I played the vina until my heart turned into the same instrument. Then I offered this instrument to the Divine Musician, the only muscian 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 his own instrument.
Interpretation
This quote expresses the deep connection between artistry and spirituality, illustrating how true creation comes from a higher source.
In this quote, Hazrat Inayat Khan reflects on the transformative power of music and spirituality. He emphasizes that as he immersed himself in playing the vina, he became one with the instrument and, metaphorically, with the Divine Musician, suggesting that true artistry is a channeling of a greater force rather than solely an individual achievement. This reflection highlights the humility and surrender required in the artistic journey, recognizing that the accolades attributed to the artist ultimately belong to the divine source of inspiration.
In practice
In a speech about creativity, one might use this quote to illustrate the flow of inspiration from a higher source.
Sufism is not a religion or a philosophy, it is neither deism nor atheism, nor is it a moral, nor a special kind of mysticism, being free from the usual religious sectarianism. If ever it could be called a religion, it would only be as a religion of love, harmony, and beauty.
I had composed songs, I sang, and played the vina. Practising this music I arrived at a stage where I touched the music of the spheres. Then every soul became 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 them instead of listening to my songs.
Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful.
What science cannot declare, art can suggest; what art suggests silently, poetry speaks aloud; but what poetry fails to explain in words, music can express. _x000D_ Whoever knows the mystery of vibrations indeed knows all things.
Atmosphere is a silent music. It has its effect upon the listener, exciting or peaceful, whatever it may be.
What makes us feel drawn to music is that our whole being is music: our mind and body, the nature in which we live, the nature which has made us, all that is beneath and around us, it is all music.
But most it is presumption in us when the help of heaven we count the act of men.
The basic fact about human existence is not that it is a tragedy, but that it is a bore. It is not so much a war as an endless standing in line.
A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.
I was rather literary in college—one year I wrote a series of very solemn and obvious editorials for the 'Yale News.'—and now I was going to bring back all such things into my life and become again that most limited of all specialists, the 'well-rounded man.' This isn’t just an epigram—life is much more successfully looked at from a single window, after all.
Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me - a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.
Chaos of thought and passion, all confused; Still by himself abused or disabused; Created half to rise, and half to fall; Great lord of all things, yet a prey to all; Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurled,- The glory, jest, and riddle of the world.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.