A human being is likened to the light, their soul the glow, their mind the flame, and their body the end of the flame. The heat that comes out of the light is the atmosphere of a person, and the smoke that rises out of the light in reality does not belong to the light. It belongs to the fuel. As human ignorance is troublesome, so the smoke rising out of the light is disturbing. As different lights differ in their degree of radiance, so different souls differ in the degree of radiance. However, the element in every person is the same and that is light. We read in the ancient scriptures that the angels were made of fire. It is not fire; it is light. When we ask ourselves the question, “Were the angels made of light and no one else?” the answer will be that all, each and every one, was created of the light.
The difference between our soul and body, which sometimes we consider as great as between the earth and heaven, is not so much. It is one light, and therefore the external part of a person is expressive of their inner being, and their inner being is also dependent in many ways on their external being. But speaking of the inner and outer part of one’s being is for our convenience. In reality there is one being, there is one light. If a person lacks magnetism, enthusiasm, courage, or the power of accomplishment, it is all owing to the lack of this radiance that belongs to their being. The health of the body, the balance of mind, the purity of the soul, all this depends upon the radiance of their being.
Therefore, the health of the body is spiritual; the balance of the mind is spiritual; and so is the purity of the soul. All these are the signs of spirituality. A good atmosphere, the power of the word, courage without fear, fearlessness, and self-confidence are also signs of spirituality. The capability of accomplishing something and the strength to struggle through life are more signs of spirituality.
The purpose of the life of an individual is to perfect the light that is within, which is their very being. Whatever may be the qualifications of a person, whatever be their resources, position, and rank, if the light within is not brilliant, they cannot fulfil the purpose of their life. In the Bible there is a story that explains somewhat the same idea in the allegory of the ten wise virgins and the ten foolish virgins. The foolish ones did not keep oil in their lamps, and the ten kept their lamps prepared. The ten wise ones, therefore, answered the purpose on the day which was promised, the ten foolish ones repented. Now, ten means one, zero means nothing: one wise soul, and one foolish soul. The wise soul collected all the material in order to make that light more brilliant for that day, the day that was the day of promise; and the foolish soul wasted it, and found it absent at the time when it was needed.
When we come to our life in the world, in our material strife, in our spiritual struggle, what do we need? We need that light, the spark that is within us, which is our being. Every time when we are without it, when we lack it, it causes us failure and all the distresses of life, since our health, our balance, and our clearness of vision all depend upon the light that is within. As every light needs fuel, so the light that is ours, our self, needs fuel also. For the physical part of our life what we call food is the fuel, but for the light of the mind intellectual sustenance is necessary. If the body is fed and the mind is not fed, then naturally the light becomes less. The sustenance of the soul is the divine ideal, the divine ideal that is love and light both. If the soul does not receive that nourishment which is necessary for it, then the soul is starved. The body may be nourished, but that is not sufficient for the soul. Therefore, before our physical eyes we see many famine-stricken souls, but if we saw with the spiritual eyes, we should see still more famine in humanity.
What do we learn in Sufism? We learn in Sufism that mysticism which teaches us how to collect the fuel which is necessary, not only for the body but for our mind and soul. We learn by concentration, by meditation, and by all other kinds of contemplative practices. The purpose that is accomplished by the Sufi is that purpose which is the longing of every soul.
November 27, 1923
CW 1923 Vol. II, pp. 844-846.
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