SAND AND FOAM(first part)
* * sandandfoam(firstpart)
iamforeverwalkingupontheseshores,
betwixtthesandandthefoam,
thehightidewillerasemyfoot-prints,
andthewindwillblowawaythefoam.
buttheseaandtheshorewillremain
forever.
onceifilledmyhandwithmist.
theniopeneditandlo,themistwasaworm.
andiclosedandopenedherewasabird.
andagainiclosedandopenedmyhand,andinitshollowstoodamanwithasadface,turnedupward.
andagainiclosedherewasnaughtbutmist.
butiheardasongofexceedingsweetness.
itwasbutyesterdayithoughtmyselfafragmentquiveringwithoutrhereoflife.
nowiknowthere,andalllifeinrhythmicfragmentsmoveswithinme.
theysaytomeintheirawakening,"youandtheworldyouliveinarebutagrainofsandupontheinfiniteshoreofaninfinitesea."
andinmydreamisaytothem,"iamtheinfinitesea,andallworldsarebutgrainsofsanduponmyshore."
onlyoncehaveibeenmademute.itwaswhenamanaskedme,"whoareyou?"
thefirstthoughtofgodwasanangel.
thefirstwordofgodwasaman.
wewerefluttering,wandering,longingcreaturesathousandthousandyearsbeforetheseaandthewindintheforestgaveuswords.
noofdaysinuswithonlythesoundsofouryesterdays?
thesphinxspokeonlyonce,andthesphinxsaid,"agrainofsandisadesert,andadesertisagrainofsand;andnowletusallbesilentagain."
iheardthesphinx,butididnotunderstand.
longdidilieinthedustofegypt,silentandunawareoftheseasons.
thenthesungavemebirth,andiroseandwalkeduponthebanksofthenile,
singingwiththedaysanddreamingwiththenights.
andnowthesunthreadsuponiofegypt.
butbeholdamarvelandariddle!
theverysunthatgatheredotscatterme.
stillerectami,andsureoffootdoionthebanksofthenile.
remembranceisaformofmeeting.
forgetfulnessisaformoffreedom.
weordingtothetlesssuns;andtheymeasuretitlepockets.
nowtellme,howcouldweeverime?
spaceisnotspacebetweentheearthandthesuntoonewholooksdownfromthewindowsofthemilkyway.
humanityisariveroflightrunningfromtheex-eternitytoeternity.
donotthespiritswhodwellintheetherenvymanhispain?
onmywaytotheholycityimetanotherpilgrimandiaskedhihewaytotheholycity?"
andhesaid,"followme,andyouwillreachtheholycityinadayandanight."
andifollowedhim.andwewalkedmanydaysandheholycity.
andwhatwastogrywithmebecausehehadmisledme.
makeme,ohgod,thepreyofthelion,ereyoumaketherabbitmyprey.
onehepathofthenight.
myhousesaystome,"donotleaveme,forheredwellsyourpast."
andtheroadsaystoeandfollowme,foriamyourfuture."
andisaytobothmyhouseandtheroad,"ihavenopast,norhaveiafuture.ifistayhere,thereisagoinginmystaying;andifigothereisastayinginhwillchangeallthings."
howcanilosefaithinthejusticeoflife,whenthedreahersarenotmorebeautifulthanthedreah?strange,thedesireforcertainpleasuresisapartofmypain.
seventimeshaveidespisedmysoul:
thefirsttishe.
thesecondtihecrippled.
thethirdtimewhenshewasgiventochoosebetweenthehardandtheeasy,andshechosetheeasy.
thefourthtiittedawrong,andfortedherselfthatothersalsomitwrong.
thefifthtimewhensheforboreforweakness,andattributedherpatiencetostrength.
thesixthtimewhenshedespisedtheuglinessofaface,andknewnotthatitwasoneofherownmasks.
andtheseventhtimewhenshesangasongofpraise,anddeemeditavirtue.
iamignorantofabsolutetruth.butiahereinliesmyhonourandmyreward.
thereisaspacebetweenmansihatraversedbyhislonging.
paradiseisthere,behindthatdoor,inthenextroom;butihavelostthekey.
perhapsihaveonlymislaidit.
youareblindandiamdeafandduand.
thesignificanceofmanisnotinwhatheattains,butratherinwhathelongstoattain.
someofusarelikeinkandsomelikepaper.
andifitwerenotfortheblacknessofsomeofus,someofuswouldbedumb;
andifitwerenotforthewhitenessofsomeofus,someofuswouldbeblind.
givemeanearandiwillgiveyouavoice.
ourmindisasponge;ourheartisastream.
isitnotstrangethatgratherthanrunning?
whenyoulongforblessingsthatyoumaynotname,andwhenyougrieveknowingnotthecause,thenindeedyouaregrowingwithallthingsthatgrow,andrisingtowardyourgreaterself.
whenoneisdrunkwithavision,hedeemshisfaintexpressionofittheverywine.
youdrinkwihatyoumaybeintoxicated;andidrinkthatitmaysobermefromthatotherwine.
whenoitsemptiness;butwhenitishalffulliresentitshalf-fullness.
therealityoftheotherpersonisnotinwhatherevealstoyou,butinwhathecannotrevealtoyou.
therefore,ifyouwouldunderstandhim,listennottowhathesaysbutrathertowhathedoesnotsay.
halfofwhatisayismeaningless;butisayitsothattheotherhalfmayreachyou.
asenseofhumourisasenseofproportion.
mylonelinesswasbornwhenmenpraisedmytalkativefaultsandblamedmysilentvirtues.
whenlifedoesnotfindasingertosingherheartsheproducesaphilosophertospeakhermind.
atruthistobeknownalways,tobeutteredsometimes.
therealinusissilent;theacquiredistalkative.
thevoiceoflifeinheearoflifeinyou;butletustalkthatwemaynotfeellonely.
whentwowomentalktheysaynothing;whenoneeakssherevealsalloflife.
frogsmaybellowlouderthanbulls,buttheycannotdragtheploughinthefieldnotturnthewheelofthewinepress,andoftheirskinsyoucannotmakeshoes.
onlythedualkative.
ifwintershouldsay,&a,"whowouldbelievewinter?
everyseedisalonging.
shouldyoureallyopenyoureyesandsee,youwouldbeholdyourimageinallimages.
andshouldyouopenyourearsandlisten,youwouldhearyourownvoiceinallvoices.
ittakestwoofustodiscovertruth:ooutteritandoounderstandit.
thoughthewaveofwordsisforeveruponus,yetourdepthisforeversilent.
eislikeawindowpane.weseetruththroughitbutitdividesusfromtruth.
nowletusplayhideandseek.shouldyouhideinmyheartitwouldnotbedifficulttofindyou.butshouldyouhidebehindyourownshell,thenitwouldbeuselessforanyooseekyou.awomanmayveilherfacewithasmile.
hownobleisthesadheartwhowouldsingajoyoussongwithjoyoushearts.
hewhowouldunderstandawoius,orsolvetheheverymanwhowouldwakefromabeautifuldreamtositatabreakfasttable.
iwouldwalkwithallthosewhowalk.iwouldnotstandstilltowatchtheprocessionpassingby.
youowemorethangoldtohimwhoservesyou.givehimofyourheartorservehim.
nay,wehavenotlivedinvain.havetheynotbuilttowersofourbones?
letusnotbeparticularandsectional.thepoetsmindandthescorpionstailriseingloryfromthesameearth.
everydragongivesbirthtoast.georgewhoslaysit.
treesarepoemsthattonthesky.wefelltheopaperthatweptiness.
shouldyoucaretowrite(andonlythesaintsknowwhyyoushould)youmustneedshaveknowledgeandartandmusic——theknowledgeofthemusicofwords,theartofbeingartless,andthemagicoflovingyourreaders.
theydiptheirpensinourheartsandthinktheyareinspired.
shouldatreewriteitsautobiographyitwouldnotbeunlikethehistoryofarace.
ifiweretochoosebetweenthepowerofwritingapoeasyofapoemunwritten,iwouldchoosetheecstasy.itisbetterpoetry.
butyouandallmyneighboursagreethatialwayschoosebadly.
poetryisnotanopinionexpressed.itisasongthatrisesfromableedingwoundorasmilingmouth.
wordsaretimeless.youshouldutterthemorwritethemwithaknowledgeoftheirtimelessness.
apoetisadethronedkingsittingamongtheashesofhispalacetryingtofashionanimageoutoftheashes.
poetryisadealofjoyandpainandwonder,withadashofthedictionary.
invainshallapoetseekthemotherofthesongsofhisheart.
onceisaidtoapoet,"weshallnotknowyourworthuntilyoudie."
andheansweredsaying,"yes,deathisalwaystherevealer.andifindeedyouwouldknowmyworthitisthatihavehanuponhaninmyhand."
ifyousingofbeautythoughaloneintheheartofthedesertyouwillhaveanaudience.
poetryiswisdo.
wisdomispoetrythatsingsinthemind.
ifwecouldenchantandatthesametimesinginhismind,
thenintruthhewouldliveintheshadowofgod.
inspirationwillalwayssing;inspirationwillneverexplain.
weoftensinglullabiestoourchildrenthatweourselvesmaysleep.
allourwordsarebutcrumbsthatfalldownfromthefeastofthemind.
thinkingisalwaysthestuopoetry.
agreatsingerishewhosingsoursilences.
howcanyousingifyourmouthbefilledwithfood?
howshallyourhandberaisedinblessingifitisfilledwithgold?
theysaythenightingalepierceshisbosomwithathornwhenhesingshislovesong.
sodoweall.howelseshouldwesing?
geniusisbutarobinssongatthebeginningofaslowspring.
eventheotescapephysicalnecessity.
athanyouorrumentonwhichheplaysisalittleoutoftune.
thesongthatliessilentintheheartofamothersingsuponthelipsofherchild.
nolongingremainsunfulfilled.
ihaveneveragreedwithmyotherselfwholly.thetruthofthematterseemstoliebetweenus.
yourotherselfisalwayssorryforyou.butyourotherselfgrowsonsorrow;soalliswell.
thereisnostruggleofsoulandbodysaveinthemindsofthosewhosesoulsareasleepandwhosebodiesareoutoftune.
whenyoureachtheheartoflifeyoushallfindbeautyinallthings,evenintheeyesthatareblindtobeauty.
weliveonlytodiscoverbeauty.allelseisaformofwaiting.
sowaseedandtheearthwillyieldyouaflower.dreamyourdreamtotheskyanditwillbringyouyourbeloved.
thedevildiedtheverydayyouwereborn.
nowyoudonothavetogothroughhelltomeetanangel.
;veryfewcouldpossessit.
ifyouwouldpossessyoumustnotclaim.
whenamanshandtouchesthehandofawohtouchtheheartofeternity.
loveistheveilbetweenloverandlover.
everyhecreationofhisiherisnotyetborn.
tlefaultswillneverenjoytheirgreatvirtues.
lovethatdoesnotrenewitselfeverydaybeesahabitandinturnaslavery.
loverseherthaneachother.
loveanddoubthaveneverbeenonspeakingterms.
loveisawordoflight,writtenbyahandoflight,uponapageoflight.
friendshipisalwaysasweetresponsibility,neveranopportunity.
ifyoudonotunderstandyourfriendunderallconditionsyouwillneverunderstandhim.
yourmostradiantgarmentisoftheotherpersonsweaving;
youmostsavourymealisthatwhichyoueatattheotherpersonstable;
yourherpersonshouse.
nowtelleyourselffromtheotherperson?
yourwillneveragreeuntilyouroliveinnu.
weshallneverunderstandoneanotheruntilwereducethelanguagetosevenwords.
howshallbebroken?
onlygreatsorroworgreatjoycanrevealyourtruth.
ifyouwouldberevealedyouhesun,orcarryyourcross.
shouldnatureheedwhatwesayofcontentmentnoriverwouldseekthesea,andnowinterwouldturntospring.shouldsheheedallwesayofthrift,howmanyofuswouldbebreathingthisair?
youseebutyourshadowwhenyouturnyourbacktothesun.
youarefreebeforethesunoftheday,andfreebeforethestarsofthenight;
andyouarefreewhenthereisnosunandnomoonandnostar.
youareevenfreewhenyoucloseyoureyesuponallthereis.
butyouareaslavetohimwhomyoulovebecauseyoulovehim,
andaslavetohimwholovesyoubecausehelovesyou.
weareallbeggarsatthegateoftheteeofusreceiveshisshareofthebountyofthekingwhenheentersthete.
butwearealljealousofoneanother,whichisanotherwayofbelittlingtheking.
youcannotconsumebeyondyourappetite.theotherhalfoftheloafbelongstotheotherperson,andthereshouldreeguest.
ifitwerenotforyourguestsallhouseswouldbegraves.
saidagraciouswolftoasimplesheep,"willyounothonourourhousewithavisit?"
andthesheepanswered,"wewouldhavebeenhonouredtovisityourhouseifitwerenotinyourstomach."
istoppedhresholdandsaid,"nay,wipenotyourfeetasyouenter,butasyougoout."
generosityisnotingivingeedmorethanyoudo,butitisingivingeedmorethanido.
youareindeedcharitablewhenyougive,andwhilegiving,turnyourfaceawaysothatyouhereceiver.
thedifferencebetweentherichestmanandthepoorestisbutadayofhungerandanhourofthirst.
weoftenborrowfromourtomorrowstopayourdebtstoouryesterdays.
itooamvisitedbyangelsanddevils,butigetridofthem.
whenitisanangeliprayanoldprayer,andheisbored;
whenitisadevilimitanoldsin,andhepassesmeby.
afterallthisisnotabadprison;butidonotlikethiswallbetweenprisonerscell;
yetiassureyouthatidonotwishtoreproachthewardernotthebuilderoftheprison.
thosewhogiveyouaserpentwhenyouaskforafish,mayhavenothingbutserpentstogive.itisthengenerosityontheirpart.
trickerysueedssoitssuicide.
youaretrulyaforgiverwhenyouforgivemurdererswhoneverspillblood,thieveswhoneversteal,andliarswhoutternofalsehood.
heuthisfingeruponthatwhichdividesgoodfrotouchtheveryhemofthegarmentofgod.
ifyourheartisavolcanohowshallyouexpectflowerstobloominyourhands?
iamforeverwalkingupontheseshores,
betwixtthesandandthefoam,
thehightidewillerasemyfoot-prints,
andthewindwillblowawaythefoam.
buttheseaandtheshorewillremain
forever.
onceifilledmyhandwithmist.
theniopeneditandlo,themistwasaworm.
andiclosedandopenedherewasabird.
andagainiclosedandopenedmyhand,andinitshollowstoodamanwithasadface,turnedupward.
andagainiclosedherewasnaughtbutmist.
butiheardasongofexceedingsweetness.
itwasbutyesterdayithoughtmyselfafragmentquiveringwithoutrhereoflife.
nowiknowthere,andalllifeinrhythmicfragmentsmoveswithinme.
theysaytomeintheirawakening,"youandtheworldyouliveinarebutagrainofsandupontheinfiniteshoreofaninfinitesea."
andinmydreamisaytothem,"iamtheinfinitesea,andallworldsarebutgrainsofsanduponmyshore."
onlyoncehaveibeenmademute.itwaswhenamanaskedme,"whoareyou?"
thefirstthoughtofgodwasanangel.
thefirstwordofgodwasaman.
wewerefluttering,wandering,longingcreaturesathousandthousandyearsbeforetheseaandthewindintheforestgaveuswords.
noofdaysinuswithonlythesoundsofouryesterdays?
thesphinxspokeonlyonce,andthesphinxsaid,"agrainofsandisadesert,andadesertisagrainofsand;andnowletusallbesilentagain."
iheardthesphinx,butididnotunderstand.
longdidilieinthedustofegypt,silentandunawareoftheseasons.
thenthesungavemebirth,andiroseandwalkeduponthebanksofthenile,
singingwiththedaysanddreamingwiththenights.
andnowthesunthreadsuponiofegypt.
butbeholdamarvelandariddle!
theverysunthatgatheredotscatterme.
stillerectami,andsureoffootdoionthebanksofthenile.
remembranceisaformofmeeting.
forgetfulnessisaformoffreedom.
weordingtothetlesssuns;andtheymeasuretitlepockets.
nowtellme,howcouldweeverime?
spaceisnotspacebetweentheearthandthesuntoonewholooksdownfromthewindowsofthemilkyway.
humanityisariveroflightrunningfromtheex-eternitytoeternity.
donotthespiritswhodwellintheetherenvymanhispain?
onmywaytotheholycityimetanotherpilgrimandiaskedhihewaytotheholycity?"
andhesaid,"followme,andyouwillreachtheholycityinadayandanight."
andifollowedhim.andwewalkedmanydaysandheholycity.
andwhatwastogrywithmebecausehehadmisledme.
makeme,ohgod,thepreyofthelion,ereyoumaketherabbitmyprey.
onehepathofthenight.
myhousesaystome,"donotleaveme,forheredwellsyourpast."
andtheroadsaystoeandfollowme,foriamyourfuture."
andisaytobothmyhouseandtheroad,"ihavenopast,norhaveiafuture.ifistayhere,thereisagoinginmystaying;andifigothereisastayinginhwillchangeallthings."
howcanilosefaithinthejusticeoflife,whenthedreahersarenotmorebeautifulthanthedreah?strange,thedesireforcertainpleasuresisapartofmypain.
seventimeshaveidespisedmysoul:
thefirsttishe.
thesecondtihecrippled.
thethirdtimewhenshewasgiventochoosebetweenthehardandtheeasy,andshechosetheeasy.
thefourthtiittedawrong,andfortedherselfthatothersalsomitwrong.
thefifthtimewhensheforboreforweakness,andattributedherpatiencetostrength.
thesixthtimewhenshedespisedtheuglinessofaface,andknewnotthatitwasoneofherownmasks.
andtheseventhtimewhenshesangasongofpraise,anddeemeditavirtue.
iamignorantofabsolutetruth.butiahereinliesmyhonourandmyreward.
thereisaspacebetweenmansihatraversedbyhislonging.
paradiseisthere,behindthatdoor,inthenextroom;butihavelostthekey.
perhapsihaveonlymislaidit.
youareblindandiamdeafandduand.
thesignificanceofmanisnotinwhatheattains,butratherinwhathelongstoattain.
someofusarelikeinkandsomelikepaper.
andifitwerenotfortheblacknessofsomeofus,someofuswouldbedumb;
andifitwerenotforthewhitenessofsomeofus,someofuswouldbeblind.
givemeanearandiwillgiveyouavoice.
ourmindisasponge;ourheartisastream.
isitnotstrangethatgratherthanrunning?
whenyoulongforblessingsthatyoumaynotname,andwhenyougrieveknowingnotthecause,thenindeedyouaregrowingwithallthingsthatgrow,andrisingtowardyourgreaterself.
whenoneisdrunkwithavision,hedeemshisfaintexpressionofittheverywine.
youdrinkwihatyoumaybeintoxicated;andidrinkthatitmaysobermefromthatotherwine.
whenoitsemptiness;butwhenitishalffulliresentitshalf-fullness.
therealityoftheotherpersonisnotinwhatherevealstoyou,butinwhathecannotrevealtoyou.
therefore,ifyouwouldunderstandhim,listennottowhathesaysbutrathertowhathedoesnotsay.
halfofwhatisayismeaningless;butisayitsothattheotherhalfmayreachyou.
asenseofhumourisasenseofproportion.
mylonelinesswasbornwhenmenpraisedmytalkativefaultsandblamedmysilentvirtues.
whenlifedoesnotfindasingertosingherheartsheproducesaphilosophertospeakhermind.
atruthistobeknownalways,tobeutteredsometimes.
therealinusissilent;theacquiredistalkative.
thevoiceoflifeinheearoflifeinyou;butletustalkthatwemaynotfeellonely.
whentwowomentalktheysaynothing;whenoneeakssherevealsalloflife.
frogsmaybellowlouderthanbulls,buttheycannotdragtheploughinthefieldnotturnthewheelofthewinepress,andoftheirskinsyoucannotmakeshoes.
onlythedualkative.
ifwintershouldsay,&a,"whowouldbelievewinter?
everyseedisalonging.
shouldyoureallyopenyoureyesandsee,youwouldbeholdyourimageinallimages.
andshouldyouopenyourearsandlisten,youwouldhearyourownvoiceinallvoices.
ittakestwoofustodiscovertruth:ooutteritandoounderstandit.
thoughthewaveofwordsisforeveruponus,yetourdepthisforeversilent.
eislikeawindowpane.weseetruththroughitbutitdividesusfromtruth.
nowletusplayhideandseek.shouldyouhideinmyheartitwouldnotbedifficulttofindyou.butshouldyouhidebehindyourownshell,thenitwouldbeuselessforanyooseekyou.awomanmayveilherfacewithasmile.
hownobleisthesadheartwhowouldsingajoyoussongwithjoyoushearts.
hewhowouldunderstandawoius,orsolvetheheverymanwhowouldwakefromabeautifuldreamtositatabreakfasttable.
iwouldwalkwithallthosewhowalk.iwouldnotstandstilltowatchtheprocessionpassingby.
youowemorethangoldtohimwhoservesyou.givehimofyourheartorservehim.
nay,wehavenotlivedinvain.havetheynotbuilttowersofourbones?
letusnotbeparticularandsectional.thepoetsmindandthescorpionstailriseingloryfromthesameearth.
everydragongivesbirthtoast.georgewhoslaysit.
treesarepoemsthattonthesky.wefelltheopaperthatweptiness.
shouldyoucaretowrite(andonlythesaintsknowwhyyoushould)youmustneedshaveknowledgeandartandmusic——theknowledgeofthemusicofwords,theartofbeingartless,andthemagicoflovingyourreaders.
theydiptheirpensinourheartsandthinktheyareinspired.
shouldatreewriteitsautobiographyitwouldnotbeunlikethehistoryofarace.
ifiweretochoosebetweenthepowerofwritingapoeasyofapoemunwritten,iwouldchoosetheecstasy.itisbetterpoetry.
butyouandallmyneighboursagreethatialwayschoosebadly.
poetryisnotanopinionexpressed.itisasongthatrisesfromableedingwoundorasmilingmouth.
wordsaretimeless.youshouldutterthemorwritethemwithaknowledgeoftheirtimelessness.
apoetisadethronedkingsittingamongtheashesofhispalacetryingtofashionanimageoutoftheashes.
poetryisadealofjoyandpainandwonder,withadashofthedictionary.
invainshallapoetseekthemotherofthesongsofhisheart.
onceisaidtoapoet,"weshallnotknowyourworthuntilyoudie."
andheansweredsaying,"yes,deathisalwaystherevealer.andifindeedyouwouldknowmyworthitisthatihavehanuponhaninmyhand."
ifyousingofbeautythoughaloneintheheartofthedesertyouwillhaveanaudience.
poetryiswisdo.
wisdomispoetrythatsingsinthemind.
ifwecouldenchantandatthesametimesinginhismind,
thenintruthhewouldliveintheshadowofgod.
inspirationwillalwayssing;inspirationwillneverexplain.
weoftensinglullabiestoourchildrenthatweourselvesmaysleep.
allourwordsarebutcrumbsthatfalldownfromthefeastofthemind.
thinkingisalwaysthestuopoetry.
agreatsingerishewhosingsoursilences.
howcanyousingifyourmouthbefilledwithfood?
howshallyourhandberaisedinblessingifitisfilledwithgold?
theysaythenightingalepierceshisbosomwithathornwhenhesingshislovesong.
sodoweall.howelseshouldwesing?
geniusisbutarobinssongatthebeginningofaslowspring.
eventheotescapephysicalnecessity.
athanyouorrumentonwhichheplaysisalittleoutoftune.
thesongthatliessilentintheheartofamothersingsuponthelipsofherchild.
nolongingremainsunfulfilled.
ihaveneveragreedwithmyotherselfwholly.thetruthofthematterseemstoliebetweenus.
yourotherselfisalwayssorryforyou.butyourotherselfgrowsonsorrow;soalliswell.
thereisnostruggleofsoulandbodysaveinthemindsofthosewhosesoulsareasleepandwhosebodiesareoutoftune.
whenyoureachtheheartoflifeyoushallfindbeautyinallthings,evenintheeyesthatareblindtobeauty.
weliveonlytodiscoverbeauty.allelseisaformofwaiting.
sowaseedandtheearthwillyieldyouaflower.dreamyourdreamtotheskyanditwillbringyouyourbeloved.
thedevildiedtheverydayyouwereborn.
nowyoudonothavetogothroughhelltomeetanangel.
;veryfewcouldpossessit.
ifyouwouldpossessyoumustnotclaim.
whenamanshandtouchesthehandofawohtouchtheheartofeternity.
loveistheveilbetweenloverandlover.
everyhecreationofhisiherisnotyetborn.
tlefaultswillneverenjoytheirgreatvirtues.
lovethatdoesnotrenewitselfeverydaybeesahabitandinturnaslavery.
loverseherthaneachother.
loveanddoubthaveneverbeenonspeakingterms.
loveisawordoflight,writtenbyahandoflight,uponapageoflight.
friendshipisalwaysasweetresponsibility,neveranopportunity.
ifyoudonotunderstandyourfriendunderallconditionsyouwillneverunderstandhim.
yourmostradiantgarmentisoftheotherpersonsweaving;
youmostsavourymealisthatwhichyoueatattheotherpersonstable;
yourherpersonshouse.
nowtelleyourselffromtheotherperson?
yourwillneveragreeuntilyouroliveinnu.
weshallneverunderstandoneanotheruntilwereducethelanguagetosevenwords.
howshallbebroken?
onlygreatsorroworgreatjoycanrevealyourtruth.
ifyouwouldberevealedyouhesun,orcarryyourcross.
shouldnatureheedwhatwesayofcontentmentnoriverwouldseekthesea,andnowinterwouldturntospring.shouldsheheedallwesayofthrift,howmanyofuswouldbebreathingthisair?
youseebutyourshadowwhenyouturnyourbacktothesun.
youarefreebeforethesunoftheday,andfreebeforethestarsofthenight;
andyouarefreewhenthereisnosunandnomoonandnostar.
youareevenfreewhenyoucloseyoureyesuponallthereis.
butyouareaslavetohimwhomyoulovebecauseyoulovehim,
andaslavetohimwholovesyoubecausehelovesyou.
weareallbeggarsatthegateoftheteeofusreceiveshisshareofthebountyofthekingwhenheentersthete.
butwearealljealousofoneanother,whichisanotherwayofbelittlingtheking.
youcannotconsumebeyondyourappetite.theotherhalfoftheloafbelongstotheotherperson,andthereshouldreeguest.
ifitwerenotforyourguestsallhouseswouldbegraves.
saidagraciouswolftoasimplesheep,"willyounothonourourhousewithavisit?"
andthesheepanswered,"wewouldhavebeenhonouredtovisityourhouseifitwerenotinyourstomach."
istoppedhresholdandsaid,"nay,wipenotyourfeetasyouenter,butasyougoout."
generosityisnotingivingeedmorethanyoudo,butitisingivingeedmorethanido.
youareindeedcharitablewhenyougive,andwhilegiving,turnyourfaceawaysothatyouhereceiver.
thedifferencebetweentherichestmanandthepoorestisbutadayofhungerandanhourofthirst.
weoftenborrowfromourtomorrowstopayourdebtstoouryesterdays.
itooamvisitedbyangelsanddevils,butigetridofthem.
whenitisanangeliprayanoldprayer,andheisbored;
whenitisadevilimitanoldsin,andhepassesmeby.
afterallthisisnotabadprison;butidonotlikethiswallbetweenprisonerscell;
yetiassureyouthatidonotwishtoreproachthewardernotthebuilderoftheprison.
thosewhogiveyouaserpentwhenyouaskforafish,mayhavenothingbutserpentstogive.itisthengenerosityontheirpart.
trickerysueedssoitssuicide.
youaretrulyaforgiverwhenyouforgivemurdererswhoneverspillblood,thieveswhoneversteal,andliarswhoutternofalsehood.
heuthisfingeruponthatwhichdividesgoodfrotouchtheveryhemofthegarmentofgod.
ifyourheartisavolcanohowshallyouexpectflowerstobloominyourhands?