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CONFRATERNITY MEDITATION FOR OCTOBER 13

“The path of freedom leads to the goal of captivity; it is the path of discipline which leads to the goal of liberty. Gayan of Hazrat Inayat Khan

Annotation by Cherag Hamid Touchon

To be free, to live in a free society where one may do or think or move about as one pleases is a great privilege but with it comes a greater personal responsibility and a greater level of self control and self governance. Without the restraint of self-discipline many fall prey to all sorts of undesirable conditions such as substance abuse, addictions and imbalances of various sorts and this is the outcome of a lack of will power  caused by letting one’s personal impulse be given the freedom of doing as it pleases and this freedom eventually leads to the captivity of helplessness. We are naturally capable of self-discipline as evidenced by the fact that we discipline ourselves in those things which interest us most

“If a person goes through his whole life most cleverly judging others, he may go on, but he will find himself to be more foolish at every step; at the end he reaches the fullness of stupidity. But the one who tries, tests, studies and observes himself, his own attitude in life, his own outlook on life, his thought, speech and action, who weighs and measures and teaches himself self-discipline, it is that person who is able to understand another better. How rarely one sees a soul who concerns himself with himself through life, in order to know! Mostly, every soul seems to be busily occupied with the lives of others. And what do they know in the end? Nothing. If there is a kingdom of God to be found anywhere it is within oneself.” The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan - The Purpose of Life - Chapter 12

“Self-discipline, however difficult and tyrannical to ourselves it may seem in the beginning, yet is that which in the end makes the soul the master of self.” The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan –  The Mysticism of sound and Music - Cosmic Language – Will

A Fikr Practice (silent breath meditation)

However many breathes seem appropriate

On the out breath 
"LET THE STAR OF THE DIVINE LIGHT " 

On the in breath: 
"BE REFLECTED IN THE HEARTS OF THY DEVOTEES "