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Jewish 11th Century	About Shelomo ibn Gabirol Timeline (1021? - 1058)
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English version by Bernard Lewis Original Language Hebrew	Thou art One
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Heart           Recommended Books The Heart and the Fountain: An Anthology of Jewish Mystical Experiences, by Joseph Dan Music of a Distant Drum: Classical Arabic, Persian, Turkish & Hebrew Poems, Translated by Bernard Lewis The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse, Edited by T. Carmi Poetry for the Spirit: Poems of Universal Wisdom and Beauty, Edited by Alan Jacobs	Thou art One, the beginning of all computation, the base of all construction. Thou art One, and in the mystery of Thy Oneness the wise of heart are astonished, for they know not what it is. Thou art One, and Thy Oneness neither diminishes nor increases, neither lacks nor exceeds. Thou art One, but not as the One that is counted or owned, for number and change cannot reach Thee, nor attribute, nor form. Thou art One, but my mind is too feeble to set Thee a law or a limit, and therefore I say: "I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue." Thou art One, and Thou art exalted high above abasement and falling -- not like a man, who falls when he is alone.     -- from The Heart and the Fountain: An Anthology of Jewish Mystical Experiences, by Joseph Dan Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

This poem by the Spanish Jewish poet and Kabbalist Ibn Gabirol has a definite nondualist perspective. This doesn't read like a routine work of devotion; it has the feel of a mystic with direct experience struggling with the limitation of words to expess the ineffable nature divine wholeness. "Thou art One, and in the mystery of Thy Oneness the wise of heart are astonished, for they know not what it is."

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