It is the soul that matters

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

The Prophet

Just read a book

It says that Almustafa had waited twelve years in the city of Orphalese for his ship that was to return and bear him back to the isle of his birth. His ship came and took him back. Along with him, he took back the memeories he has of that place. He thought of the hard ships when he was there.

When he returned to his home town, Almitra, a beautiful lady who had helped him to return asked him about his experiences. She asked him to speak about love, and this is what he replied

"When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him.

Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the
north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.

Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.

Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your
tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,

So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in
their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.

He threshes you to make you naked.

He sifts you to free you from your husks.

He grinds you to whiteness.

He kneads you until you are pliant;

And then he assigns you to his sacred fire,

that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may
know the secrets of your heart, and in that
knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace
and love's pleasure.

Then it is better for you that you cover your
nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,

Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but
not all of your laughter, and weep,
but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but
from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say,'God is in my heart,'
but rather, 'I am in the heart of God.'

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love,
if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires,
let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings
its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake up at dawn with a winged heart and give
thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ectasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your
heart and a song of praise upon your lips."

And then Almitra asked him about marriage.
To this he replied,

"You were born together, and together you
shall be for evermore.

You shall be together when the white wings of
death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the
silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness.

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the
shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat
not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver
with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not
in each other's shadow."

How beautifully and correctly the prophet had understood the meaning of love and marriage. Simply too good.

Posted by Nats :: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 :: 1 comments