On the Subjects: Dictatorship, Social and Family Interchanges, Human Rights, Hierarchy, The Art of Personality, Wisdom
An old Hindu proverb says: "Imposing one's will upon others reveals a hidden inferiority complex".
This has certainly been seen over the ages, where Political Dictators ruled cruelly, even over countries that were not always theirs by origin. But obviously, no dominating situation ever lasts forever, and those dreadful memories only survive in history books.
At other levels of exchange, dominating tendencies are found in all types of enterprises, where employees are often submitted to unfair situations; and they are also found in Social activities and in unhappy family relationships, where one of the partners assumes inconsiderately the sole right to word.
On the other hand, the concept known as "Human Rights" implies being aware of one's own responsibilities, besides refraining from imposing one's will upon others unconsciously, and thereby ignoring the possible negative consequences. In fact, all actions are filtered through one's conscience, creating for oneself either happiness or depressing feelings of guilt.
Furthermore, Right and Wrong cannot be overlooked, because the atmosphere of one's personality reflects like a mirror an undeniable picture of peacefulness or unease.
Contrary to the methods of domination, the mutual understanding between Guide and Guided represents a completely different concept of relationship. At this level of interchange "Hierarchy" refers to an example of honesty, void of self-pretense, offered selflessly, rather than the imposition of dogmas, rules and arbitrary advice related to material problems. On the Spiritual path, "The Art of Personality" is a process where the ego is kept under control. The power of the ego is then sublimated to a higher level, offering thereby true sympathy and understanding to those who are dependent upon an example, as well as to those who are seeking spiritual guidance.
Wisdom could be understood as an ongoing process consisting of purifying the mind from the confinement of traditional concepts that do not correspond any more to our time. The wise refrain from making a display of speculative concepts, using preferably the language of the heart when communicating with others, avoiding thereby the perpetuation of confusing misunderstandings, which bring to life the specter of fanaticism.
When the concept of Truth falls in the hands of those who think that they know, it is then regrettably misunderstood and consequently confined within rigid forms, and clad in ancestral garbs, perpetuating arbitrary statements that are the fundamental cause of most conflicts; whereas Spiritual Ideals are destined to offer a helping hand toward the realization of truth, which cannot be the possession of only one chosen orientation.
One can be a bringer of happiness when working on one's own shortcomings rather than judging others, and overlooking all that which is disturbing, when others are not in agreement with one's own thinking. This process unfolds however, along a thorny path, where every step is a reminder of one's responsibilities. Many polish up their manners, but polish is not necessarily beauty, and a psychological approach is not necessarily sincerity, whereas tact that arises from the feeling heart reflects wisdom, which is regrettably liable to be misinterpreted as hypocrisy.
Physical appearance and psychological qualities are also not necessarily descriptive of moral integrity, and false pretense is a confusing example given to those who expect to experience truthfulness. We all have an ego, but nevertheless there is also beauty in the heart; and when coordinating these two opposite energies, one is then in harmony with oneself as well as with others, like the rose and the thorn which are both parts of one and the same plant. The rose offers beauty and perfume, whereas the thorn is ugly; yet both are sustained by the same root. The thorn that one is expected to vanquish is one's own ego, which is depressing to one's self, and which pricks deeply into the hearts of others.
As known from fairytales, there is a magic formula used to turn base metal into gold. This mystical tale symbolizes so clearly and precisely the work done in transforming the grossness of the ego into a humble attitude, where the 'I' consciousness is thereby re-modeled at a harmonious level. Modesty is not necessarily weakness; it is a feeling arising from the living heart, which is secretly conscious of its inner beauty, while at the same time veiling itself even from its own sight. This inspiring attitude is characteristic of the wise, who recognize that both impulses, ego and modesty, are just only sparks of the all-pervading indescribable energy constantly manifesting behind all initiatives.
Any role performed in the play of life soon becomes intoxicating, and under that spell, one cherishes the illusions of the game. However, no experience in life is worthless, and not one moment is really wasted, providing one is wise enough to thoughtfully re-consider the lessons learned from past memories. Even in a fall there is a hidden stepping-stone by which one might rise above one's shortcomings, discovering thereby signs of hidden guidance.
Every effort made toward the fulfillment of one's life's purpose, whether material or spiritual, brings one step by step closer to the ultimate goal, and can be seen as a humble contribution to the fulfillment of the divine purpose, which is in a constant state of formation according to a central theme.
When rising to the greatest heights, and simultaneously diving into the deepest depths, the false self-consciousness is vanquished, finding itself anew, as a ray of the all-pervading immanence of that indescribable energy constantly manifesting behind all impulses. The seed finds the fulfillment of its purpose, reaching deep into the earth as a root, while simultaneously rising above the surface, as a plant spreading out in full blossom under the rays of the sun.
Murshid Hidayat Inayat-Khan
