My Dust and Dusty World

The source of the name of my second poetry book: The Dust of Annihilation

I have circled a while with the nine fathers in each heaven,

For years I have revolved with the stars in their signs.

I was in the kingdom of “or nearer’, I saw what I have seen.

I have nourishment from God, like a child in the womb;

man is born once, I have been born many times.

Closed in the mantle of corporeal limbs, I have busied myself often with affairs, and often I have rent this mantle with my own hands.

I have passed nights with ascetics ascetics in the monastery,

I have slept with infidels before the idols in the pagoda.

I am the theft of rogues, I am the pain of the sick,

I am both cloud and rain, I have rained in the meadows.

Never did the dust of annihilation settle on my skirt, O dervish!

I have gathered a wealth of roses in the meadow and garden of eternity.

I am not of water nor fire, I am not of the froward wind;

I am not molded clay: I have mocked transcended them all.

Oh son, I am not Shamsi Tabriz, I am the pure light;

if thou seest me, beware! Tell it not to any, that thou hast seen.

Page332-333

Divan-e-shams-eTabrizi

Rumi

Nicholson

Reynold Alleyne nicholson (1868-1945

Jalaluddin Rumi 1207-1273

I am indeed dressed like a priest, but priest I am not for the dust of the world still clings to me.

page 54 Basho, The narrow road to the deep north

I like to wash, by way of experiment, the dust of this world in the droplets of dew.

BASHO page 57

Dust (ghobar)

Dust symbolizes the veil that arises from desires of the naps, and the consequences of the passions which obstruct the wayfarer on the Path

e.g.

“The heart - mirror of kings, is covered with dust;

I seek from God the company of an illuminated man.

Hafez

page 30-31

Sufi Symbolism

volume four

Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh

Recent Posts