Beyond the narrow barriers of race and creed we can all unite, because we all belong to one God.
Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Related Material by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Compiled by Wahiduddin Richard Shelquist – wahiduddin.net
The soul is the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of God lives within the shrine of the heart; this shrine can be closed or it can be open. There are some things in life that open it and some that close it. The things that close the heart are those which are contrary to love, tolerance and forgiveness, such as coldness, bitterness and ill-will, and a strong element of duality. The world is more upset today than ever before; in many ways people seem to go from bad to worse, and yet they think that they are progressing. It is not lack of organization or of civilization; both these things they have. What they lack is the expression of the soul. They close their doors to their fellow beings, they close the shrine of the heart and by doing so they are keeping God away from themselves and others. Nation is set against nation, race against race, religion against religion. Therefore today more than ever before there is a need for the realization of this philosophy. What we need is not that all religions should become one, nor all races; that can never be. But what is needed is undivided progress, and making ourselves examples of love and tolerance.
By talking about it, by discussing and arguing it will not come. It will come by self-realization, by making ourselves the examples of what should be, by giving love, taking love, and showing in our action gentleness, consideration and the desire for service for the sake of God in whom we can all unite beyond the narrow barriers of race and creed.
Commentary by Murshid S.A.M. (Sufi Ahmed Murad)
Samuel L. Lewis
Race, creed, and all barriers are productions of one’s mind. While it is true historically that there are divisions of humanity, and it is true that geographically all people cannot be in the same place, yet the real barrier is mental, which says, “I am different and you are different.” What is this difference? It is what is perceived or conceived. Beyond conception and perception where there is love, there are no such distinctions.
All people were born in a similar manner. The bodies and minds of humanity have the same composition. Emotions are caused according to the same principles. And all are subject to the same laws. Where then do these lines of demarcation arise? It is from lack of knowledge and selfishness on one’s part; they do not belong to reality.