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THE
VALLEY OF TRUE POVERTY
AND ABSOLUTE NOTHINGNESS
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This
station is the dying from self and the living in God, the being poor in
self and rich in the Desired One. Poverty as here referred to signifieth
being poor in the things of the created world, rich in the things of God's
world. For when the true lover and devoted friend reacheth to the presence
of the Beloved, the sparkling beauty of the Loved One and the fire of the
lover's heart will kindle a blaze and burn away all veils and wrappings.
Yea, all he hath, from heart to skin, will be set aflame, so that nothing
will remain save the Friend. |
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When
the qualities of the Ancient of Days stood revealed, Then the qualities
of earthly things did Moses burn away. (60) |
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He
who hath attained this station is sanctified from all that pertaineth to
the world. Wherefore, if those who have come to the sea of His presence
are found to possess none of the limited things of this perishable world,
whether it be outer wealth or personal opinions, it mattereth not. For whatever
the creatures have is limited by their own limits, and whatever the True
One hath is sanctified therefrom; this utterance must be deeply pondered
that its purport may be clear. "Verily
the righteous shall drink of a winecup tempered at the camphor fountain."
(61) If the interpretation of "camphor" become known,
the true intention will be evident. This state is that poverty of which
it is said, "Poverty is My glory." (62)
And of inward and outward poverty there is many a stage and many a meaning
which I have not thought pertinent to mention here; hence I have reserved
these for another time, dependent on what God may desire and fate may seal.
This is the plane whereon the vestiges
of all things (Kullu Shay') are destroyed in the traveler, and on the horizon
of eternity the Divine Face riseth out of the darkness, and the meaning
of "All on the earth shall pass away, but
the face of thy Lord...." (63) is made manifest. |
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O
My friend, listen with heart and soul to the songs of the spirit, and treasure
them as thine own eyes. For the heavenly wisdoms, like the clouds of spring,
will not rain down on the earth of men's hearts forever; and though the
grace of the All-Bounteous One is never stilled and never ceasing, yet to
each time and era a portion is allotted and a bounty set apart, this in
a given measure. "And
no one thing is there, but with Us are its storehouses; and We send it not
down but in settled measure." (64) The cloud of the Loved
One's mercy raineth only on the garden of the spirit, and bestoweth this
bounty only in the season of spring. The other seasons have no share in
this greatest grace, and barren lands no portion of this favor. |
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O
Brother! Not every sea hath pearls; not every branch will flower, nor will
the nightingale sing thereon. Then, ere the nightingale of the mystic paradise
repair to the garden of God, and the rays of the heavenly morning return
to the Sun of Truth--make thou an effort, that haply in this dustheap of
the mortal world thou mayest catch a fragrance from the everlasting garden,
and live forever in the shadow of the peoples of this city. And when thou
hast attained this highest station and come to this mightiest plane, then
shalt thou gaze on the Beloved, and forget all else. |
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The
Beloved shineth on gate and wall Without a veil, O men of vision. (65) |
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Now
hast thou abandoned the drop of life and come to the sea of the Life-Bestower. |
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This
is the goal thou didst ask for; if it be God's will, thou wilt gain it.
In this city, even the veils of light are split asunder and vanish
away. "His
beauty hath no veiling save light, His face no covering save revelation."
(66) How strange that while the Beloved is visible as the sun,
yet the heedless still hunt after tinsel and base metal. Yea, the intensity
of His revelation hath covered Him, and the fullness of His shining forth
hath hidden Him. |
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Even
as the sun, bright hath He shined, But alas, He hath come to the town of
the blind! (67) |
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In
this Valley, the wayfarer leaveth behind him the stages of the "oneness of Being and Manifestation"
(68) and reacheth a oneness that is sanctified above these two
stations. Ecstasy alone can encompass this theme, not utterance nor argument;
and whosoever hath dwelt at this stage of the journey, or caught a breath
from this garden land, knoweth whereof We speak.
In all these journeys the traveler must
stray not the breadth of a hair from the "Law," for this is indeed
the secret of the "Path" and the fruit of the Tree of "Truth";
and in all these stages he must cling to the robe of obedience to the commandments,
and hold fast to the cord of shunning all forbidden things, that he may
be nourished from the cup of the Law and informed of the mysteries of Truth.
(69)
If any of the utterances of this Servant
may not be comprehended, or may lead to perturbation, the same must be inquired
of again, that no doubt may linger, and the meaning be clear as the Face
of the Beloved One shining from the "Glorious
Station." (70) |
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These
journeys have no visible ending in the world of time, but the severed wayfarer--if
invisible confirmation descend upon him and the Guardian of the Cause assist
him--may cross these seven stages in seven steps, nay rather in seven breaths,
nay rather in a single breath, if God will and desire it. And this is of
"His grace
on such of His servants as He pleaseth." (71)
They who soar in the heaven of singleness
and reach to the sea of the Absolute, reckon this city--which is the station
of life in God--as the furthermost state of mystic knowers, and the farthest
homeland of the lovers. But to this evanescent One of the mystic ocean,
this station is the first gate of the heart's citadel, that is, man's first
entrance to the city of the heart; and the heart is endowed with four stages,
which would be recounted should a kindred soul be found. |
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When
the pen set to picturing this station, It broke in pieces and the page was
torn. (72) |
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Salam!
(73)
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O
My friend! Many a hound pursueth this gazelle of the desert of oneness;
many a talon claweth at this thrush of the eternal garden. Pitiless ravens
do lie in wait for this bird of the heavens of God, and the huntsman of
envy stalketh this deer of the meadow of love.
O
Shaykh! Make of thine effort a glass, perchance it may shelter this flame
from the contrary winds; albeit this light doth long to be kindled in the
lamp of the Lord, and to shine in the globe of the spirit. For the head
raised up in the love of God will certainly fall by the sword, and the life
that is kindled with longing will surely be sacrificed, and the heart which
remembereth the Loved One will surely brim with blood. How well is it said: |
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Live
free of love, for its very peace is anguish; Its beginning is pain, its
end is death. (74) |
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Peace
be upon him who followeth the Right Path! |
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