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One single desire...


There are many paths, and each man considers his own the best and wisest. Let
each one choose that which belongs to his own temperament.

Bowl of Saki, December 23, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

The Sufi looks on all with tolerance, and knows that there is a path for
everyone. The path of the lover is for him, the path of the one seeking for
wealth is for him, the seeker after paradise is following his path, it is all a
journey. It is simply that there are four different routes by which the journey
is made. The Sufi sees the same goal at the end of each; the lover has to meet
the seeker after wealth, and both have to meet the one who has done his duty.
Therefore at the end of their journey there is a place where they can meet. What
does it matter if one does not go by a certain path? Let each choose the way
that belongs to his own temperament and tendency. Therefore the Sufi does not
worry. He gives no preference to one or the other. He sees the journey of life
being made along one or other of these roads. The saying of Buddha, 'Forgive
all', comes true. Forgiveness does not come by learning, it comes by
understanding that a person should be allowed to travel along that path which is
suited to his temperament. As long as he is journeying with open eyes, let him
journey.

The great thing is that one should journey with one single desire. There should
be the single desire: whether to love a beloved, to collect wealth, or to do
some good for the world of humanity, or to attain paradise. There should be the
desire to journey to the goal. So many do not know which is the goal or what it
is. One thinks wealth is the goal, another paradise, another the beloved. They
do not see that there is still a further goal. They are naturally prompted by
the desire to get to the goal, and yet they are not conscious of the further
goal

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