[Sunlight] "Bring forward that One who is Real Being"

~

Today, Sunlight offers a selection from the Mathnawi, Book VI,
Verses 634-641, in an interpretive version by Professor Coleman
Barks, and in a literal translation by Professor Reynold Nicholson:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How could anyone resent sunlight?
Keep walking in this spaciousness
where the sun's flame is a white hawk.

But there "is" something flying higher.
Notice how you say "not" more.
"Not" this, "not" that. I do "not" know.

Negation points to affirmation.
Say rather what completely is.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
"We Are Three"
Maypop, 1987

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Though the world is filled with the sun's light, how should
that splendour of beauteous flame be despicable?
But, notwithstanding all this, mount* higher, since "God's
earth is spacious and delightful.
Although this intoxication is (excellent) like the white falcon,
(yet) in the earth of (Divine) Transcendence there is (something)
superior to it.
Go, become an Israfil (Seraphiel) in (your) distinction (pre-
eminence) – (become) an inspirer of spirituality and intoxicated
and an intoxicator (of others).
Since the intoxicated man's heart is occupied with thoughts
of merriment, it has become his practice (to say repeatedly)
"I don't know this" and "I don't know that."
What is the purpose of (saying) "I don't know this" and
"I don't know that"? (It is) in order that you may say who He
is whom we know.*
In discourse negation is (employed) for the purpose of affirma-
tion: cease from negating and begin to affirm.
Come, leave off (saying) "this is not" and "that is not":
Bring forward that One who is Real Being.
Leave negation and worship only that Real Being: learn this,
O father, from (the story of) the drunken Turk.

∑ Literally, "walk with a proud gait."
∑ I.e., "in order that you may affirm the Absolute Being of God,
as we do."

-- Translation and Commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson
"The Mathnawi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi
Published and Distributed by
The Trustees of The "E.J.W. Gibb Memorial"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~





------------------------------------

Archive for Sunlight can be accessed at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight /messages
To subscribe, please send an email to : sunlight-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To unsubscribe, please send an email to: sunlight-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
Sunlight-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Sunlight-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[Sunlight] "Bring forward that One who is Real Being"