The ocean does not shrink or vaster grow, Though the waves ever ebb and ever flow; The being of the world's a wave: it lasts One moment, and the next it has to go. In the world, men of insight may discern A stream whose currents swirl and surge and churn, And from the force that works within the stream The hidden working of the "Truth" may learn. "THE GREAT IDEALIST" Philosophers devoid of reason find This world a mere idea of the mind; 'Tis an idea--but they fail to see The great Idealist who looms behind. THE SEA OF BEING Being's a sea in constant billows rolled, 'Tis but these billows that we men behold; Sped from within, they rest upon the sea, And like a veil its actual form enfold. Being's the essence of the Lord of all, All things exist in Him and He in all; This is the meaning of the Gnostic phrase, "All things are comprehended in the All." THE REVELATION OF TRUTH The Majesty of the "Truth" most glorious is revealed in two manners--the first the inward, subjective revelation, which the Súfís name "Most Holy Emanation"; it consists in the self-manifestation of the "Truth" to His own consciousness from all eternity under the forms of substances, their characteristics and capacities. The second revelation is the outward objective manifestation, which is called "Holy Emanation"; it consists in the manifestation of the "Truth," with the impress of the properties and marks of the same substances. This second revelation ranks after the first; it is the theatre wherein are manifested to sight the perfections which in the first revelation were contained potentially in the characteristics and capacities of the substances. "'TIS HE WHO LIVES WITHIN OUR FORMS" Both power and being are denied to us, The lack of both is what's ordained for us; But since 'tis He who lives within our forms, Both power and action are ascribed to us. Your "self" is non-existent, knowing one! Deem not your actions by yourself are done; Make no wry faces at this wholesome truth-- "Build the wall ere the fresco is begun." Why vaunt thy "self" before those jealous eyes? Why seek to deal in this false merchandise? Why feign to be existent of thyself? Down with these vain conceits and foolish lies! MIRROR AND FACE They say, "How strange! This peerless beauty's face Within the mirror's heart now holds a place!" The marvel's not the face, the marvel is That it should be at once mirror and face. All mirrors in the universe I ween Display Thy image with its radiant sheen-- Nay, in them all, so vast Thy effluent grace, 'Tis Thyself, not Thine image, that is seen. [Footnote 1: Magians and Zoroastrians.]