X. Patience and Perseverance under a Teacher.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
Husāmu-’d-Dīn, Light of the Truth, take up, my friend,
A sheet, that thou a Teacher’s virtues mayst append.
True, thou’rt not strong; thy frame is delicate, at best;
But thou’rt the sun that lights my thoughts to their safe nest.
Thou art both lamp and lantern, all in one. Dost see?
Guide to my heart’s behests, clue to my wish,—thou’rt he.
Their thread is in thy hand; thy guidance can it shift;
The pearls upon it strung are gems, thy soul’s free gift.
Write down the qualities by which a Teacher’s known.
Select thy Teacher first; then, follow all he’s shown.5
A Teacher’s summer’s glow; cold winter, crowd terrene;
The rabble’s darkness self; the Teacher, moon serene.
Young Fortune have I named my Teacher, for the nonce;—
Young Fortune, truth’s real Teacher; vigorous at once.
An ancient Teacher he; commencement he ne’er had;
A solitary pearl;—all peerless, never sad.
Increase of age gives wine fresh strength, as well is known;
Especially truth’s wine, that flows from God’s high throne.
Select a Teacher, then. Without such, travel’s vain;
The way is dangerous,—beset with evil’s train.10
By well-known road, though travelled many times before,
Without a guide to venture, opens peril’s door.
How then an unknown path thou ne’er hast followed yet?
Go not alone, without a guide;—act not in fret.
Unless thy Teacher be at hand to lead thee right,
The clamours of the demons surely thee’ll affright.
Those demons will mislead thee, into danger cast;
More clever ones than thou have lost their wits at last.
Learn from the Prophet’s words the error of their ways;
How Satan led them far astray in bygone days.15
From off the track to all that’s good he them misled;
Them carried off; them rendered blind, by vain thoughts fed.
Behold their bones, their skeletons, along the road!
Take warning thence. Drive not thy beast with maddening goad!
Dismount; and to the rightful path safe lead him back,
Where guides abound,—experienced travellers dot the track.
Leave not thy beast; his rein loose not thou from thy hand.
His inclination is to wander o’er the land.
One moment only leave him carelessly to roam;
Towards the pastures he at once will rush, all foam.20