The Enclosed Garden of the Truth · 47 of 92

Of the Learned Man and the Fool

OF THE LEARNED MAN AND THE FOOL. The shaikh of Jurjân said to his son, "Thou must have a house in this street for thy private pursuits; and it will be well if the lock be a cunning one."

Contrive thy finery in the path of renunciation with its head of the Law, and its secret parts of the Unity; and enter this lodging of trouble and distress like a traveller, and quickly pass on from it. At the door of the garden of Except God strip off and make away with thy coat and cap; become naught, that He himself, engaging thee to answer, may with justice call to thee, "To whom belongs the kingdom?"