Ho, lovers, labour so that, when body and soul remain no more, your hearts may fly to heaven, not remain heavy like the body.
Wash your hearts and souls in the water of wisdom clean of dust, ho, that the two eyes of regret may not remain turned towards the earth.
Is it not the case with everything in the world, that love is its vital soul? Apart from love, everything you see remains not eternally.
Your nonexistence (before birth) is as the east, your death is as the west, oriented to another heaven that resembles not this visible heaven.
The way to heaven is within; shake the wings of love—when love’s wings have become strong, there is no need to trouble about a ladder.
Consider not the world that exists without, for the true world is within the eye; when you have shut your eyes on the world, the world will not remain.
Your heart is like a roof, and your senses are waterspouts; drink water from the roof, for the waterspout remains not for ever.
Recite entirely this ode from the tablet of the heart; regard not the tongue, for lips and tongue do not remain.
Man’s body is a bow, breath and speech are as its arrows; once the arrows and quiver have gone, no more work remains for the bow.
