52 THE MASNAVI, [BOOK 1,
carried off the palm, as all the colours of the other house were reflected on its walls with an endless variety of shades and hues.
Knowledge of the heart preferable to the knowledge of the sehools (p. 86).
The knowledge of men of heart bears them up,
The kuowledge of men of the body weighs them down, When ‘tis knowledge of the heart, it is a friend ;
When knowledge of the body, it is a burden.
God saith, ‘As an ass bearing a load of baoks,”?
The knowledge which is not of Him is a burden. Knowledge which comes not immediately from Him Endures no longer than the rouge of the tirewoman, Nevertheless, if you bear this burden in a right spirit "Twill be removed, and you will obtain joy.
See you bear not that burden out of vainglory,
Then you will behold a store of true knowledge within. When you mount the steed of this true knowledge, Straightway the burden will fall from your back.
If you drink not His cup, how will you escape lusts ? You, who seek no more of him than to name His name ? What do His name and fame suggest? The idea of Him, And the idea of Him guides you to union with Him, Know you a guide without something to which it guides ? Were there no roads there would be no ghouls.
Know you a name without a thing answering to it ? Have you ever plucked a rose (G2) from Gaf and Lam? You name His name; go, seek the reality named by it! Look for the moon in heaven, not in the water!
Tf you desire to rise above mere names and letters,
Make yourself free from self at one stroke!
Like a sword be without trace of soft iron;
Like a steel mirror, scour off all rast with contrition ; Make yourself pure from all attributes of self,1 Koran Ixii. 5.
