The Company of a Good Friend: Ansari

Happy to make the acquaintance of Sufi poet Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, born on this day in 1006; and to read his sacred text: 'Intimate Conversations with God' so many hundreds of years later. 

From the un-manifest I came,
And pitched my tent, in the Forest of Material existence.
I passed through mineral and vegetable kingdoms,
Then my mental equipment carried me into the animal kingdom;
Having reached there I crossed beyond it;
Then in the crystal clear shell of human heart
I nursed the drop of self in a Pearl,
And in association with good men
Wandered round the Prayer House,
And having experienced that, crossed beyond it;
Then I took the road that leads to Him,
And became a slave at His gate;
Then the duality disappeared
And I became absorbed in Him.

I've always been drawn to the poetry of Sufi writings. How does anyone adequately express the inexpressible?! It's Soul-Speak; poetry. There are so many gems in this one little text of soul utterances.

 I particularly like: 

'On the path of God
two places of worship mark the stages:
the Material Temple,
and the Tempe of the Heart.
make your best endeavour
to worship at the Temple of the Heart.'

'If thou lovest this world,
it will fail thee.
If thou lovest God,
He will set thee free.'

A familiar text, spoken by Jesus & known by everyone as the 'Do as you would be done by' rule. Or, what goes around, comes around'. Sound advice at any time.

Ansari adds:

'The company of a good friend 
is the light of the soul.
The company of an ungodly person
is the poison of Life.
A snake is preferable to a faithless friend.'

'Be a rose and not a thorn!
Be a friend and not an enemy!'

More guidance from Ansari:

'The Law of Life requires:
1. Sincerity to God
2. Severity to Self
3. Justice to all people
4. Service to elders
5. Kindness to the young
6. Generosity to the poor
7. Good counsel to friends
8. Forbearance with enemies
9. Indifference to fools
10. Respect to the learned.

'He that knoweth 
All that happens is from Him
is freed from tribulation'.

'Even a prison
radiates happiness
if love for thee
fills the heart.'

As I had in mind these little aphorisms were like gems, it seemed appropriate to include this quote from another Sufi poet, Rumi: