Thursday, August 17, 2023

Rumi - Silence

 


"The story admits of being told up to this point,
But what follows is hidden, and inexpressible in words.
If you should speak and try a hundred ways to express it,
'Tis useless; the mystery becomes no clearer,
You can ride on saddle and horse to the sea-coast,
But then you must use a horse of wood (i.e. a boat).
A horse of wood is useless on dry land,
It is the special vehicle of voyagers by sea.
Silence is this horse of wood,
Silence is the guide and support of men at sea."

{The Masnavi of Jalaluddin Rumi. Abridged translation by
E. H. Whinfield, p.326.}

 

 




Jami - Identical

 

"The unique Substance, viewed as absolute and void of all phenomena, all
limitations and all multiplicity, is the Real (al-Haqq). On the other hand,
viewed in His aspect of multiplicity and plurality, under which He
displays Himself when clothed with phenomena, He is the whole created
universe. Therefore the universe is the outward visible expression of the
Real, and the Real is the inner unseen reality of the universe. The universe
before it was evolved to outward view was identical with the Real; and the
Real after this evolution is identical with the universe."