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Truth by its very nature cannot be uttered ...

The teacher, however great, can never give his knowledge to the pupil; the pupil
must create his own knowledge.

Bowl of Saki, September 19, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

The work of a mystical teacher is not to teach, but to tune, to tune the pupil
so that he may become the instrument of God. For the mystical teacher is not the
player of the instrument; he is the tuner. When he has tuned it, he gives it
into the hands of the Player whose instrument it is to play. The duty of the
mystical teacher is his service as a tuner.

The task of the Sufi teacher is not to force a belief on a mureed, but to train
him so that he may become illuminated enough to receive revelations himself.

Truth by its very nature cannot be uttered, cannot be given. One cannot give
that which cannot be put into speech. So the teacher gives a method for finding
the truth, for unfolding it, for unlocking that which seems to be in one's
heart. ... It is clearly impossible for anyone to impart his knowledge to
another person; he can only show him how to unfold his own knowledge to himself.
Everybody possesses a kingdom, but he has to find it.

There is only one teacher, and that teacher is God Himself. No man can teach
another man. All one can do for another is to give him one's own experience in
order to help him to be successful. For instance if a person happens to know a
road, he can tell another man that it is the road which leads to the place he
wishes to find. The work of the spiritual teacher is like the work of Cupid. The
work of Cupid is to bring two souls together. And so is the work of the
spiritual teacher: to bring together the soul and God.

But what is taught to the one who seeks after truth? Nothing is taught. He is
only shown how he should learn from God. For no man can ever teach spirituality.
It is God alone who teaches it. And how is it learned? When these ears which are
open outwardly are closed to the outside world and focused upon the heart
within, then instead of hearing all that comes from the outer life one begins to
hear the words within. Thus if one were to define what meditation is, that also
is an attitude: the right attitude towards God. The attitude should first be to
seek God within. And, after seeking God within, then to see God outside.

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