the $r!end !s su%%est!(e o$ ont!nu!n% the
same rhythm as be$ore'4!$$erent #eo#les ha(e d!$$erent ustoms& and ustoms that one !s not !n the hab!t o$
see!n% seem not only stran%e
and mean!n%?less but o$ten also r!d!ulous' It !s the "or2 o$ the seer to see !nto th!n%s and!t !s th!s "ay o$
(!e"!n% that !s alled !ns!%ht'
Customs
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as !$ the youn%er
#erson "anted $rom the elder #erson& lo(e& l!%ht and l!$e& and the elder #erson %!(es !t to
h!m and ra!ses h!m "!th!t' It also su%%ests a sent!ment o$ modesty and hum!l!ty on the #art o$ the one& and hel#
and enoura%ement on
the #art o$ the other'
Customs ha(e somet!mes been muh e)a%%erated& and yet& !$ the sent!ment !s a true one&
no e)ternal e)#ress!on
an e(er be an e)a%%erat!on' Amon% #eo#le o$ rel!%!on and ulture !n all #er!ods o$
!(!l!zat!on there has been austom o$ 2!ss!n% the hand' The ustom has or!%!nated $rom a natural !nst!nt !n l!$e'
What smells %ood the an!mal
"ants to b!te $!rst& and e(eryth!n% that !nterests the !n$ant !t #uts !n !ts mouth $!rst' That
sho"s that the l!#s are themost sens!t!(e #art !n man and they are a#able o$ %!(!n% and ta2!n% l!$e& "h!h may be
alled ma%net!sm'There$ore the %reatest $ondness that one an sho" to another !n %reet!n% an be sho"n by
2!ss!n% the hands'
Th!s ustom an be seen all o(er the "orld& !n the East and !n the West'
I$ a s2eleton #lan o$ man.s s#!r!t be dra"n one an dra" !t as a sun !n the m!dst and $!(erays shoot!n% out
around& one stra!%ht u#"ards& t"o at the s!des r!s!n% u#"ards& and t"o do"n"ards& and !t
!s th!s "h!h ma2ethe $!(e?#o!nted star' 0an.s head& t"o arms& and t"o le%s are the out"ard e)#ress!on o$
these rays' The !dea o$
the H!ndus !n touh!n% the holy $eet o$ the sa!nt !s to reah $!rst the rays that an $!rst bereahed& and "hen one
reahes these $!rst t"o rays& the three other rays naturally $all o(er h!s head& "hen the
sa!nt #uts h!s arms o(er h!s
head and bends h!s head "h!le bless!n%& loo2!n% at the enter o$ the head o$ the one"ho !s blessed'
Hanuman
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There !s a ustom !n the East o$ o$$er!n% o!l to Hanuman& the !dol that !s #!tured !n the
!ma%e o$ a mon2ey& and
th!s !dol !s "orsh!##ed by #our!n% o!l u#on !t' Th!s ustom an be seen also at Ind!an"edd!n%s9 ma!dens ano!nt
"!th o!l the head& shoulders& arms and hands& and 2nees and $eet o$ the br!de and
br!de%room' ;ne sees th!sustom !n some hurhes& $or !nstane !n the Cathol! hurh' In Russ!a there "as a
ustom o$ ano!nt!n% the
Tsar.s $orehead "!th o!l on the day o$ h!s oronat!on'
;!l has the s!%n!$!ane o$ so$ten!n%' Deather& !ron or steel !s made so$ter or smoother by#utt!n% o!l on !t'
Ano!nt!n%& as !s done !n Ind!a& !s a #syh!al su%%est!on to the br!de and br!de%room that
the hands and $eet o$
eah shall be ready to ser(e the other& and that they shall not sho" themsel(es st!$$& one tothe other& that !$ there
"ere any hardness !n the!r nature !t should be so$tened& s!ne harmony !s the bless!n% o$ ahome9 !t teahes that
$or%!(eness !s re8u!red $or beom!n% $r!ends and 2ee#!n% $r!endsh!#9 as one.s mate !s not
so $le)!ble and do!leas one.s o"n !ma%!nat!on one!(es'
The !dol o$ Hanuman !s su%%est!(e o$ #r!m!t!(e nature !n man& and !n the #our!n% o$ o!l !n
the ser(!e o$ Hanuman
there !s a lesson $or the "orsh!##er to learn' Ho"e(er %reat your e(olut!on may be&re%ard and ons!derat!on $or
the #r!m!t!(e nature !s neessary& $or all ad/usts !tsel$ !n the "!der sheme o$ nature'
When man stands "!th h!shands $olded !n hum!l!ty be$ore the !ma%e o$ a mon2ey& there !s !n th!s some lesson $or
h!m to learn@ that l!$e !s
suh that "!th all your e(olut!on you la2 someth!n% !$ you ha(e no re%ard to the
#r!m!t!(e nature that !s !n man'Chr!st has tau%ht& :Res!st not e(!l.& and :I$ one sue thee $or thy oat& %!(e h!m thy loa2
also.' Th!s teahes the
same lesson& that l!$e beomes d!$$!ult "!thout re%ard and ons!derat!on $or the #r!m!t!(enature' 7y resentment
one #arta2es o$ !t& by rebell!n% a%a!nst !t one %!(es $uel to that $!re' ;ne "ould so$ten !t !n
onesel$ and !n anotherby "!sdom& #at!ene& and %entleness'
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The ano!nt!n% o$ the $orehead o$ the 2!n% s!%n!$!es that he should ha(e an easy
e)#ress!on& not $ro"n!n% bro"s
and a #u2ered $ae& but a sm!l!n% $orehead& as the Pers!an #hrase !s' Poor and r!h& allmust ome to the 2!n% !n
the!r troubles and d!$$!ult!es& and h!s %lane must om$ort them and br!n% them ease' The
%reat lesson one anlearn $rom th!s ustom !s that the %reat eduat!on !n l!$e !s to so$ten one.s $eel!n%s& one.s
thou%hts& "ords and
at!ons& that they may %!(e ease to oursel(es and that "e may reate an atmos#here o$ease that may bene$!t all
"ho ome !n ontat "!th us'
7ells and Gon%s
The seret o$ the rel!%!ous ustom o$ ha(!n% %on%s and bells !n tem#les and hurhes l!es!n the %reat s!ene o$
the H!ndus& "h!h !s 0antra >o%a' In the $!rst #lae& th!s ustom un!tes se(eral rel!%!ons&
s!ne bells are run% !n
Chr!st!an hurhes& !n the tem#les o$ the H!ndus& and !n 7uddh!st #a%odas' 0any th!n2that !t !s a all to #rayer&
but $rom a myst!al #o!nt o$ (!e" !t !s someth!n% more than that' The !dea o$ the myst! !s
to ma2e h!s hearta#able o$ resonane& that e(ery (o!e that r!ses on earth or desends $rom hea(en may
ha(e !ts re?eho !n h!s
heart' The Su$! #re#ares h!msel$ by h!s e)er!ses o$ !2ar and F!2ar to ma2e h!s hearta#able o$ #rodu!n% that
resonane that may be aused on earth or desend $rom hea(en' When the enters o$ the
body and $ault!es o$
the m!nd are #re#ared to #rodue that resonane& then they res#ond to e(ery sound& ande(ery t!me the bells !s
run% !t has !ts re?eho !n the heart o$ the myst!& and e(ery enter o$ h!s be!n% be%!ns to
th!n2 o$ God and to $eelGod' V!brat!on !s a %reater st!mulant than "!ne' W!ne %!(es !nto)!at!on to the bra!n& but
(!brat!on #rodues
estasy !n the heart' There$ore Su$!s ha(e alled !t "!ne'
The ustom o$ ha(!n% $lo"ers !n the house o$ #rayer and the ustom o$ burn!n% !nense !n
the #lae o$ "orsh!#
also e)!sts !n almost all rel!%!ons and has e)!sted !n almost all #er!ods' Color and beauty
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also ha(e a #o"er& an
!n$luene u#on the m!nd and body& and those "ho an en/oy the beauty o$ olor and the
del!ay o$ the $lo"erree!(e hel# by the "ay o$ the eyes' Its e$$et o#ens the heart& "h!h then res#onds to the
bless!n% $rom abo(e'
Th!s sho"s that the beauty o$ the earth an be best used to obta!n the bless!n% $romhea(en' The #er$ume o$
$lo"ers or !nense has a dee#er e$$et st!ll& beause olor and beauty are only re$leted
u#on the heart throu%hthe eyes& but #er$ume and !nense& r!s!n% throu%h the breath& touh the heart& ma2!n% !t
a#able o$ s#!r!tual
e)altat!on' 7ut noth!n% has a %reater !n$luene on the human soul than sound' There$ore
hymns are sun% !n allhurhes& #rayers are o$$ered& and hants are re!ted& all !n order to "a2e the s#!r!t "!th!n
to l!$e& "h!h enables
the soul to res#ond to the #er$et!on o$ God'
The Custom o$ 4r!n2!n% the Health o$ Fr!ends
Th!s ustom has a #syholo%!al mean!n%' W!ne has an !n$luene that ta2es a"ay the"orr!es and an)!et!es o$ l!$e
and ma2es one unons!ous o$ one.s en(!ronment& and th!s only may be alled the #ro#er
ond!t!on $oronentrat!on' Those "ho annot onentrate "!ll real!ze by study!n% the ond!t!on o$
the!r m!nd that they are
e!ther "orr!ed or an)!ous about someth!n%& or they are ons!ous o$ the en(!ronments o$the!r l!$e9 !t !s that "h!h
2ee#s them ba2 $rom onentrat!on'
All those "ho ha(e beome %reat !n the "orldly& art!st! or s#!r!tual as#ets o$ l!$e ha(e
arr!(ed at the!rdest!nat!on by the #o"er o$ onentrat!on' It !s by onentrat!on that a #erson& $rom be!n%
#oor beomes
"ealthy& !t !s by onentrat!on that one !n(ents th!n%s that the "orld has ne(er 2no"n& !t!s by onentrat!on that
one arr!(es at a des!red #os!t!on !n l!$e& and !t !s by the #o"er o$ onentrat!on that man
enters the "orld unseen'
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The ustom o$ dr!n2!n% somebody.s health there$ore #ro(es to be based on a#syholo%!al !dea& the !dea that
one holds a "!sh !n one.s m!nd at a t!me "hen one.s m!nd !s !n a state o$ onentrat!on&
so that dur!n% the t!methat the m!nd !s !n that state the thou%ht o$ the $r!end.s health "!ll be #redom!nant'
There !s a ustom o$ touh!n% %lasses& "h!h !s su##osed to be a #rom!se o$ $r!endsh!#' It
an be de$!ned
symbol!ally !n th!s "ay that the u# !s the symbol o$ the heart& $or !n the heart there !sthe a#a!ty o$ hold!n% the
d!(!ne lo(e& "h!h !s the sared "!ne' So the u# touh!n% the u# means heart un!ted
"!th heart' Aord!n% to
the myst!al (!e" !t !s t"o beom!n% one'
The ;r!%!n o$ the Custom o$ the Selus!on o$ Women
The ustom o$ the selus!on o$ "omen has !ts soure !n myst!al thou%ht' There used tobe the myst!al orders o$
#eo#le !n the East "ho ontem#lated !n sol!tude and l!(ed !n selus!on' The ma%net!sm
and #o"er o$ !n$luenethat they de(elo#ed by selus!on "as !n !tsel$ a mar(el' Th!s %a(e #o"er to the!r %aze&
#o"er !n the!r "ord& and
!n$luene !n the!r atmos#here' Th!s ustom o$ selus!on "as then !m!tated by the 2!n%sand #eo#le o$ h!%h ran2'
They had t"o "ays o$ (e!l!n% themsel(es "hen a"ay $rom home' ;ne "as to #ut a
o(er!n% o(er the ba2 o$
the head& "h!h "as made to han% do"n !n $ront& so that the eyes ould be hal$?o(ered9and the other "as to
#ut a (e!l o(er the $ae' It "as a sort o$ mantle that they #ut on the!r head' E(ery #ro#het
o$ 7en! Israel had th!s'In the an!ent #!tures o$ the #ro#hets o$ the Sem!t! rae one "!ll al"ays see the head
o(ered "!th a mantle' In
the H!ndu rae also many orders o$ 7uddh!sts and >o%!s "ore a mantle o(er the head'
The (e!l "h!h the 2!n%s
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also used& "h!h "as alled 0a2na& later beame ustomary !n the East& and lad!es o$
h!%h ran2 "ore "hat !s
alled !n Tur2!sh the >ashma2' For thousands o$ years !t has been the ustom amon%Pars!s that dur!n% the!r
rel!%!ous ser(!es the #r!est o(ers h!s head "!th a turban to%ether "!th a mantle& and the
Pars! "omen ha(e 2e#tthe ustom o$ o(er!n% the head "!th a "h!te loth& thou%h !t !s less obser(ed at the
#resent t!me' In Ind!a&
amon% H!ndus as "ell as amon% 0ussulmans& there !s a ustom at "edd!n%s o$ (e!l!n%the $aes o$ br!de and
br!de%room "!th a (e!l o$ /asm!ne $lo"ers'
5nder all these d!$$erent ustoms o$ (e!l!n% the head and $ae one $!nds a myst!al
s!%n!$!ane' 0ans $orm !s
ons!dered by Su$!s as ons!st!n% o$ t"o #arts& the head and the body& the body $or at!onand the head $or
thou%ht' S!ne the head !s $or thou%ht !ts rad!ane !s !nom#arably %reater than that o$ thebody& and the ha!rs are
as rays o$ that rad!ane !n a #hys!al $orm' It !s a onstant out#our!n% o$ l!%ht that one
obser(es !n man.s l!$e'E(ery at!on o$ loo2!n%& or breath!n%& or s#ea2!n%& robs so muh o$ the rad!ane out o$
man.s l!$e' 7y #reser(!n%
th!s rad!ane the myst! de(elo#s "!th!n h!m that !n$luene& #o"er and ma%net!sm "h!h
!n the a(era%e #ersonare "asted' For !nstane& los!n% the eyes& "h!h !s a ustom amon% myst!s& not only
hel#s !n onentrat!on and
re#ose o$ m!nd& but dur!n% the moment "hen the eyes are losed& !t #reser(es therad!ane $rom $lo"!n% out'
These ustoms "ere hel#$ul to the 2!n%s and ommanders $or de(elo#!n% the!r #o"er and
!n$luene& and they"ere (alued $or lad!es o$ ran2 $or #reser(!n% the!r beauty and harm' We learn by th!s
that a l!$e but l!ttle
e)#osed to the outer "orld& "hether throu%h selus!on& or s!lene& or a #er$et state o$
re#ose "!th the losedeyes& las#ed hands and rossed le%s& has a %reat !n$luene'
The ustom o$ the selus!on o$ the myst!s rema!ns only !n the myst!al ;rders& but one
$!nds the selus!on o$"omen #re(alent !n the East' When a ustom ta2es root !n a set!on o$ so!ety erta!nly !t
an be used and
abused as #eo#le may hoose' 1o doubt /ealousy& "h!h !s !n human nature& !s a #roo$ o$
lo(e& but /ealousy an
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be the soure o$ a %reat many r!mes' 0an has al"ays %uarded the treasures that he
(alues most !n all sorts o$
o(er!n%s& and s!ne that "h!h man an lo(e most !s "oman he has o$ten !%norantly tr!edto %uard her !n the
same "ay as all th!n%s o$ (alue and !m#ortane' And the ustom o$ selus!on has been !n
h!s hand a means thathas enabled h!m to ontrol h!s household !n the manner he l!2es'
Ho"e(er& !t !s not true that th!s ustom "as the outome o$ the teah!n% o$ the Pro#het'
There are only t"o
#laes !n the reords "here an utterane o$ the Pro#het on the sub/et !s to be $ound' Inone #lae !t !s told that
"hen some oarse danes "ere %o!n% on amon% the #easants o$ h!s land& he sa!d that
"omen must be lad
#ro#erly' In the other #lae that "hen the lad!es o$ the Pro#het.s household "erereturn!n% home a$ter ta2!n%
are o$ the Pro#het and h!s army dur!n% a battle& they "ere d!s!nl!ned to loo2 at thebattle?$!eld and to sho"
themsel(es to the!r enem!es& and the only th!n% that ould be ad(!sed by the Pro#het "as
that no" that #eaehad been made !$ they d!d not l!2e to sho" themsel(es they m!%ht (e!l the!r $aes'
In Ind!a one sees the ustom that an a%ed "oman o(ers her $ae& a "!do" o(ers her
$ae and a br!de (e!ls her
$ae' There !s some l!ttle #syholo%!al mean!n% !n !t' It !s the nature o$ e(ery soul to"!sh to h!de !ts sorro"& and
by (e!l!n% her $ae the "!do" (e!ls her sorro" $rom others' And the (e!l that one sees on
the $ae o$ an a%ed"oman !s there $or the reason that !n a%e the emot!ons beome more (!s!ble and one has
l!ttle ontrol so as to
h!de them $rom9 others& and "hen the heart has beome so$tened at e(ery l!ttle touh&
ho"e(er %entle& !t !s eas!lymo(ed& and the o(er!n% !s as a sh!eld o(er !t' ;n the $ae o$ a br!de the (e!l !s $or the
#reser(at!on o$ her harm&
o$ the ma%net!sm9 at the same t!me the $!nest beauty !n human nature !s modesty& !n"hate(er $orm !t a##ears'
From the #hys!al as "ell as the oult #o!nt o$ (!e"& "oman !s more !m#ress!onable than
man' The tas2 o$
"oman as a mother !s o$ a %reater !m#ortane than that o$ man on any #os!t!on' Woman
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"!th her thou%ht and
$eel!n% moulds the harater o$ the h!ld& and as she !s suse#t!ble to out"ard
!m#ress!ons& her !m#ress!onsal"ays ha(e the!r !n$luene on her h!ld' 4ur!n% the #er!od be$ore motherhood (ery %reat
are must be ta2en& $or
any "ord s#o2en to her reahes the de#th o$ her be!n%& and !t re?ehoes !n the soul o$ theh!ld' I$ a "ord made
her b!tter at the t!me or ross at a moment& !t an reate b!tterness or rossness !n the
h!ld' Es#e!ally dur!n%that #er!od "oman !s more sens!t!(e and suse#t!ble to all !m#ress!ons& beaut!$ul or u%ly'
Anyth!n% str!2!n%
!m#resses her soul dee#ly' A olor& l!%htn!n%& thunder& storm& all ma2e !m#ress!ons u#on
her' Cond!t!ons o$ l!$e&m!sery or /oy& all tell u#on her more than on e(ery #erson' Ha(!n% th!s !n ons!derat!on&
the ustom o$ selus!on
has been 2e#t !n the East& and st!ll e)!sts amon% erta!n ommun!t!es'
1o doubt there !s another s!de to ons!der@ that home and state are not t"o se#arate
th!n%s' Home !s the
m!n!ature o$ the state9 and !$ "oman #er$orms a #art e8ually !m#ortant at home& "hymust she not #er$orm an
e8ually !m#ortant #art !n the out"ard l!$e' 1o doubt these an!ent ustoms& e(en "!th
the!r #syholo%!al
!m#ortane& o$ten ma2e an !ron bar be$ore the #ro%ress o$ the %eneral!ty' In the East& $orthe ma!d and m!stress
both& there are days set a#art $or rest !n e(ery month& !n all d!$$erent rel!%!ons& amon%
H!ndus& Pars!s& and0ohammedans' The l!$e !n the "orld !s a onstant battle& and a hard battle one has to
$!%ht& !$ one has any
$!neness o$ $eel!n%& any deeny o$ manner' The #os!t!on o$ "oman !n th!s battle !s "orsethan that o$ man' It
%reatly robs her o$ her "omanly $!neness and del!ay o$ sent!ment' 0an !s more
de#endent u#on "oman than
"oman on man' From the $!rst moment any h!ld& "hether boy or %!rl& o#ens h!s eyes !nthe "orld& he see2s the
#rotet!on o$ "oman' Woman& as h!s mother& s!ster& dau%hter& $r!end& or "!$e& !n e(ery
$orm& !s the soure o$ h!sha##!ness& om$ort and #eae' In "hate(er $orm man may e)#ress !t ??? !n a rude ustom
l!2e the selus!on !n
the East or !n many d!$$erent "ays ??? to %uard her a%a!nst the hard 2no2s "h!h $all one(ery soul l!(!n% !n th!s
"orld o$ sel$!shness !s the $!rst duty o$ a thou%ht$ul man'
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GATHA II
:Eat 0y Flesh and 4r!n2 0y 7lood.
There !s a remar2able #hrase !n the 7!ble& here !t says& :Eat 0y $lesh and dr!n2 0y
blood.& says Chr!st' What
does He mean by say!n% th!s He means !n the $!rst #lae that "hat a l!(!n% be!n% lo(esmost !s h!s $ood& "hat he
lo(es most he eats' It has been #ro(ed !n $ero!ous and dread$ul $am!nes& by #eo#le eat!n%
the!r o"n h!ldren&
that $ood !s dearer than the!r o"n h!ld' The "ord o$ Chr!st& there$ore& :F!nd out& "hat !t!s !n 0e that you lo(e&
"h!h may beome your nour!shment& "h!h may beome your $ood' It !s not th!s& 0y$lesh and blood9 th!s "!ll
not be su$$!!ent to sat!s$y your a##et!te' There !s another #art o$ 0y be!n%& "h!h !s !n
abundane and annour!sh 0y numberless de(otees' There$ore be$ore try!n% to eat 0y $lesh and blood& try
to $!nd out on "hat
#lane I really e)!st and "hat !s 0y true be!n%.' The l!(es o$ all the %reat sa!nts sho"
that not only the!rad(ersar!es and o##onents but also the!r near and dear $r!ends ha(e #ro(ed to be amon%
the!r "orst enem!es'
There !s a reature "h!h lo(es !ts mate so muh that !t eats !t'
1o" as to the 8uest!on@ "hat !t !s that Chr!st s#ea2s o$ as h!s $lesh and blood' H!s $lesh !s
the 2no"led%e o$ God
and H!s blood !s the lo(e o$ God9 beause !t !s lo(e that has a tendeny& so to s#ea2& to
e)!te the !rulat!on&and !t !s 2no"led%e "h!h has the tendeny to stren%then& ma2!n% man $!rm o$ "h!h
$lesh !s the symbol' ;ne
th!n% "!thout the other "ould be abnormal' For !nstane $lesh "!thout blood& or blood"!thout $lesh& both are not
normal ond!t!ons' What %!(es normal health to the body and to the soul !s $lesh and
blood both' In the rel!%!ousustom o$ the sarament o$ bread and "!ne !t !s th!s seret "h!h !s symbol!ally
e)#ressed'
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Customs o$ Courtesy
There "as a ustom !n the old& ar!storat! t!mes& "h!h !s e(en no" obser(ed !n the Eastand some"hat !n the
Western #art o$ the "orld& o$ ta2!n% ste#s ba2"ard "hen lea(!n% someone "ho "as
res#eted' It "as not only
a ustom but !t had a #syholo%!al #o!nt o$ (!e"' When t"o #eo#le are tal2!n% to oneanother& $a!n% eah
other& a urrent o$ sym#athy !s establ!shed "h!h h!e$ly runs throu%h the breath and
throu%h the %lane& and
neessar!ly& one o$ them !s e)#ress!(e& the other ree#t!(e' When the!r ba2s are turnedthat urrent !s bro2en&
and the !dea o$ the #eo#le o$ old "as to reta!n that urrent& "h!h they thou%ht "as(aluable& as lon% as #oss!ble'
There "as another ustom o$ ourtesy o$ the an!ents "h!h st!ll e)!sts !n erta!n #laes&
that !n order to sho"
res#et to someone they bent the!r 2nees' Th!s had a #syholo%!al reason@ that e(ery!n$luene o$ lo(e&
a$$et!on& or sym#athy& bened!t!on& or bless!n%& !s #oured throu%h the %lane& throu%h the
breath& and throu%h"ords& and !$ the ree!(er "as taller than the besto"er& the !n$luene "ould %o !nto the
%round !nstead o$
touh!n% the #erson' Es#e!ally the !n$luene o$ the %lane& "h!h surrounds on "!thsym#athy and %ood "!shes&
has& mostly& a do"n"ard d!ret!on& and !t !s naturally so "!th the breath also'
In the salutat!on made by #utt!n% one 2nee on the %round& the 2nee rest!n% on the %round
e)#resses read!ness toree!(e the ommand and the 2nee that !s u# !s ready to %o $or"ard to arry !t out'
7ut bes!des the!r #syholo%!al !n$luenes& d!$$erent manners o$ ourtesy ha(e been the
outome o$ human
#ro%ress !n the d!ret!on o$ re$!nement' And yet #ro%ress !n e(ery d!ret!on !s l!2e a "a(e
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!n the sea ??? !t r!ses
and !t $alls' So !t !s "!th manners' Th!s t!me seems to be the t!me "hen the "a(e !s
om!n% ba2' Ho"e(er&do!n% a th!n% !s one th!n%& and understand!n% !t !s another th!n%' Whether one does a
erta!n th!n% or does not do
!t& that !s another 8uest!on& but !n the understand!n% o$ all th!n%s l!es the #ur#ose o$l!$e'
Customs o$ the 0arr!a%e Ceremony
Ind!a& the land o$ myst!!sm and #h!loso#hy& has symbol!sm !n all !ts ustoms' E(en !n
the marr!a%e eremony
e(eryth!n% that !s done as a ustom or r!te !s symbol!al' 7oth br!de and br!de%room "earon the!r hand a
#earl?embro!dered hear9 they "ear sa$$ron?oloured %arments $or the ten days that the"edd!n% eremony lasts9
they are ano!nted dur!n% the "edd!n% eremony on the!r heads& shoulders& elbo"s& and
h!ns& and on the!r 2neesand $eet' The br!de%room has a s"ord !n h!s hand dur!n% all those ten days' ;n the last
day o$ the "edd!n% both
br!de and br!de%room are (e!led "!th a lo"?$lo"!n% (e!l made o$ /asm!ne $lo"ers and
tr!mmed "!th roses& anda$ter the onlus!on o$ the marr!a%e eremony they are un(e!led'
1o"& the mean!n% o$ th!s (e!l o$ $lo"ers !s that a ne" #hase o$ l!$e be%!ns $or them' They
are no more the sameas be$ore9 ne" res#ons!b!l!t!es& ne" ho#es& and a ne" l!$e they ha(e to be%!n' The
mean!n% o$ the s"ord !n the
br!de%room.s hand !s that the br!de%room shall u#hold the honor and d!%n!ty o$ h!s
$am!ly& o$ h!s "!$e& that heshall stand !n arms to de$end the honor and d!%n!ty that the un!on o$ br!de and
br!de%room has om#leted' And
the heart on the hand denotes that both o$ them shall let the!r at!on be d!reted by the!rheart' The anno!nt!n%
means that the hands and $eet and head o$ e!ther shall be ready to ser(e the other "hen
oas!on ar!ses& thatthey shall not be st!$$ at any t!me "hen the!r ser(!e !s alled $or' Sa$$ron olor& !n the
East& !s ons!dered to be
the olor o$ all sorts o$ %ood lu2' It !s the !m#er!al s!%n' Do(e?letters are "r!tten !n
sa$$ron olor' The !n(!tat!ons
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$or the "edd!n% are "r!tten !n th!s olor& $or th!s olor re#resents l!%ht' D!%ht !n hea(en
and %old on earth& both
are yello"' There$ore yello" !s #re$erred to all other olors to be the omen on some %oodoas!on !n l!$e'
The Horse
The horse has been ons!dered a lu2y an!mal !n all a%es& $or the horse re#resents ener%y&
stren%th& at!(!ty& and
l!$e' The horse "as ons#!uous !n Gree2 art& as also !n the art o$ the an!ent Pers!ans' Inthe ourts o$ the
an!ents 2!n%s !n the East there used to be Chama& $ans made o$ horse?ha!r9 and thehorse.s head "as used as a
deorat!(e emblem !n the #alaes& and be$ore e(ery enterta!nment someth!n% "as s#o2en
about the horse $!rst'The omed!ans o$ Ind!a ha(e that ustom st!ll e)!st!n%@ the $!rst !tem o$ the!r #ro%ram !s
an !m!tat!on o$ a horse' A
story o$ a horse !s al"ays !nterest!n%' A s#ortsman and th!n2er& "ho d!$$er so muh !n
the!r l!2es& un!te !nadm!rat!on o$ the horse' The Pro#het 0ohammed adm!red the horse as one o$ the ob/ets
"orth atta!n!n% !n l!$e'
The most !nterest!n% #art o$ the Ramayana !s "here Dahu& the son o$ Rama& %oes !n#ursu!t o$ Kalan2! the !deal
horse' In the sared boo2 o$ the H!ndus& 0ahabharata& !t !s Kr!shna "ho !s the har!oteer
o$ Ar/una& Hassanand Husse!n& the %reat martyrs o$ Islam& "hose day has been elebrated year a$ter year
$or a%es& are
re#resented "!th the!r beaut!$ul horses alled 4uldul'
The horse !s the symbol o$ the m!nd' When the m!nd !s under ontrol !t !s l!2e a horsebro2en !n& "hen !t annot
be ontrolled !t !s l!2e a rest!(e horse& "hen !ts re!n !s not "ell !n hand !t !s l!2e a "!ld
horse roam!n% about !n the"!lderness' Then the horse !s the symbol o$ l!$e& re#resent!n% !ts ener%y& at!(!ty& and
beauty' The horse& "!th !ts
stren%th and at!(!ty& !s harmless& use$ul& !ntell!%ent& has $eel!n%& and !s d!$$erent to the
don2ey' The horse !s the
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omrade !n "ar& and !s the d!%n!ty o$ %reat "arr!ors' The un!ty that !s establ!shed
somet!mes bet"een the soul o$
the r!der and the s#!r!t o$ the horse !s most "onder$ul' The horseshoe !s ons!dered lu2y!n all ountr!es& $or !t
rem!nds one o$ the horse and on(eys the !m#ress!on o$ the horse.s (!%our& at!(!ty& l!$e&
and beauty'
;rales Amon% the An!ent Gree2s
In an!ent Greee o$ten 8uest!ons "ere as2ed o$ an orale& "h!h "ere ans"ered by a
"oman& "ho somet!mes%a(e a #la!n ans"er and somet!mes one the mean!n% o$ "h!h "as (e!led' It "as the same
th!n% that today !salled a s#!r!tual!st! sJane& a med!um!st! ans"er& the !nterest o$ "h!h !s al!(e !n all
a%es throu%h !n d!$$erent
$orms' Amon% all the oult and myst!al !nterests the !nterest !n the med!um has a (ery%reat attrat!on $or the
a(era%e m!nd' A "oman "as o$ten hosen $or th!s "or2& on aount o$ "oman.s
sens!t!(eness& "h!h al"ays
e)eeds that o$ man& and th!s !s the seret o$ !ntu!t!on !n human nature' Es#e!ally ael!bate "oman "as hosen
$or th!s #ur#ose& as !n her !s to be $ound more suse#t!b!l!ty to !ntu!t!on' The 8uest!on "as
su##osed to be as2edo$ a %od& a %od "ho "as d!st!n%u!shed by a #art!ular attr!bute& o$ #oetry& o$ the sun& or
any other attr!bute'
The seret o$ all th!s !s that the #r!ests& by the!r hy#not! #o"er and su%%est!on& "a2ened
!n the "oman that#art!ular attr!bute o$ the S#!r!t "!th!n& Who !s the #ossessor o$ all 2no"led%e& es#e!ally
that #erta!n!n% to the
attr!bute "!th "h!h He !s !dent!$!ed' God !s already !n the heart o$ e(ery #erson& only& to"a2e H!m and to ma2e
H!m r!se& He should be alled u#on' He then& so to s#ea2& ta2es b!rth $rom the heart o$ a
sens!t!(e "oman&"hose !nnermost an eas!ly be touhed' God has many attr!butes& He has many ears and
many ton%ues to s#ea2
"!th& and throu%h e(ery $orm He ans"ers "hene(er one reahes H!m' S#!r!tual!sts all
H!m a s#!r!t& but e(en
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throu%h the s#!r!t o$ an !nd!(!dual& dead or l!(!n%& "hen God !s alled u#on& God ans"ers'
Those "ho #lay "!th
s#!r!tual!st! seanes "ould %!(e !t all u# !n a moment !$ they only 2no" that God al"aysans"ers "hene(er He !s
alled u#on'
The Gree2 0yster!es
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at the t!me o$ dee#est m!dn!%ht I sa" the sun sh!ne !n br!%htest s#lendour& I sa" the
%reater and the lesser %ods
and re(ered them near at hand' The !n!t!ate "as sa!d to be ree!(ed& "h!le l!(!n% on earth&amon% the !mmortal
%ods& and made as one o$ them'
The Gree2 0yster!es
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2!n%dom "!th!n !s atta!ned'
;ne man has touhed h!s sel$ "!th!n& the !llus!on beomes d!ssol(ed' The $ear o$ death !s
aused by theons!ousness o$ mortal!ty' As lon% as one !s una"are o$ one.s !mmortal sel$ one has the
$ear o$ death' ;ne the
!mmortal!ty o$ the soul !s real!zed and the real!zat!on !s no lon%er !n one.s !ma%!nat!onbut has beome a
on(!t!on& then one r!ses abo(e the $ear o$ death' H!s 2no"led%e !s %a!ned $ully "hen an
ade#t !s able to detahh!s soul $rom h!s body' It !s th!s state "h!h !s alled by >o%!s Samadh! and by Su$!s
1ayat'
E(ery soul that treads the #ath o$ !n!t!at!on ta2es h!s $!rst ste#s throu%h the dar2ness9 as
Ghazzal! says& MThe
s#!r!tual #ursu!t !s l!2e shoot!n% an arro" throu%h the dar2ness'M 1o doubt as onea##roahes the %oal the l!%ht
omes9 as the Koran says& :God !s the l!%ht o$ the hea(ens and o$ the earth'. Then& onethe s!%ht has beome
2een& there !s no $urther !nstrut!on needed' ;ne %ets !ns!%ht !nto the h!dden lo"s o$
nature& all th!n%s seem tos#ea2 to the seer o$ the!r harater& nature and seret' Th!s real!zat!on remo(es the
boundary bet"een l!$e and
death' ;ne r!ses abo(e the elements "h!h ha(e $ormed th!s mortal abode???the body and
m!nd???$or the soul.se)#er!ene& "hen one touhes one.s true be!n%& the soul' It !s the soul?real!zed man "ho
stands abo(e all matter&
and !n th!s "ay the s#!r!t %ets (!tory o(er matter' 5nder all ond!t!ons o$ l!$e "h!h#rodue obsur!ty and
on$us!on the soul?real!zed man sees the l!%ht& and to h!m all men& o$ lesser or %reater
de%rees o$ e(olut!on& arenoth!n% but d!$$erent $orms o$ the 4!(!ne Immanene' In th!s "ay the man "ho has
#robed the de#ths o$ the
mystery o$ l!$e beomes God real!zed' When he no lon%er has h!s l!m!ted sel$ be$ore h!s
(!e" then only hee)#er!enes the state o$ "h!h Chr!st has s#o2en@ :7e ye #er$et as your Father !n
hea(en !s #er$et'.
+ The 7ansheeThere !s a (ery "!des#read bel!e$ that !n erta!n $am!l!es
"arn!n% o$ the !m#end!n% death o$ a member o$ the
$am!ly !s %!(en al"ays !n the same "ay' In some $am!l!es a erta!n b!rd !s seen by some
member o$ the $am!ly
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be$ore a death& !n others the hurh bell r!n%s "!thout be!n% tolled& !n another one or more
$la%stones o$ the
#a(ement o$ the ha#el are seen to be "et "h!le the rest are dry& and the number o$ "et$la%stones tall!es "!th
the number o$ deaths' In Ireland suh "arn!n%s are #art!ularly $re8uent& and o$ten our
!n the $orm o$ "hat !salled the 7anshee& a sreeh heard by members o$ the $am!ly& but !naud!ble to others'
Th!s e)#la!ns the truth that l!$e !s a re(elat!on !n all $orms and !s not restr!ted to any
#art!ular $orm' The death o$
an !nd!(!dual !s a##arently the death o$ one #erson ha(!n% !ts e$$et to some e)tent u#onthat !nd!(!dual.s
surround!n%s and on those onerned "!th h!m& yet !n"ardly the !n$luene o$ the death o$
one !nd!(!dual reahes
the "hole !rum$erene o$ the un!(erse' 1o ob/et& no be!n%& !s le$t untouhed by !t9 onlyth!s man!$ests to those
"ho are sub/et to be more a$$eted by the death o$ someone they are related to' To themthe "arn!n% o$ death
ta2es some $orm that m!%ht be #ere#t!ble to them& and told by them to the!r relat!ons and
desendants& that#art!ular $orm then beomes a s#e!al alarm lo2 o$ death $or that #art!ular $am!ly& and
!t ont!nues $or a
ons!derable t!me& unt!l someone !s born !n that $am!ly "ho !%nores !t absolutely by h!s
d!sbel!e$'
;ne learns by th!s that l!$e !s re(eal!n% by nature9 !t !s man "ho beomes bl!nded by
nature' There !s no reature
!n th!s "orld so absorbed !n the outer l!$e !n the "orld as man9 so man& "!th %reatera#ab!l!ty o$ 2no"!n%&
2no"s least o$ all reatures' There are b!rds "ho %!(e "arn!n% o$ death' 4o%s& ats& and
horses #ere!(e the
om!n% death o$ the!r $r!end or ne!%hbor or o$ the!r master' I$ man !s o#en to the2no"led%e that l!$e re(eals
ont!nually& h!s body and m!nd "!th h!s !ntu!t!(e enters and #ere#t!(e $ault!es an
2no" the seret and themean!n% o$ l!$e most'
The Psyholo%y o$ the Shado"
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Amon% the H!ndus there has been an old bel!e$& "h!h !s no" ta2en to be a su#erst!t!on&e(en !n Ind!a' E(ery
7rahman a(o!ded or !n other "ords too2 %reat are to 2ee# h!msel$& h!s shr!ne o$ "orsh!#&
h!s $ood& "omandur!n% matern!ty #er!od and the ne"?born h!ld a"ay $rom the shado" o$ a Shudra or
outast'
1o"& the t!mes be!n% d!$$erent& naturally that bel!e$ !s seem!n%ly mean!n%less9 but !n#o!nt o$ $at there "as an
oult mean!n% h!dden beh!nd !t' Shado" !s aused by the "all o$ a #erson stand!n%
a%a!nst the sun& the sun
"h!h !s l!$e?%!(!n% to #lants and human be!n%s& to an!mals and to all& and the d!ret rayso$ "h!h %!(e all th!n%s
ne" l!$e' Plaes "h!h are h!dden $rom the sun& $lat or mounta!nous& beome the enterall d!seases' The
#ersonal!ty that stands !n the l!%ht o$ any #erson& aus!n% thereby h!ndrane !n the l!$e o$
that #erson& !s ane)am#le o$ th!sN
The d!$$erene bet"een the true teaher and the $alse???both o$ "hom ha(e al"ays e)!sted
!n the "orld???hadbeen d!st!nt' The $alse one stood !n the l!%ht o$ h!s #u#!l9 the true one sho"ed h!m the
"ay stand!n% on the s!de'
The #syholo%y o$ the shado" !s (ery om#le)' The shado" o$ an unholy #erson $all!n%
u#on $ood "!ll erta!nly
ta2e a"ay the l!(!n% substane $rom !t9 !$ !t $ell u#on a #erson !n a ne%at!(e state& a"oman s!tt!n% as!de& or a
h!ld& !t "ould #rodue e)haust!on and l!$elessness& also !n the souls "ho are %on%
throu%h a #roess o$
reu#erat!on or %ro"th' Very o$ten a tree stand!n% abo(e a #lant& 2ee#!n% $rom !t the l!%ht&h!nders the %ro"th o$
the #lant9 so !s the shado" o$ the unholy' It an $or the moment dar2en the soul o$ those
#ass!(e and ree#t!(eo$ s#!r!t' 1o doubt the #o"er o$ dar2ness and !llus!on !tsel$& as shado"& has no e)!stene
!n real!ty' Ho"e(er& !t
!s e(!dent9 so !s the !n$luene o$ !mmature souls'
The s#!r!tual souls ha(e a ontrary !n$luene to th!s' The!r #resene !s a st!mulus to
!ntell!%ene9 the!r !n$luene !s
om$ort %!(!n% and !ns#!r!n%' The #henomenon o$ a s#!r!tual #ersonal!ty !s that !n h!s
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#resene the memory
beomes 2een& the "a(es o$ !ns#!rat!on r!se& the louds o$ de#ress!on lear a"ay& ho#e
s#r!n%s $rom the de#tho$ the heart and the soul "!th!n be%!ns to $eel l!(!n%& lo(e man!$ests throu%h thou%ht and
$eel!n%& and all that "as
one dead l!(es a%a!n'
Th!s sho"s that #ersonal!ty !s a mystery' It %!(es l!$e and auses death9 !t ra!ses one to
hea(en& and thro"sanother ba2 to the de#ths o$ earth' The !n$luene o$ #ersonal!ty may han%e one.s l!$e&
en(!ronment& and all
a$$a!rs' Its !n$luene an turn the "heel o$ l!$e to the r!%ht or "ron% s!de& turn!n% thereby
the trend o$ all the a$$a!rso$ l!$e'
Very o$ten most !nnoent& %ood and #ure?m!nded souls& o"!n% to the la2 o$ #os!t!(eness
!n the!r natures&beome the (!t!ms o$ undes!rable #ersonal!t!es& #ersonal!t!es that stand !n the!r l!(es&
obsur!n% the l!%ht $or"h!h they ra(e9 and th!s may ont!nue $or a lon% #er!od o$ t!me' ;ne a #erson !s
austomed to be!n% !n the
shade& then he !s a$ra!d to ome out !n the sunl!%ht thou%h !n"ardly he ma2e be dra"nto !t'
The denser a #erson !s& the %rosser !s h!s shado"' In other "ords& the more mater!al a
#erson !s& the hea(!er !sh!s !n$luene'
The "hole !dea o$ l!$e !s to l!(e $reely9 to loo2 throu%h s#ae $reely& ha(!n% noth!n% toh!de or oneal9 the l!%ht o$
truth to sh!ne $rom "!th!n and the l!%ht o$ the sun "!thout9 l!%ht all around& no shado" o$
any 2!nd h!nder!n% thel!%ht& "h!h !s the soul o$ e(ery be!n%'
GATHA III
* Toasts
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THERE IS a ustom #re(alent e(ery"here !n the Western "orld o$ #ro#os!n% toast&
"h!h !s s!%n!$!ant o$ a#syholo%!al truth beh!nd !t& "h!h !s to "!sh $or a erta!n th!n% to ha##en at a t!me
"hen one.s o"n "!sh !s
be!n% %ranted& !n a smaller or %reater $orm' Th!s sho"s that the moment "hen one.s "!sh!s %ranted !s that
moment "hen one !s sat!s$!ed' We should not& there$ore& "onder "hy #eo#le %o to
s#!r!tual souls $or the!rbless!n%' Those "ho are s#!r!tually blessed& the!r !nnermost "!sh has been sat!s$!ed& and a
"!sh made by them
ats as a 8u!2 bless!n% !n the l!$e o$ e(eryone'
7ut th!s also teahes one to ath the o##ortun!ty o$ %ett!n% the %ood "!sh o$ e(ery
#erson at the moment "hen
h!s "!sh !s be!n% %ranted' Ha(!n% 2no"n th!s #syholo%!al la"& the #eo#le !n the East
loo2 $or suh ano##ortun!ty o$ o$$er!n% $ood to the hun%ry or a %!$t to the one "ho needed !t& $or the "!sh
that naturally r!ses $romthe heart o$ a #erson "h!le ae#t!n% !t "!ll erta!nly be %ranted'
Very $e" !n the "orld 2no" that %reat #o"er !s h!dden !n the "!sh o$ a #erson "hoseheart !s !n the state o$
dan!n%& so to s#ea2???$ull o$ /oy' We read !n the le%ends o$ old o$ sa%es all!n% u#on
the!r $r!ends& #u#!ls or
$ollo"ers at a erta!n t!me and as2!n% them to ma2e a "!sh& $or they 2ne" the moment"hen the "!sh ould be
%ranted' There !s a story o$ Ha$!z& that near the home o$ the Sha!2h there "ere ele(en
#u#!ls "hose name "asHa$!z& but amon% them there "as only one "ho use to en%a%e h!msel$ !n h!s n!%ht (!%!ls&
and the others used to
rest all n!%ht' ;ne e(en!n% the Sha!2h alled& :Ha$!z.N There "as only one Ha$!z a"a2e&all others aslee#' The
Sha!2h "as hold!n% the bo"l "!th the thou%ht o$ the "!sh to be %ranted' W!th h!s eyes
losed he %a(e !t to Ha$!z'
7ut then as he 2ne" there "ere ten more& he a%a!n alled :Ha$!z.N and as all others "ereaslee#& the same Ha$!z
ame a%a!n and ree!(ed the bo"l' Ele(en t!mes the teaher alled& and the same Ha$!z
"ent a%a!n and a%a!n' Inthe morn!n% ten "ere d!sa##o!nted and that one Ha$!z "as $ound blessed "!th ele(en?
$old bless!n%s'
It "ould not be an e)a%%erat!on !$ one sa!d that e(en God has t!me "hen He %rants
"!shes' And !$ one 2no"s
that t!me one erta!nly beomes bene$!ted and blessed' S!ne Su$!sm teahes& loo2 $or
God !n the heart o$ man&
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the "!se mureeds there$ore see the #leasure and d!s#leasure o$ God !n e(eryone they
meet& and they are$ully
re%ard the #leasure and d!s#leasure o$ those they ome !n ontat "!th& 2no"!n% that !ndo!n% so they re%ard the
#leasure and d!s#leasure o$ God'
7es!des ha(!n% one.s "!sh %ranted& the /oy o$ %!(!n% another ha##!ness& that !tsel$ !s
%reater than a "!sh %ranted&
!$ one has r!sen to that #lane o$ human e(olut!on "hen one an en/oy #leasure "!th the#leasure o$ another& "hen
one an $eel sat!s$at!on !n the sat!s$at!on o$ another& "hen one an be ha##y !n br!n%!n%
ha##!ness to another'
1o one "!ll %!(e another ha##!ness and "!ll not ha(e the same ome to h!m athousand$old' There omes a
sta%e o$ e(olut!on !n the l!$e o$ man "hen he $eels more sat!s$!ed by see!n% another
#erson sat!s$!ed "!th $ood
than by h!s ha(!n% eaten !t h!msel$& "hen he $eels om$ortable !n see!n% another #ersonom$ortable& "hen he
$eels r!hly adorned by see!n% another #erson lothed n!ely9 $or th!s sta%e !s a ste##!n%?stone to the real!zat!on
o$ God'
3uest!ons and Ans"ers es' ;ne should al"ays th!n2 that l!$e !s an o##ortun!ty' E(ery moment !s ano##ortun!ty' Somet!mes one an
do %ood by not troubl!n% muh onesel$9 !t !s /ust by se!z!n% the o##ortun!ty' I$ one !s
attent!(e and br!n%s some#leasure and ha##!ness& !t !s not al"ays that !t osts' What !t osts !s attent!on' I$ one
2ee#s one.s attent!on $!)ed
u#on that !dea& and !s onstantly see2!n% "here one an do some l!ttle %ood to another'
7y %!(!n% one.s #lae !na bus or tramar9 by /ust ha(!n% a l!ttle ons!derat!on $or the a%ed& a l!ttle ons!derat!on
$or someone "ho !s
#erha#s not honored or res#eted& !$ one an o$$er "hat a #erson !s la2!n% !n h!s l!$e"!thout h!m 2no"!n%& that
!s al"ays a %reat O' To do %ood !s the "or2 o$ the sa%e' Somet!mes #eo#le beome o(er?
enthus!ast!& "h!hdoes harm' It !s a s#ell& a $!t o$ %oodness' That does no %ood' The real %oodness !s that
"h!h omes
s#ontaneously' A th!e$ !s al"ays on the loo2?out to rob someth!n%9 so a %ood #erson !s
al"ays loo2!n% $or an
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o##ortun!ty to do %ood9 he "!ll al"ays $!nd !t'
3 Can you tell someth!n% more o$ the t!me that God %rants "!shes
A God %rants "!shes at t"o t!mes' ;ne t!me !s "hen your heart !s $ree $rom e(ery
thou%ht& or $eel!n%& oremot!on9 !n the most #eae$ul and tran8u!l ond!t!on9 at that t!me e(ery "!sh that !s so"n
!s /ust l!2e a seed so"n
!n $ert!le so!l' I$ one had the #at!ene to "a!t !n the %reat #o"er o$ God& "hate(er be the"!sh& !t "!ll erta!nly be
%ranted' The other t!me "hen the "!sh !s %ranted !s "hen somebody !s sat!s$!ed& had been
made ha##y by you&
and naturally& out o$ h!s heart& s#r!n%s a 2!nd o$ $ounta!n "h!h #ours u#on you a 2!nd o$bless!n%' It "!ll be /ust
l!2e ra!n $rom abo(e& "h!h !n t!me "!ll br!n% !ts $ru!ts and $lo"ers'
3 Has one the r!%ht to "!sh $or onesel$
A >es& as lon% as the ons!ene says that the "!sh !s r!%ht' 7ut there !s another sta%e&"hen a #erson has so
ad(aned s#!r!tually that he th!n2s@ :God.s "!sh !s my "!sh God 2no"s better than me' I
may "!sh someth!n%"ron%.' The one "ho %!(es h!s l!$e !n that "ay !n the hands o$ God !s %reater st!ll'
3 When a man !s #oor& but an /ust l!(e "!th the means he has& !s !t then %ood "hen he
%!(es a"ay mater!alth!n%s& and so ma2es h!msel$ de#endent u#on others
A >ou see& the 8uest!on "hat !s %ood !s a (ery d!$$!ult 8uest!on to de!de' Good !s#eul!ar to a #erson' It all
de#ends u#on "hat that #erson th!n2s' When he th!n2s !t !s r!%ht& !t !s %ood' That !s the
only 8uest!on'
The story o$ Sa!nt Al!as& he "as an aset!& and $or h!s $ood only a loa$ o$ bread "as
enou%h e(ery day' He
"ould not 2ee# anyth!n% $or tomorro"' I$ he "as %!(en $our #eo#le.s $ood !n one day he"ould d!str!bute !t' I$
he had st!ll more& he shared !t all' 1e)t day he "as "!thout' I$ one sa!d& "hy d!d he ma2e
h!msel$ de#endentu#on #eo#le $or the ne)t day he "ould say that@ :We l!(e !n th!s l!$e !nterde#endent' As
lon% as I do not %o to
anybody& do not $ore u#on anybody???only #eo#le brou%ht !t???"hat does !t matter It !s$rom H!m' It !s not
de#end!n% u#on others' It all omes $rom God' It all %oes to the reatures o$ God' What
does !t matter. It all
de#ends u#on the #erson and ho" the #erson loo2s at !t'
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3 The %reat reat!(e s#!r!ts& "h!h at th!s moment are so neessary $or "or2!n% !n the
"orld& !$ they ha(e !n the!rsoul a lon%!n% $or s#!r!tual!ty& ho" an they 2ee# balane bet"een the!r busy l!$e and the
onentrat!on "h!h !s a
neess!ty $or the s#!r!tual #ath What must they sar!$!e
A In the $!rst #lae I should say that !$ one ob/et !s the see2!n% o$ one.s soul& and the
other ob/et !s l!$e.sneess!ty& and !$ one ob/et !s to be sar!$!ed& !t !s better the one "h!h !s neessary& but
2ee# to the soul.s
see2!n%'
There !s another #o!nt o$ (!e"9 !n order to beome s#!r!tual& "e should not beome
un"orldly' We an /ust as
"ell be !n the "orld and yet not be o$ the "orld' We an be at!(e !n our e(eryday l!$e&
and yet beonentrat!(e' A #erson "ho an onentrate "ell an mana%e the a$$a!rs o$ the "orld
better' Those "ho ha(eatta!ned suess !n bus!ness& !n "orldly a$$a!rs& they had the!r onentrat!on better'
There$ore onentrat!on !s !n
no "ay a h!ndrane' A suess %a!ned throu%h the #o"er o$ s#!r!tual!ty !s more seureand has a stron%er
$oundat!on' Furthermore& there !s one rule o$ l!$e& "h!h must be understood' That the
suess !s %a!ned by t"o
"ays9 by the r!%ht "ay and by the "ron% "ay' Wron% "ay means that "h!h !s a%a!nstthe s#!r!tual !dea' And
"hen a #erson has started by one #ath& he must 2ee# that #ath& !n order to be suess$ul'
And !$ he $!nds that#erha#s the other #ath "!ll be better $or the suess& he "!ll lose' A #erson "ho !s %o!n%
the "ron% "ay& !$ he
th!n2s that the r!%ht "ay "!ll be better& he "!ll lose' The #erson "ho !s %o!n% the r!%ht"ay& he "!ll not lose' H!s
suess "!ll #erha#s be slo"& but !t !s seure& and he "!ll all throu%h be suess$ul' The
other had no dan%er& but
h!s %reatest dan%er !s %o!n% !nto the r!%ht #ath9 that !s h!s loss'
, Wedd!n% Customs
There are su#erst!t!ons and ustoms onneted "!th the "edd!n% obser(ed !n Euro#e&suh as thro"!n% an old
shoe a$ter the ne"ly marr!ed ou#le as they %o a"ay& and thro"!n% r!e' The r!e
s!%n!$!es $lour!sh!n%&
mult!#l!at!on& #ros#er!ty& and Pro(!dene& "hereas old shoes are the old t!mes #assed !n
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l!$e and a ne" l!$e
be%un' The r!n%s that br!de%room and br!de #ut on eah other.s $!n%er !s the s!%n o$ bond&
"h!h !s the realmean!n% o$ marr!a%e' The hands o$ the t"o /o!ned by the #r!est !s the #ossess!on o$ one
another& su%%est!n% that
eah holds the other'
The ustom o$ the Gree2 hurh& "here "reaths are #ut on the head o$ the br!de and
br!de%room !s thee)han%e o$ thou%hts and $eel!n%s and "al2!n% three t!mes round the altar !s su%%est!(e
o$ God bet"een them&
un!t!n% them both !n a d!(!ne l!n2& the l!n2 "h!h !s e(erlast!n% as God H!msel$' And the
ustom o$ the br!de.s2!ss!n% the hand o$ the br!de%room& "h!h !s st!ll ont!nued at the t!me "hen the rhythm
o$ the "orld !s 8u!te
han%ed& only e)#la!ns the res#onse $rom the s!de o$ the br!de& !n "h!h !s the seret o$
nature.s harmony&althou%h "hat %enerally ha##ens later !s /ust the o##os!te& but that br!n%s about the
ha##y med!um'
L Funeral Customs
The human body re#resents the $!(e elements& and nature.s la" !s that e(ery element
returns to !ts o"n or!%!n'1aturally there$ore the be!n% "h!h !s the a!r #art turns !nto a!r& the heat !s absorbed by
the heat???the
$!re?element has le$t already' The body belon%s e!ther to earth or to "ater' 7ut the body&"h!h !s born on earth&
not !n the "ater& and has sou%ht !ts om$ort on earth& not !n "ater& and has also been
a$ra!d o$ the "ater& anelement $ore!%n to !t& had better be sa(ed $rom !t and had better bur!ed'
Another #o!nt o$ (!e" !s that e(ery l!(!n% be!n%& "hether man or an!mal& has a $ear o$
$!re' A #o"er$ul an!mal l!2ethe l!on !s a$ra!d o$ the $!re9 the ele#hant "!th all !ts lar%e body and stren%th runs a"ay
$rom $!re' I$ that !s the
nature o$ all l!(!n% be!n%s& to be a$ra!d o$ $!re& then !ma%!ne $or a #erson "ho !s not yetdead to 2no" that as soon
as he !s dead h!s body "!ll be #ut !n the $!re' Althou%h h!s m!nd !s se#arate $rom the body&
yet h!s m!nd "!ll ha(ea sho2 /ust the same'
The reason o$ mumm!es !s to su%%est that !$ the body "h!h !s dead an be 2e#t alon%&
then the l!$e& "h!h !s real
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l!$e& !s eternal' 7es!des amon% the an!ent E%y#t!ans there "as a ustom
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:Thro" a"ay that "h!h auses you $ear.' 0anhandra too2 out $rom h!s "allet t"o
br!2s o$ %old and sa!d&
:These br!2s o$ %old& must I thro" them a"ay. :>es.& sa!d Gaura2ha& :What are they.0anhandra thre"
them a"ay& and as he "ent on h!s $ae turned #ale' Gaura2ha loo2ed at h!m and sa!d&
:Why are you sad.0anhandra sa!d& :1o" "e ha(e noth!n%.' Gaura2ha sa!d& :We ha(e e(eryth!n%' Doo2
be$ore you& "hat do
you behold. And he beheld mounta!ns o$ %old' Gaura2ha sa!d& :Ta2e as muh as youan& !$ that !s your soul.s
str!(!n%.' 0anhandra.s soul a"o2e& and he sa!d& :1oth!n% "!ll I ta2e $or I 2no" the
r!hes o$ #ossess!n%
noth!n%.'
Customs at the 7!rth o$ a Ch!ld !n Ind!a
For three days $rom the t!me that the h!ld !s born& and somet!mes $or s!) days& no $r!endsare allo"ed to enter
the room "here the h!ld !s& only some relat!ons "ho are most esteemed !n the $am!ly'
The mean!n% !n th!sustom !s that the m!nd o$ the ne"born h!ld !s l!2e a #hoto%ra#h! #late and the $!rst
!m#ress!on that !t ree!(es
%oes dee#er !n !t and other !m#ress!ons ha(e less e$$et' There$ore the !m#ress!ons o$
early h!ldhood ma2e the$oundat!on $or the "hole l!$e'
The mother does not a##ear be$ore $r!ends $or the $!rst s!) days& e(en some relat!ons are2e#t a"ay' The
mean!n% o$ th!s ustom !s that !n the ne%at!(e state !n "h!h a mother !s at that t!me' She
!s too sens!t!(e to bee)#osed to !nharmon!ous and oarse (!brat!ons' In the ase o$ the h!ld !t !s not only that
h!s m!nd !s a$$eted& but
the $!rst !m#ress!on e(en !n$luenes the onstrut!on o$ h!s $ae and $orm'
At the b!rth o$ a son the oas!on !s elebrated by the beat!n% o$ drums and %un$!re' Th!s
ustom no doubt
omes $rom the an!ent Ra/#uts& "hose 4harma or sared duty& "as "ar$are' Th!s $!rstno!se o$ drums and
%un$!re "as meant as the h!ld.s $!rst e)#er!ene& or as a $!rst lesson !n "ar$are' An
enterta!nment !s %!(en !nelebrat!on o$ the b!rth o$ a h!ld& at "h!h there !s s!n%!n%& #lay!n% and dan!n%' It !s
meant by th!s that a /oyous
atmos#here "or2s as a #ush %!(en to a s"!n% !n the l!$e o$ a h!ld on earth at !ts
ommenement'
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The Su#erst!t!ons o$ the 4ays E)!st!n% !n the East
In the East the !n$luene o$ the days o$ the "ee2 !s ons!dered by all& learned or !ll!terate'E(ery t!me has !ts
#eul!ar !n$luene and #art!ular #ur#ose' The mehan!sm o$ the osmos has a erta!n
at!on and a%a!n !tsreat!on on the #art o$ the #lanets& #rodu!n% a erta!n e$$et !n e(ery hour o$ the day& !n
e(ery day o$ the "ee2&
!n e(ery "ee2 o$ the month& !n e(ery month o$ the year& and !n e(ery year o$ a yle'
The harater!st! o$ Sunday !s Godl!ness' Anyth!n% s#!r!tual an alone be suess$ul'
Anyth!n% else& bes!des a
s#!r!tual th!n%& someth!n% o$ a "orldly nature& be%un on Sunday& or ont!nued on that day&
must ome to nau%ht'
0onday !s a ne%at!(e day& a day $or th!n%s o$ a #ass!(e harater' To ree!(e teah!n%& toobta!n !n$ormat!on& to
searh $or anyth!n%& th!s !s the aus#!!ous day'
Tuesday !s a day o$ en/oyment& $or amusement& /oy and #leasure' For #!n!& $east and
"edd!n%& $or mus! and
dan!n%& and $or s#orts& th!s !s a $!tt!n% day'
Wednesday !s a day $or bus!ness' It !s a day $or ta2!n% an !n!t!at!(e& and underta2!n%' All
that !s done on th!s day
must bear $ru!t'
Thursday !s a entral day& to ma2e a determ!nat!on& to de!de th!n%s& to settle !n a ne"
#lae' It !s a day o$!ns#!rat!on& o$ re(elat!on& beause the !n$luene o$ th!s day touhes the summ!t'
Fr!day !s a day o$ #o"er and a day o$ as#!rat!on' ;n th!s day #rayer !s %ranted and "!shes
are $ul$!lled& thou%htsare mater!al!zed& and dreams beome real!zed' Ho"e(er& th!s !s not the day o$ so"!n%& !t
!s the day o$ rea#!n%'
Fr!day !s a day o$ e)altat!on'
Saturday !s a "!nd!n% day' I$ loss !s "ound !t ont!nues $or days and days& !$ the
mehan!sm o$ %a!n !s "ound !tont!nues $or "ee2s' It !s a day o$ u#l!$tment to those "ho ra!se the!r soul to a h!%her
#!th& so that the mah!nery
o$ the s#!r!t may be "ound and ont!nued $or a lon%& lon% t!me' E(ery #lanetary !n$luene
that be%!ns on
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Saturday must al"ays ont!nue !ts e$$et u#on one.s l!$e'
The !n$luene o$ the day !s una(o!dable u#on e(ery mortal& e)e#t u#on souls to "homday and n!%ht !s the
same& those "ho are beyond the la"s o$ th!s mortal "orld'
5nlu2y 1umbers
Aord!n% to the ;r!entals& L& *L& +& and * are numbers "h!h must be a(o!ded !n
be%!nn!n% some #ro$!table
at' There are some #syholo%!al reasons "h!h #ro(e these numbers to be besta(o!ded'
Three denotes all' All means e(eryth!n%& and e(eryth!n% means noth!n% !n #art!ular'
Th!n%s o$ the "orld& "h!hare #ro$!table& are someth!n% !n #art!ular' Three there$ore annuls the d!st!nt!on& $or L
resol(es !nto *' ;ne !s L&and L !s *'
Th!rteen destroys balane by unbalan!n% the rhythm& as !t annot be e(enly d!(!ded'7es!des& *, hours o$ the
day and *, hours o$ the n!%ht om#lete the day and n!%ht' So the th!rteenth has no #lae
e!ther !n the day or !n
the n!%ht' 7es!des& a$ter *, o.lo2 omes *& and !t mar2s *L' Th!rteen !s a number"h!h has no
aommodat!on' Amon% Western #eo#le there !s a su#erst!t!on that the th!rteenth #erson
at table must d!e "!th!nthe year' Th!s also e)#la!ns that the number *L has no aommodat!on' That a #erson
d!es& means that the earth
aommodates h!m no lon%er'
1!ne $alls short o$ #er$et!on' 7es!des !t !s L t!mes L'
And so !s * $or and * are +' It has the same e$$et as L'
All numbers bes!des L& *L& +& and * are ons!dered !n the East $!t to be used'
The 0yster!es o$ ;mens
The seret o$ "hat "e all omen !s to be $ound !n the la" o$ !m#ress!ons' For !nstane
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there !s a bel!e$ that !$ you
are %o!n% to do someth!n%& !$ a at rosses your "ay you meet "!th !ll?lu2' It !s easy to
understand' In the $!rst#lae the s"!$t at!on o$ the at ma2es a %reat !m#ress!on u#on a #erson9 !t $orms a l!ne
be$ore you& a l!ne o$
at!on& and that l!ne !m#ressed u#on you %!(es you the thou%ht o$ a ross' >ou are!ntend!n% to %o stra!%ht& and
your l!ne !s rossed by a hor!zontal at!on a%a!nst your (ert!al at!on& "h!h means !n
at!on one.s hands na!ledand $eet t!ed' It %!(es the #!ture o$ the !dea'
The "hole mystery o$ omens& "h!h used to be bel!e(ed by the an!ent #eo#le and are
no" ons!dered to besu#erst!t!ons& has beh!nd !t th!s mystery o$ !m#ress!on' 1aturally "hen a #erson !s
start!n% to aom#l!sh a erta!n
"or2 and he ha##ens to see beaut!$ul $lo"ers o$ $ru!ts that %!(es a #rom!se o$ h!s des!re
be!n% $ul$!lled& o$ !tsbear!n% $lo"ers $or h!m???the s!%n o$ suess' A #erson %o!n% $or"ard "!th th!s
!m#ress!on "!ll erta!nly meet"!th suess' Whereas !$ a #erson sees burn!n% "ood& or a sa2 o$ oal& "h!h all sho"
destrut!on???$!re "h!h
burns u#???a #erson %o!n% to do someth!n% !m#ressed by th!s erta!nly loses'
There use to be a ustom that "hen someone !n a $am!ly "as %o!n% out to aom#l!sh
someth!n%& no one must
say any "ord that "ould h!nder h!s suess' They d!d not e(en as2 the #erson& :Where areyou %o!n%.&
beause e(en as2!n% ra!ses a 8uest!on' The 8uest!on stands be$ore one& Why Where A
#erson "ould beomed!soura%ed e(en !n ans"er!n%' The stren%th o$ "!ll "!th "h!h he !s %o!n% may be
e)hausted !n ans"er!n% Why&
and Where& and then he may not $!nd the ener%y and #o"er to aom#l!sh "hat he !s%o!n% to aom#l!sh'
Th!s !s the !nner #syholo%y o$ m!nd& the 2no"led%e o$ "h!h ma2es th!n%s easy' ;ne
must not beome!m#ressed by hold!n% d!$$erent bel!e$s& but one must 2no" the s!ene& the mystery "h!h
!s h!dden beh!nd all
suh th!n%s& "h!h may seem small and l!ttle& but the!r result somet!mes !s most!m#ortant'
The In$luene o$ T!me
It has been a ustom amon% the #eo#le !n the East to start e(ery enter#r!se "!th the
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!ne)#l!able' That !s the m!nd' The s!ent!sts all !t the bra!n& but the bra!n !s but the
!nstrument o$ the m!nd& and
the m!nd %oes beyond !t' Pla!nly s#ea2!n%& !t may be sa!d that the m!nd !s the !nstrumento$ the soul and the body
!s the !nstrument o$ the m!nd& but both m!nd and body !s the !nstruments o$ the soul'
Althou%h these !nstruments%!(e the soul 2no"led%e o$ th!n%s learly& these !nstruments at the same t!me l!m!t the
#o"er o$ the soul'
There are t"o as#ets o$ s!%ht@ one !s #enetrat!on and the other e)#ans!on& !'e'& the len%th
and "!dth o$ the ran%e
o$ s!%ht' Throu%h the eyes o$ the body one an see a short or lon% d!stane& or ha(e a
"!de or narro" hor!zon'7ut by us!n% the m!nd as !ts !nstrument the soul sees throu%h another m!nd !n the same
"ay as the eye sees
aross the len%th and breadth o$ !ts ran%e o$ s!%ht'
When the m!nd ta2es the body !n order to e)#er!ene l!$e& !t l!m!ts the e)#er!ene' For the
body !s not su$$!!ent'7ut !$ the m!nd "ere $ree& !t "ould see $urther' 7ut& as $rom h!ldhood man has the hab!t
o$ us!n% the body as the
!nstrument o$ the m!nd& hardly anyone 2no"s ho" to ma2e use o$ the m!nd "!thout thebody' And as the soul
has al"ays ta2en the m!nd as !ts !nstrument& !t also l!m!ts !ts s!%ht and e)#er!ene' I$ the
soul ould see
!nde#endently o$ m!nd and body& !t "ould see !n$!n!tely more'
As !t !s d!$$!ult $or the m!nd to see !nde#endently o$ the body& !t !s more d!$$!ult $or the
soul to see !nde#endentlyo$ the m!nd' There$ore& the Su$! tr!es to ma2e h!s m!nd !nde#endent o$ the body and h!s
soul !nde#endent o$ m!nd
and body' In order to aom#l!sh th!s d!$$erent onentrat!ons and #rat!es are %!(en' It!s l!2e e$$a!n% the
e)ternal $orm $rom the m!nd& and eras!n% $rom the soul the $orm o$ the m!nd' It !s th!s
e)#er!ene "h!h !s alled
Sa$a'
, Tat T(am As!
There are three as#ets o$ l!$e& and by see!n% the oneness o$ these three one omes to
d!(!ne 2no"led%e' To the
myst!& there$ore& the !dea o$ the Tr!n!ty su%%ests th!s #h!loso#hy' Th!s !dea also e)!sts !n
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the H!ndu rel!%!on& and
!s 2no"n as Tr!murt!' They ha(e a rel!%!ous !nstrument "!th three #o!nts
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!nterest!n% $or the
seer to see or 2no" as human nature& and !t !s the seer "ho an see and 2no" another
#erson'
;rd!nar!ly there e)!st many barr!ers bet"een one #erson and another& suh as #re/ud!e&
hatred& reser(e&remoteness& and all as#ets o$ dual!ty' A #erson ons!ders another h!s %reatest $r!end !n
the "orld !$ he real!zes
that the other understands h!m' There !s noth!n% that br!n%s t"o #eo#le loser to%etherthan understand!n%' And
"hat !s th!s om#rehens!on It !s tr!n!ty "!th un!ty' ;$ten one "onders& :Why do I not
understand th!s #erson.
7ut one does not real!ze that one reates onesel$ the barr!ers& "h!h se#arate one #erson$rom another' I$ these
barr!ers are not reated& the soul has $reedom to see and noth!n% an stand !n !ts "ay' 4o
you th!n2 the sa%es
and sa!nts try to see the thou%hts o$ other #eo#le 1ot at all& that does not onern them'7ut the thou%hts o$
another #erson man!$est themsel(es to the sa!nt' Why 7eause there !s no barr!er' Th!sbarr!er reates dual!ty'
The !dea o$ the Su$! !s to uno(er h!msel$& and th!s he an aom#l!sh by ontem#lat!onu#on the !dea o$ God&
"h!h !s the Absolute ;neness' When one real!zes th!s !n !ts !mmens!ty& all suh s!enes
as #hys!o%nomy or
#hrenolo%y be%!n to beome l!2e #lay& beause by these s!enes one sees a #art& but bythe l!%ht o$ the soul one
sees the "hole'
L The Glane o$ the Seer
The %lane o$ the seer !s #enetrat!n%& and !n th!s !t d!$$ers $rom the %lane o$ an ord!naryman' It has three
harater!st!s
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Th!s !s 8u!te natural& as "e see !n the ord!nary ourse o$ l!$e that by $ear "e reate !n
others dread$ul 8ual!t!es&and "hen "e lo(e& "e reate 2!ndness' It !s #oss!ble to turn a $r!end !nto an enemy by
th!n2!n% that he !s an
enemy& and also !t !s #oss!ble to han%e an enemy !nto a $r!end by e)#et!n% h!m to be a$r!end' There$ore& the
tendeny o$ the myst! !s to turn e(eryth!n% !nto that "h!h he "!shes !t to be' To turn
"hat !s u%ly !nto beauty&and beauty !nto u%l!ness& th!s !s "hat the (!s!on an aom#l!sh' Th!s #ro(es to a dee#
th!n2er that th!n%s are not
"hat they a##ear to be& but "e ma2e them as they are' The "hole l!$e may be made !nto a
th!n% o$ om#leteu%l!ness or !t may be made !nto a subl!me (!s!on o$ #er$et beauty' The lord o$ the yo%!s&
Sh!(a& !s #!tured "!th a
obra on h!s ne2& "h!h means that death& "h!h $r!%htens e(eryone& !s ae#ted by h!m
as l!$e' That sho"s thate(en death an be made !nto l!$e& and !t !s only the d!$$erene o$ the #o!nt o$ (!e" that
ma2es l!$e death'
The $!rst harater!st! o$ the %lane o$ the seer& #enetrat!on& de#ends u#on learness o$
(!s!on' The seondharater!st!& the uno(er!n% o$ ob/ets& de#ends u#on the !llum!nat!on o$ the soul' 7ut
the th!rd& the %reatest&
omes $rom on$!dene !n the sel$& alled Iman'
4!(!ne E(!dene
The $!rst th!n% !n the study o$ human nature !s obser(at!on o$ the e)ternal #art o$ man'
Th!s has t"o as#ets& one
!s the head o$ man& and the other !s h!s $orm' And th!s an be seen $rom t"o #o!nts o$
(!e"& the $!rst !s theanalyt!al #o!nt o$ (!e"& the seond the synthet!' The $ormer !s understand!n% o$ the
harater o$ eah or%an and
the mean!n% o$ !ts $orm& and the latter !s the harmony o$ the d!$$erent or%ans' And a#erson understands hal$ !$ he
ons!ders one or%an only and not !ts omb!nat!on "!th other or%ans'
The study o$ #hys!o%nomy an hel# one as an !nterest!n% study& but one must ha(e
!ntu!t!on also to hel# and
%u!de h!m "ho "!shes to /ud%e' 1oth!n% !n l!$e !s so !nterest!n% as the study o$ human
nature& and !n atta!n!n% to
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2no"led%e o$ God& 2no"led%e o$ human nature !s the be%!nn!n%' There$ore& !n oult
study one must be%!n by
study!n% human be!n%s& and the $!rst lesson !s to study the!r $orm'
The #rom!nene o$ #art!ular or%ans and musles sho"s the (!tal!ty& "h!h e)!sts !n these
or%ans& and the la2 o$!t !s la2 o$ ener%y !n these or%ans' There$ore& the stra!%htness o$ any or%an su%%ests
stra!%htness !n the nature&
and ur(e& "here !t !s natural& sho"s subtlety o$ nature& a #o!nt& "here(er !t !s naturalsho"s shar#ness o$ nature&
roundness ma2es $or subtlety& and the o(al $orm sho"s aute !ntell!%ene& #ro#ort!on o$
head and body and o$
eah #art o$ the head and body sho"s balane& and la2 o$ !t sho"s la2 o$ balane'E(ery or%an re#resents a
erta!n #art o$ man.s nature that may ha(e no onnet!on "!th that or%an' A #art!ular
mode o$ stand!n% or
s!tt!n% denotes a erta!n nature' Croo2edness "here there should be stra!%htness sho"sla2 o$ stra!%htness !n
the nature' ;r%ans "h!h should be symmetr!al and are not sho" la2 o$ balane'
In e(ery $ae and $orm there !s al"ays some resemblane to the lo"er reat!on& and a
#erson "!th 2een !ns!%htan reo%n!ze !t& and !ntu!t!on hel#s us to understand !t' Somet!mes !n $ae or $orm&
somet!mes !n mo(ements& "e
sho" a s!%n o$ one or the other o$ the lo"er reatures& and th!s s!%n!$!es some
resemblane "!th the nature o$that #art!ular reature'
The more one obser(es $rom th!s #o!nt o$ (!e" the learer the (!e" beomes and !t sho"sthe mar(el o$ the
Creator' It ma2es one tolerant and $or%!(!n% to e(eryone& by reason o$ understand!n% that
none an at a%a!nsth!s nature' Also he "ho loo2s at th!s mar(el be%!ns to see the d!(!ne e(!dene !n e(ery
$ae& as a #erson an see
the #a!nter !n h!s #a!nt!n%' And !t !s only natural to "!sh to study th!s #art o$ oult!sm !n
order to reo%n!ze thed!(!ne #art !n the reature and "orsh!# H!m'
;#enness
E(ery atom o$ man.s body e)#resses h!s #ast& #resent& and $uture' The reason !s that& !n
the $!rst #lae& e(ery
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!m#ulse reates !ts (!brat!ons and ta2es a #art!ular d!ret!on o$ at!(!ty' Th!s !n$luenes
the heart& "hene the
blood !s !rulated throu%h the "hole body' In th!s "ay the thou%ht !s& so to s#ea2&"r!tten on man.s $ae'
0an.s ont!nual a%!tat!on !n re%ard to others& h!s sat!s$at!on or d!ssat!s$at!on& h!s lo(e
or hatred& all sho"s !n h!sa##earane' E(eryone an 2no" !t more or less& but he seer an read more orretly' It !s
d!$$!ult to tell
de$!n!tely the mar2s o$ a #erson.s thou%hts and $eel!n%s that are sho"n !n h!s a##earane'1e(ertheless& #artly
by !ntu!t!on and #artly by e)#er!ene& man reads them' There are some !n "hom sel$?
ontrol !s de(elo#ed& "ho
are a#able o$ h!d!n% the!r thou%hts and emot!ons& and yet !t !s !m#oss!ble to $eel dee#lyand to h!de one.s
$eel!n%s $rom the eyes o$ others'
1o doubt $orm and mo(ement s#ea2 aloud o$ one.s ond!t!on& but the e)#ress!on o$ aman.s $ae s#ea2s louder
st!ll' There ome d!st!nt han%es at e(ery !m#ulse& at e(ery han%e o$ emot!on& ma2!n%d!st!nt mar2s "h!h are
an o#en boo2 to a seer' The "ord Kash$ means :o#en!n%&. and !t !s used by the Su$!s "!th
mean!n% that theheart !s& as a rule& a losed boo2 and the one to "hom !t beomes o#en an read !t l!2e an
o#en boo2' 1o
doubt read!n% man.s ond!t!on o$ m!nd $rom h!s a##earane !s not suh a d!$$!ult th!n%'
E(en do%s and ats an2no" th!s and somet!mes they 2no" better than man does' What %!(es one !ns!%ht !nto
another !s& !n the $!rst
#lae& h!s sym#athy' The seer $!rst de(elo#s the 8ual!ty o$ lo(e' He "hose heart !s 2!ndled"!th the lo(e o$ God
!s a#able o$ the lo(e o$ human!ty' The heart thus 2!ndled "!th lo(e beomes a l!%hted
lantern& "h!h thro"s !tsl!%ht on e(ery #erson the seer meets& and& as th!s l!%ht $alls u#on the #erson he meets& all
th!n%s about that
#erson& h!s body& heart& and soul& beome lear to h!m' Do(e !s a torh that !llum!nates all
that ome "!th!n !tsl!%ht& but !t !s the 2no"led%e o$ God& "h!h !s the 2ey& "h!h o#ens the hearts o$ men'
0o(ement
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5#"ard mo(ement su%%ests "rath& re(en%e& one!t& or #r!de9 do"n"ard mo(ement
de#ress!on& hel#lessness&or mee2ness' 0o(ements to"ards the le$t and r!%ht also ha(e the!r s!%n!$!ane' To the
r!%ht sho" stru%%le and
#o"er& to the le$t art and s2!ll' A ontrat!n% tendeny su%%ests $ear& !nd!$$erene& andoldness' A streth!n%
tendeny sho"s des!re $or at!on& stren%th and #o"er' A tendeny to turn sho"s
on$us!on' A tendeny to #!nhand #ress sho"s uneas!ness and a%ony o$ m!nd' E)#ans!on and ease o$ mo(ement sho"
/oy and ha##!ness& and
st!llness "!thout st!$$ness !s e)#ress!(e o$ alm and #eae'
The Study o$ the Whole
0an.s $orm an be d!(!ded !nto t"o #arts& the head and the body' ;ne #art !s $or at!on&
the other $or thou%ht'There$ore& the $ae an e)#la!n the att!tude o$ m!nd and de#!t the nature and harater
more $ully than the body
and !ts mo(ements' E(ery l!ttle mo(ement o$ the eyes& the mo(ements o$ the l!#s !nsm!l!n% or !n lau%hter& the
mo(ements o$ the eyebro"s or o$ the head !tsel$ e)#la!n the ond!t!on o$ the m!nd'
The ends o$ the eyebro"s turn!n% u#"ards su%%ests e%o!sm and shre"dness' The#u2er!n% o$ the l!#s su%%ests
#leasure& as the t"!th!n% o$ the l!#s sho"s a tendeny to humor or !nd!ates #leasure'
The roll!n% o$ the eyesto"ards the outer orners denotes a le(er bra!n' The #u$$!n% o$ the hee2s denotes /oy&
the dra"!n% !n& sorro"'
;ne an %et a $ull one#t!on o$ the harater by study!n% the $ull ountenane and not a
#art only' The study o$
a #art al"ays %!(es only #art!al 2no"led%e' Com#lete 2no"led%e !s %a!ned only by a
study o$ the "hole' Keenobser(at!on "!th the des!re to understand hel#s a #erson to read the ond!t!on o$ man.s
m!nd& h!s nature and
harater& yet the (!e" !s o$ten olored by the #ersonal!ty o$ the one "ho sees' H!s $a(oror d!s$a(or& h!s l!2!n%
or d!sl!2e& stands bet"een the eyes o$ the one "ho sees and the one "ho !s seen'
There$ore& somet!mes&!nnoent #eo#le ha(e a better understand!n% o$ a #erson than le(er #eo#le "!th dee!t$ul
m!nds do' There !s a
say!n% o$ Sa.d!& :; my subtle le(erness& Thou o$ten beomest my %reatest dee!(er'.
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The 0ystery o$ E)#ress!on
0an.s e)#ress!on !s more !nd!at!(e o$ h!s nature and harater than h!s $orm or $eatures'
In the Koran !t !s sa!dthat man.s eyes and %estures "!ll on$ess "hat he tr!es to h!de !n h!s heart' The stren%th&
the "ea2ness& the
#o"er& the $ear& the ha##!ness& the /oy& the uneas!ness& the #ra!se or blame& the lo(e orhatred& all these are
sho"n by the e)#ress!on' The more a#able one beomes o$ read!n% the e)#ress!on the
more learly one an
read harater'
Th!s sho"s that there !s a mystery that l!es beh!nd mo(ement' There are erta!n
(!brat!ons& "h!h ta2e a
#art!ular d!ret!on under erta!n ond!t!ons& and the (!s!ble s!%ns o$ all (!brat!ons an beseen !n man.s
mo(ements or the e)#ress!on o$ h!s ountenane' It does not ta2e one moment $or thee)#ress!on to han%e
$rom #leasure to #a!n& $rom alm to horror& $rom lo(e to hate' That sho"s that all the
atoms o$ man.s body& the(e!ns& tubes and musles& and the l!nes $ormed by the!r mo(ements& are under the ontrol
o$ the heart' And e(ery
han%e that ta2es #lae !n the heart sho"s on man.s $ae& so that one "ho 2no"s the
lan%ua%e an read !t'Peo#le "ho see eah other o$ten an read suh han%es $rom the e)#ress!on& beause
eah %ro"s austomed
to 2no" and to reo%n!ze the han%es o$ $a!al e)#ress!on !n the others& but !t !s thede(elo#ment o$ !ntu!t!on
"h!h %!(es the learness o$ (!s!on by "h!h one an see more om#letely'
The eyes are more e)#ress!(e o$ thou%ht and $eel!n% than anyth!n% else' A #erson "ho
an read the lan%ua%e o$
the eyes& the!r a##earane and the!r mo(ement& has the 2ey to harater' The eyes an as2
and ans"er8uest!ons& and !t !s !n the %rade o$ s#eed and d!ret!on o$ the %lane that the mystery o$
e)#ress!on l!es'
4!$$erent 3ual!t!es o$ 0!nd
As there are d!$$erent 8ual!t!es o$ the s!%ht& suh as lon% and short s!%ht& so there are
d!$$erent 8ual!t!es o$ m!nd'
There are m!nds& "h!h an see a erta!n d!stane and no $urther& and others that an see a
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lon%er d!stane' And
"hat are alled $ores!%ht are not a su#ernatural& su#erhuman $aulty but a lon% ran%e o$
s!%ht' When a #ersonan see the at!on o$ another #erson& the seer an see the reason o$ the at!on too& and !$
the s!%ht !s 2eener st!ll&
he an see the reason o$ the reason' ;ne annot %!(e one.s s!%ht to another' He an tell"hat he sees& but that !s
not su$$!!ent& $or !n order to be sure e(ery soul "ants !ts o"n e)#er!ene'
The $aulty o$ see!n% throu%h l!$e an be de(elo#ed by obser(at!on& "h!h !s alled study'
And the $ous!n% o$
the m!nd u#on the ob/et o$ study !s alled onentrat!on' As by ma2!n% a hab!t o$ l!$t!n%
one th!n%& a #erson anlearn to l!$t se(eral "e!%hty th!n%s& so by obser(!n% one ob/et o$ study a man beomes
a#able o$ obser(!n% any
ob/et !n the same "ay' Keeness o$ obser(at!on !s a #henomenon !n !tsel$' In the $!rst
#lae& the s!%ht #enetrates&so to s#ea2& the ob/et one sees' And the ne)t th!n% !s that the l!%ht o$ the sun has the
#o"er to o#en the buds&so the #o"er o$ 2een obser(at!on ommands the ob/ets obser(ed to un$old themsel(es
and to re(eal the!r
serets'
E(ery ob/et has a soul !n !t& "h!h may be alled !ts s#!r!t' In an!ent t!mes the seers
reo%n!zed the s#!r!t o$ all
th!n%s& the s#!r!t o$ mounta!ns& trees& stars& and #lanets& o$ the r!(ers& la2es& #ools andseas' And #enetrat!n%
throu%h ob/ets means touh!n% the!r s#!r!t' 1o doubt !t !s eas!er to touh the s#!r!t o$
man than to touh the s#!r!to$ the ob/ets& $or the (ery reason that man !s more l!(!n% than any other $orm o$
reat!on'
The #erson "hose eyes are not steady annot obser(e $ully' So also& the m!nd that !s not
steady also annot
obser(e th!n%s "ell' There$ore& the myst!s #resr!be erta!n #ostures !n order to ma2e the
body stable' Andstead!ness o$ body reats on eah other' So a sel$?mastered #erson "ho has ontrol o(er
h!s body and m!nd&
has balane and "!sdom' W!sdom omes $rom stead!ness and !ns!%ht $ollo"s "!sdom'
GATHA II
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The Re#rodut!on o$ the 0ental Reord
E(ery l!ne "h!h !s dee#ly en%ra(ed on the sur$ae o$ the m!nd may be l!