,the ,seven ,valleys and the ,four ,valleys by ,bah'u'llh ,edition #a1 7,november #b1 #bjje7 ,,baha',i ,,terms ,,of ,,use ,you have permission to freely make and use copies of the text and any other information 7,content7 available on this ,site including printing1 emailing1 posting1 distributing1 copying1 downloading1 uploading1 transmitting1 displaying the ,content in whole or in part subject to the following3 #a4 ,our copyright notice and the source reference must be attached to the ,content2 #b4 ,the ,content may not be modified or altered in any way except to change the font or appearance2 #c4 ,the ,content must be used solely for a non-commercial purpose4 ,although this blanket permission to reproduce the ,content is given freely such that no special permission is required1 the ,bah' ,international ,community retains full copyright protection for all ,content included at this ,site under all applicable national and international laws4 ,for permission to publish1 transmit1 display or otherwise use the ,content for any commercial purpose1 please contact us 7http3_/_/reference4bahai4org_/en_/conta ct4html74 ,,contents ,baha'i ,terms of ,use ,the ,seven ,valleys of ,bah'u'llh ,the ,valley of ,search ,the ,valley of ,love ,the ,valley of ,knowledge ,the ,valley of ,unity ,the ,valley of ,contentment ,the ,valley of ,wonderment ,the ,valley of ,true ,poverty and ,absolute ,nothingness ,the ,four ,valleys ,the ,four ,valleys ,the ,first ,valley ,the ,second ,valley ,the ,third ,valley ,the ,fourth ,valley ,,the ,,seven ,,valleys ,,of ,,bah',u',,ll,h ,in the ,name of ,god1 the ,clement1 the ,merciful4 ,praise be to ,god ,who hath made being to come forth from nothingness2 graven upon the tablet of man the secrets of preexistence2 taught him from the mysteries of divine utterance that which he knew not2 made him a ,luminous ,book unto those who believed and surrendered themselves2 caused him to witness the creation of all things 7,kullu ,shay'7 in this black and ruinous age1 and to speak forth from the apex of eternity with a wondrous voice in the ,excellent ,temple7#a73 to the end that every man may testify1 in himself1 by himself1 in the station of the ,manifestation of his ,lord1 that verily there is no ,god save ,him1 and that every man may thereby win his way to the summit of realities1 until none shall contemplate anything whatsoever but that he shall see ,god therein4 ,and ,i praise and glorify the first sea which hath branched from the ocean of the ,divine ,essence1 and the first morn which hath glowed from the ,horizon of ,oneness1 and the first sun which hath risen in the ,heaven of ,eternity1 and the first fire which was lit from the ,lamp of ,preexistence in the lantern of singleness3 ,he who was ,amad in the kingdom of the exalted ones1 and ,muammad amongst the concourse of the near ones1 and ,mamd7#b7 in the realm of the sincere ones4 8444by whichsoever 7name7 ye will1 invoke ,him3 ,he hath most excellent names07#c7 in the hearts of those who know4 ,and upon ,his household and companions be abundant and abiding and eternal peace6 ,further1 we have harkened to what the nightingale of knowledge sang on the boughs of the tree of thy being1 and learned what the dove of certitude cried on the branches of the bower of thy heart4 ,methinks ,i verily inhaled the pure fragrances of the garment of thy love1 and attained thy very meeting from perusing thy letter4 ,and since ,i noted thy mention of thy death in ,god1 and thy life through ,him1 and thy love for the beloved of ,god and the ,manifestations of ,his ,names and the ,dawning-,points of ,his ,attributes--,i therefore reveal unto thee sacred and resplendent tokens from the planes of glory1 to attract thee into the court of holiness and nearness and beauty1 and draw thee to a station wherein thou shalt see nothing in creation save the ,face of thy ,beloved ,one1 the ,honored1 and behold all created things only as in the day wherein none hath a mention4 ,of this hath the nightingale of oneness sung in the garden of ,ghawthyyih47#d7 ,he saith3 8,and there shall appear upon the tablet of thine heart a writing of the subtle mysteries of #8,fear ,god and ,god will give you knowledge'27#e7 and the bird of thy soul shall recall the holy sanctuaries of preexistence and soar on the wings of longing in the heaven of #8walk the beaten paths of thy ,lord'17#f7 and gather the fruits of communion in the gardens of #8,then feed on every kind of fruit4'07#g7 ,by ,my life1 ,o friend1 wert thou to taste of these fruits1 from the green garden of these blossoms which grow in the lands of knowledge1 beside the orient lights of the ,essence in the mirrors of names and attributes--yearning would seize the reins of patience and reserve from out thy hand1 and make thy soul to shake with the flashing light1 and draw thee from the earthly homeland to the first1 heavenly abode in the ,center of ,realities1 and lift thee to a plane wherein thou wouldst soar in the air even as thou walkest upon the earth1 and move over the water as thou runnest on the land4 ,wherefore1 may it rejoice ,me1 and thee1 and whosoever mounteth into the heaven of knowledge1 and whose heart is refreshed by this1 that the wind of certitude hath blown over the garden of his being1 from the ,sheba of the ,all-,merciful4 ,peace be upon him who followeth the ,right ,path6 ,and further3 ,the stages that mark the wayfarer's journey from the abode of dust to the heavenly homeland are said to be seven4 ,some have called these ,seven ,valleys1 and others1 ,seven ,cities4 ,and they say that until the wayfarer taketh leave of self1 and traverseth these stages1 he shall never reach to the ocean of nearness and union1 nor drink of the peerless wine4 ,the first is ,the ,valley of ,search ,the steed of this ,valley is patience2 without patience the wayfarer on this journey will reach nowhere and attain no goal4 ,nor should he ever be downhearted2 if he strive for a hundred thousand years and yet fail to behold the beauty of the ,friend1 he should not falter4 ,for those who seek the ,ka'bih7#h7 of 8for ,us0 rejoice in the tidings3 8,in ,our ways will ,we guide them407#i7 ,in their search1 they have stoutly girded up the loins of service1 and seek at every moment to journey from the plane of heedlessness into the realm of being4 ,no bond shall hold them back1 and no counsel shall deter them4 ,it is incumbent on these servants that they cleanse the heart--which is the wellspring of divine treasures--from every marking1 and that they turn away from imitation1 which is following the traces of their forefathers and sires1 and shut the door of friendliness and enmity upon all the people of the earth4 ,in this journey the seeker reacheth a stage wherein he seeth all created things wandering distracted in search of the ,friend4 ,how many a ,jacob will he see1 hunting after his ,joseph2 he will behold many a lover1 hasting to seek the ,beloved1 he will witness a world of desiring ones searching after the ,one ,desired4 ,at every moment he findeth a weighty matter1 in every hour he becometh aware of a mystery2 for he hath taken his heart away from both worlds1 and set out for the ,ka'bih7#aj7 of the ,beloved4 ,at every step1 aid from the ,invisible ,realm will attend him and the heat of his search will grow4 ,one must judge of search by the standard of the ,majnn of ,love47#aa7 ,it is related that one day they came upon ,majnn sifting the dust1 and his tears flowing down4 ,they said1 8,what doest thou80 ,he said1 8,i seek for ,layl40 ,they cried1 8,alas for thee6 ,layl is of pure spirit1 and thou seekest her in the dust60 ,he said1 8,i seek her everywhere2 haply somewhere ,i shall find her40 ,yea1 although to the wise it be shameful to seek the ,lord of ,lords in the dust1 yet this betokeneth intense ardor in searching4 8,whoso seeketh out a thing with zeal shall find it407#ab7 ,the true seeker hunteth naught but the object of his quest1 and the lover hath no desire save union with his beloved4 ,nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things4 ,that is1 whatever he hath seen1 and heard1 and understood1 all must he set at naught1 that he may enter the realm of the spirit1 which is the ,city of ,god4 ,labor is needed1 if we are to seek ,him2 ardor is needed1 if we are to drink of the honey of reunion with ,him2 and if we taste of this cup1 we shall cast away the world4 ,on this journey the traveler abideth in every land and dwelleth in every region4 ,in every face1 he seeketh the beauty of the ,friend2 in every country he looketh for the ,beloved4 ,he joineth every company1 and seeketh fellowship with every soul1 that haply in some mind he may uncover the secret of the ,friend1 or in some face he may behold the beauty of the ,loved ,one4 ,and if1 by the help of ,god1 he findeth on this journey a trace of the traceless ,friend1 and inhaleth the fragrance of the long-lost ,joseph from the heavenly messenger17#ac7 he shall straightway step into ,the ,valley of ,love and be dissolved in the fire of love4 ,in this city the heaven of ecstasy is upraised and the world-illuming sun of yearning shineth1 and the fire of love is ablaze2 and when the fire of love is ablaze1 it burneth to ashes the harvest of reason4 ,now is the traveler unaware of himself1 and of aught besides himself4 ,he seeth neither ignorance nor knowledge1 neither doubt nor certitude2 he knoweth not the morn of guidance from the night of error4 ,he fleeth both from unbelief and faith1 and deadly poison is a balm to him4 ,wherefore ,attr7#ad7 saith3 ,for the infidel1 error--for the faithful1 faith2 ,for ,attr's heart1 an atom of ,thy pain4 ,the steed of this ,valley is pain2 and if there be no pain this journey will never end4 ,in this station the lover hath no thought save the ,beloved1 and seeketh no refuge save the ,friend4 ,at every moment he offereth a hundred lives in the path of the ,loved ,one1 at every step he throweth a thousand heads at the feet of the ,beloved4 ,o ,my ,brother6 ,until thou enter the ,egypt of love1 thou shalt never come to the ,joseph of the ,beauty of the ,friend2 and until1 like ,jacob1 thou forsake thine outward eyes1 thou shalt never open the eye of thine inward being2 and until thou burn with the fire of love1 thou shalt never commune with the ,lover of ,longing4 ,a lover feareth nothing and no harm can come nigh him3 ,thou seest him chill in the fire and dry in the sea4 ,a lover is he who is chill in hell fire2 ,a knower is he who is dry in the sea47#ae7 ,love accepteth no existence and wisheth no life3 ,he seeth life in death1 and in shame seeketh glory4 ,to merit the madness of love1 man must abound in sanity2 to merit the bonds of the ,friend1 he must be full of spirit4 ,blessed the neck that is caught in ,his noose1 happy the head that falleth on the dust in the pathway of ,his love4 ,wherefore1 ,o friend1 give up thy self that thou mayest find the ,peerless ,one1 pass by this mortal earth that thou mayest seek a home in the nest of heaven4 ,be as naught1 if thou wouldst kindle the fire of being and be fit for the pathway of love4 ,love seizeth not upon a living soul1 ,the falcon preyeth not on a dead mouse47#af7 ,love setteth a world aflame at every turn1 and he wasteth every land where he carrieth his banner4 ,being hath no existence in his kingdom2 the wise wield no command within his realm4 ,the leviathan of love swalloweth the master of reason and destroyeth the lord of knowledge4 ,he drinketh the seven seas1 but his heart's thirst is still unquenched1 and he saith1 8,is there yet any more807#ag7 ,he shunneth himself and draweth away from all on earth4 ,love's a stranger to earth and heaven too2 ,in him are lunacies seventy-and-two47#ah7 ,he hath bound a myriad victims in his fetters1 wounded a myriad wise men with his arrow4 ,know that every redness in the world is from his anger1 and every paleness in men's cheeks is from his poison4 ,he yieldeth no remedy but death1 he walketh not save in the valley of the shadow2 yet sweeter than honey is his venom on the lover's lips1 and fairer his destruction in the seeker's eyes than a hundred thousand lives4 ,wherefore must the veils of the satanic self be burned away at the fire of love1 that the spirit may be purified and cleansed and thus may know the station of the ,lord of the ,worlds4 ,kindle the fire of love and burn away all things1 ,then set thy foot into the land of the lovers47#ai7 ,and if1 confirmed by the ,creator1 the lover escapes from the claws of the eagle of love1 he will enter ,the ,valley of ,knowledge and come out of doubt into certitude1 and turn from the darkness of illusion to the guiding light of the fear of ,god4 ,his inner eyes will open and he will privily converse with his ,beloved2 he will set ajar the gate of truth and piety1 and shut the doors of vain imaginings4 ,he in this station is content with the decree of ,god1 and seeth war as peace1 and findeth in death the secrets of everlasting life4 ,with inward and outward eyes he witnesseth the mysteries of resurrection in the realms of creation and the souls of men1 and with a pure heart apprehendeth the divine wisdom in the endless ,manifestations of ,god4 ,in the ocean he findeth a drop1 in a drop he beholdeth the secrets of the sea4 ,split the atom's heart1 and lo6 ,within it thou wilt find a sun47#bj7 ,the wayfarer in this ,valley seeth in the fashionings of the ,true ,one nothing save clear providence1 and at every moment saith3 8,no defect canst thou see in the creation of the ,god of ,mercy3 ,repeat the gaze3 ,seest thou a single flaw807#ba7 ,he beholdeth justice in injustice1 and in justice1 grace4 ,in ignorance he findeth many a knowledge hidden1 and in knowledge a myriad wisdoms manifest4 ,he breaketh the cage of the body and the passions1 and consorteth with the people of the immortal realm4 ,he mounteth on the ladders of inner truth and hasteneth to the heaven of inner significance4 ,he rideth in the ark of 8we shall show them our signs in the regions and in themselves107#bb7 and journeyeth over the sea of 8until it become plain to them that 7this ,book7 is the truth407#bc7 ,and if he meeteth with injustice he shall have patience1 and if he cometh upon wrath he shall manifest love4 ,there was once a lover who had sighed for long years in separation from his beloved1 and wasted in the fire of remoteness4 ,from the rule of love1 his heart was empty of patience1 and his body weary of his spirit2 he reckoned life without her as a mockery1 and time consumed him away4 ,how many a day he found no rest in longing for her2 how many a night the pain of her kept him from sleep2 his body was worn to a sigh1 his heart's wound had turned him to a cry of sorrow4 ,he had given a thousand lives for one taste of the cup of her presence1 but it availed him not4 ,the doctors knew no cure for him1 and companions avoided his company2 yea1 physicians have no medicine for one sick of love1 unless the favor of the beloved one deliver him4 ,at last1 the tree of his longing yielded the fruit of despair1 and the fire of his hope fell to ashes4 ,then one night he could live no more1 and he went out of his house and made for the marketplace4 ,on a sudden1 a watchman followed after him4 ,he broke into a run1 with the watchman following2 then other watchmen came together1 and barred every passage to the weary one4 ,and the wretched one cried from his heart1 and ran here and there1 and moaned to himself3 8,surely this watchman is ,izr'l1 my angel of death1 following so fast upon me2 or he is a tyrant of men1 seeking to harm me40 ,his feet carried him on1 the one bleeding with the arrow of love1 and his heart lamented4 ,then he came to a garden wall1 and with untold pain he scaled it1 for it proved very high2 and forgetting his life1 he threw himself down to the garden4 ,and there he beheld his beloved with a lamp in her hand1 searching for a ring she had lost4 ,when the heart-surrendered lover looked on his ravishing love1 he drew a great breath and raised up his hands in prayer1 crying3 8,o ,god6 ,give ,thou glory to the watchman1 and riches and long life4 ,for the watchman was ,gabriel1 guiding this poor one2 or he was ,isrfl1 bringing life to this wretched one60 ,indeed1 his words were true1 for he had found many a secret justice in this seeming tyranny of the watchman1 and seen how many a mercy lay hid behind the veil4 ,out of wrath1 the guard had led him who was athirst in love's desert to the sea of his loved one1 and lit up the dark night of absence with the light of reunion4 ,he had driven one who was afar1 into the garden of nearness1 had guided an ailing soul to the heart's physician4 ,now if the lover could have looked ahead1 he would have blessed the watchman at the start1 and prayed on his behalf1 and he would have seen that tyranny as justice2 but since the end was veiled to him1 he moaned and made his plaint in the beginning4 ,yet those who journey in the garden land of knowledge1 because they see the end in the beginning1 see peace in war and friendliness in anger4 ,such is the state of the wayfarers in this ,valley2 but the people of the ,valleys above this see the end and the beginning as one2 nay1 they see neither beginning nor end1 and witness neither 8first0 nor 8last407#bd7 ,nay rather1 the denizens of the undying city1 who dwell in the green garden land1 see not even 8neither first nor last02 they fly from all that is first1 and repulse all that is last4 ,for these have passed over the worlds of names1 and fled beyond the worlds of attributes as swift as lightning4 ,thus is it said3 8,absolute ,unity excludeth all attributes407#be7 ,and they have made their dwelling-place in the shadow of the ,essence4 ,wherefore1 relevant to this1 ,khjih #8,abdu'llh7#bf7--may ,god the ,most ,high sanctify his beloved spirit--hath made a subtle point and spoken an eloquent word as to the meaning of 8,guide ,thou us on the straight path107#bg7 which is3 8,show us the right way1 that is1 honor us with the love of ,thine ,essence1 that we may be freed from turning toward ourselves and toward all else save ,thee1 and may become wholly ,thine1 and know only ,thee1 and see only ,thee1 and think of none save ,thee40 ,nay1 these even mount above this station1 wherefore it is said3 ,love is a veil betwixt the lover and the loved one2 ,more than this ,i am not permitted to tell47#bh7 ,at this hour the morn of knowledge hath arisen and the lamps of wayfaring and wandering are quenched47#bi7 ,veiled from this was ,moses ,though all strength and light2 ,then thou who hast no wings at all1 ,attempt not flight47#cj7 ,if thou be a man of communion and prayer1 soar up on the wings of assistance from ,holy ,souls1 that thou mayest behold the mysteries of the ,friend and attain to the lights of the ,beloved1 8,verily1 we are from ,god and to ,him shall we return407#ca7 ,after passing through the ,valley of knowledge1 which is the last plane of limitation1 the wayfarer cometh to ,the ,valley of ,unity and drinketh from the cup of the ,absolute1 and gazeth on the ,manifestations of ,oneness4 ,in this station he pierceth the veils of plurality1 fleeth from the worlds of the flesh1 and ascendeth into the heaven of singleness4 ,with the ear of ,god he heareth1 with the eye of ,god he beholdeth the mysteries of divine creation4 ,he steppeth into the sanctuary of the ,friend1 and shareth as an intimate the pavilion of the ,loved ,one4 ,he stretcheth out the hand of truth from the sleeve of the ,absolute2 he revealeth the secrets of power4 ,he seeth in himself neither name nor fame nor rank1 but findeth his own praise in praising ,god4 ,he beholdeth in his own name the name of ,god2 to him1 8all songs are from the ,king107#cb7 and every melody from ,him4 ,he sitteth on the throne of 8,say1 all is from ,god107#cc7 and taketh his rest on the carpet of 8,there is no power or might but in ,god407#cd7 ,he looketh on all things with the eye of oneness1 and seeth the brilliant rays of the divine sun shining from the dawning-point of ,essence alike on all created things1 and the lights of singleness reflected over all creation4 ,it is clear to thine ,eminence that all the variations which the wayfarer in the stages of his journey beholdeth in the realms of being1 proceed from his own vision4 ,we shall give an example of this1 that its meaning may become fully clear3 ,consider the visible sun2 although it shineth with one radiance upon all things1 and at the behest of the ,king of ,manifestation bestoweth light on all creation1 yet in each place it becometh manifest and sheddeth its bounty according to the potentialities of that place4 ,for instance1 in a mirror it reflecteth its own disk and shape1 and this is due to the sensitivity of the mirror2 in a crystal it maketh fire to appear1 and in other things it showeth only the effect of its shining1 but not its full disk4 ,and yet1 through that effect1 by the command of the ,creator1 it traineth each thing according to the quality of that thing1 as thou observest4 ,in like manner1 colors become visible in every object according to the nature of that object4 ,for instance1 in a yellow globe1 the rays shine yellow2 in a white the rays are white2 and in a red1 the red rays are manifest4 ,then these variations are from the object1 not from the shining light4 ,and if a place be shut away from the light1 as by walls or a roof1 it will be entirely bereft of the splendor of the light1 nor will the sun shine thereon4 ,thus it is that certain invalid souls have confined the lands of knowledge within the wall of self and passion1 and clouded them with ignorance and blindness1 and have been veiled from the light of the mystic sun and the mysteries of the ,eternal ,beloved2 they have strayed afar from the jewelled wisdom of the lucid ,faith of the ,lord of ,messengers1 have been shut out of the sanctuary of the ,all-,beauteous ,one1 and banished from the ,ka'bih7#ce7 of splendor4 ,such is the worth of the people of this age6 ,and if a nightingale7#cf7 soar upward from the clay of self and dwell in the rose bower of the heart1 and in ,arabian melodies and sweet rnian songs recount the mysteries of ,god--a single word of which quickeneth to fresh1 new life the bodies of the dead1 and bestoweth the ,holy ,spirit upon the moldering bones of this existence--thou wilt behold a thousand claws of envy1 a myriad beaks of rancor hunting after ,him and with all their power intent upon ,his death4 ,yea1 to the beetle a sweet fragrance seemeth foul1 and to the man sick of a rheum a pleasant perfume is as naught4 ,wherefore1 it hath been said for the guidance of the ignorant3 ,cleanse thou the rheum from out thine head ,and breathe the breath of ,god instead47#cg7 ,in sum1 the differences in objects have now been made plain4 ,thus when the wayfarer gazeth only upon the place of appearance--that is1 when he seeth only the many-colored globes--he beholdeth yellow and red and white2 hence it is that conflict hath prevailed among the creatures1 and a darksome dust from limited souls hath hid the world4 ,and some do gaze upon the effulgence of the light2 and some have drunk of the wine of oneness and these see nothing but the sun itself4 ,thus1 for that they move on these three differing planes1 the understanding and the words of the wayfarers have differed2 and hence the sign of conflict doth continually appear on earth4 ,for some there are who dwell upon the plane of oneness and speak of that world1 and some inhabit the realms of limitation1 and some the grades of self1 while others are completely veiled4 ,thus do the ignorant people of the day1 who have no portion of the radiance of ,divine ,beauty1 make certain claims1 and in every age and cycle inflict on the people of the sea of oneness what they themselves deserve4 8,should ,god punish men for their perverse doings1 ,he would not leave on earth a moving thing6 ,but to an appointed term doth ,he respite them444407#ch7 ,o ,my ,brother6 ,a pure heart is as a mirror2 cleanse it with the burnish of love and severance from all save ,god1 that the true sun may shine within it and the eternal morning dawn4 ,then wilt thou clearly see the meaning of 8,neither doth ,my earth nor ,my heaven contain ,me1 but the heart of ,my faithful servant containeth ,me407#ci7 ,and thou wilt take up thy life in thine hand1 and with infinite longing cast it before the new ,beloved ,one4 ,whensoever the light of ,manifestation of the ,king of ,oneness settleth upon the throne of the heart and soul1 ,his shining becometh visible in every limb and member4 ,at that time the mystery of the famed tradition gleameth out of the darkness3 8,a servant is drawn unto ,me in prayer until ,i answer him2 and when ,i have answered him1 ,i become the ear wherewith he heareth44440 ,for thus the ,master of the house hath appeared within ,his home1 and all the pillars of the dwelling are ashine with ,his light4 ,and the action and effect of the light are from the ,light-,giver2 so it is that all move through ,him and arise by ,his will4 ,and this is that spring whereof the near ones drink1 as it is said3 8,a fount whereof the near unto ,god shall drink444407#dj7 ,however1 let none construe these utterances to be anthropomorphism1 nor see in them the descent of the worlds of ,god into the grades of the creatures2 nor should they lead thine ,eminence to such assumptions4 ,for ,god is1 in ,his ,essence1 holy above ascent and descent1 entrance and exit2 ,he hath through all eternity been free of the attributes of human creatures1 and ever will remain so4 ,no man hath ever known ,him2 no soul hath ever found the pathway to ,his ,being4 ,every mystic knower hath wandered far astray in the valley of the knowledge of ,him2 every saint hath lost his way in seeking to comprehend ,his ,essence4 ,sanctified is ,he above the understanding of the wise2 exalted is ,he above the knowledge of the knowing6 ,the way is barred and to seek it is impiety2 ,his proof is ,his signs2 ,his being is ,his evidence47#da7 ,wherefore1 the lovers of the face of the ,beloved have said3 8,o ,thou1 the ,one ,whose ,essence alone showeth the way to ,his ,essence1 and ,who is sanctified above any likeness to ,his creatures407#db7 ,how can utter nothingness gallop its steed in the field of preexistence1 or a fleeting shadow reach to the everlasting sun8 ,the ,friend7#dc7 hath said1 8,but for ,thee1 we had not known ,thee10 and the ,beloved7#dd7 hath said1 8nor attained ,thy presence40 ,yea1 these mentionings that have been made of the grades of knowledge relate to the knowledge of the ,manifestations of that ,sun of ,reality1 which casteth ,its light upon the ,mirrors4 ,and the splendor of that light is in the hearts1 yet it is hidden under the veilings of sense and the conditions of this earth1 even as a candle within a lantern of iron1 and only when the lantern is removed doth the light of the candle shine out4 ,in like manner1 when thou strippest the wrappings of illusion from off thine heart1 the lights of oneness will be made manifest4 ,then it is clear that even for the rays there is neither entrance nor exit--how much less for that ,essence of ,being and that longed-for ,mystery4 ,o ,my ,brother1 journey upon these planes in the spirit of search1 not in blind imitation4 ,a true wayfarer will not be kept back by the bludgeon of words nor debarred by the warning of allusions4 ,how shall a curtain part the lover and the loved one8 ,not ,alexander's wall can separate them67#de7 ,secrets are many1 but strangers are myriad4 ,volumes will not suffice to hold the mystery of the ,beloved ,one1 nor can it be exhausted in these pages1 although it be no more than a word1 no more than a sign4 8,knowledge is a single point1 but the ignorant have multiplied it407#df7 ,on this same basis1 ponder likewise the differences among the worlds4 ,although the divine worlds be never ending1 yet some refer to them as four3 ,the world of time 7zamn71 which is the one that hath both a beginning and an end2 the world of duration 7dahr71 which hath a beginning1 but whose end is not revealed2 the world of perpetuity 7sarmad71 whose beginning is not to be seen but which is known to have an end2 and the world of eternity 7azal71 neither a beginning nor an end of which is visible4 ,although there are many differing statements as to these points1 to recount them in detail would result in weariness4 ,thus1 some have said that the world of perpetuity hath neither beginning nor end1 and have named the world of eternity as the invisible1 impregnable ,empyrean4 ,others have called these the worlds of the ,heavenly ,court 7,laht71 of the ,empyrean ,heaven 7,jabart71 of the ,kingdom of the ,angels 7,malakt71 and of the mortal world 7,nst74 ,the journeys in the pathway of love are reckoned as four3 ,from the creatures to the ,true ,one2 from the ,true ,one to the creatures2 from the creatures to the creatures2 from the ,true ,one to the ,true ,one4 ,there is many an utterance of the mystic seers and doctors of former times which ,i have not mentioned here1 since ,i mislike the copious citation from sayings of the past2 for quotation from the words of others proveth acquired learning1 not the divine bestowal4 ,even so much as ,we have quoted here is out of deference to the wont of men and after the manner of the friends4 ,further1 such matters are beyond the scope of this epistle4 ,our unwillingness to recount their sayings is not from pride1 rather is it a manifestation of wisdom and a demonstration of grace4 ,if ,khidr did wreck the vessel on the sea1 ,yet in this wrong there are a thousand rights47#dg7 ,otherwise1 this ,servant regardeth ,himself as utterly lost and as nothing1 even beside one of the beloved of ,god1 how much less in the presence of ,his holy ones4 ,exalted be ,my ,lord1 the ,supreme6 ,moreover1 our aim is to recount the stages of the wayfarer's journey1 not to set forth the conflicting utterances of the mystics4 ,although a brief example hath been given concerning the beginning and ending of the relative world1 the world of attributes1 yet a second illustration is now added1 that the full meaning may be manifest4 ,for instance1 let thine ,eminence consider his own self2 thou art first in relation to thy son1 last in relation to thy father4 ,in thine outward appearance1 thou tellest of the appearance of power in the realms of divine creation2 in thine inward being thou revealest the hidden mysteries which are the divine trust deposited within thee4 ,and thus firstness and lastness1 outwardness and inwardness are1 in the sense referred to1 true of thyself1 that in these four states conferred upon thee thou shouldst comprehend the four divine states1 and that the nightingale of thine heart on all the branches of the rosetree of existence1 whether visible or concealed1 should cry out3 8,he is the first and the last1 the ,seen and the ,hidden444407#dh7 ,these statements are made in the sphere of that which is relative1 because of the limitations of men4 ,otherwise1 those personages who in a single step have passed over the world of the relative and the limited1 and dwelt on the fair plane of the ,absolute1 and pitched their tent in the worlds of authority and command--have burned away these relativities with a single spark1 and blotted out these words with a drop of dew4 ,and they swim in the sea of the spirit1 and soar in the holy air of light4 ,then what life have words1 on such a plane1 that 8first0 and 8last0 or other than these be seen or mentioned6 ,in this realm1 the first is the last itself1 and the last is but the first4 ,in thy soul of love build thou a fire ,and burn all thoughts and words entire47#di7 ,o my friend1 look upon thyself3 ,hadst thou not become a father nor begotten a son1 neither wouldst thou have heard these sayings4 ,now forget them all1 that thou mayest learn from the ,master of ,love in the schoolhouse of oneness1 and return unto ,god1 and forsake the inner land of unreality7#ej7 for thy true station1 and dwell within the shadow of the tree of knowledge4 ,o thou dear one6 ,impoverish thyself1 that thou mayest enter the high court of riches2 and humble thy body1 that thou mayest drink from the river of glory1 and attain to the full meaning of the poems whereof thou hadst asked4 ,thus it hath been made clear that these stages depend on the vision of the wayfarer4 ,in every city he will behold a world1 in every ,valley reach a spring1 in every meadow hear a song4 ,but the falcon of the mystic heaven hath many a wondrous carol of the spirit in ,his breast1 and the ,persian bird keepeth in ,his soul many a sweet ,arab melody2 yet these are hidden1 and hidden shall remain4 ,if ,i speak forth1 many a mind will shatter1 ,and if ,i write1 many a pen will break47#ea7 17#eb7 ,peace be upon him who concludeth this exalted journey and followeth the ,true ,one by the lights of guidance4 ,and the wayfarer1 after traversing the high planes of this supernal journey1 entereth ,the ,valley of ,contentment ,in this ,valley he feeleth the winds of divine contentment blowing from the plane of the spirit4 ,he burneth away the veils of want1 and with inward and outward eye1 perceiveth within and without all things the day of3 8,god will compensate each one out of ,his abundance407#ec7 ,from sorrow he turneth to bliss1 from anguish to joy4 ,his grief and mourning yield to delight and rapture4 ,although to outward view1 the wayfarers in this ,valley may dwell upon the dust1 yet inwardly they are throned in the heights of mystic meaning2 they eat of the endless bounties of inner significances1 and drink of the delicate wines of the spirit4 ,the tongue faileth in describing these three ,valleys1 and speech falleth short4 ,the pen steppeth not into this region1 the ink leaveth only a blot4 ,in these planes1 the nightingale of the heart hath other songs and secrets1 which make the heart to stir and the soul to clamor1 but this mystery of inner meaning may be whispered only from heart to heart1 confided only from breast to breast4 ,only heart to heart can speak the bliss of mystic knowers2 ,no messenger can tell it and no missive bear it47#ed7 ,i am silent from weakness on many a matter1 ,for my words could not reckon them and my speech would fall short47#ee7 ,o friend1 till thou enter the garden of such mysteries1 thou shalt never set lip to the undying wine of this ,valley4 ,and shouldst thou taste of it1 thou wilt shield thine eyes from all things else1 and drink of the wine of contentment2 and thou wilt loose thyself from all things else1 and bind thyself to ,him1 and throw thy life down in ,his path1 and cast thy soul away4 ,however1 there is no other in this region that thou need forget3 8,there was ,god and there was naught beside ,him407#ef7 ,for on this plane the traveler witnesseth the beauty of the ,friend in everything4 ,even in fire1 he seeth the face of the ,beloved4 ,he beholdeth in illusion the secret of reality1 and readeth from the attributes the riddle of the ,essence4 ,for he hath burnt away the veils with his sighing1 and unwrapped the shroudings with a single glance2 with piercing sight he gazeth on the new creation2 with lucid heart he graspeth subtle verities4 ,this is sufficiently attested by3 8,and we have made thy sight sharp in this day407#eg7 ,after journeying through the planes of pure contentment1 the traveler cometh to ,the ,valley of ,wonderment and is tossed in the oceans of grandeur1 and at every moment his wonder groweth4 ,now he seeth the shape of wealth as poverty itself1 and the essence of freedom as sheer impotence4 ,now is he struck dumb with the beauty of the ,all-,glorious2 again is he wearied out with his own life4 ,how many a mystic tree hath this whirlwind of wonderment snatched by the roots1 how many a soul hath it exhausted4 ,for in this ,valley the traveler is flung into confusion1 albeit1 in the eye of him who hath attained1 such marvels are esteemed and well beloved4 ,at every moment he beholdeth a wondrous world1 a new creation1 and goeth from astonishment to astonishment1 and is lost in awe at the works of the ,lord of ,oneness4 ,indeed1 ,o ,brother1 if we ponder each created thing1 we shall witness a myriad perfect wisdoms and learn a myriad new and wondrous truths4 ,one of the created phenomena is the dream4 ,behold how many secrets are deposited therein1 how many wisdoms treasured up1 how many worlds concealed4 ,observe1 how thou art asleep in a dwelling1 and its doors are barred2 on a sudden thou findest thyself in a far-off city1 which thou enterest without moving thy feet or wearying thy body2 without using thine eyes1 thou seest2 without taxing thine ears1 thou hearest2 without a tongue1 thou speakest4 ,and perchance when ten years are gone1 thou wilt witness in the outer world the very things thou hast dreamed tonight4 ,now there are many wisdoms to ponder in the dream1 which none but the people of this ,valley can comprehend in their true elements4 ,first1 what is this world1 where without eye and ear and hand and tongue a man puts all of these to use8 ,second1 how is it that in the outer world thou seest today the effect of a dream1 when thou didst vision it in the world of sleep some ten years past8 ,consider the difference between these two worlds and the mysteries which they conceal1 that thou mayest attain to divine confirmations and heavenly discoveries and enter the regions of holiness4 ,god1 the ,exalted1 hath placed these signs in men1 to the end that philosophers may not deny the mysteries of the life beyond nor belittle that which hath been promised them4 ,for some hold to reason and deny whatever the reason comprehendeth not1 and yet weak minds can never grasp the matters which we have related1 but only the ,supreme1 ,divine ,intelligence can comprehend them3 ,how can feeble reason encompass the ,qur'n1 ,or the spider snare a phoenix in his web87#eh7 ,all these states are to be witnessed in the ,valley of ,wonderment1 and the traveler at every moment seeketh for more1 and is not wearied4 ,thus the ,lord of the ,first and the ,last in setting forth the grades of contemplation1 and expressing wonderment hath said3 8,o ,lord1 increase my astonishment at ,thee60 ,likewise1 reflect upon the perfection of man's creation1 and that all these planes and states are folded up and hidden away within him4 ,dost thou reckon thyself only a puny form ,when within thee the universe is folded87#ei7 ,then we must labor to destroy the animal condition1 till the meaning of humanity shall come to light4 ,thus1 too1 ,luqmn1 who had drunk from the wellspring of wisdom and tasted of the waters of mercy1 in proving to his son ,nathan the planes of resurrection and death1 advanced the dream as an evidence and an example4 ,we relate it here1 that through this evanescent ,servant a memory may endure of that youth of the school of ,divine ,unity1 that elder of the art of instruction and the ,absolute4 ,he said3 8,o ,son1 if thou art able not to sleep1 then thou art able not to die4 ,and if thou art able not to waken after sleep1 then thou shalt be able not to rise after death40 ,o friend1 the heart is the dwelling of eternal mysteries1 make it not the home of fleeting fancies2 waste not the treasure of thy precious life in employment with this swiftly passing world4 ,thou comest from the world of holiness--bind not thine heart to the earth2 thou art a dweller in the court of nearness--choose not the homeland of the dust4 ,in sum1 there is no end to the description of these stages1 but because of the wrongs inflicted by the peoples of the earth1 this ,servant is in no mood to continue3 ,the tale is still unfinished and ,i have no heart for it-- ,then pray forgive me47#fj7 ,the pen groaneth and the ink sheddeth tears1 and the river7#fa7 of the heart moveth in waves of blood4 8,nothing can befall us but what ,god hath destined for us407#fb7 ,peace be upon him who followeth the ,right ,path6 ,after scaling the high summits of wonderment the wayfarer cometh to ,the ,valley of ,true ,poverty and ,absolute ,nothingness ,this station is the dying from self and the living in ,god1 the being poor in self and rich in the ,desired ,one4 ,poverty as here referred to signifieth being poor in the things of the created world1 rich in the things of ,god's world4 ,for when the true lover and devoted friend reacheth to the presence of the ,beloved1 the sparkling beauty of the ,loved ,one and the fire of the lover's heart will kindle a blaze and burn away all veils and wrappings4 ,yea1 all he hath1 from heart to skin1 will be set aflame1 so that nothing will remain save the ,friend4 ,when the qualities of the ,ancient of ,days stood revealed1 ,then the qualities of earthly things did ,moses burn away47#fc7 ,he who hath attained this station is sanctified from all that pertaineth to the world4 ,wherefore1 if those who have come to the sea of ,his presence are found to possess none of the limited things of this perishable world1 whether it be outer wealth or personal opinions1 it mattereth not4 ,for whatever the creatures have is limited by their own limits1 and whatever the ,true ,one hath is sanctified therefrom2 this utterance must be deeply pondered that its purport may be clear4 8,verily the righteous shall drink of a winecup tempered at the camphor fountain407#fd7 ,if the interpretation of 8camphor0 become known1 the true intention will be evident4 ,this state is that poverty of which it is said1 8,poverty is ,my glory407#fe7 ,and of inward and outward poverty there is many a stage and many a meaning which ,i have not thought pertinent to mention here2 hence ,i have reserved these for another time1 dependent on what ,god may desire and fate may seal4 ,this is the plane whereon the vestiges of all things 7,kullu ,shay'7 are destroyed in the traveler1 and on the horizon of eternity the ,divine ,face riseth out of the darkness1 and the meaning of 8,all on the earth shall pass away1 but the face of thy ,lord444407#ff7 is made manifest4 ,o ,my friend1 listen with heart and soul to the songs of the spirit1 and treasure them as thine own eyes4 ,for the heavenly wisdoms1 like the clouds of spring1 will not rain down on the earth of men's hearts forever2 and though the grace of the ,all-,bounteous ,one is never stilled and never ceasing1 yet to each time and era a portion is allotted and a bounty set apart1 this in a given measure4 8,and no one thing is there1 but with ,us are its storehouses2 and ,we send it not down but in settled measure407#fg7 ,the cloud of the ,loved ,one's mercy raineth only on the garden of the spirit1 and bestoweth this bounty only in the season of spring4 ,the other seasons have no share in this greatest grace1 and barren lands no portion of this favor4 ,o ,brother6 ,not every sea hath pearls2 not every branch will flower1 nor will the nightingale sing thereon4 ,then1 ere the nightingale of the mystic paradise repair to the garden of ,god1 and the rays of the heavenly morning return to the ,sun of ,truth--make thou an effort1 that haply in this dustheap of the mortal world thou mayest catch a fragrance from the everlasting garden1 and live forever in the shadow of the peoples of this city4 ,and when thou hast attained this highest station and come to this mightiest plane1 then shalt thou gaze on the ,beloved1 and forget all else4 ,the ,beloved shineth on gate and wall ,without a veil1 ,o men of vision47#fh7 ,now hast thou abandoned the drop of life and come to the sea of the ,life-,bestower4 ,this is the goal thou didst ask for2 if it be ,god's will1 thou wilt gain it4 ,in this city1 even the veils of light are split asunder and vanish away4 8,his beauty hath no veiling save light1 ,his face no covering save revelation407#fi7 ,how strange that while the ,beloved is visible as the sun1 yet the heedless still hunt after tinsel and base metal4 ,yea1 the intensity of ,his revelation hath covered ,him1 and the fullness of ,his shining forth hath hidden ,him4 ,even as the sun1 bright hath ,he shined1 ,but alas1 ,he hath come to the town of the blind67#gj7 ,in this ,valley1 the wayfarer leaveth behind him the stages of the 8oneness of ,being and ,manifestation07#ga7 and reacheth a oneness that is sanctified above these two stations4 ,ecstasy alone can encompass this theme1 not utterance nor argument2 and whosoever hath dwelt at this stage of the journey1 or caught a breath from this garden land1 knoweth whereof ,we speak4 ,in all these journeys the traveler must stray not the breadth of a hair from the 8,law10 for this is indeed the secret of the 8,path0 and the fruit of the ,tree of 8,truth02 and in all these stages he must cling to the robe of obedience to the commandments1 and hold fast to the cord of shunning all forbidden things1 that he may be nourished from the cup of the ,law and informed of the mysteries of ,truth47#gb7 ,if any of the utterances of this ,servant may not be comprehended1 or may lead to perturbation1 the same must be inquired of again1 that no doubt may linger1 and the meaning be clear as the ,face of the ,beloved ,one shining from the 8,glorious ,station407#gc7 ,these journeys have no visible ending in the world of time1 but the severed wayfarer--if invisible confirmation descend upon him and the ,guardian of the ,cause assist him--may cross these seven stages in seven steps1 nay rather in seven breaths1 nay rather in a single breath1 if ,god will and desire it4 ,and this is of 8,his grace on such of ,his servants as ,he pleaseth407#gd7 ,they who soar in the heaven of singleness and reach to the sea of the ,absolute1 reckon this city--which is the station of life in ,god--as the furthermost state of mystic knowers1 and the farthest homeland of the lovers4 ,but to this evanescent ,one of the mystic ocean1 this station is the first gate of the heart's citadel1 that is1 man's first entrance to the city of the heart2 and the heart is endowed with four stages1 which would be recounted should a kindred soul be found4 ,when the pen set to picturing this station1 ,it broke in pieces and the page was torn47#ge7 ,salm67#gf7 ,o ,my friend6 ,many a hound pursueth this gazelle of the desert of oneness2 many a talon claweth at this thrush of the eternal garden4 ,pitiless ravens do lie in wait for this bird of the heavens of ,god1 and the huntsman of envy stalketh this deer of the meadow of love4 ,o ,shaykh6 ,make of thine effort a glass1 perchance it may shelter this flame from the contrary winds2 albeit this light doth long to be kindled in the lamp of the ,lord1 and to shine in the globe of the spirit4 ,for the head raised up in the love of ,god will certainly fall by the sword1 and the life that is kindled with longing will surely be sacrificed1 and the heart which remembereth the ,loved ,one will surely brim with blood4 ,how well is it said3 ,live free of love1 for its very peace is anguish2 ,its beginning is pain1 its end is death47#gg7 ,peace be upon him who followeth the ,right ,path6 99 99 99 99 99 ,the thoughts thou hast expressed as to the interpretation of the common species of bird that is called in ,persian ,gunjishk 7sparrow7 were considered47#gh7 ,thou appearest to be well-grounded in mystic truth4 ,however1 on every plane1 to every letter a meaning is allotted which relateth to that plane4 ,indeed1 the wayfarer findeth a secret in every name1 a mystery in every letter4 ,in one sense1 these letters refer to holiness4 ,kf or ,gf 7,k or ,g7 referreth to ,kuffi 78free071 that is1 8,free thyself from that which thy passion desireth2 then advance unto thy ,lord40 ,nn referreth to ,nazzih 78purify071 that is1 8,purify thyself from all else save ,him1 that thou mayest surrender thy life in ,his love40 ,jm is ,jnib 78draw back071 that is1 8,draw back from the threshold of the ,true ,one if thou still possessest earthly attributes40 ,shn is ,ushkr 78thank07--8,thank thy ,lord on ,his earth that ,he may bless thee in ,his heaven2 albeit in the world of oneness1 this heaven is the same as ,his earth40 ,kf referreth to ,kuffi1 that is3 8,take off from thyself the wrappings of limitations1 that thou mayest come to know what thou hast not known of the states of ,sanctity407#gi7 ,wert thou to harken to the melodies of this mortal ,bird17#hj7 then wouldst thou seek out the undying chalice and pass by every perishable cup4 ,peace be upon those who walk in the ,right ,path6 ,,the ,,four ,,valleys ,the ,four ,valleys ,he is the ,strong1 the ,well-,beloved6 ,o light of truth1 ,hism-i-,dn1 the bounteous1 ,no prince hath the world begot like unto ,thee67#ha7 ,i am wondering why the tie of love was so abruptly severed1 and the firm covenant of friendship broken4 ,did ever1 ,god forbid1 ,my devotion lessen1 or ,my deep affection fail1 that thou hast thus forgot ,me and blotted ,me from thy thoughts8 ,what fault of ,mine hath made thee cease thy favors8 ,is it that ,we are lowly and thou of high degree87#hb7 ,or is that a single arrow hath driven thee from the battle87#hc7 ,have they not told thee that faithfulness is a duty on those who follow the mystic way1 that it is the true guide to ,his ,holy ,presence8 8,but as for those who say1 #8,our ,lord is ,god1' and who go straight to ,him1 the angels shall descend to them444407#hd7 ,likewise ,he saith1 8,go straight on then as thou hast been commanded407#he7 ,wherefore1 this course is incumbent on those who dwell in the presence of ,god4 ,i do as bidden1 and ,i bring the message1 ,whether it give thee counsel or offense47#hf7 ,albeit ,i have received no answer to ,my letters and it is contrary to the usage of the wise to express ,my regard anew1 yet this new love hath broken all the old rules and ways4 ,tell us not the tale of ,layl or of ,majnn's woe-- ,thy love hath made the world forget the loves of long ago4 ,when once thy name was on the tongue1 the lovers caught it ,and it set the speakers and the hearers dancing to and fro47#hg7 ,and of divine wisdom and heavenly counsel1 ,rm says3 ,each moon1 ,o my beloved1 for three days ,i go mad2 ,today's the first of these--',tis why thou seest me glad4 ,we hear that thou hast journeyed to ,tabrz and ,tiflis to disseminate knowledge1 or that some other high purpose hath taken thee to ,sanandaj47#hh71 7#hi7 ,o ,my eminent friend6 ,those who progress in mystic wayfaring are of four kinds4 ,i shall describe them in brief1 that the grades and qualities of each kind may become plain to thee4 ,the ,first ,valley ,if the travelers seek after the goal of the ,intended ,one 7maqsd71 this station appertaineth to the self--but that self which is 8,the ,self of ,god standing within ,him with laws407#ij7 ,on this plane1 the self is not rejected but beloved2 it is well-pleasing and not to be shunned4 ,although at the beginning1 this plane is the realm of conflict1 yet it endeth in attainment to the throne of splendor4 ,as they have said3 8,o ,abraham of this day1 ,o ,friend ,abraham of the ,spirit6 ,kill these four birds of prey107#ia7 that after death the riddle of life may be unraveled4 ,this is the plane of the soul who is pleasing unto ,god4 ,refer to the verse3 ,o thou soul who art well assured1 ,return to thy ,lord1 well-pleased1 and pleasing unto ,him47#ib7 which endeth3 ,enter thou among ,my servants1 ,and enter thou ,my paradise47#ic7 ,this station hath many signs1 unnumbered proofs4 ,hence it is said3 8,hereafter ,we will show them ,our signs in the regions of the earth1 and in themselves1 until it become manifest unto them that it is the truth107#id7 and that there is no ,god save ,him4 ,one must1 then1 read the book of his own self1 rather than some treatise on rhetoric4 ,wherefore ,he hath said1 8,read thy ,book3 ,there needeth none but thyself to make out an account against thee this day407#ie7 ,the story is told of a mystic knower1 who went on a journey with a learned grammarian as his companion4 ,they came to the shore of the ,sea of ,grandeur4 ,the knower straightway flung himself into the waves1 but the grammarian stood lost in his reasonings1 which were as words that are written on water4 ,the knower called out to him1 8,why dost thou not follow80 ,the grammarian answered1 8,o ,brother1 ,i dare not advance4 ,i must needs go back again40 ,then the knower cried1 8,forget what thou didst read in the books of ,sbvayh and ,qawlavayh1 of ,ibn-i-,hajb and ,ibn-i-,mlik17#if7 and cross the water40 ,the death of self is needed here1 not rhetoric3 ,be nothing1 then1 and walk upon the waves47#ig7 ,likewise is it written1 8,and be ye not like those who forget ,god1 and whom ,he hath therefore caused to forget their own selves4 ,these are the wicked doers407#ih7 ,the ,second ,valley ,if the wayfarer's goal be the dwelling of the ,praiseworthy ,one 7,mamd717#ii7 this is the station of primal reason which is known as the ,prophet and the ,most ,great ,pillar47#ajj7 ,here reason signifieth the divine1 universal mind1 whose sovereignty enlighteneth all created things--nor doth it refer to every feeble brain2 for it is as the wise ,san' hath written3 ,how can feeble reason encompass the ,qur'n1 ,or the spider snare a phoenix in his web8 ,wouldst thou that the mind should not entrap thee8 ,teach it the science of the love of ,god6 ,on this plane1 the traveler meeteth with many a trial and reverse4 ,now is he lifted up to heaven1 now is he cast into the depths4 ,as it hath been said3 8,now ,thou drawest me to the summit of glory1 again ,thou castest me into the lowest abyss40 ,the mystery treasured in this plane is divulged in the following holy verse from the ,srih of ,,the ,,cave37#aja7 8,and thou mightest have seen the sun when it arose1 pass on the right of their cave1 and when it set1 leave them on the left1 while they were in its spacious chamber4 ,this is one of the signs of ,god4 ,guided indeed is he whom ,god guideth2 but for him whom ,he misleadeth1 thou shalt by no means find a patron40 ,if a man could know what lieth hid in this one verse1 it would suffice him4 ,wherefore1 in praise of such as these1 ,he hath said3 8,men whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of ,god444407#ajb7 ,this station conferreth the true standard of knowledge1 and freeth man from tests4 ,in this realm1 to search after knowledge is irrelevant1 for ,he hath said concerning the guidance of travelers on this plane1 8,fear ,god1 and ,god will instruct thee407#ajc7 ,and again3 8,knowledge is a light which ,god casteth into the heart of whomsoever ,he willeth407#ajd7 ,wherefore1 a man should make ready his heart that it be worthy of the descent of heavenly grace1 and that the bounteous ,cup-,bearer may give him to drink of the wine of bestowal from the merciful vessel4 8,for the like of this let the travailers travail607#aje7 ,and now do ,i say1 8,verily we are from ,god1 and to ,him shall we return407#ajf7 ,the ,third ,valley ,if the loving seekers wish to live within the precincts of the ,attracting ,one 7,majdhb717#ajg7 no soul may dwell on this ,kingly ,throne save the beauty of love4 ,this realm is not to be pictured in words4 ,love shunneth this world and that world too1 ,in him are lunacies seventy-and-two4 ,the minstrel of love harpeth this lay3 ,servitude enslaveth1 kingship doth betray47#ajh7 ,this plane requireth pure affection and the bright stream of fellowship4 ,in telling of these companions of the ,cave ,he saith3 8,they speak not till ,he hath spoken2 and they do ,his bidding407#aji7 ,on this plane1 neither the reign of reason is sufficient nor the authority of self4 ,hence1 one of the ,prophets of ,god hath asked3 8,o my ,lord1 how shall we reach unto ,thee80 ,and the answer came1 8,leave thyself behind1 and then approach ,me40 ,these are a people who deem the lowest place to be one with the throne of glory1 and to them beauty's bower differeth not from the field of a battle fought in the cause of the ,beloved4 ,the denizens of this plane speak no words--but they gallop their chargers4 ,they see but the inner reality of the ,beloved4 ,to them all words of sense are meaningless1 and senseless words are full of meaning4 ,they cannot tell one limb from another1 one part from another4 ,to them the mirage is the real river2 to them going away is returning4 ,wherefore hath it been said3 ,the story of ,thy beauty reached the hermit's dell2 ,crazed1 he sought the ,tavern where the wine they buy and sell4 ,the love of ,thee hath leveled down the fort of patience1 ,the pain of ,thee hath firmly barred the gate of hope as well47#aaj7 ,in this realm1 instruction is assuredly of no avail4 ,the lover's teacher is the ,loved ,one's beauty1 ,his face their lesson and their only book4 ,learning of wonderment1 of longing love their duty1 ,not on learned chapters and dull themes they look4 ,the chain that binds them is ,his musky hair1 ,the ,cyclic ,scheme17#aaa7 to them1 is but to ,him a stair47#aab7 ,here followeth a supplication to ,god1 the ,exalted1 the ,glorified3 ,o ,lord6 ,o ,thou ,whose bounty granteth wishes6 ,i stand before ,thee1 all save ,thee forgetting4 ,grant that the mote of knowledge in my spirit ,escape desire and the lowly clay2 ,grant that ,thine ancient gift1 this drop of wisdom1 ,merge with ,thy mighty sea47#aac7 ,thus do ,i say3 ,there is no power or might save in ,god1 the ,protector1 the ,self-,subsistent47#aad7 ,the ,fourth ,valley ,if the mystic knowers be of those who have reached to the beauty of the ,beloved ,one 7,mahbb71 this station is the apex of consciousness and the secret of divine guidance4 ,this is the center of the mystery3 8,he doth what ,he willeth1 ordaineth what ,he pleaseth407#aae7 ,were all the denizens of earth and heaven to unravel this shining allusion1 this darksome riddle1 until the ,day when the ,trumpet soundeth1 yet would they fail to comprehend even a letter thereof1 for this is the station of ,god's immutable decree1 ,his foreordained mystery4 ,hence1 when searchers inquired of this1 ,he made reply1 8,this is a bottomless sea which none shall ever fathom407#aaf7 ,and they asked again1 and ,he answered1 8,it is the blackest of nights through which none can find his way40 ,whoso knoweth this secret will assuredly hide it1 and were he to reveal but its faintest trace they would nail him to the cross4 ,yet1 by the ,living ,god1 were there any true seeker1 ,i would divulge it to him2 for they have said3 8,love is a light that never dwelleth in a heart possessed by fear40 ,verily1 the wayfarer who journeyeth unto ,god1 unto the ,crimson ,pillar in the snow-white path1 will never reach unto his heavenly goal unless he abandoneth all that men possess3 8,and if he feareth not ,god1 ,god will make him to fear all things2 whereas all things fear him who feareth ,god407#aag7 ,speak in the ,persian tongue1 though the ,arab please thee more2 ,a lover hath many a tongue at his command47#aah7 ,how sweet is this couplet which revealeth such a truth3 ,see1 our hearts come open like shells1 when ,he raineth grace like pearls1 ,and our lives are ready targets1 when agony's arrows ,he hurls4 ,and were it not contrary to the ,law of the ,book1 ,i would verily bequeath a part of ,my possessions to the one who would put ,me to death1 and ,i would name him ,my heir2 yea1 ,i would bestow upon him a portion1 would render him thanks1 would seek to refresh ,mine eyes with the touch of his hand4 ,but what can ,i do8 ,i have no possessions1 no power1 and this is what ,god hath ordained47#aai7 ,methinks at this moment1 ,i catch the fragrance of ,his garment7#abj7 blowing from the ,egypt of ,bah27#aba7 verily ,he seemeth near at hand1 though men may think ,him far away47#abb7 ,my soul doth smell the perfume shed by the ,beloved ,one2 ,my sense is filled with the fragrance of ,my dear ,companion4 ,the duty of long years of love obey ,and tell the tale of happy days gone by1 ,that land and sky may laugh aloud today1 ,and it may gladden mind and heart and eye47#abc7 ,this is the realm of full awareness1 of utter self-effacement4 ,even love is no pathway to this region1 and longing hath no dwelling here2 wherefore is it said1 8,love is a veil betwixt the lover and the beloved40 ,here love becometh an obstruction and a barrier1 and all else save ,him is but a curtain4 ,the wise ,san' hath written3 ,never the covetous heart shall come to the stealer of hearts1 ,never the shrouded soul unite with beauty's rose4 ,for this is the realm of ,absolute ,command and is free of all the attributes of earth4 ,the exalted dwellers in this mansion do wield divine authority in the court of rapture1 with utter gladness1 and they do bear a kingly sceptre4 ,on the high seats of justice1 they issue their commands1 and they send down gifts according to each man's deserving4 ,those who drink of this cup abide in the high bowers of splendor above the ,throne of the ,ancient of ,days1 and they sit in the ,empyrean of ,might within the ,lofty ,pavilion3 8,naught shall they know of sun or piercing cold407#abd7 ,herein the high heavens are in no conflict with the lowly earth1 nor do they seek to excel it1 for this is the land of mercy1 not the realm of distinction4 ,albeit at every moment these souls appear in a new office1 yet their condition is ever the same4 ,wherefore of this realm it is written1 8,no work withholdeth ,him from another407#abe7 ,and of another state it is said3 8,every day doth some new work employ ,him407#abf7 ,this is the food whose savor changeth not1 whose color altereth not4 ,if thou eatest thereof1 thou shalt verily chant this verse3 8,i turn my face to ,him ,who hath created the ,heavens and the earth 444 ,i am not one of those who add gods to ,god407#abg7 8,and thus did we show ,abraham the ,kingdom of the ,heavens and of the ,earth1 that ,he might be established in knowledge407#abh7 ,wherefore1 put thy hand into thy bosom1 then stretch it forth with power1 and behold1 thou shalt find it a light unto all the world407#abi7 ,how crystal this cool water that the ,cup-,bearer bringeth6 ,how bright this pure wine in the hands of the ,beloved6 ,how delicate this draught from the ,heavenly ,cup6 ,may it do them good1 whoso drink thereof1 and taste of its sweetness and attain to its knowledge4 ,it is not fitting that ,i tell thee more1 ,for the stream's bed cannot hold the sea47#acj7 ,for the mystery of this utterance is hid within the storehouse of the ,great ,infallibility7#aca7 and laid up in the treasuries of power4 ,it is sanctified above the jewels of explanation2 it is beyond what the most subtle of tongues can tell4 ,astonishment here is highly prized1 and utter poverty essential4 ,wherefore hath it been said1 8,poverty is ,my pride407#acb7 ,and again3 8,god hath a people beneath the dome of glory1 whom ,he hideth in the clothing of radiant poverty407#acc7 ,these are they who see with ,his eyes1 hear with ,his ears1 as it is written in the well-known tradition4 ,concerning this realm1 there is many a tradition and many a verse1 of broad or special relevancy1 but two of these will suffice to serve as a light for men of mind and heart4 ,the first is ,his statement3 8,o ,my ,servant6 ,obey ,me and ,i shall make thee like unto ,myself4 ,i say #8,be1' and it is1 and thou shalt say #8,be1' and it shall be40 ,and the second3 8,o ,son of ,adam6 ,seek fellowship with none until thou hast found ,me1 and whenever thou shalt long for ,me1 thou shalt find ,me close to thee40 ,whatever high proofs and wondrous allusions are recounted herein1 concern but a single ,letter1 a single ,point4 8,such hath been the way of ,god 444 and no change canst thou find in the way of ,god407#acd7 ,i began this epistle some time ago1 in thy remembrance1 and since thy letter had not reached me then1 ,i began with some words of reproach4 ,now1 thy new missive hath dispelled that feeling and causeth ,me to write thee4 ,to speak of ,my love for thine ,eminence is needless4 8,god is a sufficient witness607#ace7 ,for his ,eminence ,shaykh ,muammad--,may ,god the ,exalted bless him6--,i shall confine ,myself to the two following verses which ,i request be delivered to him3 ,i seek thy nearness1 dearer than sweet ,heaven2 ,i see thy visage1 fairer than ,paradise bowers47#acf7 ,when ,i entrusted this message of love to ,my pen1 it refused the burden1 and it swooned away4 ,then coming to itself1 it spoke and said1 8,glory be to ,thee6 ,to ,thee do ,i turn in penitence1 and ,i am the first of them that believe407#acg7 ,praise be to ,god1 the ,lord of the worlds6 ,let us tell1 some other day ,this parting hurt and woe2 ,let us write1 some other way1 ,love's secrets--better so4 ,leave blood and noise and all of these1 ,and say no more of ,shams-i-,tabrz47#ach7 ,peace be upon thee1 and upon those who circle around thee and attain thy meeting4 ,what ,i had written ere this hath been eaten by the flies1 so sweet was the ink4 ,as ,sa'd saith3 8,i shall forbear from writing any longer1 for my sweet words have drawn the flies about me40 ,and now the hand can write no more1 and pleadeth that this is enough4 ,wherefore do ,i say1 8,far be the glory of thy ,lord1 the ,lord of all greatness1 from what they affirm of ,him407#aci7 ,,footnotes #a ,the ,manifestation4 #b ,muammad1 ,amad and ,mamd are names and titles of the ,prophet1 derived from the verb 8to praise10 8to exalt40 #c ,qur'n #ag3aaj4 #d ,sermon by #8,al4 #e ,qur'n #b3bhb4 #f ,qur'n #af3ga4 #g ,qur'n #af3ga4 #h ,the holy ,sanctuary at ,mecca4 ,here the word means 8goal40 #i ,qur'n #bi3fi3 8,and whoso maketh efforts for ,us1 in ,our ways will ,we guide them40 #aj ,the holy ,sanctuary at ,mecca4 ,here the word means 8goal40 #aa ,literally1 ,majnn means 8insane40 ,this is the title of the celebrated lover of ancient ,persian and ,arabian lore1 whose beloved was ,layl1 daughter of an ,arabian prince4 ,symbolizing true human love bordering on the divine1 the story has been made the theme of many a ,persian romantic poem1 particularly that of ,nizm1 written in #aahh-aahi ,a4,d4 #ab ,arabian proverb4 #ac ,refer to the story of ,joesph in the ,qur'n and the ,old ,testament4 #ad ,fardu'd-,dn ,attr 7ca4 #aaej-abcj ,a4,d471 the great ,persian ,sf poet4 #ae ,persian mystic poem4 #af ,persian mystic poem4 ,cf4 ,the ,hidden ,words1 ,no4 #g1 ,arabic4 #ag ,qur'n #ej3bi4 #ah ,jallu'd-,dn ,rm 7#abjg-abgc ,a4,d472 ,the ,mathnav4 ,jallu'd-,dn1 called ,mawln 78our ,master071 is the greatest of all ,persian ,sf poets1 and founder of the ,mawlav 8whirling0 dervish order4 #ai ,from an ode by ,bah'u'llh4 #bj ,qur'n #fg3c4 #ba ,qur'n #fg3c4 #bb ,qur'n #da3ec4 #bc ,qur'n #da3ec4 #bd ,qur'n #eg3c4 #be ,saying attributed to #8,al4 #bf ,shaykh ,ab ,ism'l #8,abdu'llh ,ansr of ,hirt 7#ajjf-ajhh ,a4,d47 ,sf leader1 descended from the ,prophet's companion ,ab ,ayyb4 ,chiefly known for his ,munjt 7,supplications7 and ,rub'yyt 7,quatrains74 8,ansr0 means the 8,helpers0 or companions of ,muammad in ,medina4 #bg ,qur'n #a3e4 #bh ,the ,mathnav4 #bi ,this refers to the mystic wandering and search for truth guided by 8,lights0 or ,sf leaders4 ,bah'u'llh here warns the mystics that the coming of the ,divine ,manifestation in ,his ,day makes further search unnecessary1 as it was said by #8,al3 8,quench the lamp when the sun hath risen0--the sun referring to the ,manifestation of ,god in the ,new ,day4 #cj ,the ,mathnav4 #ca ,qur'n #b3aea4 #cb ,the ,mathnav4 #cc ,qur'n #d3hj4 #cd ,qur'n #ah3cg4 #ce ,the holy ,sanctuary at ,mecca4 ,here the word means 8goal40 #cf ,this refers to ,bah'u'llh's own ,manifestation4 #cg ,the ,mathnav4 #ch ,qur'n #af3fc4 #ci ,hadth1 i4e4 action or utterance traditionally attributed to the ,prophet ,muammad or to one of the holy ,imms4 #dj ,qur'n #hc3bh4 #da ,sermon by #8,al4 #db ,hadth1 i4e4 action or utterance traditionally attributed to the ,prophet ,muammad or to one of the holy ,imms4 #dc ,the ,prophet ,muammad4 #dd ,the ,prophet ,muammad4 #de ,hfiz3 ,shamsu'd-,dn ,muammad1 of ,shrz1 died ca4 #achi ,a4,d4 ,one of the greatest of ,persian poets4 #df ,hadth1 i4e4 action or utterance traditionally attributed to the ,prophet ,muammad or to one of the holy ,imms4 #dg ,the ,mathnav4 #dh ,qur'n #eg3c4 #di ,the ,mathnav4 #ej ,this refers to the ,sf idea of the inner plane1 which compared to ,revealed ,truth is but unreal4 #ea ,the ,mathnav4 #eb ,this refers to ,bah'u'llh ,himself1 ,who had not yet declared ,his mission4 #ec ,qur'n #d3abi4 #ed ,hfiz3 ,shamsu'd-,dn ,muammad1 of ,shrz1 died ca4 #achi ,a4,d4 ,one of the greatest of ,persian poets4 #ee ,arabian poem4 #ef ,hadth1 i4e4 action or utterance traditionally attributed to the ,prophet ,muammad or to one of the holy ,imms4 #eg ,from ,qur'n #ej3ba4 #eh ,persian mystic poem4 #ei #8,al4 #fj ,the ,mathnav4 #fa ,literally 8,jayhn10 a river in ,turkistn4 #fb ,qur'n #i3ea4 #fc ,the ,mathnav4 #fd ,qur'n #gf3e4 #fe ,muammad4 #ff ,qur'n #ee3bf1 #bg4 #fg ,qur'n #ae3ba4 #fh ,fardu'd-,dn ,attr 7ca4 #aaej-abcj ,a4,d471 the great ,persian ,sf poet4 #fi ,hadth1 i4e4 action or utterance traditionally attributed to the ,prophet ,muammad or to one of the holy ,imms4 #gj ,the ,mathnav4 #ga ,pantheism1 a ,sf doctrine derived from the formula3 8,only ,god exists2 ,he is in all things1 and all things are in ,him40 #gb ,this refers to the three stages of ,sf life3 #a4 ,shar'at1 or ,religious ,laws2 #b4 ,tarqat1 or the ,path on which the mystic wayfarer journeys in search of the ,true ,one2 this stage also includes anchoretism4 #c4 ,haqqat1 or the ,truth which1 to the ,sf1 is the goal of the journey through all three stages4 ,here ,bah'u'llh teaches that1 contrary to the belief of certain ,sfs who in their search for the ,truth consider themselves above all law1 obedience to the ,laws of ,religion is essential4 #gc ,maqm-i-,mahmd4 ,qur'n #ag3ha4 #gd ,qur'n #b3hd4 #ge ,persian mystic poem4 #gf 8,peace40 ,this word is used in concluding a thesis4 #gg ,arabian poem4 #gh ,the five letters comprising this word in ,persian are3 ,g1 ,n1 ,j1 ,,sh1 ,k1 that is1 ,gf1 ,nn1 ,jm1 ,shn1 ,kf4 #gi ,this and the foregoing quotations are from the teachings of ,islm4 #hj ,this is a reference in the traditional ,persian style to ,bah'u'llh ,himself4 #ha ,mathnav of ,rm4 #hb ,sa'd1 ,muslihu'd-,dn of ,shrz 7ca4 #aahd-abia71 famed author of the ,gulistn and other poetical works4 #hc ,persian proverb describing a man who gives up easily4 ,as used here one connotation is that the ,shaykh might have considered his station as a mystic leader compromised by the fact of his being taught the new truth by ,bah'u'llh4 #hd ,qur'n #da3cj4 #he ,qur'n #aa3aad2 #db3ad4 #hf ,sa'd4 #hg ,ibid4 #hh ,senna1 capital of ,persian ,kurdistn4 #hi ,this preamble to ,the ,four ,valleys is written in the finest ,persian epistolary style4 ,the rules of classical letter writing in ,persian require quotations from literary works1 and assertions of abiding love for the one addressed1 who is chided for having neglected the writer4 #ij ,hadth4 #ia ,the ,mathnav4 ,here ,rm tells a story of four evil birds which1 when put to death1 changed into four birds of goodness4 ,the allegory refers to subduing evil qualities and replacing them with good4 #ib ,qur'n #hi3bg-cj4 #ic ,qur'n #hi3bg-cj4 #id ,qur'n #da3ec4 #ie ,qur'n #ag3ae4 #if ,famed writers on grammar and rhetoric4 #ig ,the ,mathnav4 #ih ,qur'n #ei3ai4 #ii ,an attribute of ,god and one of the titles of ,muammad4 #ajj ,maqm-i-,mahmd--,praiseworthy ,station--is the rank of ,prophets endowed with constancy4 #aja ,qur'n #ah3af4 ,this is a reference to the station of complete faith4 ,the companions of the ,cave are identified with early ,christian martyrs4 #ajb ,qur'n #bd3cg4 #ajc ,qur'n #b3bhb4 #ajd ,hadth4 #aje ,qur'n #cg3ei4 #ajf ,qur'n #b3aea4 #ajg ,that attribute of ,god which draws all creatures to ,him4 #ajh ,the ,mathnav4 #aji ,qur'n #ba3bg4 #aaj ,sa'd4 #aaa ,the ,cyclic ,theory of ,ab-#8,al ,sn 7,avicenna--#ihj-ajcg7 as expressed by him in the quatrain3 ,every semblance1 every shape that perisheth today ,in the treasure-house of ,time is safely stored away4 ,when the world revolveth to its former place1 ,out of the ,invisible ,he draweth forth its face4 ,see also ,some ,answered ,questions1 p4 #cbf4 #aab ,the ,mathnav4 #aac ,ibid4 #aad ,from ,qur'n #ah3cg4 #aae ,qur'n #b3bed2 #e3a1 etc #aaf ,statement attributed to #8,al4 #aag ,this quotation is in ,arabic4 #aah ,the ,mathnav4 #aai ,this was revealed before the ,declaration of ,bah'u'llh4 ,the lines following refer to the imminence of ,his ,manifestation4 #abj ,literally1 the garment of ,h1 which is the letter 8,h0 and here represents ,bah4 #aba ,this reference is to the story of ,joseph in the ,qur'n and the ,bible4 #abb ,this refers to those who did not expect the imminent advent of ,him ,whom ,god ,shall ,manifest4 #abc ,the ,mathnav4 #abd ,qur'n #gf3ac4 #abe ,this quotation is from one of the commentators on ,qur'n #ee3bi4 ,cf4 the dictionary ,lisnu'l-#8,arab4 #abf ,qur'n #ee3bi4 #abg ,qur'n #f3gi4 #abh ,qur'n #f3ge4 #abi ,cf4 ,qur'n #g3aje etc41 and ,hadth4 #acj ,the ,mathnav4 #aca ,ismat-i-,kubr1 the invariable attribute of the ,divine ,manifestation4 #acb ,muammad4 #acc ,hadth4 #acd ,qur'n #cc3fb2 #dh3bc4 #ace ,qur'n #d3afd4 #acf ,sa'd4 #acg ,qur'n #g3adj4 #ach ,shams-i-,tabrz1 the ,sf who exerted a powerful influence on ,jallu'd-,dn ,rm1 diverting his attention from science to ,mysticism4 ,a great part of ,rm's works are dedicated to him4 ,these lines are from the ,mathnav4 #aci ,qur'n #cg3ahj4