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Signs of the
Unseen
Discourses of
Jalâluddîn Rumi
Translated by W.M. Thackston, Jr.
The Mysterion
Someone
said that we have come to know each and every condition of mankind. Not an iota
of man's condition and nature or his hot and cold humors has escaped us; yet it
has not been ascertained what part of him will abide forever.
If that could be known merely by words, then such effort and exertion would not
be necessary and no one would have to go to such pain or toil. For example,
someone comes to the seashore. Seeing nothing but turbulent water, crocodiles,
and fish, he says: "Where are the pearls? Perhaps there are no
pearls." How is one to obtain a pearl merely by looking at the sea? Even if
one measures out the sea cup by cup a hundred times over, the pearls will not be
found. One must be a diver in order to discover the pearls; and not every diver
will find them, only a fortunate, skillful one.
The sciences and crafts are like measuring the sea in cupfuls; the way to
finding pearls is something else. Many a person is adorned with every
accomplishment and possessed of wealth and beauty but has nothing of this
intrinsic meaning in him; and many a person is a wreck on the outside, with no
fairness of feature, elegance or eloquence, but within is found the intrinsic
meaning that abides forever. It is that which ennobles and distinguishes
humanity. It is because of the intrinsic meaning that human beings have
precedence over all creatures. Leopards, crocodiles, lions, and all other
animals have skills and particular qualities, but the intrinsic meaning that
abides forever is not in them. If man will but find his way to the intrinsic
meaning, he will attain his pre-eminence; otherwise, he will remain deprived of
pre-eminence. All these arts and accomplishments are like jewels set on the back
of a mirror. The face of the mirror is void of them, so it must be clear. Anyone
who has an ugly face will desire the back of the mirror because the face tells
all. Anyone who has a fair countenance will go to any length for the sake of the
face of the mirror because it reflects that person's own beauty.
A friend of Joseph of Egypt came to him from a journey. "What gift have you
brought?" asked Joseph.
"What do you not have already? Is there anything you need?" asked the
friend. "Nonetheless, because there is nothing more beautiful than you, I
have brought you a mirror so that you can see your face reflected every
moment."
What does God not have? What does He need? One must take a polished heart to God
so that He can see Himself in it. "God does not look at your forms or at
your deeds, but He looks at your hearts."
"The city of your dreams you found lacking nothing save noble men." In
a city where you find all the beauties, pleasures, delights and various
adornments of nature, you won't find an intelligent man. Would that it were the
other way around! That city is the human being. If it has a hundred thousand
accomplishments but not the intrinsic meaning, no matter that it have no
external embellishments. The mysterion must be there for it to flourish.
In whatever state man may be, his mysterion is concerned with God, and
his external preoccupations in no way hinder that inner concern. In whatever
state a pregnant woman may be -- war or peace, eating or sleeping -- the baby is
growing, is being strengthened, and is receiving sensations in her womb without
her being aware of it. Mankind likewise is "pregnant" with that mysterion.
But man undertook {the faith}: verily he was unjust to himself, and foolish
{33:72}, but God does not leave him in his injustice and foolishness. If out of
man's apparent burden come companionship, sympathy, and a thousand
acquaintances, then consider what marvelous friendships and acquaintances will
issue out of the mysterion to which man gives birth after death. The mysterionis
necessary in order for man to flourish. It is like the root of a tree although
it is hidden from view, its effects are apparent on the branches. Even if one or
two branches break off, when the root is strong the tree will continue to grow.
If, however, the root suffers damage neither branch nor leaf will survive.
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