بخش 70 - جواب آمدن کی آنک نظر او بر اسباب و مرض و زخم تیغ نیاید بر کار تو عزرائیل هم نیاید کی تو هم سببی اگر چه مخفی‌تری از آن سببها و بود کی بر آن رنجور مخفی نباشد کی و هو اقرب الیه منکم و لکن لا تبصرون

God said, “He who perceives the origin (does not regard the derivative): how, then, should he be conscious of thy intervention?

Although thou hast concealed thyself (thy real nature) from the vulgar, still to the clear-eyed (mystics) thou art (no more than) a veil (instrument).”

And (indeed) those to whom death is (sweet) as sugar—how should their sight be intoxicated (dazzled) with the fortunes (of this world)?

Bodily death is not bitter to them, since they go from a dungeon and prison into a garden.

They have been delivered from the world of torment: none weeps for the loss of (what amounts to) nothing, nothing.

(If) an elemental spirit breaks the bastion of a prison, will the heart of any prisoner be angry with him?

(Will they say?) “Alas, he has broken this marble stone, so that our spirits and souls have escaped from confinement.

The beautiful marble and the noble stone of the prison-bastion were pleasing and agreeable (to us).

Why did he break them, so that the prisoners escaped? His hand must be broken (cut off) as a penalty for this (crime).”

No prisoner will talk such nonsense except that one who is brought from prison to the gallows.

How should it (death) be bitter to one whom they take from amidst snake-poison towards sugar?

The soul, freed from the turmoil of the body, is soaring on the wings of the heart (spirit) without bodily feet (means of movement),

Like the prisoner in a dungeon who falls asleep at night and dreams of a rosegarden,

And says, “O God, do not bring me (back) to my body, (but let me alone) in order that I may walk as a prince in this garden.”

God says to him, “Thy prayer is granted: go not back”—and God best knoweth the right course.

Consider how delightful is such a dream! Without having seen death, he (the dreamer) goes into Paradise.

Does he feel any regret for (his former) wakefulness and for the body (which he has left) in chains at the bottom of the dungeon?

(If) thou art a true believer, come now, enter the ranks of battle, for a feast has been (prepared) for thee in Heaven.

In the hope of journeying upwards, (arise and) take thy stand before the mihráb, (to pray and weep) like a candle, O youth!

Let thy tears fall like rain, and burn (be ardent) in search (aspiration) all night long, like the candle beheaded (by the flame).

Close thy lips against food and drink: hasten towards the Heavenly table.

Continually keep thy hope (fixed) on Heaven, dancing (quivering) like the willow in desire for Heaven.

Continually from Heaven (spiritual) water and fire will be coming to thee and increasing thy provision.

If it (thy aspiration) bear thee thither, ’tis no wonder: do not regard thy weakness, regard thy search (aspiration);

For this search is God's pledge (deposited) within thee, because every seeker deserves something sought (by him).

Strive that this search may increase, so that thy heart (spirit) may escape from this bodily dungeon.

People will say, “Poor so-and-so is dead,” (but) thou wilt say, “I am living, O ye heedless ones!

Though my body, like (other) bodies, is laid to rest, the Eight Paradises have blossomed in my heart.”

When the spirit is lying at rest amidst roses and eglantines, what does it matter if the body is (buried) in that dung?

What should the spirit (thus) laid asleep know of the body, (or care) whether it (the body) is in a rose- garden or an ashpit?

(For) in the bright (celestial) world the spirit is crying, “Oh, would that my people knew!”

If the spirit shall not live without this body, then for whom shall Heaven be the palace (of everlasting abode)?

If thy spirit shall not live without the body, for whom is the blessing (promised in the words) in Heaven is your provision?