In this teaching we were invited to look into the mirror of the heart and discover that the human interior has become a bustling zoo. We pay fifteen or twenty euros for a ticket to visit a zoo outside, yet the real spectacle is already within us, free of charge. When we turn towards our inner self, all the creatures of our temperament appear: anger barks like a dog, jealousy hisses like a snake, bitterness stings like a scorpion. These animal instincts are not what Allah created us to be; He created every soul as a noble, dignified being with a pure essence.
The reminder is gentle but firm: recognise these inner beasts without shame, notice how they surface when pride, envy or hatred take hold, and let the divine spark at our core lead them back into the garden of the heart. By facing the zoo within, we begin to turn it into a sanctuary where compassion, patience and gratitude reign.
If this resonates with you, consider deepening your practice with the Royal Ottoman Society. Membership gives access to regular gatherings, teachings and a community that walks the path together.
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