Monday, March 3, 2008

The Mysticism of Sound and Music

I gave up my music because I had received from it all I had to receive.
To serve God one must sacrifice the dearest thing, and I sacrificed my music, the dearest thing to me.
I had composed songs, I sang, and played the vina.
Practicing this music I arrived at a stage where I touched the music of the spheres.
Then every soul became for me 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.
Now, if I do anything , it is to tune souls instead of notes.
If there is anything in my philosophy, it is the law of harmony:
that one must put oneself in harmony with oneself and with others.
I have found in every word a certain musical value, a melody in every thought , harmony in every feeling, and I have tried to interpret the same with clear and simple words to those who used to listen to my music.
I played the vina until my heart turned into the same instrument.
Then I offered this instrument to the divine Musician, the only musician 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 on His own instrument.

"Hazrat Inayat Khan"
Indian Sufi Master (1882-1927)