There should be a balance in all our actions – to be either extreme or lukewarm is equally bad.
Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Related Material by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Compiled by Wahiduddin Richard Shelquist – wahiduddin.net
There are two forces in us, love and reason. We must keep an even balance between the two. If we give too much expression to love we become unbalanced and fall into trouble. And if on the other hand we lean too much on the side of reason we become cold.
In balance lies the whole secret of Life … All religions and philosophies have laid down certain principles such as kindness, truthfulness, forgiveness, but the mystics lay no stress on principles, they allow everyone to have their own principles, each according to their point of view and evolution. For example, there are two people, one is so merciful as to not even harm an insect, nor draw a sword to kill another human being, while the other for the sake of family or a larger group is content to fight and to die. These are two opposite points of view, and both are right in their way.
The Sufis therefore believe they should let others hold on to the principle suited to their evolution, but for themselves they look beyond the principle to that which is at the back of it, the balance. They realize that what makes them lose balance is wrong, and what makes them keep it is right. The main point is not to act against one’s principles. If the whole world says a thing is wrong, and you yourself feel that it is right, it is so, perhaps, for you.
The question of balance explains the problem of sin and virtue, and those who understand it are the masters of Life. There should be a balance in all our actions. To be either extreme or lukewarm is equally bad. There is a saying, ‘Jack of all trades, and master of none.’ This is very true, as there has been too little effort given, so that no one thing has been done thoroughly.
Success, failure, progress, standstill, one’s state of being, it all comes from the condition that a person is experiencing within themselves. … according to the Sufi idea the condition of life around one depends absolutely on the condition of one’s inner self. So what is needed to change the conditions in outer life, or to tune oneself, is to work with one’s inner self in order to bring about the necessary balance.
Commentary by Murshid S.A.M. (Sufi Ahmed Murad)
Samuel L. Lewis
Attachment to matter prevents the soul from finding its way, as it becomes lost in a maze of phenomena. Attachment to mind or spirit causes one to ignore the purpose of matter and the cause of creation. Everything placed before us is there to test us and also to give us opportunity to perfect ourselves, the situation, or the thing. This is impossible when one is lukewarm. The real spiritual attitude is to be detached and yet warm in one’s heart.