English    Türkçe    فارسی   

3
42-66

  • (When) the spirit's throat is emptied of thought for the body, then its apportioned sustenance becomes Majestical.
  • Know that the necessary condition (for gaining this sustenance) is the transformation of the (sensual) nature, for the death of evil men is (arises) from (their) evil nature.
  • When it has become natural to a human being to eat clay, he grows pale and ill-complexioned and sickly and miserable;
  • (But) when his ugly nature has been transformed, the ugliness departs from his face, and he shines like a candle. 45
  • Where is a nurse for the suckling babe?—that with kindness she may sweeten the inner part of its mouth,
  • And, though she bar its way to her teat, may open up for it the way to a hundred gardens (of delight)?—
  • Because the teat has become to that feeble (infant) a barrier (separating it) from thousands of pleasures and dishes (of food) and loaves (of bread).
  • Our life, then, depends on weaning. Endeavour (to wean yourself) little by little. The discourse is (now) complete.
  • When man was an embryo his nourishment was blood: in like fashion the true believer draws purity from filth. 50
  • Through (his) being weaned from blood, his nourishment became milk; and through (his) being weaned from milk, he became a taker of (solid) food.
  • And through (his) being weaned from food he becomes (a sage) like Luqmán; he becomes a seeker (hunter) of the hidden game.
  • If any one were to say to the embryo in the womb, “Outside is a world exceedingly well-ordered,
  • A pleasant earth, broad and long, wherein are a hundred delights and so many things to eat,
  • Mountains and seas and plains, fragrant orchards, gardens and sown fields, 55
  • A sky very lofty and full of light, sun and moonbeams and a hundred stars.
  • From the south-wind and from the north-wind and from the west-wind the gardens have (the appearance of) wedding-feasts and banquets.
  • Its marvels come not into (are beyond) description: why art thou in tribulation in this darkness?
  • (Why) dost thou drink blood on the gibbet of this narrow place (the womb) in the midst of confinement and filth and pain?”—
  • It (the embryo), in virtue of its present state, would be incredulous, and would turn away from this message and would disbelieve it, 60
  • Saying, “This is absurd and is a deceit and delusion,” because the judgement of the blind has no imagination.
  • Inasmuch as its (the embryo's) perception has not seen anything of the kind, its incredulous perception would not listen (to the truth);
  • Just as in this world the Abdál speak of that (other) world to the common folk,
  • Saying, “This world is an exceeding dark and narrow pit; outside is a world without scent or colour”:
  • Naught (of their words) entered into the ear of a single one of them, for this (sensual) desire is a barrier huge and stout. 65
  • Desire closes the ear (and hinders it) from hearing; self-interest closes the eye (and hinders it) from beholding,