The self is not made to be loved; the self is made to love

Sometimes we find satisfaction in self-pity. The reason is that it is our nature to find satisfaction in love; and when we are confined to ourselves we begin to love ourselves, and then self-pity arises because we feel our limitation.

But the love of self always brings dissatisfaction, for the self is not made to be loved; the self is made to love.

The first condition to love is to forget oneself.

-Hazrat Inayat Khan

Observing one's faults

The further one goes, the more difficulties there are; one finds greater faults in oneself as one advances along the spiritual path. It is not because the number of faults has increased, but the sense has become so keen that one regards differently faults which formerly one would not have noticed. It is like a musician: the more he advances and the better he plays, the more faults he notices. He who does not notice his faults is in reality becoming worse. There is no end to one's faults. To think of them makes one humble.

-Hazrat Inayat Khan

The end and the sum total of all mysticism, philosophy, and meditation

The end and the sum total of all mysticism, philosophy, and meditation, of everything one learns and develops, is to be a better servant to humanity. Everything from the beginning to the end in the spiritual path is a training to be able to serve mankind better, and if one does not do it with that intention, one will find in the end that one has accomplished nothing.

-Hazrat Inayat Khan

Humour in spiritual life

Q: How does Babaji feel about the sense of humor on the spiritual path? A: On the spiritual path, people think you have to sit sadly and be serious all the time, thinking about God. When a person's mind is purified, the mind develops happiness. In that state of happiness, the mind becomes playful.
-Baba Hari Dass

One will always find that the most evolved sages can be amused; that is why they are pleasant to meet and to speak to. Worrying comes from self- pity and fear, and fear is made of the clouds of ignorance; the light will dissolve it. Humor is the sign of light: when the light from above touches the mind it tickles the mind, and it is the tickling of mind which produces humor.

-Hazrat Inayat Khan