III
Necessary Lessons
26
Wisdom comes from knowing wisdom.
Wisdom means knowing oneself.
If you do not know yourself
what is the point of reading books?
The point of reading
is to know something real.
Since you have read and do not know it,
reading is useless.
Don't say, "I've read, I've learned."
Don't say, "I've worshipped a lot."
If you don't accept the Perfect Man,
all other works are futile.
The meaning of the Four Books
is clear and complete
It shows itself in the first letter
aleph.
If you don't know what aleph is
what do you know of reading?
You recite every syllable of the alphabet.
You say "Aleph," but how little it means.
Yunus Emre says:
"Hey Hoja, you've made a thousand pilgrimages
but never been welcomed by a single heart."
27
If you've broken a single heart
the prayers you make aren't accepted.
The seventy-two peoples of the world
could not Wash your hands and face.
So many masters have come and gone.
They migrated. Their ancient lands remain.
They opened their wings
and flew to Reality*
not as geese but as eagles.
A way is true if it's straight.
An eye is that which can see the Real.
And doing good
even once is no small thing
Can return a thousandfold.
Yunus combines words
as if mixing honey into butter.
He's in business among people
with goods of the highest worth.
28
Those who became complete
didn't live this life in hypocrisy
didn't learn the meaning of things
by reading commentaries.
Reality is an ocean; the Law is a ship.
Many have never left the ship
never jumped into the sea.
They might have come to Worship
but they stopped at rituals.
They never knew or entered the Inside.
Those who think the Four Books
were meant to be talked abou,
who have only read explanations
and never entered meaning
are really in sin.
Yunus means "true friend"
for one whose journey has begun.
Until We transform our Names,
we haven't found the Way.
29
I am a Sufi in the eyes of the people.
I go around with prayer beads in hand.
My tongue speaks of knowledge
my heart doesn't accept.
I wear a diploma around my neck,
and yet my prayers aren't real.
Worries occupy my mind
and I can't keep my eyes on the Way.
My speaking of knowledge is a kind of lie.
I can't be modest
pride never leaves my heart.
Although I look like a dervish,
I have no patience at all
and I am full of doubts.
Whatever goes in my ears
never reaches the inside.
Those who see me kiss my hand,
they look at my jacket and hat.
They think I am free from sin.
Outwardly I lecture and lead prayers;
inside, in my heart's bazaar
are things even a sly man
wouldn't dream of in a thousand years.
Yunus, put your need in front of Allah.
He is Generous
He does not do what you do.
30
Before you're able to give your soul
you Want the Beloved.
Before you discard the rope of doubt
you Want faith.
You repeat
"He who knows himself knows his Lord."*
But you haven't known
and you want to surpass the angels
You're a child who Wants to jump on a horse
and ride into the game without a polo stick.
You don't know you're a pearl
within mother-of-pearl.
Without first ruling Egypt,
you want the land of Canaan.
Yunus, endure every trouble as Job did.
Don't take the remedy before the pain.
* A saying of Muhammad's, peace and blessings upon him.
31
Sorrowful one, why do you go around in tears?
If my Lord causes me to weep
surely He will make me laugh some day.
So many of the sorrowful landed here,
then migrated back.
If my lord causes me to weep
surely He will make me laugh some day.
This suffering is my dearest companion.
When my sighs and tears rise up
His gifts and kindness are the cause.
If my Lord causes you to weep
surely He will make you laugh some day.
All the while, turn your face toward the Truth
all the while, remember His name.
He gives grief to those He favors.
If my Lord cause you to weep
surely He will make you laugh some day.
Don't leave this poor head of yours in love
or bloody tears will flow.
He is generous, He even makes repairs.
If my Lord causes you to weep
surely He will make you laugh some day.
Yunus, so many states before your eyes
so many places to stop.
Stop and call your Lord night and day.
If my Lord causes you to weep
surely He will make you laugh some day.
32
Don't advise those who aren't in love.
The unloving, like animals, can't understand.
Don't distance yourself from the wise
but avoid the shallow.
The ungiving disappoint God.
They cannot see His face.
Don't waste time on drab pigeons
who consort with moles
who avoid the deep-diving loon.
Falcon and King, each praises the other.
Even a weak falcon is a falcon still.
And if you wash some dark stone for fifty years,
you won't really transform it.
The hidden sun, Muhammed, changed appearance
Some say he died. He never does.
Yunus, don't be stupid, mix with the mature.
A fool who talks of spiritual things is still a fool.