بخش 127 - حکایت آن راهب که روز با چراغ می‌گشت در میان بازار از سَرِ حالتی کی او را بود

That person was going about in a bazaar in the daytime with a candle, his heart full of love and (spiritual) ardour.

A busybody said to him, “Hey, O such-and-such, what are you seeking beside every shop?

Hey, why are you going about in search (of something) with a lamp in bright daylight? What is the joke?”

He replied, “I am searching everywhere for a man that is alive with the life inspired by that (Divine) Breath.

Is there a man in existence?” “This bazaar,” said the other, “is full: surely they are men, O noble sage.”

He answered, “I want (one who is) a man on the two-wayed road—in the way of anger and at the time of desire.

Where is (one who is) a man at the moment of anger and at the moment of appetite? In search of (such) a man I am running from street to street.

Where in the world is (one who is) a man on these two occasions, that I may devote my life to him to-day?”

“You are seeking a rare thing,” said he; “but you take no heed of the (Divine) ordinance and destiny. Consider well!

You regard (only) the branch, you are unaware of the root: we are the branch, the ordinances of the (Divine) decree are the root.”

The (Divine) destiny causes the rolling sphere (of heaven) to lose its way; the (Divine) destiny makes a hundred Mercuries to be ignorant;

It makes the world of (our) contrivance to be straitened; it makes iron and hard rock to be (unresisting as) water.

O thou who hast resolved upon the way (thou wilt go), step by step, thou art the rawest of the raw, the rawest of the raw, the rawest of the raw.

Since thou hast seen the revolution of the millstone, come now, see also the water of the river.

Thou hast seen the dust rise into the air: amidst the dust see the wind.

Thou seest the kettles of thought boiling: look with intelligence on the fire too.

God said to Job, “I have graciously bestowed a (gift of) patience upon every hair of thee.

Hark, do not pay so much regard to thy patience: thou hast seen (thy) patience, (now) look at (My) giving (thee) patience.”

How long wilt thou behold the revolution of the water-wheel? Put forth thy head and behold the rapid water (that turns it).

Thou wilt say, “I am beholding it”; but there are many good signs of (really) beholding it.

When thou hast taken a summary view of the circling movement of the foam, look upon the Sea if thou wantest (to feel) bewilderment.

He that regards the foam tells of the mystery, while he that regards the Sea is bewildered.

He that regards the foam forms intentions, while he that regards the Sea makes his heart (one with) the Sea.

He that regards the foam-flakes is (engaged) in reckoning (and calculation), while he that regards the Sea is without (conscious) volition.

He that regards the foam is in (continual) movement, while he that regards the Sea is devoid of hypocrisy.