The Sufism of the Rubáiyát, or, the Secret of the Great ParadoxOmar Khayyam
IslamicSufism
The Sufism of the Rubáiyát, or, the Secret of the Great Paradox
Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam. Rubaiyat; Persian poetry -- Translations into English; Sufism
Look not to the morrow to solve thy doubts, nor question oracles for
good or better days,
As naught from the SILENCE SPEAKS but THOU, OH VOICE DIVINE, the
DWELLER of the HEART, who biddest all perform good works.
No day on earth is better than the rest, each day is what you make
it, neither more nor less.
They who deliverance seek beyond the clouds, and they who look for
reward of good works done, both here themselves deceive.
REWARDS my friends are neither THEN nor THERE, REWARDS ARE SENT TO
THOSE RIGHT HERE, WHO MAKE NO CLAIM ON MERIT WON.
26
Neither the sages of the past, nor those yet forth to come, nor what
the books have said though of Holy Men inspired, do Him reveal.
To us HE only doth reveal HIMSELF in WORKS, in ACTS, in DEEDS done
and undone, and by no other way may we hope HIM to KNOW or SEE.
It is but the foolish who cry I SAVE! I SAVE!! For unto the smallest
insect, not again can they impart that BREATH DIVINE when it has
onward fled.
Such claims as these, which some lips here do make, by WISER LORE are
closed AT LAST.
27
Why then consult the Doctor or the Saint, they both from the same
place came, and both to the same place go.
But if for confirmation of the Future Life ye seek, look to the
Universe and know the same GREAT CAUSE that cast its mould gave you
your birth of clay.
THINK! KNOW THAT THOU AND IT ARE PART AND PART, OF WHICH BEGINNING
SAW NO DAWN, AND EVE NO ENDING.
The same doth regulate the hours, the days, the weeks, the years, the
INFINITE TIME SPACE, and likewise thine.
28
This then is the Law of Fate and how of the way of Freedom all may
learn, who freedom seek.
Know thou that THOUGHTS MATURE INTO DEEDS AND ACTS! AND ALL SEEDS
SOWN IN THE FLESH SHALL RIPEN WITH THY YEARS.
This life is but the harvest of what you've sown before; sift out the
tares before thou cast THE GRAIN FOR FUTURE YEARS.
29
Out of the Endless came I here! Into the Endless will I once more
flow;
Out of it again in trust I come! Better for the TRAILS OF DUST BELOW.
30
Ushered into being by an Endless Unspent Cause which moveth unto
good, and by all on earth adored.
Whence and where I went, only in deep reverence these words were
spoke,
Oh Cup, from whence the very Gods have drunk, [20]EXPERIENCE is thy
name, Oh let me freely drink from THEE, THOU SLAYER OF MY FOES.
[20] Experience is the only teacher, and thus becomes our liberator
from the bonds of selfishness and greed, the parents of crime and
ignorance.
31
What is it but madness to compare yesterday's sorrows with today's
despairs, or tomorrow's triumphs?
For they but lend the means to quicken our perceptions of whence we
came, why, and whither we go.
Drink thou of Life's Ruby Wine, and to those who dare for more to ask
within themselves the answer will be found!
DRINK DEEP! THIS IS ENOUGH!!
32
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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