" God is living in the heart of man, " says Hazrat Inayat Khan.

To be aware of that truth and to respect the human feelings and live that love is a great principal of conduct. This Sufi affirmation by Hazrat Inayat Khan makes us aware of its meaning and its realisation by our conscious repetition and devout exercise.

The negation " This is not my body " frees us from the ego-identification with the body, frees us from illusion and separation, placing our self before us with open eyes.

The affirmation " This is the temple of God " creates a living place for the All-Beloved

to dwell in our home-garden as welcome and as flourishing as our love can offer.

This singing version of the affirmation may be exercised before the Inayat Zikar or performed as a separate meditation with some more attention to the second part.

We may sit cross-legged in a circle and have some heartsinging and praying before.

Movements of the body and the arms intensify the practice.

AFFIRMATION FOR THE ZIKAR

2 on not, the upper body bends to the right, the right hand touches the right shoulder;

3 on bo-dy, the upper body is in the middle and the fingers of the right hand touches the breast in the centre, this position is held for the two measures 3 and 4;

5 on this, the upper body moves a little backward and the fingers of the right hand touches the centre of the forehead;

6 on tem-ple, the upper body moves a little forward and the fingers of the right hand touch the centre of the belly;

7 on God, the upper body is again in the middle and the fingers of the right hand touches the centre of the breast, this position is held for the two measures 7 and 8.

The right hand draws the horizontal and the vertical of the cross, and comes back to the crosscentre of the heart. Here the mystical sufi rose may flourish in the garden of Allah, see also the description of the cross in the Moulamia Zikar of Grace, nr.70.

The left hand may rest on the knee or held flat on the heart or held open.

AFFIRMATION MEDITATION 04b

2 on tem-ple , the upper body bends forward and the fingers of both hands touch the centre of the belly.

3 on God, upper body is in the middle and the fingers of both hands touch the breast;

4 on Al-Lah, upper body moves forward, both hands open as in prayer;

5 on Hu, upper body moves backward, the hands right over left held on the breast for four measures 5-6-7-8.

Or on Hu both fists may knock very gentle on the heart, the body moves to and fro. For conclusion 4-5 is repeated three times in two measures.

The number of repetitions may be 21 for the affirmation for the Zikar, 4x5+1, and 33 times for the affirmation meditation, but you may forget counting numbers when you are absorbed in the exercise for some time.