It is the surface of the sea
that makes waves and roaring breakers;
the depth is silent.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan
The bubbles are to be found on the surface of the sea.
The depth of the sea is free from bubbles.
The commotion is to be seen on the surface, the depth of the sea is still.
The mind is the commotion of that something that is within us, that something which we call heart.
The happiness, knowledge, pleasure and love that is stored in our innermost being is in our profound depth.
Changing emotions and passions, dreams, ever-rising thoughts and imaginations, all belong to the surface, as the bubbles belong to the surface of the sea.
To attain peace, what one has to do is to seek that rhythm which is in the depth of our being.
It is just like the sea: the surface of the sea is ever moving; the depth of the sea is still.
And so it is with our life.
If our life is thrown into the sea of activity, it is on the surface.
We still live in the profound depths, in that peace.
But the thing is to become conscious of that peace which can be found within ourselves.
It is this which can bring us the answer to all our problems.
If not, when we want to solve one problem, there is another difficult problem coming. There is no end to our problems.
There is no end to the difficulties of the outer life.
And if we get excited over them, we shall never be able to solve them.
Some think, 'We might wait. Perhaps the conditions will become better. We shall see then what to do.'
But when will the conditions become better?
They will become still worse!
Whether the conditions become better or worse, the first thing is to seek the kingdom of God within ourselves, in which there is our peace.
As soon as we have found that, we have found our support, we have found our self.
And in spite of all the activity and movement on the surface, we shall be able to keep that peace undisturbed if only we hold it fast by becoming conscious of it.
Spiritual knowledge is nothing but this: that there is a constant longing in the heart of man to have something of its origin, to experience something of its original state, the state of peace and joy which has been disturbed, and yet is sought after throughout its whole life, and never can cease to be sought after until the real source has at length been realized.
What was it in the wilderness that gave peace and joy?
What was it that came to us in the forest, the solitude?
In either case it was nothing else but the depth of our own life, which is silent like the depths of the great sea, so silent and still. It is the surface of the sea that makes waves and roaring breakers; the depth is silent.
So the depth of our own being is silent also.
And this all-pervading, unbroken, inseparable, unlimited, ever-present, omnipotent silence unites with our silence like the meeting of flames.
Something goes out from the depths of our being to receive something from there, which comes to meet us; our eyes cannot see and our ears cannot hear and our mind cannot perceive because it is beyond mind, thought, and comprehension.
It is the meeting of the soul and the Spirit.
The depth of the sea is free from bubbles.
The commotion is to be seen on the surface, the depth of the sea is still.
The mind is the commotion of that something that is within us, that something which we call heart.
The happiness, knowledge, pleasure and love that is stored in our innermost being is in our profound depth.
Changing emotions and passions, dreams, ever-rising thoughts and imaginations, all belong to the surface, as the bubbles belong to the surface of the sea.
To attain peace, what one has to do is to seek that rhythm which is in the depth of our being.
It is just like the sea: the surface of the sea is ever moving; the depth of the sea is still.
And so it is with our life.
If our life is thrown into the sea of activity, it is on the surface.
We still live in the profound depths, in that peace.
But the thing is to become conscious of that peace which can be found within ourselves.
It is this which can bring us the answer to all our problems.
If not, when we want to solve one problem, there is another difficult problem coming. There is no end to our problems.
There is no end to the difficulties of the outer life.
And if we get excited over them, we shall never be able to solve them.
Some think, 'We might wait. Perhaps the conditions will become better. We shall see then what to do.'
But when will the conditions become better?
They will become still worse!
Whether the conditions become better or worse, the first thing is to seek the kingdom of God within ourselves, in which there is our peace.
As soon as we have found that, we have found our support, we have found our self.
And in spite of all the activity and movement on the surface, we shall be able to keep that peace undisturbed if only we hold it fast by becoming conscious of it.
Spiritual knowledge is nothing but this: that there is a constant longing in the heart of man to have something of its origin, to experience something of its original state, the state of peace and joy which has been disturbed, and yet is sought after throughout its whole life, and never can cease to be sought after until the real source has at length been realized.
What was it in the wilderness that gave peace and joy?
What was it that came to us in the forest, the solitude?
In either case it was nothing else but the depth of our own life, which is silent like the depths of the great sea, so silent and still. It is the surface of the sea that makes waves and roaring breakers; the depth is silent.
So the depth of our own being is silent also.
And this all-pervading, unbroken, inseparable, unlimited, ever-present, omnipotent silence unites with our silence like the meeting of flames.
Something goes out from the depths of our being to receive something from there, which comes to meet us; our eyes cannot see and our ears cannot hear and our mind cannot perceive because it is beyond mind, thought, and comprehension.
It is the meeting of the soul and the Spirit.
Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
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