Showing that the education of the Self has three stages: Obedience, Self control, and Divine Vicegrency

1. Obedience

Service and toil are traits of the camel, Patience and perseverance are ways of the camel.

Noiselessly he steps along the sandy track, He is the ship of those who voyage in the desert.

Every thicket knows the print of his foot: He eats seldom, sleeps little, and is inured to toil.

He carries rider, baggage, and litter; He trots on and on to the journey's end.

Rejoicing in his speed, More patient in travel than his rider.

Thou, too, do not refuse the burden of Duty: So wilt thou enjoy the best dwelling-place, which is with God.

Endeavour to obey, O heedless one! Liberty is the fruit of compulsion.

By obedience the man of no worth is made worthy; By disobedience his fire is turned to ashes.

Whoso would master the sun and stars, Let him make himself a prisoner of Law!

The wind is enthralled by the fragrant rose; The perfume is confined in the navel of the musk-deer.

The star moves towards its goal With head bowed in surrender to a law.

The grass springs up in obedience to the law of growth: When it abandons that, it is trodden underfoot.

To burn unceasingly is the law of the tulip And so the blood leaps in its veins.

Drops of water become a sea by the law of union, And grains of sand become a Sahara.

Since Law makes everything strong within, Why dost thou neglect this source of strength?

O thou that art emancipated from the old Custom Adorn thy feet once more with the same fine silver chain.

Do not complain of the hardness of the Law, Do not transgress the statutes of Mohammed!

2. Self-control

Thy soul cares only for itself, like the camel: It is self-conceited, self-governed, and self-willed.

Be a man, get its halter into thine hand, That thou mayst become a pearl albeit thou art a potter's vessel.

He that does not command himself Becomes a receiver of commands from others.

When they moulded thee of clay, Love and fear were mingled in thy making.

Fear of this world and of the world to come, fear of death, Fear of all the pains of earth and heaven.

Love of riches and power, love of country, Love of self and kindred and wife.

The mixing of clay with water nourishes the body, But he that is drowned in sin dies an evil death.

So long as thou hold’st the staff of "There is no God but He, Thou wilt break every spell of fear.

One to whom God is as the soul in his body, His neck is not bowed before vanity.

Fear finds no way into his bosom, His heart is afraid of none but Allah.

Whoso dwells in the Moslem Faith Is free from the bonds of wife and child.

He withdraws his gaze from all except God And lays the knife to the throat of his son.

Though single, he is like a host in onset: Life is cheaper in his eyes than wind.

The profession of Faith is the shell, but prayer is the pearl: The Moslem's heart deems prayer a lesser pilgrimage.

In the Moslem's hand prayer is like a dagger Killing sin and frowardness and wrong.

Fasting makes an assault upon hunger and thirst And breaches the citadel of sensuality.

The pilgrimage enlightens the minds of the Faithful: It teaches separation from one's home and destroys attachment to one's native land.

It is an act of devotion in which all feel themselves to be one, It binds together the leaves of the book of religion.

Almsgiving causes love of riches to pass away And makes equality familiar.

It fortifies the heart with righteousness, It increases wealth and diminishes fondness for wealth.

All this is a means of strengthening thee: Thou art impregnable, if thy Islam be strong.

Draw might from the litany "O Almighty One!" That thou mayst ride the camel of thy body.

3. Divine Vicegerency

If thou canst rule thy camel, thou wilt rule the world And wear on thine head the crown of Solomon.

Thou wilt be the glory of the world whilst the world lasts, And thou wilt reign in the kingdom incorruptible.

Tis sweet to be God's vicegerent in the world And exercise sway over the elements.

God's vicegerent is as the soul of the universe, His being is the shadow of the Greatest Name.

He knows the mysteries of part and whole, He executes the command of Allah in the world.

When he pitches his tent in the wide world, He rolls up this ancient carpet.

His genius abounds with life and desires to manifest itself: He will bring another world into existence.

A hundred worlds like this world of parts and wholes Spring up, like roses, from the seed of his imagination.

He makes every raw nature ripe, He puts the idols out of the sanctuary.

Heart-strings give forth music at his touch, He wakes and sleeps for God alone.

He teaches age the melody of youth And endows everything with the radiance of youth.

To the human race he brings both a glad message and a warning, He comes both as a soldier and as a marshal and prince.

He is the final cause of "God taught Adam the names of all things He is the inmost sense of "Glory to Him that transported His servant by night."

His white hand is strengthened by the staff His knowledge is twinned with the power of a perfect man.

When that bold cavalier seizes the reins, The steed of Time gallops faster.

His awful mien makes the Red Sea dry, He leads Israel out of Egypt.

At his cry, "Arise," the dead spirits Rise in their bodily tomb, like pines in the field.

His person is an atonement for all the world, By his grandeur the world is saved.

His protecting shadow makes the mote familiar with the sun, His rich substance makes precious all that exists.

He bestows life by miraculous works, He founds a new system to work by.

Splendid visions rise from the print of his foot, Many a Moses is entranced by his Sinai.

He gives a new explanation of Life, A new interpretation of this dream.

His hidden being is Life's mystery, The unheard music of Life's harp.

Nature travails in blood for generations To compose the harmony of his personality.

When our handful of earth has reached the zenith, That champion will come forth from this dust.

There sleeps amidst the ashes of To-day The flame of a world-consuming morrow.

Our bud enfolds a garden of roses, Our eyes are bright with to-morrow's dawn.

Appear, O rider of Destiny! Appear, O light of the dark realm of Change!

Illumine the scene of existence, Dwell in the blackness of our eyes!

Silence the noise of the nations, Imparadise our ears with thy music.

Arise and tune the harp of brotherhood, Give us back the cup of the wine of love!

Bring once more days of peace to the world, Give a message of peace to them that seek battle!

Mankind are the cornfield and thou the harvest, Thou art the goal of Life's caravan.

The leaves are scattered by Autumn's fury: Oh, do thou pass over our gardens as the Spring!

Receive from our downcast brows The homage of little children and of young men and old!

When thou art there, we will lift up our heads, Content to suffer the burning fire of this world.