Is love pleasure, is love merriment? No, love is longing constantly; love is persevering unweariedly; love is hoping patiently; love is willing surrender; love is regarding constantly the pleasure and displeasure of the beloved, for love is resignation to the will of the possessor of one's heart; it is love that teaches man: Thou, not I.

Love that ends, is the shadow of love; true love is without beginning or end.

When He gives you a blow, He may give a blow even by the hand of your most loving friend; and when He caresses you, He may caress you by the hand of your bitterest enemy.

Let courage be thy sword and patience be thy shield, my soldier.

Wide space, the womb of my heart, conceive my thought, I pray, and give birth to my desire.

Every soul's longing am I; every heart hears My call; everyone feels My impulse, My friend as well as My foe.

My thoughts I have sown on the soil of your mind;
My love has penetrated your heart;
My word I have put into your mouth;
My light has illuminated your whole being;
My work I have given into your hand.

We have made all forms in order to complete the image of man.

One day I met the Lord face to face, and, bending my knees, I prayed, "Tell me, O King of Compassion, is it Thou who punishest the sinner and givest rewards to the virtuous one?" and said He, smiling, "the sinner attracts his punishment; the virtuous earns his reward."

Alankaras: The fanciful expression of an idea.

No claim, however great, can be equal to you, my mysterious self; and yet it may be you would not prove worthy of the smallest profession you made.

Unveil Thy face, Beloved, that I may behold Thy glorious vision.

Expand my heart, Lord, to the width of the sky, that the whole cosmos be reflected in my soul.

Wherever Thou shalt cast Thy glance, Beloved, a new sun will rise there.

Lift my soul, O gentle breeze, and carry it to the abode of the Beloved.

Let my heart reflect Thy light, O Lord, as in a pool of water the sun is reflected.

When I see Thy glorious vision, I am moved to ecstasy, Beloved: waves rise in my heart, and my heart turns into the sea.

O rosebud, thy blooming gives me the impression of my Beloved's countenance.

Thy invasion, Beloved, through the storm, arouses my deepest passions.

I hear, Lord, Thy speechless call in the sublimity of nature.

Light is Thy face, and shade is Thy bosom, Beloved.

Love, I do not know whether to call Thee my enemy or my friend.
Thou raisest me to the highest heaven, and Thou throwest me deep into the infernal region.
Thou leadest me astray, and it is Thou alone who guidest me on the right path.
From Thee, O Love, all virtues I learn, and Thou art the source of all my infirmities.
Love, Thou art a curse and a bliss at the same time.

My heart, gather thyself together as the rose holds its petals.

Thy favorable glance causes the sun to rise in my heart, Beloved; and with the turning of Thy glance, the sun sets.

O intoxicating air coming from her dwelling-place, thou movest my soul to ecstasy.

I have loved in life and I have been loved.
I have drunk the bowl of poison from the hands of love as nectar,
and have been raised above life's joy and sorrow.
My heart, aflame in love, set afire every heart that came in touch with it.
My heart has been rent and joined again;
My heart has been broken and again made whole;
My heart has been wounded and healed again;
A thousand deaths my heart has died, and thanks be to love, it lives yet.
I went through hell and saw there love's raging fire,
and I entered heaven illumined with the light of love.
I wept in love and made all weep with me;
I mourned in love and pierced the hearts of men;
And when my fiery glance fell on the rocks, the rocks burst forth as volcanoes.
The whole world sank in the flood caused by my one tear;
With my deep sigh the earth trembled,
and when I cried aloud the name of my beloved, I shook the throne of God in heaven.
I bowed my head low in humility, and on my knees I begged of love,
"Disclose to me, I pray thee, O love, thy secret."
She took me gently by my arms and lifted me above the earth,
and spoke softly in my ear,
"My dear one, thou thyself art love, art lover,
and thyself art the beloved whom thou hast adored."

Let the heavens be reflected in the earth, Lord, that the earth may turn into heaven.

Let Thy word, God, become my life's expression.

Speak to me from within, my Lord; the ears of Thy servant are listening.

My holy pilgrimage, God, is to the sacred dwelling of Thy worshipper.

Thou comest on earth, Lord, to save man, in the guise of the godly.

Speak to me, my Lord, through the words of Thy Messenger.

My heart is no longer mine, since Thou has made it Thy dwelling-place, my Lord.

Thou wilt grant my wishes, O Knower of my heart.

O Love, I would give up throne and crown to become a slave at Thy mercy.

Let me forget myself, Lord, that I may become conscious of Thy Being.

Nature softly whispers Thy word to my ears.

I see Thine own image, Lord, in Thy creation.

It is with Thy might alone that I can lift up life's responsibilities.

In the image of man, my beloved Lord, I see Thine own countenance.

In the form of man I see the archway to Thy dwelling place.

The heart of man is Thy sacred shrine.

Thy divine compassion radiates in fullness through the heart of the mother.

Through the loving heart of woman manifests Thy divine grace.

Nature sings to me Thy song.

O beloved ideal of my soul, pray show thyself to me in human guise.

Let me feel Thy embrace, Beloved, on all planes of existence.

My feeling heart is drawn to Thee, Lord, when Thou comest in the form of man.

It is Thy divine purity that is manifest in the innocent expression of the child.

Before whomsoever I bow, I bend before Thy throne.

In sympathizing with everyone, I offer my love to Thee, my Beloved.

Teach me, O Lord, the innocence of the child, an angel on earth.

Nature is a bridge to cross to Thy dwelling-place.

My heart, as a tree in the forest, stands patiently waiting.

Wide horizon, thou makest my heart wide as thyself.

Thou art my life and Thou art my sustenance, God.

My lips hold the prayer in them as the rosebud holds fragrance in its heart.

Riding on the horse of hope,
Holding in my hand the rein of courage,
Clad in the armor of patience,
And the helmet of endurance on my head,
I started on my journey to the land of love.

A lance of stern faith in my hand,
And the sword of firm conviction buckled on,
With the knapsack of sincerity
And the shield of earnestness,
I advanced on the path of love.

My ears closed to the disturbing noise of the world,
My eyes turned from all that was calling me on the Way,
My heart beating the rhythm of my ever-rising aspiration,
And my blazing soul guiding me on the path,
I made my way through the space.

I went through the thick forests of perpetual desire,
I crossed the running rivers of longing.
I passed through the deserts of silent suffering,
I climbed the steep hills of continual strife.
Feeling ever some presence in the air, I asked,
"Are you there, my love?"
And a voice came to my ears, saying,
"No, still further am I."

Sublime nature, thy reflection produces in my heart God's glorious vision.

I bend towards thee, O mother earth, in veneration of the Father in heaven.

Flowers are the footprints of Thy dancing steps.

I look up to Thee with raised head and palms joined in worship, like the rocky mountains.

Space, I find in thee the formless God.

When I am absorbed in Thy glorious vision, Beloved, even my tear-drops turn into stars.

Let me not be detained in the heavens, Lord, for I long impatiently to come to Thy dwelling-place.

Since my soul has caught Thy light, my glance has become a comet.

Thy divine spark in my heart is as the dewdrop in the rose; let me treasure it, Lord, as the shell preserves the pearl.

Let Thy sun shine in my heart.

Like the setting sun, I bend my head low at Thy feet, in loving surrender.

Lift the barrier, Lord, that divides Thee from me.

Thou wilt guide me aright, Lord; I am a child on life's path.

In the blooming rose I see the charm of Thy lovely countenance.

Let my faith be as firm as mountains, Lord, standing unshaken through wind and storm.

Immensity of space, thou showest to me the majesty of His presence.

Since Thy joyful smile has produced a new light in my heart, I see the sun shine everywhere.

Let my imperfect self advance towards Thy perfect Being, Lord, as the crescent rises to fullness.

Silent voice, in the stillness of night I hear thy whisper.

The gently-blowing wind kindles the fire of my heart.

When I see in Thy hand an unsheathed sword, Beloved, blood gushes out of my heart as the rising spring.

Send on humanity, Lord, the shower of Thy mercy and compassion.

My heart melts in Thy light, Beloved, as snow in the sun.

Every stem becomes Thy reed, every leaf becomes Thy finger, Beloved, when Thou playest Thy flute in the wilderness.

My soul, like a compass, keeps pointing to Thee, while my life is passing through the storm.

Providence, allow me to hold long life's glorious moments, I pray, for the time that is once past will never return.

Thou teachest me patience, sublime nature, by thy patient waiting.

In the light I behold Thy beauty, Beloved; through the darkness Thy mystery is revealed to my heart.

Let Thy servant, O Lord, be my Master.

Though the ever-moving life is my nature, thou art my very being, O stillness.

The light is Thy divine radiance, Beloved, and shade is the shadow of Thy beautiful self.

My life speeds towards Thee as the blowing of the wind.

Let Thy divine knowledge spread over my heart as the snow covers the mountain.

It is Thy sweetness, Beloved, which I enjoy in the sweet fragrance of the rose.

My heart has become an ocean, Beloved, since Thou hast poured Thy love into it.

Tree, you bless me by your outstretched hands.

Earth is attracted to earth; water is drawn to water; my soul yearns to be in Thy bosom, Beloved, in the wide space.

I hear Thy whisper, Beloved, in the morning breeze.

Dig my heart, Beloved, and Thou wilt find in its depth the spring of Thy love.

My soul is Thy spirit, Master, now that I exist no more.

It is Thee, Beloved, whom I see in all names and forms.

Thou art closer to me than my self.

Let Thy might strengthen me, Thy light inspire me, Lord, and Thy love move my soul to the ultimate joy.

My life is running towards Thee, O divine Ocean, as the river flows to the sea.

Rose, in thy petals I see the rosy cheeks of my Beloved.

Make me lose myself, Lord, in Thy vision.

Let every moment of life whisper Thy name to my ears.

Thou blowest the fire of my heart, Beloved, by fanning it with the fluttering leaves.

Light is Thine eye, Beloved, and shade is its pupil.

Be Thou before me, Lord, when I am awake, and within me when I am asleep.

In my veneration for the aged I worship Thee, O God.

I drink the wine of Thy divine presence and lose myself in its intoxication.

Let my soul reflect, Beloved, the beauty of Thy color and form.

Let my heart bloom in Thy love as the rose.

As invisible as space, as inconceivable as time, is Thy being, O Lord.

Teach me, Lord, to tread upon the sea of life.

Even the branches swing in ecstasy when they receive Thy message.

Sublime nature, let my heart find rest in thy stillness.

In the light Thou art manifest, God; in the shade Thou art hidden.

One more cup, Beloved, that I may entirely lose myself.

I see the Beloved's beauty in all colors and in all forms.

Flowers speak to me of Thy loveliness, and tell me how beautiful Thou art.

Fill my heart with Thy divine beauty as Thou fillest space with the splendor of Thy wonderful creation.

Heaven has Thy light and the earth Thy shade.

Gentle breeze, thy touch to me is the caress of the Beloved.

Let me rise towards Thee with the rising of the sun.

The sun sets, the moon wanes, the spring passes, the year ends. I asked of life, "Tell me, how long will you continue to be?" then said life, "I shall live forever."

Blowing wind, carry my message, I pray, to the dwelling place of the divine Beloved.

We shall see who will endure to the end, my persevering adversary or I with my long-cherished patience.

The waves of the sea, even as I, rise with outstretched hands to reach Thee, Lord, and fall at Thy feet in ecstasy.

O nature sublime, pregnant with divine spirit, thou speakest the prayer that rises from my heart.

Let my heart reflect Thy divine light, Lord, as the moon reflects the light of the sun.

Happiness, certainly thou didst play hide-and-seek with me; since I have been in thy pursuit, I saw in the world thy shadow cast, and in paradise I saw thy reflection; in pleasure I saw a veil over thy beautiful countenance, in pain I saw the dust lying beneath thy feet.

My intuition, has thou ever deceived me? No, never. It is my reason which so often deludes me, for it comes from without; thou art rooted within my heart.

Let me be melted in Thy divine ocean as a pearl in wine.

Alone on the sea, alone on land. In the crowd and in solitude, alone I stand.

My considerate self, seek not pleasure through the pain of another,
life through the death of another,
gain through the loss of another,
nor honor through the humiliation of another.

Let my heart become the spring of Thine infinite life, rising for ever and ever.

I see Thy mystery hidden, Beloved, under the petals of the flower.

My heart, hold closely the oil which keeps the light burning.

Pain, my life-long comrade, if all went and left me, you would still be there.

With the opening and closing of Thine eyes, Beloved, the sun rises and sets in my heart.

My self, how wonderful it is to feel that if no one in the world understood me, still you would understand.

My heart is moved to tears by thy swift moving, O gentle air.

Those who are given liberty by Him to act freely, are nailed on the earth; and those who are free to act as they choose on the earth, will be nailed in the heavens.

My sense of shame, did I not uphold thine honor, standing assaulted by the onslaught from every side?

The blowing rose brings to me Thy perfume, Beloved, which moves my heart to ecstasy.

Raise me, Lord; let me not be drowned in the sea of mortality.

Speak, Lord, in the stillness of nature; my heart's ears are open to hear Thy call.

My endurance, thou hast crushed me until I became thy clay kneaded to make a body for the divine Spirit to dwell in.

O nature sublime, in thy silence I hear thy mournful cry.

Ever-moving sea of life, am I not but a wave rising in thy heart?

Thanks to the winner of my heart, there is nothing of me left any more.

My thoughtful self, Bear all and do nothing, Hear all and say nothing, Give all and take nothing, Serve all and be nothing.

While I was roaming through the forest, a thorn pricked my bare foot and cried, "Ah, you have crushed me." I felt sorry and I asked its forgiveness.
A wasp flying in the air stung my arm and cried, "Ah, you have caught me in your sleeve." I felt sorry and I asked its forgiveness.
My foot slipped and I fell in a pool of muddy water. The water cried, "Ah, you have disturbed me." I felt sorry and I asked its forgiveness.
I absently happened to touch a burning fire, and the fire cried, "Ah, you have extinguished me." I felt sorry and I asked its forgiveness.
I asked my gentle self, "Have you received any harm?" "Be thankful," said she, "that is was not worse."

I will soar higher than the highest heaven,
I will dive deeper than the depths of the ocean,
I will reach further than the wide horizon,
I will enter within my innermost being.
You know me but little, O everchanging life,
I will live in that sphere where death cannot reach.
I will raise my head high before you will turn your back to me,
I will close my lips before you will close the doors of your heart,
I will dry my tears before you will not respond to my sigh,
I will fly to the heavens, O world of illusion,
before you will throw me down on the earth.

Golden Rules
My conscientious self:
Keep to your principles in prosperity as well as in adversity.
Be firm in faith through life's tests and trials.
Guard the secrets of friends as your most sacred trust.
Observe constancy in love.
Break not your word of honor whatever may befall.
Meet the world with smiles in all conditions of life.
When you possess something, think of the one who does not possess it.
Uphold your honor at any cost.
Hold your ideal high in all circumstances.
Do not neglect those who depend upon you.

Silver Rules
My conscientious self:
Consider duty as sacred as religion.
Use tact on all occasions.
Place people rightly in your estimation.
Be no more to anyone than you are expected to be.
Have regard for the feelings of every soul.
Do not challenge anyone who is not your equal.
Do not make a show of your generosity.
Do not ask a favor of those who will not grant it you.
Meet your shortcomings with a sword of self-respect.
Let not your spirit be humbled in adversity.

Copper Rules
My conscientious self:
Consider your responsibility sacred.
Be polite to all.
Do nothing which will make your conscience feel guilty.
Extend your help willingly to those in need.
Do not look down upon the one who looks up to you.
Judge not another by your own law.
Bear no malice against your worst enemy.
Influence no one to do wrong.
Be prejudiced against no one.
Prove trustworthy in all your dealings.

Iron Rules
My conscientious self:
Make no false claims.
Speak not against others in their absence.
Do not take advantage of a person's ignorance.
Do not boast of your good deeds.
Do not claim that which belongs to another.
Do not reproach others, making them firm in their faults.
Do not spare yourself in the work which you must accomplish.
Render your services faithfully to all who require them.
Seek not profit by putting someone in straits.
Harm no one for your own benefit.

Sura: God speaking through the kindled soul.

Verily, the domain of every soul is in his own sphere.

Verily, he in whose heart my star shines is blessed.

Verily, the man who lives religion through his life in the world is pious.

Verily, every atom sets in motion each atom of the universe.

Verily, in man is reflected all that is in heaven and on earth.

Verily, the power of the word can move mountains.

Verily, the one who knows the influence of time knows the secret of life.

Verily, man is his own mind.

Verily, spirit has all the power there is.

When He gives His bountiful gifts, He may give by the hand of your worst enemy; and when He takes all you possess, He may take it away even by the hand of your best friend.

Death takes away the weariness of life, and the soul begins life anew.

Death is a sleep from which the soul awakes in the hereafter.

Death is the crucifixion after which follows the resurrection.

Death is the night after which the day begins.

It is death which dies, not life.

The life everlasting is hidden in the heart of death.

Ragas: The human soul calling upon the beloved God.

Beloved, Thou makest me fuller every day.
Thou diggest into my heart deeper than the depths of the earth.
Thou raisest my soul higher than the highest heaven, making me more empty every day and yet fuller.
Thou makest me wider than the ends of the world;
Thou stretchest my two arms across the land and the sea, giving into my enfoldment the East and the West.
Thou changest my flesh into fertile soil;
Thou turnest my blood into streams of water;
Thou kneadest my clay, I know, to make a new universe.

In the swinging of the branches, in the flying of the birds, and in the running of the water, Beloved,
I see Thy waving hand, bidding me good-bye.
In the cooing of the wind, in the roaring of the sea, and in the crashing of the thunder, Beloved,
I see Thee weep and I hear Thy cry.
In the promise of the dawn, in the breaking of the morn, in the smiles of the rose, Beloved,
I see Thy joy at my homecoming.

Let Thy wish become my desire,
Let Thy will become my deed,
Let Thy word become my speech, Beloved,
And Thy love become my creed.

Let my plant bring forth Thy flowers,
Let my fruits produce Thy seed,
Let my heart become Thy lute, Beloved,
And my body Thy flute of reed.

When I close my eyes in the solitude, I see Thy glorious vision in my heart, and, opening my eyes amidst the crowd, I see Thee acting on the stage of the earth. Always I am in Thy dazzling presence, my Beloved; Thou takest me to heaven, and Thou bringest me on earth in the twinkling of an eye.

Let me not fall low after having raised me high;
Let me not become narrow after having made me broad.
Let me not become small after having once made me great;
Throw me not down, Beloved,
After once Thou hast lifted me up.

I looked and looked, to find someone to whom I might give my trust; but I found no one, until I saw Thee at last in my heart, holding in Thy hand the record of my life's secret.

As I put myself forward into the world, so I show my limitation, my King; but as I withdraw myself from the world, so I enter into Thy Kingdom.

I look to Thee, O Lord, when the noose of death seems unavoidable and nigh.
I look to Thee, O Lord, when with heavy heart I see my beloved ones depart.
I look to Thee, O Lord, when change and limit in the worldly love I see.
I look to Thee, O Lord, when all that I call mine is snatched away from my hand.
I look to Thee, O Lord, when my boon companions turn their back in my sorrow.
I look to Thee, O Lord, when my hands are full with worldly strife.
I look to Thee, O Lord, when the higher self raises me up and the lower self weighs me down.
I look to Thee, O Lord, when I try to do right and it turns to wrong.
I look to Thee, O Lord, when all in life seems as naught to me and I feel a yearning for something beyond.

The spring that rises out of my heart Thou pourest upon me, my Beloved, and my spirit feels the exaltation of being dissolved under Thy divine shower.

When Thou didst sit upon Thy throne, with a crown upon Thy head, I did prostrate myself upon the ground and called Thee my Lord. When Thou didst stretch out Thy hands in blessing over me, I knelt and called Thee my Master. When Thou didst raise me from the ground, holding me with Thine arms, I drew closer to Thee and called Thee my Beloved.

But when Thy caressing hands held my head next to Thy glowing heart and Thou didst kiss me, I smiled and called Thee myself.

What I may not see, let me not see; What I may not hear, let me not hear; What I may not know, I ask not to know. Beloved, I am contented with both Thy speech and Thy silence.

Let him not see me who should not see me; Let him not hear me who will not hear me; Let him not know me who need not know me. Beloved, veil and unveil me as Thy wisdom chooseth.

By Thy skillful hands Thou hast made these flowers;
By the power of Thy magic glance Thou hast colored them so beautifully:
Thou hast breathed on flowers, giving them life and radiance, and
With a kiss Thou hast made them fragrant.

Let my insight be deeper than the ocean;
Let my mind be more fertile than the land;
Let my heart be wider than the horizon, Beloved; and
Let my soul soar higher than Paradise.

Every form I see is Thine own form, my Lord,
And every sound I hear is Thine own voice;
In the perfume of flowers I perceive the fragrance of Thy spirit;
In every word spoken to me I hear Thy voice, my Lord.
All that touches me is Thine own touch;
In everything I taste I enjoy the savor of Thy delicious spirit.
In every place I feel Thy presence, Beloved;
In every word that falls on my ears I hear Thy message.
Everything that touches me, thrills me with the joy of Thy kiss;
Wherever I roam, I meet Thee;
Wherever I reach, I find Thee, my Lord;
Wherever I look, I see Thy glorious vision;
Whatever I touch, I touch Thy beloved hand.
Whomsoever I see, I see Thee in his soul;
Whoever aught gives to me, I take it from Thee.
To whomsoever I give, I humbly offer it to Thee, Lord;
Whoever comes to me, it is Thou who comest;
On whomsoever I call, I call on Thee.

Turn me not aside, Beloved, once Thou hast granted me Thy favor;
Starve me not of a kiss, after Thou hast enfolded me;
Grieve me not, Beloved, since Thou hast made me smile;
Turn not away Thine eyes, once
Thou hast poured the wine of Thy magic glance into the cup of my heart.

Enter unhesitatingly, Beloved, for in this abode there is naught but my longing for Thee.
Do I call Thee my soul?
But Thou art my spirit.
Can I call Thee my life?
But Thou livest forever.
May I call Thee my Beloved?
But Thou art Love itself.
Then what must I call Thee?
I must call Thee myself.

Why did I not recognize Thee when first I opened my eyes on the earth?
Why did I not respond to Thee when I heard Thy enchanting voice?
Why did I not feel Thy gentle hand when Thou didst caress my face?
Why did I not cling to Thee, Beloved, when Thou lovingly didst kiss my lips?
When I began to look for Thee, in the twinkling of an eye Thou didst disappear.
When I started in Thy pursuit, Thou didst move away from me still farther.
When I called Thee aloud in my distress, Thou didst not hear my soul's bitter cry.
Cross-legged I sat in silence; then alone I heard Thy call.

Why have I two eyes if not to behold Thy glorious vision?
Why have I two ears if not to hear Thy gentle whisper?
Why have I the sense of smell if not to breathe the essence of Thy spirit?
Why have I two lips, Beloved, if not to kiss Thy beautiful countenance?
Why have I two hands if not to work in Thy divine cause?
Why have I two legs if not to walk in Thy spiritual path?
Why have I a voice if not to sing Thy celestial song?
Why have I a heart, Beloved, if not to make it Thy sacred dwelling?

Did I not leave the unseen world in Thy pursuit?
Have I not come to this world of limitations in search of Thee?
Have I not followed Thy footprints on this earth?
Have I not looked for Thy light in the heavens?
But where did I find Thee, Beloved, at last?
Hiding in my heart.

Every step in Thy path draws me nearer to Thee,
Every breath in Thy thought exhilarates my spirit,
Every glimpse of Thy smile is inspiring to my soul,
Every tear in Thy love, Beloved, exalts my being.

Tanas: The soul speaking with nature.

Little dandelions, what are you doing here?
--We reflect on earth the stars in the heavens.

Little pool, why is your water so muddy?
--Because of my narrow mind and depthless heart.

Coal, what makes you so black?
--I am the evil of the ages accumulated in the heart of the earth.
What is your penalty?
--I must pass through a trial by fire.
What becomes of you in the end?
--I turn into a diamond.

Earth, to the clouds: "Why did you come back after once you had deserted me?"
--The heavens would not have us before we had reconciled ourselves with you.

Little rosebud, what do you hold between your hands?
--The secret of my beauty.

Sunflower, what are you?
--I am the eye of the seeker who searches for the light.

Death, what are you?
--I am the shadow of life.
Death, of what are you born?
--I am born of ignorance.
Death, where is your abode?
--My abode is in the mind of illusion.
Death, do you ever die?
--Yes, when pierced by the arrow of the seer's glance.
Death, whom do you draw near to you?
--I draw him closer who is attracted to me.
Death, whom do you love?
--I love him who longs for me.
Death, whom do you attend?
--I readily attend him who calls on me.
Death, whom do you frighten?
--I frighten the one who is not familiar with me.
Death, whom do you caress?
--The one who lies trustfully in my arms.
Death, with whom are you severe?
--I am severe with him who does not readily respond to my call.
Death, whom do you serve?
--I serve the godly, and when he returns home I carry his baggage.

Boat:--I take you in my bosom on the water.
Wagon:--I carry you on my back on the land.

Roseflower, why are your lips drooping?
--I am thinking over my glorious past.

Why do you rise, wave, with the coming of the wind?
--To receive the message it brings.

Moth:--I gave you my life.
Flame:--I allowed you to kiss me.

Sea, why is your color blue?
--It is heaven reflected in my white heart.

Earth, tell me your moral principle.
--I lay myself before those who pass over me, and those who come unto me, to them I open my heart.

Night, why do you cry so mournfully?
--I cry over the loving souls whom life has thrown apart, and those whom destiny will separate one day.
Night, why are you so dark?
--Light has left me.
Night, what makes you so beautiful?
--The coming of the moon, which has brought me wisdom's message.

Wind, what makes the sea respond to you so wholeheartedly?
--In her I have touched her deepest chord.
Wind, what have you done to thrill the whole being of the sea to passion?
--Nothing, only given a kiss.

"So" gives rise to an argument; "Why?" continues it; and it ends in "No."

What sense is there, O moth, in burning yourself in trying to kiss the light?
--My joy in it is greater than my sacrifice.

Waves, why does the wind come and then go from you?
--It comes to wake us, and leaves us to solve the problem among ourselves.

Moving waves, the wind has left you and you are still in commotion.
--We are still repeating the word it has taught us; it moves our whole being to ecstasy.
Waves, why do you all become excited and then all calm together?
--Because behind our individual action there is one impulse working.
Rising waves, what motive is behind your impulse?
--The desire to reach upwards.

Sea, what is it that makes you so chaotic?
--No sooner does the air whisper to my ears the message of wisdom, than an enormous trouble begins within myself.

Storm, you invade us suddenly without any warning!
--I send my ultimatum by the hand of the wind, before starting gunfire.
Storm, why are the clouds being scattered now?
--I have given orders for demobilization.
Storm, why do you send the rain after you have gone?
--To make peace with the earth.

Man: Devil, will you be my friend?
Devil: I am at your disposal.

Waves: Do we not lay ourselves in complete surrender before you for you to pass over us? Then listen to our request: throw into the water those you carry in your bosom.
Boat: No, I am not like you who drown beneath your feet those who seek refuge in your arms. The ones whom I hold in my heart, either I sink with them or I carry them safely to their destination.

Earthly riches, explain to me your character.
I fly from the hand that holds me,
I escape from the one who pursues me,
I fall into his purse who collects me,
I live with him who spares me,
I leave the one who does not look after me,
I keep away from him who has me not.
The one who does not possess me is poor indeed,
but the one who possesses me is poorer still.

Gamakas: The feeling of a poet's heart, keyed to various notes.

I would rather have a lasting pain than a pleasure that passes away.

My mind never changes, but I change my mind whenever I wish.

My soul often has the feeling of being stretched, held fast by the heavens and pulled continually by the earth.

My errors do not lull me to sleep, but they open my eyes to a deeper vision of life.

My smallest work in the inner plane is worth more than all I do in the outer world.

No sooner is my heart struck than a switch is turned and the light appears.

All that I can manage in life, I take as my responsibility, but all that I cannot manage, I leave to God.

When I try to do some good to the others, I never think it is enough; but when I receive the slightest good from others, I feel it is more than sufficient.

When I open my eyes to the outer world I feel myself as a drop in the sea; but when I close my eyes and look within, I see the whole universe as a bubble raised in the ocean of my heart.

How did I rise above narrowness? The edges of my own walls began to hurt my elbows. I would die proud rather than live a long life of humiliation.

All that is done and cannot be helped, I leave to fate; but I feel myself responsible for all that is to be done.

The scriptures have called Him the Creator; the Masons have called Him the Architect; but I know Him as the Actor on this stage of life.

I respect all those of great names, but seek continually the nameless.

I am resigned to the past, attentive to the present, and hopeful for the future.

I accept no refusal from the heavens.

Christ: His image in the church, His spirit in my soul.

I have not come to teach what you know not; I have come to deepen in you that wisdom which is yours already.

He who has lost me, is lost; he who has found me, has found life eternal.

My presence stimulates in your heart that feeling which must always be kept alive.

Be not disappointed if I tell you about things which are already known to you. Realize that they can never be repeated too many times.

There is nothing too good or too bad for me, since I am conscious of that reality which is hidden and yet covers all.

I am what I am; by trying to be something, I make that self limited who in reality is all.

I do not give you my ideas; what I give you is my personal knowledge.

My heart is the key to the hearts of men.

I need remove no one to place another in my heart; my heart is large enough to accommodate each and all.

I learn from my mureeds more than they learn from me.

I neither defend the wrongdoer nor do I condemn him.

I try to do the right which seems right to me at the moment; at another moment the same may seem to me wrong. Therefore, I do not attempt to impose my right upon the one who does not see the right of it.

Nothing new I say when I speak; I only renew the memory of things which may not be forgotten.

I play my melody while everyone sings his own song.

My friends lull me to sleep, but my enemies keep me awake.

Praise fans the glow of my heart, and blame turns it into a blaze.

What has happened, has happened; what I am going through, I shall rise above; and what will come, I will meet with courage.

While I am working, I learn something; while I am thinking, I discern something; while I am speaking, I teach something; while I am silent, I reach something.

Art is dear to my heart, but nature is near to my soul.

If I were not as I am, I would not have been what I am.

When I open my eyes and look at the wide world, I become great; when I close my eyes and look within, I become greater still.

Boulas: A kindled word.

A virtue carried too far may become a sin.

At the end of the valley of sin, do not be surprised if you find virtue standing.

Souls unite at the meeting of a glance.

Success spoils people, failure ruins them.

Things are as you look at them.

One who is never alone does not know the joy of being alone.

The heart which is not struck by the sweet smiles of an infant is still asleep.

Belief is a conception, but faith is conviction.

To love is a sin, and not to love is a crime.

When facts fall dead, truth comes to life.

Nothing matters really, though everything matters.

Neither fight evil nor embrace it; simply rise above it.

The pursuit after truth is more interesting than its attainment.

When one has risen above human love, divine love springs forth.

Shatter your ideals upon the rock of truth.

Let your virtues dissolve in the sea of purity.

Make your doctrines fuel for the higher intelligence.

You need not trust the one whom you do not know, so long as you do not distrust him.

It is easy to be just, but difficult to be wise.

If you will not rise above the things of this world, they will rise above you.

Even the wisest man must sometimes stray from wisdom.

Too much enthusiasm pushes the object of attainment farther off.

Anxiety paralyzes activity.

Worry consumes the spirit of action.

Even with God one can find fault. But where is the fault? In the person who finds it.

The load of responsibility weighs upon a soul more than the strain of work.

Perfection forgives, and limitation judges.

A home is made and a house is built.

Do not let your heart offer anyone such food as will increase his appetite and decrease your fund of supply.

Make the snake your friend rather than your enemy.

All men are equal in truth, not in fact.

What limits God? His name.

Life is too small a price to offer to someone whom you really love.

The real learning is unlearning all that one has learned.

To judge man, God borrows from man his sense of justice.

To investigate the wrongdoing of someone is like digging deep into the mud.

Prayer is a deep-felt need of the soul.

Man sees the right side of his own mind and the wrong side of another's.

What enables man to earn a good name? Shame.

Put your theories in practice before you expound them.

First believe in the God who is all-exclusive, and then realize the God who is all-inclusive.

As pleasure is the shadow of happiness, so fact is the shadow of truth.

Fact is to be observed in action and truth in realization.

Usually, in everything man says and does, he denies reality.

Fact is a covering over truth.

Fact or no fact, truth proves and disproves all.

Jealousy is the refuse of the heart.

Pity the wicked one for his evil doing, for he can do no better.

Woman is a stepping-stone to God's sacred altar.

If there is any place where one can meet with God, it is this earth-plane.

Righteousness is nothing but a natural outcome of right thinking.

Every action that defeats its own object is wrong.

No creature in the world is as attractive and as repellent as man.

Simplicity is the living beauty.

If you do not want to understand, you will not understand.

The man who will not take in the idea of unity, will be taken in by unity some day.

There is no use arguing, "Have you done wrong or have I done wrong?"; all that need be done is to right the wrong.

Life offers opportunity either to pick up pearls and throw away pebbles, or to pick up pebbles and throw away pearls.

The mystic retains something of childhood all through his life.

The realization of truth is the greatest luxury.

Fact is the illusion of truth.

Woman is woman, whether in the East or in the West.

Shadow is the shadow of shadow, not of light; the ego is light itself, and so it has no shadow.

The false ego is the shadow of the body seen in the sky, not the reflection of the soul.

Heart talks to heart, soul speaks to soul.

Truth is not acquired but discovered.

Nature regards no conventionality.

You cannot be too wise, but you can be too clever.

A bitter taste lasts only as long as it is in the mouth.

Carry as heavy a load as you are able to carry easily.

If your heart is large enough, there is nothing it will not accommodate.

By calling him by his name you will raise Satan from his grave.

We cannot appreciate another's kindness if we think of all the good we have done to the other.

There is no greater teacher for the evildoer than evil itself.

Devotion without wisdom is like salt water.

What were the great personalities whose light has shone upon millions of people? Examples.

The claim of Christhood seemed too great for Jesus in the eyes of men; therefore, he was crucified by the intolerant world.

Thought and feeling often take opposite directions.

Do not enjoy life more than life allows you to enjoy it; if so, your joy will turn into sorrow.

Hierarchy is the Sufi's way, but equality of all men is his truth.

Man rises above sins, but not above the reproaches of those who witness.

The clever man knows best how to tell a lie, the wise man knows best how to avoid it.

Approach woman gently, lest you jar upon her tender feelings.

God is God and man is man, yet God is man and man is God.

Peace-making is much more difficult than war-making.

It is the dead who cause death, the living preserve life.

You cannot live truth; you can realize it.

Wrong is wrong from the beginning to the end, and right is right from the first to the last.

Evil brings success to the wicked, and virtue wins victory for the righteous.

Faults and merits both serve as steps to those who go up as well as to those who go down.

It is more difficult to tame man than a lion.

Reason not with those who are incapable of understanding your reason.

Politeness in words and politeness in deeds are two different things.

No one may claim perfection, though everyone may strive after it.

You need not do something today because you did it yesterday.

Cupidity must be renounced, not joy.

The burning fire of hell does not consume the sinner; it only consumes his sins.

Wisdom is the way in which to express life as one has understood it oneself.

Man learns to follow the will of God by practicing self-denial.

Man who is infallible cannot be superhuman; he may be inhuman.

Evil doings apart, evil intentions bring about disastrous results.

The knowledge of plurality begins life; but in the consciousness of unity is life's culmination.

Faith reaches beyond the limit of human comprehension.

It is the optimist who takes the initiative; the pessimist follows him.

Morality is a flower which springs out of the plant of individuality.

True piety is sincerity.

Principles are to guide one's life, not to restrict it.

Love that is free from attachment is the love of sages.

The right attitude in life is to keep a balance between justice and kindness.

The presence of the Holy One is the sacred river.

It is better not to do than to do things badly.

To analyze love is to destroy love.

Subtle ideas are best expressed simply.

Every body reincarnates, not every soul.

If you say, "I cannot," you will not; if you will, you can.

Love that endureth not, is heart's illusion.

When optimism is exhausted, pessimism springs up.

Indeed, a virtuous woman shows divine purity.

Coming into the presence of the godly, is like entering into the gate of God.

In the union of two loving hearts is the Unity of God.

The sin of the virtuous is a virtue, the virtue of the sinner is a sin.

The shade adds to the light, as zero adds to the figure.

The heart of the Holy One is the gate of God's shrine.

Love has its own law.

Beauty is finished in simplicity.

In the spirit of duty there is the soul of religion.

What is rooted out in the quest of truth, is ignorance.

Balance is the keynote of spiritual attainment.

Beauty is not power but the possessor of it.

Do not fall in love but rise.

What may give vanity to one, may give shame to another.

Great people have great faults, but their greatness is their greatest fault.

Nothing that your mind can conceive, does not exist.

Life teaches one more than all the teachings in the world.

An experience gained as late as the last hour of one's life, is still a gain.

Nothing is lost as long as your hope is not lost.

All will help you if you will help yourself.

Astonishment is nothing but an expression of one's ignorance.

Leave all that unsaid which, by being said, creates inharmony.

Many say they tell the truth, but few there are who know the truth.

The mystic does not possess knowledge, for he is knowledge himself.

The mystic does not observe the law; he himself is the law.

A great gift and no virtue is like a flower without fragrance.

Pleasures cost more than they are worth.

Patient endurance crowns goodness with beauty.

A bad nature is the worst immorality.

One who is understood, is beneath the one who understands him.

Passion is but another form of love.

Recognize a mystic, not from what he does, but from what he is.

Shameless is lifeless.

By rising above facts, we touch reality.

It is our words that hide reality.

Outward things matter little; it is inward realization which is necessary.

Every failure follows upon a weakness somewhere.

He who cannot help himself, cannot help others.

The wrong use of every good thing is bad; the right use of every bad thing is good.

Hatred brings hatred; love brings love.

If you begin from the end, you will finally arrive at the beginning.

Beware lest our remedy become your malady.

Will is not a power, but all the power there is.

What is God? God is what is wanting to complete oneself.

It is natural that heavenly reason does not agree with earthly reason.

Reasoning is a ladder; by this ladder one can rise, and from this ladder one may fall.

Reason is a great factor and has all possibility in it of every curse and of every bliss.

Daring is preferred to fearing.

A sparkling soul flashes out through the eyes.

A great person is great with his faults and merits.

Be complete here and perfect there.

A wrong direction may lead to quite the opposite end.

Devotion gives all, asks nothing.

Love knows no limits.

Love keeps back nothing.

If you do not see God in man, you will not see Him anywhere.

You can never be sure of anything in this world of illusion.

If you can no longer love, it proves that you never did love.

The way you choose is the way for you.

Feeling is life and death at the same time.

The eyes are two windows through which the soul looks out.

The benefit of the word Almighty is in its realization.

An infant brings with it the air of heaven on earth.

What is made for man, man may hold; he must not be held by it.

The bringers of joy have always been the children of sorrow.

One enemy can do more harm than the good that can be done by a hundred friends.

The virtue of duty is in the pleasure of doing it.

Duty done unwillingly is worse than slavery.

Who else but a noble soul would bear all and say nothing?

By going through sorrow, we rise above it.

The fool fights wisdom wherever he meets it.

By disliking our dislikes, we begin to like all things.

Sympathy robs man of himself.

It is the one who lacks keen observation who becomes critical.

The critical tendency comes from agitation of mind.

Pursuit after the impossible is the best game there is.

The best way to love is to serve.

Some satisfy their vanity by living, others by dying.

Fishers of men have their net of sympathy.

Sensation is a shadow of exaltation.

The world's end comes with the breaking of the heart.

Renounce the world before the world renounces you.

The wicked world does not allow man's fine feelings to be cherished.

When a loving heart manifests jealousy, it is like sweet milk turning sour.

Love creates beauty by her own hands, to worship.

Wisdom is the cream of intelligence.

All learning becomes pale once divine knowledge begins to shine.

A life of superficiality is lived as not lived.

The spirit of man is the egg in which God is formed.

The human heart is the womb from which the Lord is born.

Talas: The rhythmic expression of an idea.

There is One Individual hidden behind many individuals; there is One Person shining through all personalities.

Loveless is lifeless; loving is living.

One breathes the air of heaven, another goes through the fire of hell; yet both walk on the same earth, both live under the same sun.

There are some who walk, some who creep, some who run, and some who fly; and yet all men are said to be alike.

It is unjust to be rich when others are poor, and it is fatal to be poor when others are rich.

Humility in love is the humility of the master, and humility in surrender is the humility of the slave.

A great person will stretch your mind to the breadth of his own heart, and a small person will narrow it to the size of his own outlook.

There is a right side to every wrong, and a wrong side to every right.

The mind is its question, and it is itself its answer.

All the lack that we find in life is the lack of will, and all the blessing that comes to us comes by the power of will.

The fearing welldoer is worse than a fearless sinner.

If belief is a thing, faith is a living being.

Thoughts have words, feelings have voice, words have forms, voice has soul.

There are some, the closer destiny brings together, the further are their hearts thrown apart; and there are others, the further destiny throws apart, the closer are their hearts brought together.

Sound is the life of life; time is the death of death.

The one who is lost on the path of love is lost forever; the one who has won on the battlefield of love has won for all eternity.

There is no greater source of pride than a clear conscience; and there is no greater means of humiliation than a guilty conscience.

Sacrifice and renunciation are two things; sacrifice is made by love, renunciation is caused by indifference.

To live means to hope, and to hope means to live.

It takes years to make an ideal, and it takes but a moment to break it.

To love is one thing, and to own is another thing.

The wealth-seeker has no regard for father or brother; the pleasure-seeker considers no honor nor respect; the sorrowful has no comfort nor sleep; the hungry distinguishes not between ripe and unripe.

Do I pass through life? No, it is life that passes by me.

By loving, one melts one's own heart; by possessing, one loads the heart of another.

Possession is self-assertion; loving is self-abnegation. The possessor must lose, sooner or later, the one he possesses; the lover gains in the end, if not the beloved, love itself.

The one who covers his grief under a smile is sincere; the one who covers his laughter under grief is a hypocrite.

Love that depends on being answered by the beloved is lame; it does not stand on its own feet.
Love that tries to possess the beloved is without arms; it can never hold.
Love that does not regard the pleasure and displeasure of the beloved is blind.
Love that is exacting and self-assertive is dead.

The secret of woman's charm is her modesty; the mystery of man's power is his pride.

The lover is blind to the faults of the one he loves, and the hater is blind to the merits of the one he hates.

Wisdom existed before the wise; life existed before the living; love existed before the lover.

The desert can be changed into fertile soil; the land can be changed into the sea; even hell can be changed into heaven; but the mind that is once fixed, cannot be changed.

Words are valuable, but silence is precious.

That which fools can say rudely, the clever cover under a veil; and the wise say the same without saying it.

The day you feel you do not know, you will begin to know.

What is once given is given; what is once done is done; what is once lost is lost; what is once won is won.

Nothing can bind one to another except the thread of sympathy, and nothing can separate one from another except the cutting of that thread.

As eagerly as man is inclined to free himself from a situation, so is he willingly inclined to fall into it.

Nothing is as old as the truth and nothing is as new as the truth.

Make of them big things, if you wish to do small things; and make of them small things, if you wish to do big things.

We speak when we understand the language of one another, and we keep silent when our hearts speak.

Sound is the voice of life; time is the word of death.

There are many sins, small and great; but to recognize sin is the greatest sin.

To step forward is going forward in the path of friendship, and to step backward is going backward.

He who retorts pays the one who insults him, but he who takes silently stands above every insult.

There are two different times in life when the danger of falling awaits man: the time of prosperity and the time of adversity.

All things become wrong when they are not in their right time or when they are not in their proper place.

In order to arrive at spiritual attainment two gulfs must be crossed: the sea of attachment and the ocean of detachment.

There is nothing more subtle or simpler than truth.

Food is the nourishment of the body;
thought is a refreshment to the mind;
love is the subsistence for the heart;
truth is the sustenance of the soul.

Man's ideal shows the height of his heart;
Man's understanding shows the depth of his heart;
Man's perception shows the length of his heart;
Man's sympathy shows the breadth of his heart;
But the fourth dimension of man's heart is seen by all that it contains within itself.

Wisdom is different from justice: while justice is expressed in fairness, wisdom is shown by tact.

There are two sorts of persons who show child-like simplicity in their lives: the foolish one, who shows childish traits, and the wise one, who shows the innocence of a child.

There are some who make the dead alive, and there are others who make the living dead.

Two persons are silent on the question of religion: the most foolish and the most wise.

Above law is love; above love is the Beloved.

The power of the word is indeed great, but the power of silence is still greater.

He who speaks much and says little is foolish; he who speaks little and says much is wise.

In the drop, the sea is as small as the drop; in the sea, a drop is as large as the sea.

If it is true, it is true as false; if it is false, it is as false as true.

He stands above the situation who controls it; he falls beneath the situation who becomes involved in it.

One who looks at life with horror is in the underworld; one who takes life seriously to heart is in the world; the one who smiles at life with a happy smile is above the world.

It is the foolishly selfish who is selfish; the wisely selfish proves to be unselfish.

Before one becomes sharp and the other blunt,
Before one is hot and the other cold,
Before one doubts and the other suspects,
Before one gives up his confidence and the other his trust,
It is time that they left one another.

Before one closes his eyes and the other his ears,
Before one turns his head and the other his back,
Before one talks and the other disputes,
Before one is in wrath and the other in rage,
It is time that they left one another.

Friendship, relationship, familiarity, intimacy, all have their limits; if you go past the limit you certainly violate the forbidden soil.

There are those who enjoy taking, and there are those who enjoy giving.

If you can say something without saying, you had better not say; if you can do something without doing, you had better not do.

Many live to die, and many die to live.

Even the faults of the meritorious soul become merits, and even merits of the faulty one turn into faults.

There are two kinds of people: those who are blinded by faith, and those who are blind to faith.

One cannot be real and live in the world of falsehood, and one cannot be false and exist in the world of reality.

Love all, trust none; forgive all, forget none; respect all, worship none. That is the manner of the wise.

The rose brings forth fragrance, color, and beautiful structure; so the soul, with its unfoldment, shows personality, atmosphere, and refined manner. The sun, air, water, space, and fertile soil are necessary for the rose to bloom; intelligence, inspiration, love, a wide outlook, and guidance are required for the soul to unfold.

Art without beauty,
poetry without inspiration,
music without feeling,
science without reason,
philosophy without logic,
religion without devotion,
mysticism with out ecstasy
are like a lake without water.

A joke without wit,
a speech without meaning,
tears without romance,
learning without wisdom,
position without honor,
a heart without love,
a head without thought
are like the space without the air.

A man without manly courage,
a woman without womanly grace,
a child without a child's simplicity,
an infant without an infant's innocence,
a lover without willing sacrifice,
a worshipper without the ideal of God,
a giver without great modesty
are like a king without a kingdom.

Criticism, indifference, pessimism are the three things which close the door of the heart.

Love is the object in the life of both devil and saint. The one demands it, the other gives it.

God created man in His own image, and man made God in his own likeness.

What pleasure is there in a useless action? What interest is there in a senseless speech? What joy is there in a depthless thought? What happiness is there in a loveless feeling?

The image of Christ is in the Church,
the book of Christ is with the clergy,
the love of Christ is in the heart of His worshipper,
but the light of Christ shines through the illuminated souls.

Gayatri: Prayers.

Pir
Inspirer of my mind,
consoler of my heart,
healer of my spirit,
Thy presence lifteth me from earth to heaven,

Thy words flow as the sacred river,
Thy thought riseth as a divine spring,
Thy tender feelings waken sympathy in my heart.
Beloved teacher, thy very being is forgiveness.

The clouds of doubt and fear are scattered by thy piercing glance;
All ignorance vanishes in thy illuminating presence;
A new hope is born in my heart by breathing thy peaceful atmosphere.

O inspiring guide through life's puzzling ways,
In thee I feel abundance of blessing.

Nabi
A torch in the darkness,
A staff during my weakness,
A rock in the weariness of life,
Thou, my Master, makest earth a paradise.

Thy thought giveth me unearthly joy,
Thy light illuminateth my life's path,
Thy words inspire me with divine wisdom.
I follow in Thy footsteps, which lead me to the eternal goal.

Comforter of the broken-hearted,
Support of those in need,
Friend of the lovers of truth,
Blessed Master, Thou art the Prophet of God.

Rasul
Warner of coming dangers,
Wakener of the world from sleep,
Deliverer of the Message of God,
Thou art our Savior.

The sun at the dawn of creation,
The light of the whole universe,
The fulfillment of God's purpose,
Thou the life eternal, we seek refuge in Thy loving enfoldment.

Spirit of Guidance,
Source of all beauty,
and Creator of harmony,
Love, Lover, and Beloved Lord, Thou art our divine ideal.

Chalas: An illuminated word.

God and the devil are the two extreme poles of the ego. One represents perfection, the other limitation.

The moment man realizes when to speak, and when to keep silence, he takes his first step in the path of wisdom.

Living in the world without insight into the hidden laws of nature, is like not knowing the language of the country in which one was born.

A continual pursuit after the impossible is the chronic disease of man.

Seeking after that which is beyond one's reach is the oil which feeds the flame of hope.

The surface of the human intelligence is the intellect; when it is turned outside in, it becomes the source of all revelation.

Nothing is impossible; all is possible. Impossibility is only a boundary of limitation which stands around the human mind.

Facts lose their color in the face of truth, as stars pale before the sun.

It is not difficult at all to please the saint; he can most easily be pleased. The difficulty is in pleasing the other, who is the opposite of the saint.

So few in this world discriminate properly between their want and their need.

A responsible person is worth more than a thousand men who labor.

It is true that the light of wisdom must continually be kept alight, but it is difficult always to act rightly.

Either you must pass from all things that interest you in this life, or else they will pass you; for the nature of this unstable life is changing.

Through every condition, agreeable or disagreeable, the soul makes its way towards the goal.

The lover who leans upon the beloved's response, his love is like the flame that needs oil to live; but the lover who stands on his own feet, is like the lantern of the sun that burns without oil.

A simple statement often takes away the charm of something which may be left unsaid.

If people do not come up to your mark, do not become annoyed, but rejoice, knowing that your mark is high.

The sense of discretion is instinctive, and it is the life one lives that either shapes or deforms it.

There is no gain without sacrifice; if there be any, sacrifice must follow.

Are you looking for an ideal soul? Such a person has never been born. But if you still seek after him, then you will have to create one of your own imagination.

When you have learned all there is to be learned, then you will realize that there was nothing to be learned.

The moment a prisoner feels that he will no longer remain in the prison, the prison bars must break instantly, of themselves.

Contentment raises man above the strife of worthless things and beyond the limitation of human nature.

It is seldom that too little is said and too much is done, but often the contrary.

The motive power is creative and constructive, yet it is motive that limits the power which is limitless.

All pain is significant of change; all that changes for better or worse must cause a certain amount of pain, for change is at once birth and death.

All conventionality, that has limited the life of man and has removed it far from nature, comes from sex distinction.

Man was sent into the artificial world that he might meet every conventionality, in which lies all tragedy of life.

One who lacks imagination, and is of little faith, is unable to tread the spiritual path.

Faith and imagination are wings of the bird that flies in the spiritual spheres.

If the owl of Sophia had been as wise as she, it would not have sat in her presence so spellbound.

Kindness which is not balanced with firmness may prove to be weakness.

People are not only ready to profit by your wisdom, power, and greatness, but they are also eager to take advantage of your ignorance, weakness, and inability.

Being able to trust others apart, if you have learned to trust yourself, you have accomplished something.

Every person has a place in life, and no one can hold a place long that is not his own.

By trying to look upon life not only from one's own point of view but also from the point of view of another, one loses nothing, but on the contrary widens the horizon of one's view.

To express an impulse gives relief, hut to control it gives strength.

Perfection is attained by five achievements: life, light, power, happiness, and peace.

By creating happiness, one fulfills one's life's purpose.

If dogs bark at the elephant, it takes no notice and goes on its way; so do the wise when attacked by the ignorant.

There are many wrong paths, but there is one right way that leads to the goal.

You will find reasons, whether you want to be pessimistic or optimistic, to support your view.

The seer distinguishes between the real and the unreal, until he arrives at a point where all to him becomes the reality.

When you do not concern yourself with the consequences, then alone you may freely express your impulse.

One cannot be wise and foolish at the same time, for light and darkness cannot dwell together.

Illuminated souls do not seek after occult powers; but occult powers, by themselves, come to them.

It is not the heart of earth in which to confide, for it brings forth all that is given to it in simple trust; it is the soul of heaven which is trustworthy, for it assimilates all in its own being.

Why? is an animal with a thousand tails. At every bite you give it, it drops one of its curved tails and raises another. Its hunger is never satisfied so long as its mouth is open.

Life is the longing of every soul; the one who seeks life through death becomes immortal.

Those whom you have lost here, you will find in some other place.

In the friendship, as well as in the hostility of the worldly, there is pain.

"Yesterday I was not wise enough, today I understand, tomorrow I will do better!" So man thinks and life goes on.

The prophet is the painter of that ideal which is beyond man's comprehension. What does it matter if Krishna was Christ, or Brahma was Abraham? One thing is true: that there was, there is, and there always will be a knower of God, a lover of souls, a server of humanity.

The man who tries to prove his belief superior to the faith of another, does not know the meaning of religion.

When a person argues on a problem, it does not always mean that he knows it. Most often he argues because he wants to complete his knowledge without admitting his ignorance.

The light illuminates the path of those who are distant from it; those who are near are dazzled by it.

There can be no comparison between art and nature; for art is as limited as man, but nature is as perfect as God.

Self-effacement does not in any way lessen; it only makes one limitless.

Duty is not necessarily the purpose of life; still, in duty one finds a road which leads one to the purpose of life.

No sooner is the God-ideal brought to life than the worshipper of God turns into truth. Then truth is no longer his seeking; truth becomes his being; and in the light of that absolute truth he finds all knowledge.

It was not the Lord who was crucified, it was his limitation.

If an idol made of rock is made God by its worshippers, why then should a personality not become Divinity for the devotees?

The one who makes fun of another, seldom knows that there is something laughable in himself also.

Every man has his own reason; therefore, two persons cannot always understand each other.

There is one thing to be said against the kind-hearted: that they never can be kind enough.

Whether a small person loves you or hates you, in either case he will pull you down to his own level.

To delve into a matter which matters little, is like raising dust from the ground.

It is belief which in its perfection becomes faith.

Even a plain thought gets tangled when told to a person who has a knot in his head.

When a thoughtful person risks falling at each step he takes in the path of life, what about a thoughtless person?

Despair not if your friend has taken advantage of you, but be contented, knowing that it was not your enemy.

There are habits which can best be prevented before one has formed them. Once you have taken to a habit, then it is difficult to give it up.

Rules of the world are different from the law of the path that the mystics tread.

He who fights for justice in the affairs of this world, may fight forever, for he will never find it; justice is only manifest in the sum total of life.

When you stand on this earth and look at life, there is all injustice and chaos everywhere; but when you rise above and look below, it is all just and perfect, and everything appears to be in its proper place.

When man arrives at God-knowledge from self-knowledge, he makes God as small as his little self; but when he comes to self-knowledge through the knowledge of God, he becomes as large as God.

The supreme law is that all is just and all is right. But is this law to be proclaimed? No, it is to be understood.

The attribute is not important; it is the possessor of the attribute who is important.

If someone can discover, with any authority, the true source of happiness, he can find it only in pain.

Faith is the culmination of belief. It is that faith which is the mystery of life, the secret of salvation.

It is not evidence which gives belief. Belief which stands above evidences is that belief which, in the end, will culminate in faith.

Belief is the food of the believer; it is the sustenance of his faith. It is on belief he lives, not on food and water.

By learning to think, one develops dignity in nature. The more one thinks, the more dignified one becomes, because dignity springs out of thoughtfulness.

Reason belongs both to earth and heaven. Its depth is heavenly, its surface earthly; and that which fills the gap in the form of reason, between heaven and earth, is that middle part of it which unites it. Therefore reason can be most confusing and reason can be most enlightening.

The reason why man seeks for happiness is not because happiness is his sustenance, but because happiness is his own being; therefore, in seeking for happiness, man is seeking for himself.

Religion is not in performing a ceremony or a ritual; true religion is the feeling, or the sense, of duty.

Woman, whom destiny has made to be man's superior, by trying to become his equal, falls beneath his estimation.

What virtue is that, O righteous man, which gives no happiness?

If you have lost something, it means that you have either risen above it or fallen below it.

Man expects another to place him in a higher position, but the place to which he is equal, he takes himself.

The dead can give nothing living, nor can the living give anything dead.

It is better than your enemy stands before your house rather than that he should live under your roof.

White forces or dark forces, all will surrender to you with the waxing of the moon of your life; but in the waning moon they will show their influence.

It matters little whether you are on the top of the mountain or at the foot of it, if you are happy where you are.

If you feel your thoughts, your thoughts will become your being.

The one who is not moved to dance by the movements of an innocent babe, has not yet risen from his grave.

One cannot praise God unless one makes of Him an ideal.

Watching with interest the winning ways of a little child, is a wonderful love-making.

Every thing and every being is placed in its own place in life, and each is busy carrying out that work which has to be done in the whole scheme of nature.

A religious ritual, for a spiritual person, is but a recreation.

To find appropriate words to express an idea is more complicated than painting a picture.

Destiny can take your best friend as an instrument to cause you harm, and your worst enemy to do you good.

Power is utilized to its best advantage when it is used for a good purpose.

If one lacks understanding, one is poor with all the goods of the world one possesses; it is understanding which is the true riches.

The man who complains about everything certainly has a complaint somewhere in his head.

Sensation and exaltation are two things: pleasure comes from sensation, happiness from exaltation.

No sooner do you begin to see the bad side of man's character than you automatically throw a cover over the good side of his nature.

Man, however great, must not claim perfection; for the blind world can only see the limitation of his external being.

There are some souls who, if you do not make them your friends, will become your enemies.

The one who wants to become a master must first pass through an examination as a servant.

God cannot be good and perfect at the same time; it takes good and bad both to make perfection.

Fools are not entitled to know the mystery which the wise are supposed to possess.

The knowledge of truth does not suffice for imparting it to others; one must know the psychology of human nature.

The purpose of life is fulfilled in rising to the greatest heights and in diving to the deepest depths of life.

Peace will not come to a lover's heart so long as he will not become love itself.

All things pertaining to spiritual progress in life depend upon peace.

The most beautiful form of the love of God is His compassion, His divine forgiveness.

Sayings

Vadan: Playing on Musical Instruments

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