بخش 157 - تمثیل فکر هر روزینه کی اندر دل آید به مهمان نو کی از اول روز در خانه فرود آید و فضیلت مهمان‌نوازی و ناز مهمان کشیدن و تحکم و بدخویی کند به خداوند خانه

Every day, too, at every moment a (different) thought comes, like an honoured guest, into thy bosom.

O (dear) soul, regard thought as a person, since (every) person derives his worth from thought and spirit.

If the thought of sorrow is waylaying (spoiling) joy, (yet) it is making preparations for joy.

It violently sweeps thy house clear of (all) else, in order that new joy from the source of good may enter in.

It scatters the yellow leaves from the bough of the heart, in order that incessant green leaves may grow.

It uproots the old joy, in order that new delight may march in from the Beyond.

Sorrow pulls up the crooked rotten (root), in order that it may disclose the root that is veiled from sight.

Whatsoever (things) sorrow may cause to be shed from the heart or may take away (from it), assuredly it will bring better in exchange,

Especially for him who knows with certainty (intuitively) that sorrow is the servant of the possessors of (intuitive) certainty.

Unless the clouds and the lightning show a frowning aspect, the vines will be burnt by the smiles of the sun.

Good and ill fortune become guests in thy heart: like the star (planet), they go from house to house.

At the time when it (the auspicious or inauspicious star) is residing in thy mansion, adapt thyself to it and be agreeable, like its ascendant,

So that, when it rejoins the Moon, it may speak gratefully of thee to the Lord of the heart.

Job, the (prophet who was) patient and well-pleased (with God), showed sweetness to God's guest during seven years (spent) in tribulation,

To the end that when the stern-visaged tribulation should turn back (on its way to God), it might give thanks to him in God's presence in a hundred fashions,

Saying, “From love (of Thee) Job never for one moment looked sourly on me, the killer of that which is loved.”

From his loyalty and his shame before God's knowledge, he (Job) was like milk and honey (in his behaviour) towards tribulation.

(Whenever) the thought (of sorrow) comes into thy breast anew, go to meet it with smiles and laughter,

Saying, “O my Creator, preserve me from its evil: do not deprive me, (but) let me partake, of its good!

O my Lord, prompt me to give thanks for that which I see (receive): do not let me feel any subsequent regret, if it (the benefit received) shall pass away.”

Pay watchful regard to the sour-looking thought: deem that sour one to be sweet as sugar.

If the cloud apparently has a sour face, (yet) the cloud is the bringer-on of the rose-garden and the destroyer of the nitrous (barren) soil.

Know that the thought of sorrow is like the cloud: do not look so sourly on the sour!

It may be that the pearl (of thy desire) is in its hand: endeavour that it may depart from thee well-pleased.

And if the pearl be not (in its hand) and it be not rich, (yet) thou wilt increase (strengthen) thy sweet habit.

Thy habit will profit thee on another occasion: some day thy need will suddenly be fulfilled.

The thought that hinders thee from joy comes by the command and wise purpose of the Maker.

O youth, do not call it worthless: it may be a (happy) star and endowed with imperial fortune.

Do not say it is a branch: take it to be the root, in order that thou mayst always be master of thy object of desire;

For if thou take it to be (merely) a branch (derivative) and pernicious, thine eye will be waiting to see the root.

Waiting to see is poison to (spiritual) perception: by that method thou wilt remain perpetually in death.

Recognise it as the root, clasp it to thy bosom, and be for ever delivered from the death of waiting to see.