Reason is the treasure of the mind.
Love is the perfume of the heart.
Yet,
Both are of one substance,
Though cast in different moulds.
As a golden coin bears two images parted by a thin wall of metal,
So between love and reason is the poise of understanding.
That understanding which is of both mind and heart.
O life,
O Beloved,
In you alone is eternal love,
In you alone is everlasting thought.
Search out the secret pursuit of your desire.
Then you shall not live in illusion.
What can you know of happiness if in the wheel of misery you have not walked?
What can you know of freedom if against your bondage you have not cried aloud?
What can you know of love if from the entanglement of love you have not sought deliverance?
I saw the flowers blossom in the dark hours of a still night.
Love,
Not the shapely branch,
Nor place its image alone in your heart,
It dies away.
Love the whole tree,
Then you shall love the shapely branch,
The tender and the withered leaf,
The shy bud and full-blown flower,
The falling petal and the dancing height,
The splendid shadow of full love.
O friend,
You cannot bind truth,
It is as the wind,
Free,
Limitless,
Indestructible,
Immeasurable.
It has no dwelling place,
Neither temple nor altar.
It is of no one god,
However zealous be his worshippers.
Can you tell from what single flower the bee gathered the sweet honey?
O friend,
Leave heresy to the heretic,
Religion to the orthodox,
But gather truth from the dust of your own experience.
I have no name,
I am as the fresh breeze of the mountains,
I have no shelter,
I am as the wandering waters.
I have no sanctuary like the dark gods,
Nor am I in the shadow of deep temples.
I have no sacred books,
Nor am I well seasoned in tradition.
I am not in the incense mounting on high altars,
Nor in the pomp of ceremonies.
I am neither in the graven image,
Nor in the rich hand of a melodious voice.
I am not bound by theories,
Nor corrupted by beliefs.
I am not held in the bondage of religions,
Nor in the pious agony of their priests.
I am not entrapped by philosophies,
Nor held in the power of their sects.
I am neither low nor high.
I am the worshipper and the worshipped.
I am free.
My song is the song of river calling for the open seas,
Wandering,
Wandering.
I am life.
I am free.
I am free.
