|
<<previous |
next>> |
|
|
The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys
|
Pages 50-52
|
|
The First Valley
| |
1 |
If the travelers seek after the goal of the
Intended One (maqsúd), this station appertaineth
to the self--but that self which is "The
Self of God standing within Him with laws."
[1]
| |
2 |
On this plane, the self is not rejected but
beloved; it is well-pleasing and not to be
shunned. Although at the beginning, this plane
is the realm of conflict, yet it endeth in attainment
to the throne of splendor. As they have
said: "O Abraham of this day, O Friend
Abraham of the Spirit! Kill these four birds of
prey,"
[2]
that after death the riddle of life may
be unraveled.
| |
3 |
This is the plane of the soul who is pleasing
unto God. Refer to the verse:
| |
4 |
O thou soul who art well assured,
Return to thy Lord, well-pleased, and pleasing
unto Him.
[3]
which endeth:
| |
5 |
Enter thou among My servants,
And enter thou My paradise.
[4]
| |
6 |
This station hath many signs, unnumbered
proofs. Hence it is said: "Hereafter We will
show them Our signs in the regions of the
earth, and in themselves, until it become manifest
unto them that it is the truth,"
[5]
and that
there is no God save Him.
| |
7 |
One must, then, read the book of his own
self, rather than some treatise on rhetoric.
Wherefore He hath said, "Read thy Book:
There needeth none but thyself to make out
an account against thee this day."
[6]
| |
8 |
The story is told of a mystic knower, who
went on a journey with a learned grammarian
as his companion. They came to the shore of
the Sea of Grandeur. The knower straightway
flung himself into the waves, but the grammarian
stood lost in his reasonings, which
were as words that are written on water. The
knower called out to him, "Why dost thou not
follow?" The grammarian answered, "O
Brother, I dare not advance. I must needs go
back again." Then the knower cried, "Forget
what thou didst read in the books of Síbávayh
and Qawlavayh, of Ibn-i-Hajíb and Ibn-i-Málik,
[7]
and cross the water."
| |
9 |
The death of self is needed here, not rhetoric:
Be nothing, then, and walk upon the waves.
[8]
| |
10 |
Likewise is it written, "And be ye not like
those who forget God, and whom He hath
therefore caused to forget their own selves.
These are the wicked doers."
[9]
| |
|
Notes
1. [Hadíth.]
2. [The Mathnaví. Here Rúmí tells a story of four evil birds which, when put to death, changed into four birds of goodness. The allegory refers to subduing evil qualities and replacing them with good.]
3. [Qur'án 89:27-30]
4. [Qur'án 89:27-30]
5. [Qur'án 41:53]
6. [Qur'án 17:15]
7. [Famed writers on grammar and rhetoric.]
8. [The Mathnaví.]
9. [Qur'án 59:19]
|
|
|
|