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3706-3755

  • By those thousands of pictures and designs and decorations they (the princes) were made mightily restless (so that they wandered) to and fro (in amazement).
  • Do not be intoxicated with these cups, which are (phenomenal) forms, lest thou become a carver of idols and an idolater.
  • Abandon the cups, namely, the (phenomenal) forms: do not tarry! There is wine in the cup, but it is not (derived) from the cup.
  • Open thy mouth wide to the Giver of the wine: when the wine comes, the cup will not be lacking.
  • (God said), “O Adam, seek My heart-enthralling Reality: take leave of the husk and (outward) form of the (forbidden) wheat.” 3710
  • Since sand was turned into flour for the Friend (Abraham), know that the wheat is deposed from its office, O noble one.
  • Form is brought into existence by the Formless, just as smoke is produced by a fire.
  • The least blemish in the qualities of that which is endowed with form becomes annoying when you regard it continually;
  • (But) Formlessness throws you into absolute bewilderment: from non-instrumentality a hundred kinds of instruments are born.
  • Handlessness is weaving (fashioning) hands: the Soul of the soul makes a (fully) formed Man. 3715
  • ’Tis like as (when) from separation and union diverse fancies are woven (conceived) in the heart.
  • Does this cause ever resemble its effect? Does the cry (of pain) and lamentation ever resemble the loss (that caused it)?
  • The lamentation has a form, the loss is formless: they (the losers) gnaw their hands on account of a loss that has no hand.
  • This comparison, O seeker of guidance, does not fit (the case), (but) ’tis the best effort a poor man can make to explain it.
  • The formless working (of God) sows (the seed of) a form (idea), (whence) there grows up a body endowed with senses and a (rational) faculty, 3720
  • So that the form (idea), whatever it be, according to its own nature brings the body into (a state of) good or evil.
  • If it be a form (idea) of beneficence, it (the body) turns to thanksgiving; if it be a form of deferment, it (the body) becomes patient;
  • If it be a form of mercy, it (the body) becomes flourishing; if it be a form of repulse, it (the body) becomes full of moans;
  • If it be the form of a city, it (the body) takes a journey (thither); if it be the form of an arrow, it (the body) takes a shield (in defence);
  • If it be the form of fair ones, it (the body) indulges in enjoyment; if it be a form of the unseen world, it (the body) practises religious seclusion. 3725
  • The form of want leads (the body) to earn (the means of livelihood); the form of strength of arm leads (the body) to seize (the property of others) by force.
  • These (ideas) are boundless and immeasurable (in number): the motive to action (arises) from various sorts of (such) phantasy.
  • All the infinite ways of life and (all) the crafts are the shadow (reflexion) of the form of thoughts.
  • (For example, when) happy folk (are) standing on the edge of a roof, observe the shadow of each one on the ground.
  • The form of thought is on the lofty roof (of the spirit), while the (resultant) action appears, like a shadow, on the pillars (bodily limbs). 3730
  • The action is (manifested) on the pillars, while the thought (that produces it) is concealed; but the two are combined in the correlation of cause and effect.
  • The forms (ideas) that arise at a banquet from the festive cup have as their result unconsciousness and senselessness.
  • The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—hinc nascitur perturbatio animi in coitu. [The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—their result at the time of sexual union (is mental) distraction.]
  • The (material) form of bread and salt, which is a benefit (conferred by God), has as its result (bodily) strength, which is formless.
  • On the battle-field the (material) form of sword and shield has as its result a formless thing, i.e. victory. 3735
  • (Attendance at) college and learning and the (various) forms thereof are (all) done with, as soon as they have reached (their goal, namely) knowledge.
  • Since these forms are the slaves of the Formless, why, then, are they denying their Benefactor?
  • These forms have their existence from the Formless: what means, then, their denial of Him who brought them into existence?
  • His (the sceptic's) disbelief is really manifested by Him: in truth this act of his is naught but a reflexion.
  • Know that the form of the walls and roof of every dwelling-place is a shadow (reflexion) of the thought of the architect, 3740
  • Even though in the seat of his thought there is no visible (material) stone and wood and brick.
  • Assuredly the Absolute Agent is formless: form is as a tool in His hand.
  • Sometimes the Formless One graciously shows His face to the forms from the concealment (veil) of non-existence,
  • In order that every form may thereby be replenished with some perfection and beauty and power.
  • When, again, the Formless One has hidden His face, they come to beg in (the realm of) colour and perfume. 3745
  • If one form seek perfection from another form, ’tis the quintessence of error.
  • Why, then, O worthless man, are you submitting your need to another needy (creature)?
  • Inasmuch as (all) forms are slaves (to God), do not say or deem that form is applicable to God: do not seek Him by tashbíh (likening Him to His creatures).
  • Seek (Him) in self-abasement and in self-extinction, for nothing but forms is produced by thinking.
  • And if you derive no advantage (comfort) except from form, (then) the form that comes to birth within you involuntarily is the best. 3750
  • (Suppose it is) the form of a city to which you are going: you are drawn (thither) by a formless feeling of pleasure, O dependent one;
  • Therefore you are really going to that which has no locality, for pleasure is (something) different from place and time.
  • (Suppose it is) the form of a friend to whom you would go: you are going for the sake of enjoying his society;
  • Therefore in reality you go to the formless (world), though you are unaware of that (being the) object (of your journey).
  • In truth, then, God is worshipped by all, since (all) wayfaring is for the sake of the pleasure (of which He is the source). 3755