I am seeking with (all) my soul one who is free from egoism, that I may become the ball of that goodly bat.
بی‌من و مایی همی‌جویم به جان ** تا شوم من گوی آن خوش صولجان
In sooth any one who has become without ego is all egos: when he is not loved by himself he becomes loved by (them) all.2665
هر که بی‌من شد همه من‌ها خود اوست ** دوست جمله شد چو خود را نیست دوست
(When) a mirror becomes devoid of images, it gains splendour because (then) it is the reporter (reflector) of all images.
آینه بی‌نقش شد یابد بها ** زانک شد حاکی جمله نقشها
Story of Shaykh Mohammed Sar-razí of Ghazna, may God sanctify his spirit!
حکایت شیخ محمد سررزی غزنوی قدس الله سره
In Ghazna there was an ascetic, abounding in knowledge (of divinity): his name was Mohammed and his title Sar-razí.
زاهدی در غزنی از دانش مزی ** بد محمد نام و کفیت سررزی
Every night he would break his fast with vine-tendrils (sar-i raz): during seven years he was continually (engaged) in one quest.
بود افطارش سر رز هر شبی ** هفت سال او دایم اندر مطلبی
He experienced many marvellous things from the King of existence, but his object was (to behold) the beauty of the King.
بس عجایب دید از شاه وجود ** لیک مقصودش جمال شاه بود
That man who was surfeited with himself went to the top of a mountain and said, “Appear, or I will fall (throw myself) to the bottom.”2670
بر سر که رفت آن از خویش سیر ** گفت بنما یا فتادم من به زیر
He (God) said, “The time for that favour is not (yet) come, and if thou fall down, thou wilt not die: I will not kill thee.”
گفت نامد مهلت آن مکرمت ** ور فرو افتی نمیری نکشمت
He, from love (of God), threw himself down: he fell into the depths of a (piece of) water.
او فرو افکند خود را از وداد ** در میان عمق آبی اوفتاد
When he (found that he) was not dead, on account of the shock (of disappointment) that man who was sick of life made lament over himself for having been parted from death;
چون نمرد از نکس آن جان‌سیر مرد ** از فراق مرگ بر خود نوحه کرد