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1
1532-1556

  • When the bread attained to connexion with Man, the dead bread became living and endowed with knowledge.

  • When the wax and firewood were devoted to the fire, their dark essence became (filled with) light.

  • When the (powdered) stone of antimony went into the eyes, it turned to sight and there became a scout (one who observes the enemy from some point of vantage).

  • Oh, happy is the man who was freed from himself and united with the existence of a living one! 1535

  • Alas for the living one who consorted with the dead! He became dead, and life sped away from him.

  • When you have fled (for refuge) to the Qur’án of God, you have mingled with the spirit of the prophets.

  • The Qur’án is (a description of) the states of the prophets, (who are) the fishes of the holy sea of (Divine) Majesty.

  • And if you read and do not accept (take to heart) the Qur’án, suppose you have seen the prophets and saints (what will that avail you?);

  • But if you are accepting (the Qur’án), when you read the stories (of the prophets), the bird, your soul, will be distressed in its cage. 1540

  • The bird that is a prisoner in a cage, (if it) is not seeking to escape, ’tis from ignorance.

  • The spirits which have escaped from their cages are the prophets, (those) worthy guides.

  • From without comes their voice, (telling) of religion, (and crying), “This, this is the way of escape for thee.

  • By this we escaped from this narrow cage: there is no means of escape from this cage but this way,

  • (That) thou shouldst make thyself ill, exceedingly wretched, in order that thou mayst be let out from (the cage of) reputation.” 1545

  • Worldly reputation is a strong chain: in the Way how is this less than a chain of iron?

  • The story of the merchant to whom the captive parrot gave a message for the parrots of India on the occasion of his going (thither) to trade.

  • There was a merchant, and he had a parrot imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.

  • When the merchant made ready for travel and was about to depart to India,

  • Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid, “What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”

  • Each one asked him for some object of desire: that good man gave his promise to them all. 1550

  • He said to the parrot, “What present would you like me to bring for you from the land of India?”

  • The parrot said to him, “When thou seest the parrots there, explain my plight (and say),

  • ‘Such and such a parrot, who is longing for you, is in my prison by the destiny of Heaven.

  • She salutes you and asks for justice and desires (to learn) from you the means and way of being rightly guided.

  • She says, “Is it meet that I in yearning (after you) should give up the ghost and die here in separation? 1555

  • Is this right—(that) I (should be) in grievous bondage, while ye are now on green plants, now on trees?