|
AN OFFERING TO THE DIVINE MUSICIAN " ... to tune souls .... to harmonize people ... " I gave up my music because I had received from it all I had to receive. To serve God, one must sacrifice the dearest thing, and I sacrificed my music, the dearest thing to me. I composed songs; I sang and played the vina. Practicing this music, I arrived at a stage where I touched the music of the spheres. Then every soul became for me a musical note, and all life became music. Inspired by it, I spoke to people, and those who were attracted by my words listened to them instead of listening to my songs. Now if I do anything, it is to tune souls instead of instruments; to harmonize people instead of notes. If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony: that one must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others. I have found in every word a certain musical value, a melody in every thought, harmony in every feeling; and I have tried to interpret the same thing with clear and simple words to those who used to listen to my music. I played the vina until my heart turned into the same instrument. Then I offered this instrument to the Divine Musician, the only Musician existing. Since then I have become His flute, and when He chooses He plays His music. People give me credit for this music, which in reality is not due to me, but to the Musician who plays on His own instrument. - HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN More by Hazrat Inayat Khan: This passage is the afterward to the wonderful book "The Music of Life" by Hazrat Inayat Khan Hazrat Inayat Khan, founder of the Sufi Order in the West, was born in India in 1882. A master virtuoso of Indian classical music by the age of twenty (Vina - a sitar-like instrument), he relinquished a brilliant career to devote himself to the spiritual path. For a decade and a half he travelled the world, giving lectures and guiding an ever-growing group of seekers. In 1926 he returned to India, where he died the following year. SpiritSound Collection : Back to Page 3 SpiritSound Home Page |