The sea of life is in constant motion, no one can stop its ever-moving waves. The Master walks over the waves, the wise swims in the water, but the ignorant are drowned in their effort to cross.
Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Related Material by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Compiled by Wahiduddin Richard Shelquist – wahiduddin.net
It makes no difference to me if I am so praised that I am raised from earth to heaven, nor if I am so blamed that I am thrown from the greatest heights to the depths of the earth. Life to me is an ever-moving sea in which the waves of favor and disfavor constantly rise and fall.
To attain peace, what one has to do is to seek that rhythm which is in the depth of our being. It is just like the sea: the surface of the sea is ever moving; the depth of the sea is still. And so it is with our life. If our life is thrown into the sea of activity, it is on the surface. We still live in the profound depths, in that peace. But the thing is to become conscious of that peace which can be found within ourselves. It is this which can bring us the answer to all our problems. If not, when we want to solve one problem, there is another difficult problem coming. There is no end to our problems. There is no end to the difficulties of the outer life. And if we get excited over them, we shall never be able to solve them. Some think, ‘We might wait. Perhaps the conditions will become better. We shall see then what to do.’ But when will the conditions become better? They will become still worse! Whether the conditions become better or worse, the first thing is to seek the kingdom of God within ourselves, in which there is our peace. As soon as we have found that, we have found our support, we have found our self. And in spite of all the activity and movement on the surface, we shall be able to keep that peace undisturbed if only we hold it fast by becoming conscious of it.
Commentary by Murshid S.A.M. (Sufi Ahmed Murad)
Samuel L. Lewis
Here we have three degrees of evolution. The ignorant do not use their mind, although sometimes they may let their mind use them. They do not think steadily or regularly and are like a straw blown in the wind. They are more affected by opinion than by thought and want to go with the majority. They do not and cannot comprehend their own duties in life and are bound to failure.
To help such people, one must treat them as children even when offering respect due to age or position. Nevertheless, they must be considered inwardly as children and not treated too harshly when they would not understand; neither should they be treated too lightly when no impression would therefore be made. They may be permitted to feel that they have their own way, yet they are to be controlled at all times. The spiritual person becoming negative to such people is in grave danger.
The wise are ones who use their mind, who control their mind. For this, will-power is necessary. Such people may not be endowed with great insight but will be strong enough to battle their way in life. There are sometimes mental and moral giants that have enough capabilities to withstand the struggles of life without being overcome by them. Yet they are quite unable to lead others out of the morass.
It is such souls who are ready for the Message, but also such souls may not see the need of the Message. When they are intuitive they escape much of the turmoil of life and by leading their own selves are often able to lead others.
Masters are those whose hearts do control mind and body, who entertain no diversity of opinions, and who do not depend upon others for their thoughts unless they recognize the others’ authority. They do not claim to be all-wise for they are just as cognizant of their limitations as they are aware of God’s All-Embracing Power. Such people may not be controllers of others or of affairs, but they will be able to stand where they want to stand. They will be able to cover their course in life, and they will not be deterred by earthly conditions for they have arisen above the state where they would be affected by them.