Spiritual Formation: Polishing the Mirror
With some thoughts from the Sufi mystic Hazrat Inayat Khan
Beloved Seeker,
The journey of spiritual formation is akin to the unfolding of a delicate rose, each petal revealing a deeper layer of our inner essence. It begins with a yearning, a subtle whisper of the soul calling us towards the divine embrace. This path is not a straight line but a winding road, filled with both illumination and shadow.
In our quest for spiritual truth, we must cultivate the garden of the heart. Like a gardener, we tend to our inner soil, planting seeds of love, compassion, and humility. These virtues, once nurtured, blossom into a fragrant tapestry that guides us closer to the Divine.
To embark on this sacred path, one must practice stillness and listen to the silent symphony within. The heart speaks in whispers, and through meditation and contemplation, we attune ourselves to its sacred melody. It is in this silence that we find the presence of the Beloved, the source of all creation.
The journey is also a mirror reflecting our innermost being. Each encounter and experience serves as a lesson, a reflection of our soul’s state. By embracing these reflections with an open heart, we learn to transcend our ego and align ourselves with the divine will.
Hazrat Inayat Khan offers us profound wisdom when he says:
“What we must first accomplish in life is to clear the reflections from our own heart, reflections that hinder our path. Once a businessman came to me and said, ‘Well, I cannot understand. There is some sort of bad luck with me, so that I always fail, and I cannot understand why I fail. I went to spiritualists, I went to clairvoyants, and I went to people who make one’s horoscope. Some said one thing, some another thing, now I cannot make out what is right.’ I told him,
The right and wrong is in yourself. Listen to yourself. Find out what is going on in your mind. Is it not the memory of the loss that you have had? It is a kind of continual voice going on in your heart. The astrologers will say it is something that is around you. The spiritualists will say that some ghost or spirit is behind it. There may be ghosts or there may not be, but what really happens is that in your heart a voice is saying: You have failed, you have failed, you have failed. Can you make this be quiet, be silent? As soon as you get rid of this reflection, all will be well with you.’ He said, ‘What must I do? How can I do it?’ I said, ‘Determination. Promise me that from now on you will never give a thought to your past failures. Past is past, the present is present. Proceed with hope and courage; all will be well.’”
This teaching reveals a fundamental truth about the human condition: our inner world shapes our outer reality. The reflections in our heart, whether they are memories of past failures or fears of future uncertainties, can cloud our vision and hinder our progress. The key lies not in external consultations or divinations but in turning inward and listening to our own heart to discern the heavenly guidance awaiting us there.
The continual voice of doubt and defeat can be silenced through determination and conscious effort. By releasing the past and embracing the present with hope and courage, we clear the path for divine guidance to flow freely within us. Spiritual formation requires this inner clarity, for it is through a quieted heart that we can truly connect with the Divine and realize our highest potential.
Remember, beloved, that patience and perseverance are your companions on this path. Spiritual formation is not achieved in haste but through consistent practice and surrender. Trust in the process, for every step you take brings you closer to the ultimate unity with the Divine.
May your heart remain steadfast, and may each breath be a reminder of the sacred dance between you and the Beloved.