'The human heart must first be melted, like metal, before it can
be molded into a desirable character."
"A mureed had been a long time in the service of a spiritual guide, but he
could make no progress and was not inspired. He went to the teacher and
said, 'I have seen very many mureeds being inspired, but it is my misfortune
that I cannot advance at all, and now I must give up hope and leave you.'
The teacher advised him to spend the last days of his stay in a house near
the Khankah, and every day he sent him very good food and told him to cease
the spiritual practices and to lead a comfortable and restful life. On the
last day he sent the mureed a basket of fruit by a fair damsel. She set the
tray down and immediately went away, though he wished to detain her. Her
beauty and charm were so great, and he was now so much disposed to admire
and was so much won by them, that he could think of nothing else. Every hour
and every minute he longed only to see her again. His longing increased
every moment. He forgot to eat, he was full of tears and sighs, finding his
heart now warmed and melted by the fire of love. After some time, when the
teacher visited the disciple, with one glance he inspired him. 'Even steel
can be molded if it be heated in the fire', and so it is with the heart
which is melted by the fire of love."
From: The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan -
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