Riddle
by Gharib NawazEnglish version by Peter Lamborn Wilson and Nasrollah Pourjavady
Original Language Persian/Farsi
Lord,
whose face is this
reflected in spirit's mirror?
Such beauty painted
on the inner screen--
who is he?
Each atom
in all space
is filled...
Who transcends the galaxies,
shows himself in every molecule--
who is he?
Sun
in the costume
of various specks of dust
sparks forth various rays
of light at every moment--
who is he?
Outwardly
you appear in the meat
of our existence
but he who is hidden
in soul's marrow--
who is he?
In soul's fete
every now and again he sings
a new song, melodies of peace
touching the veils
of the people of the heart--
who is he?
He who manifests himself
upon himself
makes love to himself
in the name
of lovers--
who is he?
How many times, Mo'in
will you drag yourself and me
between us?
He, the goal of I and thou,
is there -- right there!
Who is he?
 | -- from The Drunken Universe: An Anthology of Persian Sufi Poetry, Translated by Peter Lamborn Wilson / Translated by Nasrollah Pourjavady |
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A riddle for us today--
Lord,
whose face is this
reflected in spirit's mirror?
Such beauty painted
on the inner screen--
who is he?
The thinking mind, every eager for praise, says this is an easy riddle. Clearly the poet is speaking of God.
Having answered, the mind believes it can then dismiss the question and move on to the next puzzle. But answering the puzzle is not the same thing as solving it.
We are speaking of the mystic's grand mysteries here, not a word game to be neatly tied up with a conceptual answer, but to be witnessed, experienced directly. We don't answer this question, we participate in it, we give ourselves to it, and thus know.
Each atom
in all space
is filled...
Who transcends the galaxies,
shows himself in every molecule--
who is he?
There is a riddle within a riddle here. How is it that the immense Eternal, transcending the vast universe, can still be discovered within the smallest mote of creation?
How is it that the great Unity is still found at the heart of every atom of separated reality?
Sun
in the costume
of various specks of dust
sparks forth various rays
of light at every moment--
who is he?
How does the One Light divide itself into every ray and glimmer? How is the radiant measure of time found within time?
We look without and see a world, a universe, expanses beyond the mind's comprehension. Small patterns join into great tapestries, multiplicities form a unified vision. And the One is all that and more.
Yet-- when we look within, into the heart of the smallest grain or the mirror of one's own soul, instead of smallness, we again see expanses! How can the individual contain that which contains the stars? An impossibility! Yet the mystic sees it is so.
The intellect, having quickly answered its question, is content -- and remains blind. But the full awareness, fully engaged, sees the full mystery, and in its awe is unable to answer.
He, the goal of I and thou,
is there -- right there!
Who is he?
Recommended Books: Gharib Nawaz
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| The Drunken Universe: An Anthology of Persian Sufi Poetry | ||||
