Spirit of Guidance

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Part of a series of articles on Universal Sufism Figures Hazrat Inayat Khan · Maheboob Khan · Ali Khan · Musharraf Khan · Samuel L. Lewis · Hayat Bouman · Vilayat Inayat Khan · Hidayat Inayat Khan · Zia Inayat Khan Beliefs Panentheism · Universal Intelligence · Esotericism · Spirit of Guidance · Universalism · Karma · Wahdat-ul-Wujood · Zahir · Batin · Prophetic continuity Practices Universal Worship Service · Dhikr · Wazifa · Muraqaba · Dances of Universal Peace · Ryazat · Prayer · Ziraat Structure Pir · Murshid · Khalif · Mureed Places of worship Universel Murad Hassil · Universel · Dargah of Hazrat Inayat Groups Sufi Order International · International Sufi Movement v • d • e

The Spirit of Guidance is the term in Universal Sufism for Universal Intelligence as it is manifest in the human mind.^[1]

Hazrat Inayat Khan coined the term in Arabic Ruh-ul-Irshad Arabic:روح الارشاد In English: The Spirit of Guidance

For a Sufi, the diversity of names and forms of the world's religious tendencies are like veils covering the phenomena of the 'Spirit of Guidance' manifested at all levels of evolution. This Inner Guidance is constantly present in the beautiful book of nature's mysteries, which reveals a never-ending Message of Love, providing one's understanding of the relationship between matter and spirit is in harmony with one's feeling heart.

[edit] Main points

• The Spirit of Guidance is Divine Mind in its emanation in the human mind. The human mind is the microcosm and the divine mind is the macrocosm.^[2]

• The experiences of every being become the experience of the divine mind, therefore it has knowledge of all beings. It is therefore the sum total of all experience.^[3]

• Intuition, inspiration, vision, revelation and prophecy are emanations of the Spirit of Guidance in microcosmic form.

• Every person reflects a spark of the spirit of guidance and act as triggers of guidance in others.

• Some people effectively channel the "central current" of divine mind and therefore reflect guidance more recognisably on others. These people have been known as prophets, teachers, Gurus etc...

• To realise the spirit of guidance one is taught to clear the outer layers of clutter in the mind which stop one from sensing it.

• It is like a plant that grows and blossoms in response to being cared for.

• It is the essence of enlightenment (Nirvana), the light of God. When one is fully aware of and responsive to it, one is said to be "enlightened" and "liberated."

• The 33 beads on the Misbaha represent the eternity of manifestations of the Divine Mind and the endless possibilities for liberation. Each bead is individual yet the thread tying them together is unchanged and equal to all.

[edit] Parallel teachings

Esther Hicks describes it this way: "When you finally get it that you have this personal relationship with this Stream and that you have this magnificent Guidance System within you that lets you know, in every particle of every moment, what you're doing relative to the Stream, and so, you let your dominant intent be to connect to the Stream and radiate it as much as you can, then, suddenly, everything else falls into its perfect place."^[4]

[edit] References