by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
As fruit ripens in the course of nature, so it is in the course of nature that the soul should mature; and it is no use being disappointed or disheartened about ourselves and about those near and dear to us, worrying because our husband, wife, father, or mother does not look at spiritual matters in the same way as we do.
In the first place no man, however wise or pious, has the right to judge another soul.
Who knows what is hidden behind every action, appearance, speech, and manner?
No one.
And when a person begins to know what is hidden in the human soul, in spite of all deluding appearances he will have respect, a respect for mankind, as he realizes that in the depth of every soul is He whom one worships.
Just as the religious person has a religious attitude in a temple, so the Sufi has that attitude before every being, for to him every being is the temple of the divine.
Therefore the Sufi is always before his Lord.
Whether a servant, a master, a friend, or a foe is before him, he is in the presence of God.
For the one whose God is in the high heavens there is a vast gulf between him and God, but the one who has God always before him -- he is always in God's presence, and there is no end to his happiness
God is in all things, and still more He is in all beings.
Seek Him in all souls, good and bad, wise and foolish, attractive or unattractive, for in the depth of each there is God.
Man swimming in the sea does not know the fish living in the sea, so we living in God do not recognize all souls living in God also.
He is all around and about us at every moment, we are living His life, we are breathing His breath, and yet we are ignorant of the perfection of beauty which unites and inspires every soul.
Seek Him in all souls,
good or bad,
wise and foolish,
attractive and unattractive;
in the depths of each there is God.
