[Sunlight] The animal soul, the intellect, and the spirit

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The animal soul is Nimrod*;
the intellect and spirit are Abraham, the friend of God.
The spirit is concerned with reality itself,
the ego with the proofs.
These signposts on the way
are for the traveler who at every moment
becomes lost in the desert.

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Nafs Namrudast va `aql o jân Khalil
ruh dar `ayn ast va nafs andar dalil
In dalil-râ rah-raw-râ bovad
ku be-har dam dar biyâbân gom shavad

-- Mathnawi II: 3311-3312
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

*Nimrod -- According to tradition, Nimrod set out to establish an
empire, and began by conquering the cities which had become
established in Mesopotamia. Among these were Babel, Erech, Akkad, and
Calneh in Sumeria, and in Assyria the cities of Rehoboth, Calah, and
Resen. Besides conquering these seven cities he also founded Ninevah.
The Bible is specific in stating that he was the first man after the
flood to become an emperor. He seems to have been impelled and
empowered by super-human force and his onslaught was irresistible.
Genesis 10 describes Nimrod as a "mighty hunter before the LORD." The
term is not complimentary, but implies ruthlessness and a lust for
power. -- Sunlight Ed.

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[Sunlight] The animal soul, the intellect, and the spirit