The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan: Philosophy, Psychology and Myst

Book excerpt: There are three steps which lead the seeker to the altar of divine wisdom. One is philosophy, the next is psychology, and the third is mysticism. Philosophy is learned by the analysis and synthesis of all that we perceive through the five senses. Psychology is learned by the analysis and synthesis of all that we can feel in human nature and in our character, and mysticism is learned by the analysis and synthesis of the whole of life, both that which is seen and that which is unseen. Philosophy therefore is learned by the study of things, psychology is learnt by thinking, and mysticism is learned by meditation. The one who takes these three steps towards divine knowledge completes his life's study; but he omits the first or the second step, philosophy or psychology, and arrives directly at mysticism, he leaves behind some knowledge that could have helped him impart his knowledge to others. Therefore it is most essential that these threes steps be taken one after the other. The words philosophy, psychology, and mysticism should not be interpreted in the sense in which they are generally used today. By philosophy is not meant a certain philosophy. By psychology is not meant a certain system. By mysticism is not meant a certain occult science. But by philosophy is meant the knowledge of things perceived through the intelligence or intuition, by psychology the knowledge of the human character and of human nature, and by mysticism the knowledge of being.