Rumi's Masnavi - Hast thou ever seen a name without the reality (denoted by the name)? Or hast thou plucked a rose (gul) from the (letters) gáf and lám of (the word) gul?

Hast thou ever seen a name without the reality (denoted by the name)? Or hast thou plucked a rose (gul) from the (letters) gáf and lám of (the word) gul?

هیچ نامی بی‌‌حقیقت دیده‌‌ای ** یا ز گاف و لام گل گل چیده‌‌ای‌‌

Thou hast pronounced the name: go, seek the thing named. Know that the moon is on high, not in the water of the stream.

اسم خواندی رو مسمی را بجو ** مه به بالا دان نه اندر آب جو

If thou wouldst pass beyond name and letter, oh, make thyself wholly purged of self.

گر ز نام و حرف خواهی بگذری ** پاک کن خود را ز خود هین یک سری‌‌

Like (polished) iron, lose the ferruginous colour; become in thy ascetic discipline (like) a mirror without rust.

همچو آهن ز آهنی بی‌‌رنگ شو ** در ریاضت آینه‌‌ی بی‌‌زنگ شو

Make thyself pure from the attributes of self, that thou mayst behold thine own pure untarnished essence, 3460

خویش را صافی کن از اوصاف خود ** تا ببینی ذات پاک صاف خود

And behold within thy heart (all) the sciences of the prophets, without book and without preceptor and master.

بینی اندر دل علوم انبیا ** بی‌‌کتاب و بی‌‌معید و اوستا

The Prophet said, “Amongst my people are some who are one with me in nature and aspiration:

گفت پیغمبر که هست از امتم ** کاو بود هم گوهر و هم همتم‌‌

Their spirits behold me by the same light by which I am beholding them.”

مر مرا ز آن نور بیند جانشان ** که من ایشان را همی‌‌بینم بدان‌‌

Without the two Sahíhs and Traditions and Traditionists; nay, (they behold him) in the place where they drink the Water of Life.

بی‌‌صحیحین و احادیث و رواه ** بلکه اندر مشرب آب حیات‌‌

Know the secret of “In the evening I was a Kurd”; read the mystery of “In the morning I was an Arab.” 3465

سر امسینا لکردیا بدان ** راز اصبحنا عرابیا بخوان‌‌