A reminder of your True Self

[Guest guest]

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Sana'i ! If you don't find a friend, be your own

friend! In this world of every kind of man and every kind of

task, be a man for your own task!*

Each member of this caravan is stealing his own

baggage -- place your own self behind and sit before your

baggage!

People sell ephemeral beauty and buy ephemeral love

-- pass beyond those two dry riverbeds and be your own river!

These friends of yours keep on pulling you by

the hand toward nonexistence -- steal back your hand and be

your own helper!

These beauties painted on canvas veil the

beauties of the heart-- lift up the veil and enter:

Be with your own Beloved!

Be with your own Beloved and be a well-thinking,

good man! Be more than two worlds -- dwell in your own

domain!

Go, do not become drunk with the wine that

increases arrogance -- behold the brightness of that Face and be

soberly aware of your own Self!

-- Rumi: Ghazal (Ode) 1244

Translation by C. Chittick

" The Sufi Path of Love "

SUNY Press, Albany, 1983

* Sana'i is another beloved Persian Sufi poet. Here, Rumi

refers to Sana'i's discussion of good and evil companions

in his " Haqiqat al-haqiqat. " ( " The Truth of the Truth " )

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

[Guest guest]

> ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

>

> Sana'i ! If you don't find a friend, be your own

> friend! ...

I can't yet articulate the content of the brainstorm instigated by

this excerpt, but I caan tell you that the " awaking energy " that came

with it was far superior to what I'd expect from my usual morning

coffee!

Thanks! keep up the good work!

APMW