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In the market, in the cloister--only God I saw by Baba Kuhi of Shiraz (980? - 1050) Timeline English version by Reynold A. Nicholson Original Language Persian/Farsi Muslim / Sufi 11th Century In the market, in the cloister--only God I saw. In the valley and on the mountain--only God I saw. Him I have seen beside me oft in tribulation; In favour and in fortune--only God I saw. In prayer and fasting, in praise and contemplation, In the religion of the Prophet--only God I saw. Neither soul nor body, accident nor substance, Qualities nor causes--only God I saw. I oped mine eyes and by the light of His face around me In all the eye discovered--only God I saw. Like a candle I was melting in His fire: Amidst the flames outflashing--only God I saw. Myself with mine own eyes I saw most clearly, But when I looked with God's eyes--only God I saw. I passed away into nothingness, I vanished, And lo, I was the All-living--only God I saw.     -- from The Mystics of Islam, by Reynold A. Nicholson Amazon.com	Themes   Fire   Light   Melting   Mountain   Recommended Books The Mystics of Islam, by Reynold A. Nicholson
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

This poem beautifully conveys the sense one has in the deepest union in which you only see the Divine. You can still see the forms about you, mountains and valleys, you are still aware of tribulation and the strain of fasting, as well as the elation of prayer and the peace of contemplation -- but all of that seems like a shifting glaze upon the surface of the Divine which is everywhere. Nothing has any real or tangible substance in and of itself. Even your own body, even your own sense of individuality, are seen as phantom-like, the very idea of them disappearing into that living radiance.

No matter where you look, you find yourself proclaiming -- "only God I saw."

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
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