The first stage is the design of the picture; that is predestination. We all begin with this. We are the manifestation of the eternal Sun, and therefore all the attributes of the Creator must be in the creature. Before doing anything do we not plan it? In our mind we have created it. The Creator acted thus, and so do we. We do it with a pen; He does it with nature. His art is nature. The Qur'an says that Allah taught man by the pen of His nature. It is our nature to create and by creating our art in harmony with nature we can prove our skill. The art we produce is according to the nature of ourselves, for we are the creator.
Secondly, the picture appears on the paper; this is the present stage.
Thirdly, the picture itself inspires the painter. As it progresses he sees that in a certain place there ought to be a different color; this is not right, that is not right, and so on. And as he looks at the picture, he sees its faults, and so he alters it here and there. So it is with each life. One stage of our life is predestined, the next part is that which we perform, and a third part of our life is that which is the effect of our actions. As we sow, so we reap. All that we do, we see in its reaction, and the reaction changes our life. The painter sees he must finish the picture differently, and so our actions tell us whether we ought to act differently.

A man always wants to know things he does not know; this dates from infancy. Children break things to see what is inside. But man does not know how to know; he expects too much. When he knows how to know, then heaven and earth are both revealed to him. If we want to see what is on the seventh floor, we must leave the ground floor. If we are on the first floor and cannot get to the higher floors, it means, as mysticism shows, that we certainly do wish to go up, but are captives on the first floor. That is the captivity.

Rumi said, "The bamboo flute, what is it that the flute says that makes you like it so much? Why does it mourn? Why does it so attract your attention? What is it that appeals to you? It mourns for the separation that it suffers; because it has been parted from its home, and has lost its original plant, the bamboo. It was cut off from its proper place. It mourns for the days when it was one with the whole bamboo tree; it mourns for the joy and the peace which it has enjoyed, but can never receive again. It is the parting for which it mourns, and through which it appeals to you."

So has it been with man.

Vol. 7, In an Eastern Rose Garden

The Knowledge of Past, Present, and Future

-ALL-

Vol. 7, In an Eastern Rose Garden

The Knowledge of Past, Present, and Future