Introduction
We have made the following selections from Mysticism of Sound,
Music, The Power of the Word, and Cosmic Language, from
volume two of The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan.
Hazrat Inayat Khan was a musician of renown before he gave up his
art in order to dedicate himself to the Sufi Message with which
he was entrusted. He explained his calling as follows:
"I gave up my music because I had received from it all that
I had to receive. To serve God one must sacrifice what is dearest
to one; and so I sacrificed my music. I had composed songs; I sang
and played the vina; and 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 the people, and those who were attracted by my words
listened to the, 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 this very 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. The 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."
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