Rumi's Masnavi - 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).

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

صورت فکرست بر بام مشید ** وآن عمل چون سایه بر ارکان پدید

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.

فعل بر ارکان و فکرت مکتتم ** لیک در تاثیر و وصلت دو به هم

The forms (ideas) that arise at a banquet from the festive cup have as their result unconsciousness and senselessness.

آن صور در بزم کز جام خوشیست ** فایده‌ی او بی‌خودی و بیهشیست

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.]

صورت مرد و زن و لعب و جماع ** فایده‌ش بی‌هوشی وقت وقاع

The (material) form of bread and salt, which is a benefit (conferred by God), has as its result (bodily) strength, which is formless.

صورت نان و نمک کان نعمتست ** فایده‌ش آن قوت بی‌صورتست

On the battle-field the (material) form of sword and shield has as its result a formless thing, i.e. victory. 3735

در مصاف آن صورت تیغ و سپر ** فایده‌ش بی‌صورتی یعنی ظفر

(Attendance at) college and learning and the (various) forms thereof are (all) done with, as soon as they have reached (their goal, namely) knowledge.

مدرسه و تعلیق و صورت‌های وی ** چون به دانش متصل شد گشت طی

Since these forms are the slaves of the Formless, why, then, are they denying their Benefactor?

این صور چون بنده‌ی بی‌صورتند ** پس چرا در نفی صاحب‌نعمتند

These forms have their existence from the Formless: what means, then, their denial of Him who brought them into existence?

این صور دارد ز بی‌صورت وجود ** چیست پس بر موجد خویشش جحود

His (the sceptic's) disbelief is really manifested by Him: in truth this act of his is naught but a reflexion.

خود ازو یابد ظهور انکار او ** نیست غیر عکس خود این کار او

Know that the form of the walls and roof of every dwelling-place is a shadow (reflexion) of the thought of the architect, 3740

صورت دیوار و سقف هر مکان ** سایه‌ی اندیشه‌ی معمار دان

Even though in the seat of his thought there is no visible (material) stone and wood and brick.

گرچه خود اندر محل افتکار ** نیست سنگ و چوب و خشتی آشکار

Assuredly the Absolute Agent is formless: form is as a tool in His hand.

فاعل مطلق یقین بی‌صورتست ** صورت اندر دست او چون آلتست

Sometimes the Formless One graciously shows His face to the forms from the concealment (veil) of non-existence,

گه گه آن بی‌صورت از کتم عدم ** مر صور را رو نماید از کرم

In order that every form may thereby be replenished with some perfection and beauty and power.

تا مدد گیرد ازو هر صورتی ** از کمال و از جمال و قدرتی

When, again, the Formless One has hidden His face, they come to beg in (the realm of) colour and perfume. 3745

باز بی‌صورت چو پنهان کرد رو ** آمدند از بهر کد در رنگ و بو

If one form seek perfection from another form, ’tis the quintessence of error.

صورتی از صورت دیگر کمال ** گر بجوید باشد آن عین ضلال

Why, then, O worthless man, are you submitting your need to another needy (creature)?

پس چه عرضه می‌کنی ای بی‌گهر ** احتیاج خود به محتاجی دگر

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).

چون صور بنده‌ست بر یزدان مگو ** ظن مبر صورت به تشبیهش مجو

Seek (Him) in self-abasement and in self-extinction, for nothing but forms is produced by thinking.

در تضرع جوی و در افنای خویش ** کز تفکر جز صور ناید به پیش

And if you derive no advantage (comfort) except from form, (then) the form that comes to birth within you involuntarily is the best. 3750

ور ز غیر صورتت نبود فره ** صورتی کان بی‌تو زاید در تو به

(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;

صورت شهری که آنجا می‌روی ** ذوق بی‌صورت کشیدت ای روی

Therefore you are really going to that which has no locality, for pleasure is (something) different from place and time.

پس به معنی می‌روی تا لامکان ** که خوشی غیر مکانست و زمان

(Suppose it is) the form of a friend to whom you would go: you are going for the sake of enjoying his society;

صورت یاری که سوی او شوی ** از برای مونسی‌اش می‌روی

Therefore in reality you go to the formless (world), though you are unaware of that (being the) object (of your journey).

پس بمعنی سوی بی‌صورت شدی ** گرچه زان مقصود غافل آمدی

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

پس حقیقت حق بود معبود کل ** کز پی ذوقست سیران سبل

But some have set their face towards the tail and have lost the Head, although the Head is the principal;

لیک بعضی رو سوی دم کرده‌اند ** گرچه سر اصلست سر گم کرده‌اند

But (nevertheless) that Head is bestowing on these lost and erring ones the bounty proper to Headship by way of the tail.

لیک آن سر پیش این ضالان گم ** می‌دهد داد سری از راه دم

That one obtains the bounty from the Head, this one from the tail; another company (of mystics) have lost (both) foot and head.

آن ز سر می‌یابد آن داد این ز دم ** قوم دیگر پا و سر کردند گم

Since all has been lost, they have gained all: through dwindling away (to naught) they have sped towards the Whole.

چونک گم شد جمله جمله یافتند ** از کم آمد سوی کل بشتافتند

How in the pavilion of the fortress adorned with pictures they (the princes) saw a portrait of the daughter of the King of China and how all three lost their senses and fell into distraction and made inquiries, asking, “Whose portrait is this?”

دیدن ایشان در قصر این قلعه‌ی ذات الصور نقش روی دختر شاه چین را و بیهوش شدن هر سه و در فتنه افتادن و تفحص کردن کی این صورت کیست

This topic is endless. The company (of three) espied a beauteous and majestic portrait. 3760

این سخن پایان ندارد آن گروه ** صورتی دیدند با حسن و شکوه

The (travelling) party had seen (pictures) more beautiful than that, but at (the sight of) this one they were plunged in the deep sea,

خوب‌تر زان دیده بودند آن فریق ** لیک زین رفتند در بحر عمیق

Because opium came to them in this cup: the cups are visible, but the opium is unseen.

زانک افیونشان درین کاسه رسید ** کاسه‌ها محسوس و افیون ناپدید

The fortress, (named) the destroyer of reason, wrought its work: it cast them, all three, into the pit of tribulation.

کرد فعل خویش قلعه‌ی هش‌ربا ** هر سه را انداخت در چاه بلا

Without a bow the arrow-like glances (of Love) pierce the heart—mercy, mercy, O merciless one!

تیر غمزه دوخت دل را بی‌کمان ** الامان و الامان ای بی‌امان

(Adoration of) a stone image consumed the (past) generations and kindled a fire (of love for it) in their religion and their hearts. 3765

قرنها را صورت سنگین بسوخت ** آتشی در دین و دلشان بر فروخت

When it (the image) is spiritual, how (ravishing) must it be! Its fascination changes at every moment.

چونک روحانی بود خود چون بود ** فتنه‌اش هر لحظه دیگرگون بود

Since love of the pictured form was stabbing the hearts of the princes like a spear-point,

عشق صورت در دل شه‌زادگان ** چون خلش می‌کرد مانند سنان

Each (of them) was shedding tears, like a cloud, and gnawing his hands and crying, “Oh, alas!

اشک می‌بارید هر یک هم‌چو میغ ** دست می‌خایید و می‌گفت ای دریغ

Now we see (what) the King saw at the beginning. How often did that peerless one adjure us!”

ما کنون دیدیم شه ز آغاز دید ** چندمان سوگند داد آن بی‌ندید

The prophets have conferred a great obligation (on us) because they have made us aware of the end, 3770

انبیا را حق بسیارست از آن ** که خبر کردند از پایانمان

Saying, “That which thou art sowing will produce naught but thorns; and (if) thou fly in this (worldly) direction thou wilt find there no room to fly (beyond).

کاینچ می‌کاری نروید جز که خار ** وین طرف پری نیابی زو مطار

Get the seed from me, that it may yield a (good) crop; fly with my wings, that the arrow may speed Yonder.

تخم از من بر که تا ریعی دهد ** با پر من پر که تیر آن سو جهد

(If) thou dost not recognise the necessity and (real) existence of that (flight to God), yet in the end thou wilt confess that it was necessary.”

تو ندانی واجبی آن و هست ** هم تو گویی آخر آن واجب بدست

He (the prophet) is thou, but not this (unreal) “thou”: (he is) that “thou” which in the end is conscious of escape (from the world of illusion).

او توست اما نه این تو آن توست ** که در آخر واقف بیرون‌شوست

Thy last (unreal) “thou” has come to thy first (real) “thou” to receive admonition and gifts. 3775

توی آخر سوی توی اولت ** آمدست از بهر تنبیه و صلت

Thy (real) “thou” is buried in another (unreal “thou”): I am the (devoted) slave of a man who thus (truly) sees himself.

توی تو در دیگری آمد دفین ** من غلام مرد خودبینی چنین

That which the youth sees in the mirror the Elder sees beforehand in the (crude iron) brick.

آنچ در آیینه می‌بیند جوان ** پیر اندر خشت بیند بیش از آن

(The princes said), “We have transgressed the command of our King, we have rebelled against the favours of our father.

ز امر شاه خویش بیرون آمدیم ** با عنایات پدر یاغی شدیم

We have lightly esteemed the King's word and those incomparable favours.

سهل دانستیم قول شاه را ** وان عنایت‌های بی اشباه را