[Sunlight] Apparent imperfection

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A disciple is like a new moon,
in reality no different than the full moon:
its apparent imperfection is a sign of gradual increase.
Night by night the new moon gives a lesson in gradualness:
with deliberation it says, "O hasty one,
only step by step can one ascend to the roof."
A skillful cook lets the pot boil slowly;
the stew boiled in a mad hurry is of no use.

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Dars guyad shab beh-shab tadrij-râ
dar ta'anni bar dehad tafrij-râ
Dar ta'anni guyad "Ay `ajul-e khâm
pâyeh pâyeh bar tavân raftan be-bâm"
Dig-râ tadrij va ostâdâneh jush
kâr na-âyad qaliyeh-'i divâneh jush

-- Mathnawi VI:1208-1212
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

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[Sunlight] Apparent imperfection