From everywhere we hear the cry of democracy, of freedom, of equality, but we do not see the right attitude that makes man man. Brotherhood 2, Hazrat Inayat Khan

Beloved ones of God,

Equality is one of the most important aspects of brother- and sisterhood. We all have a different understanding of the meaning of the word equality.

Equality doesn't mean that everything or everybody has to be exactly the same/identical. Hierarchy is often interpreted in terms of balance of power, but in reality it is merely a distinction between differences. Hazrat Inayat Khan teaches us to see the differences, but at the same time respect them without judging. 

In this sense, practising equality is a mystical quality. 

With love and respect,

Maharani and Johara

The aristocratic spirit of nobleness and the democratic spirit of tolerance bring about equality, that brings about the balance we long for in life. The Message papers, Hazrat Inayat Khan 

An aspect of individual harmony is practiced in one's contact with another. Every being has an individual ego produced from his own illusion. This limits his view which is led in the direction of his own interest; and he judges of good and bad, high or low, right or wrong in relation to himself and others through his limited view, which is generally partial and imaginary rather than true. This darkness is caused by the overshadowing of the soul by the external self. Thus a person becomes blind to his own infirmities as well as to the merits of another: the right action of another becomes wrong in his eyes and the fault of the self seems right. This is the case with mankind in general, until the veil of darkness is lifted from his eyes.

It is a most natural desire of the human soul to seek for happiness and comfort. Man desires principles to guide his life, and he wishes for a moral standard to regulate the life of the community. He wishes for a balance of activity and repose; he desires union with the one whom he loves; he wishes for security of all that belongs to him, a settled reciprocity, a fixed give-and-take, and all things which bring about happiness and peace at home and in the nation. 

It is very easy to talk about equality, and it is very easy to consider all kinds of excellent points of view. When you hear the word equality it seems a beautiful thing, it sounds very nice, it seems a religious, a philosophical idea. But what is life, if it is not a symphony? And is not every person a note in this symphony? Suppose that you want to hear music and that all the notes are the same. How would you enjoy that music? If all notes are equal, there is no music; if all persons are the same, there is no symphony. The way to understand equality is different: it is rising to the best, to the highest pitch. And everyone can rise to that pitch if he wants to rise.

What is Gods gift? (Social Gatheka)

Every moment of life is an opportunity, and the greatest opportunity is to know the value of opportunity. Gayan, Hazrat Inayat Khan

Beloved ones of God,

By meeting so many people from different countries during the Summer School, but also by Maharani's recent visit to Russia, we had the experience what it means to be all children of God. We are touched by the feeling that language or culture does not stand in the way of real contact from heart to heart.

This inspired us to share with you that mystic feeling of brother- and sisterhood. That is why we will focus on that beautiful feeling in the near future. The first text of Hazrat Inayat Khan is all-embracing and in the coming months we will focus on the different aspects.

With greetings from our heart,

Maharani and Johara

One seeks elsewhere for happiness, whereas happiness in reality is right there within one's own being, providing that the want for happiness for oneself has been overcome. Spiritual Liberty, Inner Teachings, No. 30, Hidayat Inayat-Khan

What is Gods gift? (Social Gathekas)

In working in the line of brotherhood our main object is to bring about a better understanding among the different classes, the followers of different religions, and people of different races and different nations. But by this we do not mean to mix them up. If this were our idea, it would have been quite a different thing. We want to let the farms of wheat be farms of wheat; on the farms where rice grows, let rice grow; where there are woods, let there be woods; where there are gardens, let there be gardens; all things are necessary. 

Our ideas have not reached to the extreme of cooking all things in the same dish. We do not wish to stretch the fingers so as to make them all even, for their natural size is the proper size for them. Our imagination of equality has not yet reached that idea. Only our motive is that East and the West, the North and the South, instead of turning their backs to each other, may turn their faces to each other. We do not wish that all people in the world should be of the same religion or the same education or the same customs and manners; nor do we think that all classes must become one class, - which is impossible. 

We wish that all classes may blend into each other and yet every individual may have his own individual expression in life; all nations may have their peculiarity, their individuality, but at the same time they may express good-will and friendly feelings toward one another; different races may have their own manners and their own ideas, but at the same time they may understand each other; that the followers of different religions may belong to their own religions, but at the same time may become tolerant to each other. Therefore our idea of brotherhood is not in any way extreme. 

The motive is not to change humanity, but to help humanity on toward sits goal. People may belong to one church and they may fight with one another. It is just as well that they should belong to different churches, and yet understand each other and respect each other's religion, and tolerate one another. People may belong to one institution and disagree with one another. Then what is the use of that institution? Therefore, it is not at all the mission of the Order to make the whole humanity followers of one special order, but to give to humanity what God has given us, and destined it that we may serve His cause.