Rumi's Masnavi - And another (goes) into a church to perform religious exercises, while another (betakes himself) to sowing in his greed (for gain).

And another (goes) into a church to perform religious exercises, while another (betakes himself) to sowing in his greed (for gain).

Through phantasy that one becomes the waylayer (destroyer) of him who has escaped (unhurt); and through phantasy this (other) becomes the salve (deliverer) of him who has been (sorely) wounded.

One loses his soul in the invocation of demons, while another sets his foot upon the stars.

He (the observer) sees that these modes of action in the external world are diverse (since they arise) from the various phantasies within. 325

This man (engaged in some occupation) is amazed at that man (occupied with something else) and says, “What is he about?” Every taster denies the other (whose taste is different).

Unless those phantasies were incongruous, how did the modes of action become diverse externally?

Since the qibla (the true object) of the soul has been hidden, every one has turned his face to a (different) quarter.

Comparison of the different practices and the various aspirations (of mankind) to the disagreement of those who at prayer-time endeavour to find the qibla (direction of Mecca) when it is dark, and to the search of divers (for pearls) at the bottom of the sea.

(They are) like folk trying to find (the direction of the Ka‘ba) and (each) turning in a certain direction which they fancy is the qibla:

When at dawn the Ka‘ba appears, it is discovered who has lost the (right) way; 330

Or like divers under the depth of the (sea)-water, every one (of whom) picks up something in haste: