Story that some one was consulting another, who said, “Consult some one else, for I
am your enemy.”
A certain
person was consulting
some one, that he might be
delivered from perplexity and
from a quandary.
1970. “O man of good
name,” he replied, “seek another,
not me, and explain
to him
the matter for consultation.
I am an enemy
to you: do not
attach yourself to me;
one is never successful (never wins
success) from the counsel
of an enemy.
Go, seek
one who is a friend to you: undoubtedly a friend seeks (what
is) good for his friend. I am an
enemy: it is
inevitable that from egoism I should go crookedly
(play false) and show
enmity towards
you.
Tis not a (just)
condition to demand
of a wolf (that
he should perform)
the task of a watchman
(shepherd): to demand (anything) from the wrong
place is a negation of the
demand.
1975. Without any doubt I am an enemy to you: how should I show you the way? I am a
highwayman.
Whoever is sitting
with
friends is amidst a
flower-garden (though he
be) in a bath-furnace.
Whoever in
the world sits with
an enemy,
he is
in a bath-furnace
(though he be) in a flower-
garden.
Vex not your
friend by egoism,
lest your friend
become your
adversary and
enemy.
Do good unto
the people for your God's sake or for the
peace of your own soul,
1980. That you may always see (them)
friendly in your sight,
and that ugly ideas
arising from hatred may
not come into your
heart.
Since you
have behaved with enmity
(towards me), abstain
(from consulting me):
consult a
friend who arouses (your) affection.”
He replied, “I know you, O Bu ’l-Hasan, to be one who has long deemed
me an enemy;
But you are a
reasonable and spiritual man: your reason will not allow
you to go crookedly
(play false).”
The (carnal) nature
desires to take revenge
on its adversary: the reason is an iron
chain upon the flesh.
1985. It comes and
prevents it (the
flesh) and restrains it: the
reason is like a police-inspector
for
it in its good and
evil (actions).
The reason that is allied to Faith
is like a just police-inspector: it is the guardian
and magistrate of the city of the heart.
It is mentally alert like a cat: the
thief remains in the hole, like a mouse.
Wherever the
mouse gets the upper hand, no cat is there, or (at
least) there is (only) the
(unreal) form of a cat.
What cat (is to be compared
with the reason)? The Faith-regarding reason which
is in the body
is the lion that overthrows the lions.
1990. Its roar
is the magistrate (controller) of the
tearing (carnivorous) animals; its shout
is the preventer of the browsing (herbivorous)
animals.
(If) the city is
full of thieves and clothes-robbers, let there
be a police-inspector if you will, or let there be none.
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