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Let The Music Flow

Inner Music, Moinuddin Chishti
Let the inner music flow. A short story on Moinuddin Chishti, a Sufi musician and mystic whose tomb is in Ajmer reveals the truth.

Moinuddin Chishti made beautiful music with his Sitar. He enjoyed playing the instrument than engaging himself in the Islamic way of offering the five ritual prayers. He would get lost in making melodies which was his way of praying. Though considered as going against the religious rule, Chishti could not be asked about it as the scholars and maulvis to who approached him would spontaneously get lost in his mellifluous rendering. It was only very natural for his fame to spread far and wide.

Once Jilani, a great mystic from Baghdad came to visit Chishti. On hearing about the arrival of Jilani, Chishti decided not to play the instruments as his transgression from Islamic decree could hurt the great mystic. In his whole life it was only on that day that Chishti decided not to sing nor play the instruments. So he hid the instruments.

Jilani came to Chishti's house and both sat in silence. However the instruments could not keep silent. It is said that the instruments began to play on their own and the whole house was filled with music. Chishti was naturally baffled. He had not known such beautiful music.

Jilani laughed and told Chishti, “You have hidden your instruments. But can you hide your soul? You may keep your hands away from playing and your throat from singing, but what about your being? Your whole being is musical! The whole place is vibrating with music!"

Jilani continued, “Rules are for the ordinary. Not for people like you! You should not hide your instruments!"
Rules are not for the ones who have lost themselves in their being.

osho says “When the mind is fresh the very existence becomes a melody. When one is fresh, the existence responds to that freshness spontaneously.One will have to be centered in one's being for the mind to be in continuous newness. Continuous newness of the mind makes life a celebration.

Story first published: Thursday, April 29, 2010, 16:39 [IST]