If you see not the flow of the Water of Life, look at the stream and at this movement of the weeds (in it).
گر نبینی رفتن آب حیات ** بنگر اندر جوی و این سیر نبات
When the water begins to pass by in fuller volume, the husks, (which are) the ideas, pass along it more quickly.3300
آب چون انبهتر آید در گذر ** زو کند قشر صور زوتر گذر
When this stream has become extremely rapid in its flow, no care lingers in the minds of the gnostics.
چون به غایت تیز شد این جو روان ** غم نپاید در ضمیر عارفان
Since it is (then) exceedingly full and swift, on that account there is no room in it for anything but the water.
چون به غایت ممتلی بود و شتاب ** پس نگنجید اندر او الا که آب
How a stranger reviled the Shaykh and how the Shaykh's disciple answered him.
طعنه زدن بیگانه ای در شیخ و جواب گفتن مرید شیخ او را
A certain man brought charges against a Shaykh, saying, “He is wicked and not on the path of righteousness;
آن یکی یک شیخ را تهمت نهاد ** کاو بد است و نیست بر راه رشاد
He is a wine-drinker and a hypocrite and a scoundrel: how should he be one to succour his disciples?”
شارب خمر است و سالوس و خبیث ** مر مریدان را کجا باشد مغیث
One (of the disciples) said to him, “Observe respect: ’tis no light matter to think so ill of the great.3305
آن یکی گفتش ادب را هوش دار ** خرد نبود این چنین ظن بر کبار
Far is it from him and far from those (saintly) qualities of his that his clear (spirit) should be darkened by a flood (of sin).
دور از او و دور از آن اوصاف او ** که ز سیلی تیره گردد صاف او
Do not put such slander on the people of God! This is (mere) fancy on your part. Turn over (a new) leaf.
این چنین بهتان منه بر اهل حق ** این خیال تست بر گردان ورق
This (which you say) is not (true); and (even) if it should be, O land-fowl, what harm (comes) to the Red Sea from a carcase?
این نباشد ور بود ای مرغ خاک ** بحر قلزم را ز مرداری چه باک
He (the Shaykh) is not less than the (statutory) two jugfuls or the small tank, so that a single drop (of impurity) should be able to disqualify him (for religious purposes).
نیست دون القلتین و حوض خرد ** کی تواند قطرهایش از کار برد
The fire is no damage to Abraham, (but) let any one who is a Nimrod beware of it!”3310
آتش ابراهیم را نبود زیان ** هر که نمرودی است گو میترس از آن
The fleshly soul is Nimrod, and the intellect and spirit are the Friend of God (Abraham): the spirit is concerned with reality itself, and the fleshly soul with the proofs.
نفس نمرود است و عقل و جان خلیل ** روح در عین است و نفس اندر دلیل
These indications of the way are for the traveller who at every moment becomes lost in the desert.
این دلیل راه رهرو را بود ** کاو به هر دم در بیابان گم شود
For them that have attained (to union with God) there is nothing (necessary) except the eye (of the spirit) and the lamp (of intuitive faith): they have no concern with indications (to guide them) or with a road (to travel by).
واصلان را نیست جز چشم و چراغ ** از دلیل و راهشان باشد فراغ
If the man that is united (with God) has mentioned some indication, he has mentioned (it) in order that the dialecticians may understand (his meaning).
گر دلیلی گفت آن مرد وصال ** گفت بهر فهم اصحاب جدال
For a new-born child the father makes babbling sounds, though his intellect may make a survey of the (whole) world.3315
بهر طفل نو پدر تیتی کند ** گر چه عقلش هندسهی گیتی کند
The dignity of the master's learning is not diminished if he say that (the letter) alif has nothing (has no diacritical mark).
کم نگردد فضل استاد از علو ** گر الف چیزی ندارد گوید او
For the sake of teaching that tongue-tied (child), one must go outside of one's own language (customary manner of speech).
از پی تعلیم آن بسته دهن ** از زبان خود برون باید شدن
You must come into (adopt) his language, in order that he may learn knowledge and science from you.
در زبان او بباید آمدن ** تا بیاموزد ز تو او علم و فن
All the people, then, are as his (the spiritual Teacher's) children: this (fact) is necessary for the Pír (to bear in mind) when he gives (them) instruction.
پس همه خلقان چو طفلان ویاند ** لازم است این پیر را در وقت پند
Infidelity hath a fixed limit and range—know (this for sure); (but) the Shaykh and the light of the Shaykh have no bound.3320
کفر را حد است و اندازه بدان ** شیخ و نور شیخ را نبود کران
Before the infinite all that is finite is naught: everything except the Face of God is passing away.
پیش بیحد هر چه محدود است لاست ** کل شیء غیر وجه الله فناست
Infidelity and faith do not exist in the place where he (the Shaykh) is, because he is the kernel, while these twain are (only) colour and husk.
کفر و ایمان نیست آن جایی که اوست ** انکه او مغز است و این دو رنگ و پوست
These fleeting things have become a veil over that Face, like a lantern concealed beneath a bowl.
این فناها پردهی آن وجه گشت ** چون چراغ خفیه اندر زیر طشت