Ang-1301 — Chapter 82
Your body shall not suffer from any disease, and you shall obtain everything. ||78||
Fareed, the bird is a guest in this beautiful world-garden.
The morning drums are beating - get ready to leave! ||79||
Fareed, musk is released at night. Those who are sleeping do not receive their share.
Those whose eyes are heavy with sleep - how can they receive it? ||80||
Fareed, I thought that I was in trouble; the whole world is in trouble!
When I climbed the hill and looked around, I saw this fire in each and every home. ||81||
Fifth Mehl:
Fareed, in the midst of this beautiful earth, there is a garden of thorns.
Those humble beings who are blessed by their spiritual teacher, do not suffer even a scratch. ||82||
Fifth Mehl:
Fareed, life is blessed and beautiful, along with the beautiful body.
Only a rare few are found, who love their Beloved Lord. ||83||
O river, do not destroy your banks; you too will be asked to give your account.
The river flows in whatever direction the Lord orders. ||84||
Fareed, the day passes painfully; the night is spent in anguish.
The boatman stands up and shouts, "The boat is caught in the whirlpool!" ||85||
The river flows on and on; it loves to eat into its banks.
What can the whirlpool do to the boat, if the boatman remains alert? ||86||
Fareed, there are dozens who say they are friends; I search, but I cannot find even one.
I yearn for my beloved like a smouldering fire. ||87||
Fareed, this body is always barking. Who can stand this constant suffering?
I have put plugs in my ears; I don't care how much the wind is blowing. ||88||
Fareed, God's dates have ripened, and rivers of honey flow.
With each passing day, your life is being stolen away. ||89||
Fareed, my withered body has become a skeleton; the crows are pecking at my palms.
Even now, God has not come to help me; behold, this is the fate of all mortal beings. ||90||
The crows have searched my skeleton, and eaten all my flesh.
But please do not touch these eyes; I hope to see my Lord. ||91||
O crow, do not peck at my skeleton; if you have landed on it, fly away.
Do not eat the flesh from that skeleton, within which my Husband Lord abides. ||92||
Fareed, the poor grave calls out, "O homeless one, come back to your home.
You shall surely have to come to me; do not be afraid of death." ||93||
These eyes have seen a great many leave.
Fareed, the people have their fate, and I have mine. ||94||
God says, "If you reform yourself, you shall meet me, and meeting me, you shall be at peace.
O Fareed, if you will be mine, the whole world will be yours." ||95||
How long can the tree remain implanted on the river-bank?
Fareed, how long can water be kept in a soft clay pot? ||96||
Fareed, the mansions are vacant; those who lived in them have gone to live underground.
✦ Connected Across Traditions
The Golden Rule
Matthew 7:12
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Hadith (An-Nawawi 13)
“None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
Leviticus 19:18
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mahabharata 5.1517
“One should never do to another what one regards as injurious to oneself.”
Impermanence & Letting Go
Dhammapada 20:277
“All conditioned things are impermanent. When one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.”
Tao Te Ching 76
“A man is born gentle and weak. At his death he is hard and stiff. The soft and yielding is the disciple of life.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
Bhagavad Gita 2:22
“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.”
Humility & Surrender
Bhagavad Gita 18:66
“Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.”
Matthew 5:5
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Tao Te Ching 22
“If you want to become whole, let yourself be partial. If you want to become full, let yourself be empty.”
Quran 2:45
“Seek help through patience and prayer. It is indeed exacting, but not for those who are humble.”