The World as Form of Universal Reason
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 4, section 122 of 137: Explaining that the whole world is the form of Universal Reason (بیان آنک مجموع عالم صورت عقل کلست چون با عقل کل بکژروی جفا کردی صورت عالم ترا غم فزاید). Below, each of its 24 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Explaining that the whole world is the form of Universal Reason, (and that) when by trespassing you act unjustly towards Universal Reason, in most cases the aspect of the world increases your vexation, just as when you show ill-feeling to your father the aspect of your father increases your vexation and you cannot (bear to) look on his face, though before that he will have been the light of your eye and the comfort of your soul. بیان آنک مجموع عالم صورت عقل کلست چون با عقل کل بکژروی جفا کردی صورت عالم ترا غم فزاید اغلب احوال چنانک دل با پدر بد کردی صورت پدر غم فزاید ترا و نتوانی رویش را دیدن اگر چه پیش از آن نور دیده بوده باشد و راحت جان
کل عالم صورت عقل کلست
کوست بابای هر آنک اهل قل است
The whole world is the form of Universal Reason, which is the father of whosoever is a follower of the (Divine) Word.
چون کسی با عقل کل کفران فزود
صورت کل پیش او هم سگ نمود
When any one shows excessive ingratitude to Universal Reason, the form of the universe appears to him (as) a cur accordingly.
صلح کن با این پدر عاقی بهل
تا که فرش زر نماید آب و گل
Make peace with this Father, abandon disobedience, that the water and clay (the world) may appear (to thee as) a carpet of gold.
پس قیامت نقد حال تو بود
پیش تو چرخ و زمین مبدل شود
Then the Resurrection will become thy present state (immediate experience): heaven and earth will be transfigured before thee.
من که صلحم دایما با این پدر
این جهان چون جنتستم در نظر
Since I am ever at peace with this Father, this world is like Paradise in my sight.
هر زمان نو صورتی و نو جمال
تا ز نو دیدن فرو میرد ملال
At every moment (appears) a new form and a new beauty, so that from seeing the new (visions) ennui dies away.
من همی‌بینم جهان را پر نعیم
آبها از چشمه‌ها جوشان مقیم
I see the world to be full of bounty the waters constantly gushing from the springs.
بانگ آبش می‌رسد در گوش من
مست می‌گردد ضمیر و هوش من
The noise of their water is coming into mine ear: my inner consciousness and intelligence are being intoxicated.
شاخه‌ها رقصان شده چون تایبان
برگها کف‌زن مثال مطربان
(I see) the boughs dancing like penitents, the leaves clapping their hands like minstrels.
برق آیینه‌ست لامع از نمد
گر نماید آینه تا چون بود
The gleam of the mirror is flashing through the (cover of) felt cloth: think how it will be if the mirror (itself) be displayed!
از هزاران می‌نگویم من یکی
ز آنک آکندست هر گوش از شکی
I am not telling one (mystery) out of thousands, because every ear is filled with a doubt.
پیش وهم این گفت مژده دادنست
عقل گوید مژده چه نقد منست
To Opinion this saying (of mine) is (only) a joyful announcement (concerning the future), (but) Reason says, ‘What (occasion for) announcement? It is my cash in hand (actual and present experience).’”
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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