[Sunlight] To be near God is to escape the prison of existence

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The Prophet said, "Don't think of my ascension

as superior to that of Jonah:

mine was up to heaven; his was below into the belly of the fish,

but nearness to God is beyond calculation."

Nearness to God is neither up nor down:

to be near God is to escape the prison of existence.

What room has nonexistence for "up" or "down"?

Nonexistence has no "soon" or "far" or "late."

The laboratory and treasure house of God is in nonexistence.

Since existence deludes you,

how will you know what nonexistence is?

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Goft Payghambar keh "Me`râj-e merâ

nist bar me`râj-e Yunos ejtebâ

Ân-e man bar charkh va ân-e u neshib

zânke qorb-e Haqq berunast az hesâb"

Qorb nah bâlâ nah pasti raftanast

qorb-e Haqq az habs-e hasti rastanast

Nist-râ cheh jâ-ye bâlâ ast o zir

nist-râ nah zud o nah durast o dir

Kâr-gâh o ganj-e Haqq dar nistist

gherreh-ye hasti cheh dâni nist chist

            -- Mathnawi III: 4512-4516

                Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski

               "Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"

               Threshold Books, 1996

                Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

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[Sunlight] To be near God is to escape the prison of existence