This month we reflect again on the prayer: O Thou, who art the light of our souls, the inspirer of our minds and the creator of our bodies, we humbly pray to be of service to Thee and to all of humanity as instruments of Thy divine love and light.
Reflection
Focus on the phrase: we humbly pray to be of service to Thee and to all of humanity. Then consider Murshid’s teachings below on prayer and service.
"[One] aspect of prayer is laying our shortcomings before the unlimited perfection of the divine Being, and asking His forgiveness. This makes man conscious of his smallness, of his limitation, and therefore makes him humble before his God."
Vol. IX, The Unity of Religious Ideals, p. 34
"The Sufi Message … teaches service and usefulness, which alone can make life in the world fruitful and in which lies the satisfaction of every soul."
Religious Gatheka 1
"We must give our services and our time to the deserving and undeserving alike, and we must be thankful to God that He has enabled us to give. … Let us give service … but … do not let us expect to receive anything."
Vol. VI, The Alchemy of Happiness, pp. 88-89
"When you do not worry about others, or judge them, you can meditate, think, be silent, and at the same time be serviceable to the world."
Vol. XII, The Vision of God and Man, p.92
"Man can never make the soul dance, but he can make himself a fit instrument for the expression of his soul. … The question is, in what way can he so fit himself? By talking about it, by discussing and arguing it will not come, but by self-realization, by making ourselves the examples of what should be, by giving love, taking love, and showing in our action gentleness, consideration and the desire for service for the sake of God in whom we can all unite beyond the narrow barriers of race and creed."
Vol. XIV, The Smiling Forehead, Part 1, pp. 129-130
With Loving Greetings from Shakti and Shamsher
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