(Masnavi Book 3: 70) The reverence due to the Shaykhs from their disciples

The rules to be observed by listeners and disciples at the emanation of wisdom from the tongue of the Shaykh.

To the weary this is (only) repetition, (but) in my eyes it is the bringing of repeated life.

The candle goes upward (burns higher) from repeated flashes (of flame); earth becomes gold in consequence of repeated heat.

If there are thousands of (eager) seekers (of knowledge) and a single weary (disgusted) one, the

Messenger will refrain from delivering his message.

3605. These mystery-telling Messengers of the hidden Mind require a hearer who has the nature of Isráfíl.

They have a haughtiness and pride like (that of) kings: they require service from the people of the world.

Until you perform the observances due to them, how will you gain profit from their message?

How will they deliver that deposit to you till you are bowed double before them?

How is every (kind of) observance acceptable to them?—for they have come from the Sublime

Palace.

3610. They are not beggars, that they should be grateful to you, O impostor, for every service.

But, O (you who art the) inmost consciousness (of God), notwithstanding (their) lack of desire

(to hear your message), scatter the (Divine) Sultan's charity: do not withhold it!

O heavenly Messenger, do not regard the disgusted ones and let your horse bound onward!

Blest is the Turcoman who lays contention aside and whose horse gallops into the moat of fire— (Who) makes his horse so hot (in the race) that it seeks to mount to the zenith of the sky;

3615. (Who) has shut his eyes to other (than God) and to jealousy; (who), like fire, has consumed (both) dry and wet.

If repentance find fault with him, he first sets fire to repentance.

Verily, repentance does not spring forth from non-existence (does not show itself at all), when it sees the ardour of him whose presence brings fortune.

How every animal knows the smell of its enemy and takes precaution. The folly and perdition of him that is the enemy of that One against whom precaution is impossible, and flight is impossible, and resistance is impossible.

The horse, though it is an animal, knows the roar and smell of the lion except in rare instances; Nay, every animal indeed knows its own enemy by sign and mark.

3620. The little bat durst not fly in the daytime: it came out at night, like thieves, and pastured (got food for itself).

The bat (bat-like man) was more damned than all (others), because he was the enemy of the manifest Sun.

He cannot be wounded in battle with him (the Sun), nor can he drive him (the Sun) away by cursing.

The Sun who turns his back on account of the rage and violence of the bat—

It is the extreme of kindness and perfection on his part; otherwise, how should the bat prevent him (from exacting vengeance)?

3625. (If) you take (any one as) an enemy, take within your limit (capacity), so that it may be possible for you to make (him your) prisoner.

When (one like) a drop of water contends with the Ocean, he is a fool: he is tearing out his own beard.

His cunning does not pass beyond his moustache: how should it penetrate the vaulted chamber of the Moon?

This (preceding discourse) was a rebuke (addressed) to the enemy of the Sun, O enemy of the

Sun of the Sun.

O enemy of the Sun at whose glory His sun and stars tremble,

3630. You are not His enemy, you are the adversary of yourself: what does the Fire care that you have become firewood?

Oh, marvellous! Shall He suffer defect through your burning, or shall He become full of sorrow for the pain of your burning?

His mercy is not the mercy of Adam, for sorrow is mingled with the mercy of Adam.

The mercy of the creature is anxious; the mercy of God is exempt from sorrow and anxiety. Know that the mercy of the Unconditioned (God) is like this, O father; naught but the effect thereof comes into the imagination (is conceivable to us).