Links to online books and articles about the Bahai faith

Introduction to the Bahai faith https://bahaiteachings.org/bahai-faith/

https://bahai-library.com/kelsey_bahai_answers

https://bahaiteachings.org/promises-prophets-will-return/

https://www.bahai.org/bahaullah/life-bahaullah/

Two important books by Bahaullah:

https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/hidden-words/

https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/kitab-i-iqan/8#539327387

The understanding of His words and the comprehension of the utterances of the Birds of Heaven are in no wise dependent upon human learning. They depend solely upon purity of heart, chastity of soul, and freedom of spirit. The heart must needs therefore be cleansed from the idle sayings of men, and sanctified from every earthly affection, so that it may discover the hidden meaning of divine inspiration, and become the treasury of the mysteries of divine knowledge. From Kitab-i-Iqan by Baha’u’llah

Three important books by Abdul Baha:

Paris talks and Some answered questions

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/19284/19284-pdf.pdf

https://bahai-library.com/abdul-baha_some_answered_questions-origin

https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/c/FWU/

Abdu'l-Bahá: Our aim is to free the foundations of the religion of God from the clouds of dogmas for the sun of reality is prevented from shining forth. We desire to dispel these black impenetrable fogs, so that the regions of the world may be flooded and illumined. May these foul clouds never return, may the rays of the sun of reality encircle all countries, for the sun has not beginning in time and no ending.

All books and articles of Abdul Baha and Bahaullah can be searched after here by writing their name in the search field https://bahai-library.com/author

Excerpts from the book Sex perfection

Here is the link if you want to read it: https://synergyexplorers.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/SexPerfectionVonUrban.pdf

The importance of similar wave length, wave frequency and wave amplitude in the body rays of two persons is one of the main reasons for sympathy and attractions. The pleasant feeling which comes from holding hands indicates that these two persons are attuned to each other.

An emotional immature man will only increase his wife's frigidity.

No one can attain the goal of sexual perfection unless he possesses or aquires certain qualities of character. Chief among these are unselfishness, honesty, reliability, emotional maturity witch means the development from taking to giving.

In the life of a child, masturbation, playing with genitals, is an important factor in developing sexuality, for masturbation helps the child to transfer his sensations from the primary, lust-regions of the mouth and anus, normal to the baby, to the sex organs where they eventually will be needed.

Pampering and over-indulgence can also restrict sexual development. As Oswald Schwarz says: A man who's mother has kept him too long to her self never, or only with the greatest difficulty, finds his way to other women. An overly strong attachment to the parents -between the boy and his mother, and between the girl and her father (Oedipus complex) usually keeps the children from marrying when they mature.

The unconcious in the young man drives him in search of the unattainable mother ideal continual changes of sweet-hearts. Such a man is predestined to unfaithfulness. And if he marries, impotence is often the result. In his wife he unconsciously sees his mother, to whom he must not have incest-wishes, and therefore he is inhibited by an unconscious feeling of guilt. The woman he loves he cannot possess and the woman he possesses he cannot love. Such conflict of soul can drive a man back to childish sex activity, some kind of perversion.

A third factor damaging to the child's sexual evolution is beating. This appeared in a young woman whose marriage was very unhappy because, unconsciously she longed to get from her husband the same beatings she had received as a child from her governess. Because of her masochistic fixation she had nor matured efficiently to react to any other sexual stimulus. She therefore remained sexual frigid. (A masochist is a person who is a sadist against himself).

The child is afraid of the beatings; they thwart the development of his self-esteem; nevertheless they produce feelings of pleasure which remain in his unconscious. A child accustomed to being beaten will finally behave in such a way as to provoke beatings. It is the unconscious craving for relaxation of bodily tension. One form of relaxation can be produced by beating. Many couples who have fist fights with each other are often afterwards relaxed and happy.

Education through threats also gives poor results. His character is endangered; malice and low cunning are aroused, for a child yields to force most reluctantly.

She becomes disturbed, helpless, a true reflection of her home athmosphere.

Unloving parents prevent the child from liberating himself from narcissism, from his love to himself.

Again, I repeat parents make an irreparable mistake when they fail to guide their children in their sex cravings. Without such guidance children become the victims of neurosis, frivolity or masturbation. Unguided girls are so overwhelmed by sexual energy that, in selecting a marriage partner they make blind choices, disregarding the mental and physical fitness of their partner. What they thought was love they later discover to be mere sensuousness or a craving for adventure.

Woman's entire nature consists of sexuality, in the larger sense.

The means towards the improvement of modern marriages: Sex education of the right kind, early marriage and a better, a more cultivated home life.

To a boy about masturbation: If a jug has too much milk in it, it has to overflow. You are at a time in your life in which an abundance of such little germ cells is produced in your testicles. You do not need to force them out, they will discharge them-selves during the night while you are sleeping. And if you force them out too often, by what we call masturbation, you give these celles which build these germ cells no rest or leisure. You drive them to ceaseless work and so exhaust them. A boy can torture himself with too frequent masturbation. Every handling of the sex organ drives out, from every cell of the body, radiation which, if they cannot flow out from the body, only serve to tense it more and more. This tension produces fear. You feel if as you were in a prison. You become terrified, not knowing what happened to you. Masturbation relaxes only the sex organs, while it tenses him more in his whole body.

The sex hormones stimulates the production of sperm cells in the testicles. The tension in these organs, induced by the increase in the number of the sperm cells, is a further source of the desire in boys to get rid of this local pressure through the discharge of their semen. Sex hormones can also be produced prematurely. This may happen, for instance, from too vivid sensations, startling impressions and great excitement, such as dramatic scenes between parents or early sexual experience.

To get rid of the tension in the whole body, a child is driven, more or less unconsciously, to seek bodily contact with adults, mostly with one of the parents. The love of such a child is based on the need for bodily relaxation. An infant starts to cry and becomes restless untill the mother fondles him, where upon he immediately calms down. A little devil of a child will become obident and happy if the mother takes him to bed with her, or even strokes his hair and body softly, thus relieving him of tension.

Nevertheless, the local tension in the sexual region remains and are abated in one of two ways: Either self-induced friction of the child, or - according to the customs of certain primitive people -old women quietly lay their hands on the testicles of young boys and old men on the vulvas of little girls, holding them thus for some time.

Every irritation of the sex organ, whether direct or indirect, increases the tension in the body. Children can not diminish their bodily tension by masturbation, because the palms of their hands and their sex organs do not differ in the quality of their radiation.

Among the Melanesian Islanders a girl who has not learned to abandon her immature sensations in the clitoris in favor of the awakening, mature feeling in the vagina, would lose all hope of marrying, as she would be considered inferior.

The damage done by masturbation does not arise from the effect of such action on the sex organs of the child, but from fears implanted in him of its injurious consequenses. There are three objections to masturbation: Too much masturbation has a weakening effect, sometimes even an exhausting one. Secondly: it increase bodily tension. Thirdly: As long as a person masturbates his sex life remains egocentric, and he remains immature.

Just as a child has to learn to control his bodily functions during the first three years of his life, so, during puberty, must he try to control increasing pressure in the awakening sex organs. If they learn to control their sex impulses now they will have laid the groundwork for the mastery of the problem of self-control in all its phases throughout their life.

Experiments with a young couple in love:

During the course of these experiments, it was ascertained that if the couple did not lie naked for half an hour or longer, in close physical contact, kissing and caressing, but, instead starting intercourse immediately, the strange radiation did not radiate from the body of the girl; nor did sparks fly between the two lovers after when they stood near each other afterwards, even though the sex union lasted less than 27 minutes, which we had come to think was necessary to eliminate these phenomena.

Every intercourse lasting less than 27 minutes induced an urgent desire, in both, for a repetition of the sex act. But if this desire was fulfilled by another too-brief act, both became nervous and irritated. The tension in their bodies became stronger with each intercourse of brief duration. On the other hand, intercourse lasting half an hour or more was followed by an entire relaxation from nervous tension; and the desire to repeat the sex act did not renew itself for five or six days, sometimes not for a week, yet the couple's feeling of love towards each other increased and they were extremely happy.

Their feelings of relaxation and happiness set in, even after a short intercourse, if the husband did not withdraw his penis from the vagina after his ejaculation, but instead, remained there for half an hour, even in an unerected state, giving his full and undisturbed attention to the contact.

They found that a sex union of half an hour's duration induced deep satisfaction for both for five days; one lasting an hour satisfied them for a week; an intercourse lasting two hours brought contentment for two weeks. This same lasting relaxation was also produced by prolonged bodily contact, without sex relaton.

Very instructive is the sex life of young girls among some South Sea Islanders. At the time of puberty she leaves her home to another hut, where she sleeps with four boys of her choice, six months with each boy. After these two years she marries the boy who has given her the greatest relaxation. These marriages lasts a lifetime without infidelity. They usually have intercourse not oftener than every five day. On other nights they sleep together, body to body without contact between the sex organs. Preparation for sex union takes at least half an hour. They embrace, kiss and bite each other, untill both are electrified. But never does a man touch the clitoris of his mate. (A matured woman should have entirely given up the sensations of the clitoris, which are characteristic of a child. After puberty these sensations are normally consentrated in the vagina.) When the sex act begins they lie motionless for at least half an hour, sometimeslonger,before they start any movements. After the climax they continue to lie together for a long time.

Their first rule is total relaxation and freedom from pressure or strain. The man does not lie over his mate and deprive her the power of movement, also to avoid stimulation of the clitoris. After the preparation when full sex union is reached no no more tender caresses is allowed. All the attention, all the electric streams have to flow fully and undisturbed to the sex organs.

On all the other nights, without sex union, they lie close together, naked body to naked body, and find themselves deeply relaxed in the morning. On these nights they do not caress or kiss each other, as that is a prelude to sexual intercourse.

Sometimes they lie with their heads at opposite ends of the sleeping mat, the two open pairs of legs fitted together like pinchers, in such a way that the sex organs come into the closest contact without penetration of the vagina. In this position they sleep together when no sexual intercourse is intended.

In karezza the only thing renounced is the ejaculation of the man. Physical union is complete, prolonged and motionless. In half an hour a sort of superlative delight sets in. It is nature rewarding one a thousandfold for supreme self control. It lasts for hours. Then the two falls asleep in a refreshing dreamless sleep. After such complete relaxation it takes time to recharge the bodies. Therefore karezza can only be practiced successfully once in one to three weeks.

The bio-electricity discharged from the cells of two bodies during the prolonged love-making and stored up in the skin, has flowed to their sex organs where the two kinds of bio-electricity, of different potentials, meet and neutralize each other. As they are neutralized the electrical tension in the two bodies cease and full relaxation sets in.

A persons happiness depends on coming in contact with an individual whose electrical radiations complement his own.; That the tension of a negatively charged man can find its outlet only through contact with an positively charged woman- one to whose wave length his wave length is attuned. In the exchange of radiation between two lovers lies a satifaction more delightful and profound than in the sex act itself.

The measurable electricity in the body reaches its greatest intensity in the genitals, but that does not mean that the amount of electricity from innumerable small sources cannot exceed that from one single stream, however strong. The author believes that these small streams can can flow directly to each other and achieve equalization by mere bodily contact. without sexual union. This exchange induces a sense of delight that endures for days rather than for two or three hours.

The more a person can relax another from the tension induced in him by the electrical streams the more that person is desired by the other and more passionate is their mutual love.

A couple had an ecstatic experience of karezza, but after 7 hours they felt suffocated. They took a shower and could continue.

If a couple's love for each other is not well founded the karezza method will not work. To learn to change from the customary sensations of ejaculation and orgasm, both of which have to entirely be prevented, to the sensations accompanying the union of the body's electrical streams, is a task suitable only for very strong and determined characters. A sexual relationship entirely devoted to karezza is unsuited to the avarage healthy man and woman. Our task here on earth is to create. The tension produced by the electrical power within us is the driving force which makes creation possible. The sexual happiness possible through karezza is the strongest proof yet to available that orgasm is not essential for sexual happiness,that the exchange of bio-electricity is more essential and can be combined with orgasm.

The reason the vagina must be moist is also because water is a good conductor of electricity.

If a woman will abandon the half satifaction of clitoris orgasm she can eventually learn the deep, mature satifaction coming from the orgasm brought about by stimulation of the vagina and the tip of the uterus. Granted, such women will go through a sexual dead period, while losing their accustomed sensation, and before gaining the right one, but a few weeks of consentration, patience and willpower, will bring an abundant reward.

Only by lying in a perfectly relaxed position as the one described can the husband hope to hold back his orgasm long enough to permit satisfaction for his wife:

Position. After the pre-liminary love-play, the partners should occupy the following position which permits perfect freedom, of movement as well as complete absence of muscular effert, and avoid stimulation of clitoris. The wife first lies on her back with her knees raised so that they touch her breasts. The husband lies on his right side to the left of her, turned towards her in such a way that his left leg lies above of his right leg. In this position he puts both of his legs under both of her thighs while his wife lets her legs fall over his left hip. In so doing he has to move the upper part of his body away from her body until he lies in right angles to her. She is still on her back lengthwise of the bed while he is still lying on his right side, but crosswise of the bed. Most couples prefer that the man places his left leg between her thighs, so forcing her right leg down on his right leg, while his right leg remains under the buttocks of his wife. Simplyfied version: The husband lies at the left side of his wife, turns to her and places his left leg between her legs so their sex organs are in closest contact.

At this point every kiss and caresses on other parts of the body should cease, in order that all the awakening bio-electrical streams may flow undisturbed towards the sex organs. In this position it does not matter if the penis is in erection or not, the important thing is that its tip should touch the mucosa of the inner lips at the vagina's entrance. After half a hour, when the full exchange of the radiation between the two individuals is established, the penis usually becomes erected and can enter the vagina. Until the man has learned to hold back his ejaculation the position outlined above should usually be maintained at least half an hour, outside the vagina. Complete sex union, in which the tip of the penis penetrates the vagina so deeply that it touches the entrance of the uturus, as it should do in perfect intercourse, then follows. This lasts usually half an hour, though this time can be lengthened to hours if the couple are motionless.

They should train themselves to be completely aware of the sensations of their sex organs and also of the flow of electricity they receive from their partner. They should not permit their thoughts to wander to other subjects and interrupt the flow to the sex organs. Every cell of the body should be relaxed. Every tension serves to block radiation. The more relaxed the cells are, the more easily can they discharge radiations.

As a rule, a well performed sex act, one in which full sex union lasts half an hour, should not be repeated more than once in five days. When sex union lasts for an hour, repetition in a week's time is indicated, when it lasts for two hours the interval should be two weeks. The batteries of the body needs to be recharged.

Too frequent intercourse forces cells in the testicles to consentrate more on the production of sperm cells than hormones. An organism without hormones has no animation or energy. In the end it leads to exhaustion, frustration and disgust with the sex act which includes resentment against the person who has aroused his desire. This is a typical picture of the end of many a passionate love affairs.

How can women attain relaxation when the natural method of natural bodily contact is denied them? Some can find outlets in their activities.To give them female hormones, as is commonly done, can may only increase the tension. The most successfull means combines a warm bath with a vaginal douche used 15 minutes while consentrating on the outflow of radiation from her body, taken every other night before retiring, after orgasm or not. Water is a conductor of energy. The woman should go straight to bed afterwards.

Findings of Wilhelm Reich:

Feelings of pleasure on any skin area are accompanied by an increase in bio-electrical chargein that area. Feelings of displeasure are accompanied (anxiety, fear, irritation) by a decrease of electrical charge. Pleasure draws the charge to the outside of the body, displeasure draws the bio-electricity back to the interior of the organism.

It seems that the bio-electrical charge aroused in the prelude of the to intercourse does not flow back into the same organism, but instead it flows between the two partners, each "neutralizes" is some way the bio-electrical charge of the other.

Over-exitement in the sex glands increases the functions of the pituatary and thyroid glands, resulting in extreme psychic irritability. Hyperfunctioning of the thyroid even leads to visual or accoustic hallucinations. Hyperfunctioning of the pituatary glands stimulates an individual to extreme activity and which sometimes leads to uncontrollable pugnacity.

If a couple will follow the essential parts of our requirements only, these are: Prolonged sex contact, (even after orgasm and ejaculation) for at least half an hour, with full consentraton on the sex act and sleep in a double bed, in close bodily contact.

Twice a week let the couple assume a locked pincher position in bed for at least an hour.

According to Dr. K. Davis, who studied the sex desire of 2000 women, maximum desire were always noted within a period of two days before to one week after menstruation.

The best method to insure animation and vitality is a well performed, regular sex life. It stimulates the production of sex hormones and relaxes the bodily tension.

The stages of the soul by Abdu’l-Bahá

The stages of the soul

a. The commanding soul—the soul that commands to evil — is preoccupied with the trivialities of this world, and is in fatuated with evil and ephemeral desires.

b. The blaming soul — which becomes aware of the depths of its degradation and of its remoteness from its true goal. It awakes to a perception of its state, is filled with regret and blames itself for the depths of perversity and error to which it has sunk.

c. The inspired soul —as it rises from its lowly condition, the soul comes to understand those things that kept it abased and those thing which will lead to its elevation. It becomes averse to those things that perish and to incline towards those things that endure. It is termed the inspired soul for it is inspired as to that which on the one hand leads to depravation and on the other to righteousness.

d. The assured soul — this is the stage at which the soul is in remembrance of its Lord and sees the signs of God in the creation. As a result it is assured in its faith, its turmoil and unrest is calmed, it has quenched its thirst, soothed its torment; it has changed its darkness to light and unloaded its burdens.

e. The accepting soul — reaches a station of submission and contentment, leaving behind its searching and neediness. It entrusts its affairs to God and is content with whatever God may decree for it. This is a happiness that is not followed by sadness. There remains no will, no rest , no motion, no destiny nor any fate except in God.

f. The accepted soul — in this state all- encompassing blessings and mercy reach it. Insofar as it has  risen and left behind its passions and accepted the decree of its Lord, it becomes accepted in the sight of God, and in its state of nothingness, it is approved by its Creator.

g. The perfect soul — here it is characterized by divine perfections and comprised of godly attributes. It thus becomes the focal point of inspiration and the dawning-place for the Divine effulgences.

h. The soul of the Kingdom of God (Mal ak út)— here the soul confirms in its reality the profession of Divine Unity and establishes in its essence the sign of detachment. It attains to everlasting life and eternal living. It takes pleasure from delights the like of which no eye has seen nor any ear heard .

i. The soul of the Realm of Divine Command (Jab arút)— this is a stati on far ab ove the unde rs tand ing of the minds of men, for this stati on is created out of the elements of power, authority, sovereignty, omnipotence, and freedom and nothing that has limitations or pluralities has any resemblance to it. Here the soul becomes aware of the secrets of hidden and invisible realities. This is the ultimate goal in the world of creation .


From ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Commentary on the Quránic Verses Concerning the Overthrow of the Byzantines: The Stages of the Soul by Moojan Momen file:///C:/Users/Leah%20Wilhelmsen/Downloads/lights2_momen_byzantines%20Complete%20.pdf

Christian and muslim quotes about love

Quotes from the bible:

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:35

'There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John iv. 18.

Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. John 2:15

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. John 15:9

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. Ephesians 5:28

If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. John 4:20

The one who fears has not been perfected in love. John 4:18

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. Isaiah 54:8,9

We love because He first loved us. John 4:19

You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same? (Leviticus 24:17–23; Luke 6:27–36)

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Luke 7:47

And now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Corinthians 13.13

Jesus replied: If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them. John 14:23

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. Timothy 1:7

And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deuteronomy 30:6

The one loving his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. John 2:10

And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning, that you must walk in love. John 1:6

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20

But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. John 2:5

You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9

As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father. John 2:24

Paul: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16

As God has said: "I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. Corinthians 6:16

Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends. Proverbs 17:9

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Galatians 5:22

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. But whoever loves God is known by God. Corinthians 8:2

Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. Peter 3:7

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Isaiah 27:7

Remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. Isaiah 27:9

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Romans 12:10

And that He should be loved with the whole heart, and with the whole understanding, and with the whole soul, and with the whole strength; and to love one's neighbour as one's self. Mark 12:33

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. John 14:1

Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it. Johnn 14:12

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. John 16:15

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” John 16:18

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 16:26

Jesus: But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. John 16:31

Quotes from the Quran:

When Love is for the sake of Allah, It never dies.

True love is when you wish that Allah is pleased with the one you love.

The greatest act of Love is to bring each other closer to Allah.

No love is real, No love is everlasting unless it is done for the sake of Allah. This is why love which is done while disobeying Allah is usually broken, ends up in hurt, and both people usually end up as enemies, or go down for other evil after this, unless Allah saves them and blesses them with his guidance.

Short cut to a blessed marriage: Both husband and wife should love Allah and his prophet (peace be upon him) more than they love each other!

Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good, and to relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor, the neighbor farther away, the companion at your side, the traveler, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful. Quran 4:36

“The man dreams of a perfect woman and the woman dreams of a perfect man and they don’t know that Allah created them to perfect one another.” Ahmad AlShugairi

The Prophet said: When a man loves his brother, he should tell him that he loves him. Book 43, Hadith 352

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Rumi

O Messenger of Allah, guide me to such an action which, if I do Allah will love me and the people will also love me.” He said, “Have no desire for this world, Allah will love you; and have no desire for what people possess, and the people will love you.”Book 97, Hadith 111

There are some people with positive characteristics that are specifically praised by Allah. Al-Mutawakkilin (Those who rely on Allah), As-Sabirin (Those who are patient), Al-Muttaqin (Those who are mindful of Allah), At-Tawwabin (Those who repent) and those who do good.

The Prophet replied, “What can I do for you if Allah removed rahmah (compassion) from your heart?

The Qurʾān mentions two kinds of love, one is rahma and the second is hub. Allah has rahma on everything and everyone. Hub is a love reserved for those who obey God.

Sufi prayers from Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan

Nayaz - The Healing Prayer, recited after early morning breathing practices.

Beloved Lord, Almighty God! Through the rays of the Sun, through the waves of the air, Through the All­pervading Life in space, Purify and revivify me, and I pray, heal my body, heart and soul.

Amen Nazr - Recited as a blessing at mealtimes.

O Thou, Sustainer of our body, heart, and soul, Bless all that we receive In thankfulness. Amen

Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan -- A Prayer of the Gayatri Dowa

Save me, my Lord, from the earthly passions and the attachments that blind mankind.

Save me, my Lord, from the temptations of power, fame and wealth, which keep man away from Thy Glorious Vision.

Save me, my Lord, from the souls who are constantly occupied in hurting and harming their fellow-man, and who take pleasure in the pain of another.

Save me, my Lord, from the evil eye of envy and jealousy, which fall upon Thy Bountiful Gifts.

Save me, my Lord, from falling into the hands of the playful children of the earth; they might use me in their games; they might play with me and then break me in the end, as children destroy their toys.

Save me, my Lord, from all manner of injury that cometh from the bitterness of my adversaries and from the ignorance of my loving friends.

Amen

Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan -- A Prayer of the Gayatri Prayer for New Year

O Thou who abidest in our hearts,

most Merciful and Compassionate God,

Lord of Heaven and Earth,

we forgive others their trespasses and ask Thy forgiveness of our shortcomings.

We begin the New Year with pure heart and clear conscience, with courage and hope.

Help us to fulfil the purpose of our lives under Thy divine guidance.
Morning prayers

Invocation

Toward the One,
The Perfection of Love,
Harmony and Beauty, the Only Being,
united with all the illuminated souls,
who form the embodiment of the Master
The Spirit of Guidance.

Saum

Praise be to Thee, Most Supreme God,
Omnipotent, Omnipresent, All-pervading, the Only Being.
Take us in Thy Parental Arms, raise us from the denseness of the earth,
Thy Beauty do we worship, to Thee do we give willing surrender.
Most Merciful and Compassionate God, the Idealized Lord of the whole humanity,
Thee only do we worship, and towards Thee Alone do we aspire.
Open our hearts towards Thy Beauty, illuminate our souls with Divine Light,
O Thou, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty,
All-powerful Creator, Sustainer, Judge and Forgiver of our shortcomings,
Lord God of the East and of the West,
of the worlds above and below,
and of the seen and unseen beings.
Pour upon us Thy Love and Thy Light,
give sustenance to our bodies, hearts and souls,
use us for the purpose that Thy Wisdom chooseth,
and guide us on the path of Thine Own Goodness.
Draw us closer to Thee every moment of our life,
until in us be reflected Thy Grace, Thy Glory, Thy Wisdom, Thy Joy and Thy Peace. Amen

Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan -- A Prayer of the Gayatri

"May the Message of God reach far and wide".

- Recited eleven times. Pir

Inspirer of my mind, consoler of my heart, healer of my spirit,
Thy presence lifteth me from earth to heaven, Thy words flow as the sacred river,
Thy thought riseth as a divine spring, Thy tender feelings awaken sympathy in my heart.
Beloved Teacher, thy very being is forgiveness.
The clouds of doubt and fear are scattered by thy piercing glance,
All ignorance vanishes in thy illuminating presence;
A new hope is born in my heart by breathing thy peaceful atmosphere.
O inspiring Guide through life's puzzling ways, In thee I feel abundance of blessing. Amen

Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan -- A Prayer of the Gayatri Prayer for the Universel

O Thou, Who art the Maker, Molder and Builder of the Universe,
Build with Thy own hands, the Universel,
Our temple for Thy divine message of Love, Harmony and Beauty.
Prayer for Peace

Send Thy Peace, O Lord, which is perfect and everlasting: that our souls may radiate Peace.

Send Thy Peace, O Lord, that we may think, speak and act harmoniously.

Send Thy Peace, O Lord, that we may be contented and thankful for Thy bountiful gifts.

Send Thy Peace, O Lord, that amid our worldly strife that we may enjoy Thy bliss.

Send Thy Peace, O Lord, that we may endure all, tolerate all in the though of Thy grace and mercy.

Send Thy Peace, O Lord, that our lives may become a divine vision, and in Thy light all darkness may vanish.

Send Thy Peace, O Lord, our Father and Mother that we, Thy children on earth, may all unite in one brotherhood (family). Amen

Mid-day prayers

Invocation

Toward the One,
The Perfection of Love,
Harmony and Beauty, the Only Being,
united with all the illuminated souls,
who form the embodiment of the Master
The Spirit of Guidance.

Salat

Most Gracious Lord, Master, Messiah and Saviour of humanity, we greet Thee with all humility.
Thou art the First Cause and the Last Effect, the Divine Light and the Spirit of Guidance, Alpha and Omega.
Thy Light is in all forms, Thy Love in all beings:in a loving mother, in a kind father, in an innocent child, in a helpful friend, and in an inspiring teacher.
Allow is to recognize Thee in all Thy Holy Names and Forms: as Rama, as Krishna, as Shiva, as Buddha; let us know Thee as Abraham, as Solomon, as Zarathustra, as Moses, as Jesus, as Muhammed, and in many more Names and Forms, known and unknown to the world.
We adore Thy Past, Thy Presence deeply enlightens our being, and we look for Thy Blessing in the future, O Messenger, Christ, Nabi, the Rasul of God! Thou whose heart constantly reaches upwards, Thou comest on earth with a Message, as a dove from above when dharma decayeth, and speakest the word that is put in thy mouth, as the light filleth the crescent moon.
Let the star of the Divine Light shining in thy heart be reflected in the hearts of thy devotees.
May the Message of God reach far and wide, illuminating and making the whole of humanity as one single family in the Parenthood of God. Amen

Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan -- A Prayer of the Gayatri

"Pour upon us Thy Love and Thy Light".

- Recited eleven times.

Nabi

A torch in the darkness, a staff during my weakness,
A rock in the weariness of life, Thou, my Master, makest earth a paradise.
Thy thought giveth me unearthly joy,
Thy light illuminateth my life's path,
Thy words inspire me with divine wisdom,
I follow in thy footsteps, which lead me to the eternal goal.
Comforter of the broken hearted, Support of those in need,
Friend of the lovers of truth, Blessed Master, thou art the Prophet of God.
Amen

Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan -- A Prayer of the Gayatri

Prayer for the Universel

O Thou, Who art the Maker, Molder and Builder of the Universe,
Build with Thy own hands, the Universel,
Our temple for Thy divine message of Love, Harmony and Beauty.

Prayer for Peace

Send Thy peace O Lord, which is perfect and everlasting, that our souls may radiate peace.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that we may think, act and speak harmoniously.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that we may be contented and thankful for Thy bountiful gifts.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that amidst our worldly strife, we may enjoy Thy bliss.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that we may endure all, tolerate all, in the thought of Thy grace and mercy.
Send Thy peace O Lord, that our lives may become a Divine vision and in Thy light, all darkness may vanish.
Send Thy peace O Lord, our Father and Mother, that we Thy children on Earth may all unite in one family. Amen

Evening prayers

Invocation

Toward the One,
The Perfection of Love,
Harmony and Beauty, the Only Being,
united with all the illuminated souls,
who form the embodiment of the Master
The Spirit of Guidance.

Khatum

O Thou, Who art the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, The Lord of Heaven and Earth,
Open our hearts, that we may hear Thy Voice, which constantly cometh from within;
Disclose to us Thy Divine Light, which is hidden in our souls, That we may know and understand life better.
Most Merciful and Compassionate God, give us Thy Great Goodness,
Teach us Thy Loving Forgiveness,
Raise us above the distinctions and differences which divide us,
Send us the Peace of Thy Divine Spirit, And unite us all in Thy Perfect Being. Amen

Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan -- A Prayer of the Gayatri

"Disclose to us Thy Divine Light".

- Recited eleven times.

Rasul

Warner of coming dangers,
Wakener of the world from sleep,
Deliver of the Message of God, Thou art our Savior.
The sun at the dawn of creation,
The light of the whole universe,
The fulfillment of God's purpose,
Thou, the life eternal, we seek refuge in thy loving enfoldment.
Spirit of Guidance, Source of all beauty, and Creator of harmony,
Love, Lover and Beloved Lord, Thou art our divine ideal. Amen

Pir-O-Murshid Inayat Khan -- A Prayer of the Gayatri

Prayer for the Universel

O Thou, Who art the Maker, Molder and Builder of the Universe,
Build with Thy own hands, the Universel,
Our temple for Thy divine message of Love, Harmony and Beauty.

Inayat Khan sitater

Hvordan kommer man i kontakt med den allmektige kraften? Man vil alltid finne begrensninger så lenge den lille personligheten står i veien, så lenge man ikke blir kvitt den, så lenge ens egen person og alt som er forbundet med den interesserer en. Og den kraften kan bare påvirkes på én måte, og det er ved selvutslettelse, det som i bibelen kalles selvfornektelse. 

Menneskene tolker det på en annen måte: Selvfornektelse betyr å nekte seg selv alle jordens gleder og nytelser, sier de. Hvorfor ble da denne jorden skapt hvis det var for å nekte seg denne jordens glede og nytelse? Bare for å forby? Hvis den ble skapt for å forby er dette veldig nådeløst, siden menneskehetens kontinuerlige søken er etter lykke. 

Selvfornektelse er å si nei til den lille personligheten som presser seg frem i alle ting, å utslette dette falske egoet som tvinger deg til å føle din mangelfulle kraft i både det ene og det andre. Og hvordan oppnår man det? Man oppnår det ikke bare gjennom bønn og tilbedelse, eller ved å tro på Gud. Det oppnås ved å glemme seg selv i Gud. Tro på Gud er det første steget. Det man oppnår gjennom tro på Gud er at man glemmer seg selv i Gud. 

Er man i stand til å gjøre det har man oppnådd en kraft som er bortenfor menneskelig forståelse. Prosessen hvor man oppnår dette kalles av Sufiene fana’. Fana’ er ikke nødvendigvis å bli tilintetgjort i Gud. Fana’ resulterer i hva man kan kalle en oppstandelse i Gud, som symboliseres ved bildet av Kristus. Kristus på korset er beskrivende for fana’ som betyr ”Jeg er ikke”. Og ideen om oppstandelse forklarer neste stadium, som er baqa’ og betyr ”ødeleggelse”, som igjen betyr oppstigningen mot den Allmektige. Guddommelig ånd forståes i oppstigningen mot den Allmektige. Fana’ oppnås ikke gjennom å torturere seg selv, ved selvplaging, ved å påføre seg selv masse problemer, heller ikke slik mange asketer gjør; for selv etter å ha torturert seg selv kommer de ikke frem til denne forståelsen hvis det ikke var meningen at de skulle det. Kjernen i guddommelig væren finner du ved å si nei til ditt lille selv, det falske selvet som dekker over ditt sanne selv.

Mange har sett på selvfornektelse som veien til lykke fordi de har tolket selvfornektelse som askese. De har fratatt seg selv alle kortvarige gleder. Det finnes en annen måte å se det på. Det er ikke meningen at vi skal gi avkall på det som er skapt. Vi leser i Koranen at alt som finnes på jorden og i himmelen er skapt for menneskeheten. Derfor skal vi ikke gi avkall på alt som er vakkert og gir velvære og glede. Hemmeligheten med det hele er at det som er skapt for oss mennesker er skapt for at vi skal bruke det, men vi må ikke bli sittende fast i det. Feilen oppstår hvis man gir avkall på den sanne lykkes vei i jakten på nytelse og gleder.

Fred:  For all bønn og hengivenhet er til for å oppnå fred. En god og snill person, lærd og med gode kvalifikasjoner, sterk og kraftfull, kan ikke være åndelig, selv med alle disse egenskapene, hvis ikke sjelen har tilegnet seg den rytmen som er dens naturlige rytme. Kun i denne rytmen finnes livets tilfredshet. Fred er ikke en kunnskap, det er ikke en kraft; fred er ikke en lykke. Fred er alt dette. Fred skaper lykke. Fred inspirerer en til kunnskap om det synlige og det skjulte. I freden finnes den guddommelige kraften.

Det er ikke den opprømte som seirer i livets evige kamp. Det er den fredfulle som utholder alt, som tilgir alt, som forstår alt, som tar alt til seg. . Det er fred som gir dem kraft og som muliggjør klar observasjon. Derfor er det de fredfulle som forstår, for fred hjelper dem til å forstå. Det er de fredfulle som kan kontemplere. Når det er mangel på fred kan man ikke kontemplere ordentlig. Derfor er det slik at alt som har med åndelig fremgang å gjøre avhenger av fred. Og nå er spørsmålet ”Hvorfor har man ikke fred?” Svaret er ”Kjærligheten til sanseinntrykk”.

 Det ingen grunn for den som går en åndelig vei å føle skuffelse, uansett hvordan det står til med verden. Deres åndelige kamp er ikke til for at andre skal verdsette den. Den er til fordi de ønsker å gå en åndelig vei. Holder de fast ved at sannheten, den guddommelige sannheten er det vakreste i verden, og at vi må verdsette, besvare og beundre alle former for skjønnhet, vil menneskene åpne seg opp og utvide sin sfære. Vi må kjenne igjen det hellige i all skjønnhet; i fruktens sødme, i blomstens farge, i rosens duft, i stjernenes lys. Gjør vi det, tillater vi sjelen å folde seg ut og vise frem sin guddommelighet.

Qutes from Inayat Khan

For the value of everything exists for man only so long as he does not understand it. When he has fully understood, the value is lost, be it the lowest thing or the highest thing.

The secret of mysticism is to feel, think, speak, and act at the same time, for then all that is said, or felt, or done, becomes perfect.

What is rooted out in the quest of truth is ignorance; it is entirely removed from the heart, and the outlook becomes wide; as wide as the Eye of God; therein is born the divine Spirit, the spirit, which is called Divinity.

He who sincerely seeks his real purpose in life is himself sought by that purpose. As he concentrates on that search a light begins to clear his confusion, call it revelation, call it inspiration, call it what you will. It is mistrust that misleads. Sincerity leads straight to the goal.

All that produces longing in the heart deprives the heart of freedom.

To repress desire is to suppress a divine impulse.

As soon as one thinks of another the boundary that limits the will of the individual breaks down and becomes the universal will.

Our prayer reaches God through our ears. God is inside us. If our soul can hear our voice God can hear it too.

From a worldly aspect there may be a man who looks after himself, who is self-conscious, who thinks of himself, who concerns himself solely with himself. One can say that the ego counts in that person, but that is all that one can admire. Then there may be another person, who has outgrown that thought of self. You cannot help respecting him. The respect comes by itself, as soon as a person has emerged from that thought of self. And when a person has lost interest in holding, in possessing others, then his charm is such that without his holding or possessing all becomes his own. You can feel that person to be above the average in the world.

Morally prayer is the greatest virtue and the only way of being free from all sin, because in prayer one reaches that spirit of God which is all-powerful and which is ever-forgiving, and it is by the power of prayer that man opens the doors of the heart, in which God the Merciful abides. No ethics, no philosophy, can give greater joy than this, which is sincere devotion to God; and the deepest joy is his who knows best how to humble himself before God. The proud man, ignorant of greatness of God, and of His all-sufficient power, does not know this exaltation, which raises the soul from earth to Heaven. To be really sorry for one's errors is like opening the doors of heaven.

As the little child learns to walk, falling a thousand times before he can stand; and after that falling again and again before he learns at last to walk, so are we no more than little children before God; we fail again and again, but if we feel that because we failed yesterday we shall do so again to-morrow, we shall never overcome. We must always look forward with faith to the day when we shall walk aright, and that day will surely come. "As I have fallen so often perhaps I shall never walk", that thought would make a mental image on his soul, and he would never walk. Our follies and errors are natural; but when we defend ourselves, making virtues of our shortcomings and trying to hide our errors, it is as if we nurtured our errors, trying to make them grow. The only real method of growth is to judge ourselves constantly and to see where we fail; then in prayer to ask for pardon and right guidance. His words about prayer here:https://wahiduddin.net/mv2/archives/prayer.htm

His prayers here: https://thethoughtsofdavidaw.blogspot.com/2020/12/sufi-prayers-from-pir-o-murshid-inayat.html

Man is here on earth for this one purpose, that he may bring forth that spirit of God in him and thus discover his own perfection.

The stages of self realization: The first stage is to imagine God as great and as perfect as you can. The second stage is to lose your self in the thought of God, in the same way that the lover loses the thought of self in the thought of the beloved and in the third stage the beloved becomes the self, and the self is there no more. For then the self, as we think it to be, no longer remains; the self becomes what it really is. It is that realization which is called self-realization. https://wahiduddin.net/mv2/VI/VI_30.htm

True happiness is not gained, it is discovered. Man's way itself is happiness. That is why he longs for happiness. What keeps happiness out of one's life is the closing of the doors of the heart, and when the heart is not living, then there is no happiness there. Sometimes the heart is not fully alive but only partly. At the same time it expects life from the other heart. But the real life of the heart is to live independently in its own happiness and that is gained by spiritual attainment, by digging deep into one's own heart.

Meditation is to train the mind to become passive and to receive inspiration, power and blessings. Meditation is not just to sit passive with eyes closed, but to be attentive to what emerges. Not only witnessing it, but to be prepared to sharpen ones senses to make body and mind receptive for vibrations. With meditation we also clean the mind from unnecessary impressions that makes the mind impure. The purpose of concentration, meditation and contemplation, which in total is the essence of religion, philosophy and mysticism, is to attain the depth that is the root of our life. It is to lift the soul above the body and mind. It is like opening up to the spaciousness, senses and the various qualities of the mind. This spaciousness comes from meditation and the soul can now operate through all visible and invisible parts, instead of just one part of ones being.

The sufi teachers emphasis kindness, mildness and love more than how diligent the student meditate. In sufism not only meditation is taught, but also Gods love, that is an opening of the heart towards the heart of every creatures. The purpose of meditation, concentration and contemplation is simply to open our hearts, have focused minds and search for our lives purpose. What we achieve by studying philosophy and mysticism and by practicing concentration and meditation is to serve others better.

True power is not in trying to gain power. True power is in becoming power. But how to become power? It requires an attempt to make a definite change in oneself and that change is a kind of struggle with one's false self. When the false self is crucified, then the true self is resurrected. Before the world this crucifixion appears to be lack of power, but in truth all power is attained by this resurrection.

As to knowledge, it has two aspects. One knowledge is what one gathers by learning the names and forms of this life. That cannot satisfy this appetite. It is only a stepping-stone to it. This outer learning only helps one to come to the inner learning, but the inner learning is quite different from the outer learning. How is it learned? It is learned by studying the self. One finds that all the knowledge one strives after and all that exists to study, is all in oneself. Therefore one finds a kind of universe in oneself, and by the study of the self one comes to that spiritual knowledge for which the soul hungers.

There are many who do not mind if they hurt anyone as long as they think they have told the truth. There is, however, a difference between fact and truth. Fact is that which can be spoken of; truth is that which cannot be put into words.

The bare truth alone is not sufficient; Truth must be made into wisdom. What is wisdom? Wisdom is the robe of truth.

When a person doesn't listen to us we must know that it is because ourselves don't believe.

Intuition can be describes as a glimpse of knowledge that one has stored inside oneself, that comes in a time that it is needed. It is a disclosure of of ones own spirit that unveils all things. It is by seeing the cause of every fault in oneself that one is able to have insight into human nature.

In order to make the intuition clear, the best thing is to stop imagination.

Every imagination is intuition until it has been corrupted by reason and when it has been corrupted by reason it becomes fantasy. For as soon as we start think it out we at once descend from a higher, the spiritual source of information and use earthly means to establish what belongs in heaven. Therefor the first condition is to separate this outer knowledge from the inner knowing.

There is a knowledge that one can perceive with the senses, and there is a knowledge that one can perceive with the mind alone, and a knowledge that can be realized by the soul.

Man experiences heaven when conscious of his soul; he experiences the earth when conscious of his body. Man experiences that plane which is between heaven and earth when he is conscious of his mind.

The soul is like a light in the room that is the mind, for the soul perceives feeling, thought, memory, reason, and identity, and identifies itself with them. In reality it is aloof from them. But as the soul cannot see itself, it thinks, with the help of the ego, “I am sad”, or, “I am glad,” or, “I remember,” or, “I have forgotten.” In reality the soul does none of these things; they are all the workings of the mind, but it identifies itself with what it sees at this time.

After death, that which the soul had known as mind is now to the soul a world; That which the soul while on earth called imagination is now before it a reality. In this world our mind is in us. In the next world we are in our mind.

There is a still deeper sphere to which our memory is linked, and that sphere is the universal memory, in other words, the divine mind.

All the quotes in this book is interesting: Daily meditations by Inayat Khan. You can download it here for free: https://cupdf.com/document/inayat-khan-daily-meditations.html

The soul is like a light in the room that is the mind, for the soul perceives feeling, thought,

memory, reason, and identity, and identifies itself with them. In reality it is aloof from them.
But as the soul cannot see itself, it thinks, with the help of the ego, “I am sad”, or, “I am glad,”
or, “I remember,” or, “I have forgotten.” In reality the soul does none of these things; they are all
the workings of the mind, but it identifies itself with what it sees at this time.

After death, that which the soul had known as mind, that very mind is now to the soul a
world; that which the soul while on earth called imagination is now before it a reality. In this
world our mind is in us. In the next world we are in our mind.

There is a still deeper sphere to which our memory is linked, and that sphere is the universal
memory, in other words, the divine mind.

Consciousness must always be conscious of something. When consciousness is not conscious
of anything, it is pure intelligence.

Every imagination is intuition until it has been corrupted by reason, and when the intuition is
corrupted by reason it becomes fantasy. For as soon as we
begin to think it out, we at once descend from the higher, the spiritual source of information,
and use earthly means to establish what belongs to heaven. Therefore the first condition is to
separate this outer knowledge from the inner knowing.

The soul is an individuated portion of the all-pervading consciousness. It is undivided because
it is the absolute Being; it is completely filled with the whole existence. The portion of it that is reflected by a certain name or form becomes comparatively more conscious of the object reflected upon a portion of the all-pervading soul which in reality is a universal spirit. The soul in itself alone is no other than consciousness, which is all-pervading. But when the same consciousness is caught in a limitation through being surrounded by elements, in that state of captivity it is called soul.

Daily meditations Inayat Khan

The three stages towards this perfection are the following.
The first is of the head and the first duty of every seeker after truth is to make God as great as possible, for his own good, because he is making an ideal within himself. He is building within himself that which will make him great.

The second stage is the work of the heart. The first thing to think of is to erase ourselves from our minds and to think of the one we love. The first lesson of love is sacrifice, service, self-effacement. To produce the love of God. Where in the thought of God one begins to lose oneself, in the same way that the lover loses the thought of self in the thought of the beloved.

In the third stage the beloved becomes the self, and the self is there no more. For then the self, as we think it to be, no longer remains; the self becomes what it really is. It is that realization which is called self-realization.