Bowl of Saki for January 21

THE WISE ONE SHOULD KEEP THE BALANCE BETWEEN LOVE AND POWER; ONE SHOULD KEEP THE LOVE IN HIS NATURE EVER INCREASING AND EXPANDING, AND AT THE SAME TIME STRENGTHEN THE WILL SO THAT THE HEART MAY NOT EASILY BE BROKEN. -- Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by -- Hazrat Samuel L. Lewis:

Power is what God gives naturally to man, and love is what man should give naturally to God. Power enters with every breath. This can easily be demonstrated without any knowledge of metaphysics, for the person who does not breathe will surely lose the connection between the physical body and the subtle bodies and pass from form. It is the use of breath, which can be the most valuable thing in life.

If the body tries to collect power and express power without love, it will be like a balloon bag being filled with gas. It has only a certain capacity and to exert it beyond that capacity will cause damage or destruction. Likewise the love for God, which is unbalanced, which makes one mad with love or fervent with devotion, does not give God the opportunity to use the pious person as his instrument. He wants to express His power through the pure vehicle and the person has not made the vehicle ready. This shows weakness of will even in the midst of love, which is intoxicating.

Will is strengthened by keeping the balance between power and love, which are both aspects of will. Urouj and nasoul, inhalation and exhalation, the upward and downward currents must be kept in balance and rhythm in order to secure maximum efficiency. If there is too much power, even the physical heart will be strained; if there is too much love, it will experience pleasure and pain, ecstasy and suffering. But if the love is ever expanding, ever growing and made sober by the desire to do God's will, then the person will also be a receptacle of power expressed or concealed. Even the gentlest saint may be a most majestic person through the attunement of will and breath to God.

_____________________________________________________________________

RECEIVE DAILY BOWL OF SAKI INDEX GLOSSARY MESSAGE VOLUMES