بخش 117 - مثال دیگر هم درین معنی

The gambols of the lion on the banner are indicative of winds concealed (from view).

If there were not the movement of those winds, how would the dead lion leap into the air?

By that (means) you know whether the wind is the east-wind or the westwind: this (movement of the lion) is the explanation of that occult matter.

This body is like the lion on the banner: thought is causing it to move continually.

The thought that comes from the east is (as) the (refreshing) east-wind, and that which (comes) from the west is (as) the west-wind fraught with pestilence.

The east of this wind of thought is different; the west of this wind of thought is from Yonder side.

The moon is inanimate, and its east is inanimate: the heart's east is the soul of the soul of Soul.

The east of that Sun which illumines the inward part—the sun of day is (only) the husk and reflexion thereof;

For when the body is dead (and) without the (vital) flame, neither day nor night appears to it;

But though it (the flame) be not (there), (yet) when this (spiritual Sun) is (present) in perfection, it (the Sun) maintains itself intact without night and day,

Just as the eye, without moon and sun, sees moon and sun in dream.

Since our sleep is the brother of death, O such and such, know (the difference of) that brother from this brother.

And if they tell thee that that is the branch (derivative) of this, do not hear (believe) it, O follower of authority, without (having) certain knowledge.

During sleep thy spirit is beholding the representation of a state (of things) which thou wilt not behold, whilst thou art awake, in twenty years,

And thou art running, for (whole) lifetimes, to the sagacious (spiritual) kings in quest of the interpretation thereof,

Saying, “Tell (me), what is the interpretation of that dream?” To call such a mystery a “branch” is currishness.

This is the sleep of the vulgar; but truly the sleep of the elect is the root of (their) privilege and election.

There must needs be the elephant, in order that, when he sleeps supinely, he may dream of the land of Hindustán.

The ass does not dream of Hindustán at all: the ass has never journeyed from Hindustán to a foreign country.

There is need of the elephant-like and very robust spirit, that in sleep it may be able to go speedily to Hindustán.

Because of desire the elephant remembers Hindustán; then by night that remembrance of his takes form.

(The worship commanded in the text) Remember ye Allah is not a (devotional) work (that is within the reach) of every rascal; (the command) Return thou is not (a fetter) on the foot of every reprobate.

But still do not thou despair, be an elephant; and if thou art not an elephant, be in quest of transmutation.

Behold the alchemists of Heaven; hear at every moment the sound (of the words that come) from the (spiritual) makers of the philosophers' stone.

They are designers in the celestial atmosphere; they are workers for me and thee.

If thou dost not see the musky-bosomed people, behold this touch (laid upon thee), O night- blind (purblind) one.

At every moment the touch is (laid) upon thy apprehension: behold the plants ever springing up anew from thy earth!

Of this (sort) was Ibráhím son of Adham, who beheld in sleep, without veil, the unfolding of the spiritual Hindustán.

(Therefore), of necessity, he burst the (worldly) chains asunder and dashed his kingdom to pieces and disappeared.

The sign of beholding Hindustán is that he (who beholds it) starts up from sleep and becomes mad.

He will scatter dust upon (worldly) plans and will burst the links of the chains (that bind him),

Even as the Prophet said of the (Divine) light, that the sign thereof in (men's) breasts

Is that he (who hath the light) withdraws from the abode of delusion and also turns back from the abode of joy.

For the exposition of this hadíth of Mustafá (Mohammed), hearken to a tale, O sincere friend.