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www.saraswati.soc.btinternet.co.ukFrom the Mathnavi of Mevlana Jalal ud Din Rumi - BOOK 6 (vv 507 - 523 )
translated by Reynold A. NicholsonThe road (to God) is self-sacrifice, and in every thicket is a bane to drive back any one whose soul is (brittle) as a glass bottle.
The road of religion is full of trouble and bale for the reason that it is not the road for any one whose nature is effeminate
On this road (men's) souls are tried by terror as a sieve (is used) for sifting bran.
What is the road? Full of footprints. What is the comrade? The ladder whereby minds ascend.
I grant that, through (your) taking precautions, the wolf may not find you, (but) without company you will not find that (spiritual) alacrity.
He who cheerfully goes alone on a journey--(if he goes) with companions his progress is increased a hundredfold.
Notwithstanding the grossness of the ass, it (the ass) is exhilarated, O dervish, by comrades (of its own kind) and becomes capable of (exerting) strength.
To any ass that goes alone (and away) from the caravan the road is (made) a hundredfold (longer) by fatigue.
How many more goadings and cudgellings does it suffer that it may cross the desert (unaccompanied and) alone !
That ass is saying to you (implicitly), ' Take good heed! Don't travel alone like this, unless you are an ass ! '
Beyond doubt he who cheerfully goes alone into the custom-house will go more cheerfully (when he is) with companions.
Every prophet (that walked) on this straight road produced evidentiary miracles and sought fellow-travellers.
Were it not for the help given by the walls, how should houses and magazines arise?
If each wall be separated (from the others), how shall the roof remain suspended in the air?
If no help be given by ink and pen, how shall the writing come on to the surface of the paper?
If this rush-mat which some one is spreading were not joined together (interwoven), the wind would carry it away.
Since God created pairs of every kind, therefore (all) results are produced by means of union.THE SARASWATI SOCIETY
Those who seek truth are welcome to contact the society with a view to joining the satsang group.
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