Selflessness does not only beautify one's personality, giving grace to one's word and manner, but it also gives a dignity and a power with a spirit of independence, which is the real sign of a sage. It is selflessness which often produces humiliation in one's spirit, taking away the intoxication, which enriches the soul.

Independence and indifference which are as two wings which enable the soul to fly, spring from the spirit of selflessness. The moment the spirit of selflessness has begun to sparkle in the heart of man, he shows in his word and action a nobility which no earthly power or wealth can give. There are many ideas that intoxicate man, many feelings there are which act upon the soul as wine, but there is no stronger wine than the wine of selflessness. It is a might and it is a pride that no rank of the world can give. To become something is a limitation, whatever one may become: even if a person were to be called the king of the world, still he is not the emperor of the universe.

If one is the master of the earth, he is still the slave of Heaven. It is he who is no-one who can be all. The Sufi therefore takes the path of being nothing, instead of being something. It is this feeling of nothingness which turns out of the human heart an empty cup, in which the wine of immortality is poured out. It is this state of bliss which every truth-seeking soul yearns to attain. It is easy to be learned, and it is not very difficult to be wise; and it is within one's reach to become good, and it is not an impossible achievement to be pious or spiritual. But if there is an attainment which is greater and higher than all these things, it is to be nothing.

It may seem frightening to many, the idea of becoming nothing. For human nature is such that it is eager to hold on to something and the most he holds on to is his own person, his individuality. Once he has risen above this he has climbed the Mount Everest, he has arrived at the spot where earth ends and Heaven begins.

God bless you.