When reading the Spiritual discourse

An individual inquired what points should he pay most attention to when reading Shaykh’s spiritual discourses (mawaiz) to achieve maximum benefit.

Hakim al-Umma Hadhrat Mawlana Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawi (may Allah have mercy on him) replied,

“When reading these discourses paying attention to two things are beneficial. Firstly, the blame worthy things mentioned in them which are present in me and then working to remove them. And similarly, the praise worthy attributes mentioned that I do not posses and trying to achieve them.”

Tarbiyet us Salik, volume 1, page 429