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BOOK ONE ---------- M A N FLASH THREE: MAN In regard to his corporeal nature, man stands at the lowest point of degradation. Nevertheless, in regards to his spiritual nature, he is at the summit of nobility. He takes the impress of everything to which he directs his attention. He assumes the colour of everything which he approaches. ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... Hence men of wisdom say that when the reasonable soul of man adorns itself with exact and faithful impressions of realities, it becomes such as if it were itself essential Being. ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... In like manner the vulgar, by the force of their being engrossed with these material forms and extreme preoccupation with these corporeal things, come to be such that they cannot distinguish themselves from these forms. They cannot perceive any difference between the two. ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... Well says the Maulvi of Rūm in the Mathnavi: "O brother, you are wholly thought, "For the rest of you is only bone and muscle; "If your thought be a rose, you are a rose-bouquet; "If it be a thorn, you are fuel for the fire!" ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... Therefore strive and hide your self from your sight: hide your self from the sight of the world. Occupy yourself with REALITY. Concern yourself with TRUTH. Above all, do not forget that the various grades of created beings are theatres of HIS revealed beauty. All things that exist are mirrors of HIS Perfections. ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... In this course you must persevere. Persevere until He mingles Himself with your soul. Till your individual existence passes out of your sight. And then, if you regard yourself, it is HE whom you are regarding. If you speak of yourself, it is HE of Whom you are speaking. The relative has ostensibly become the Absolute! "I am the Truth" is equivalent to "HE is the Truth!" ____________________________________ |