7/29/2019 Tale of the Artisan Final Proof Copy

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Once, an accomplished artisan, contemplating an idea, acquired wax.He was skilled in his art and had demonstrated it.

He obtained many-hued wax as was required by the circumstance,His expertise became evident when the diverse colours were mixed.

Every form or object has two faces.One is Substance and the other is Form.

The real nature of wax is the pure wax-syrup.The second face of the wax is its form

Howsoever one moulds itIt will accordingly take that shape.

Whatever is real does not change.Whereas an object has no substantial essence.

Though wax is the source of the whole artIt remains hidden in the light of the manifestation.

When the quality of limitation is removed from objectsThe wax, in the end, remains as pure wax.

The artisan commands through his knowledgeAnd reveals the manifold forms of objects.

He fashions an image of a tree in his mindAnd proceeds to make it out of wax.

He made various sizes of trunks, branches, and leaves big and small,Buds and flowers; some fresh and some withered.Many ripe and raw fruits did he make.

Then randomly, he joined the different piecesAnd named thema tree and raised it up.

Based on the trees distinctive structurePeople said, this is such and such tree.

Howsoever the artisan conceived the shapeHe manifested it with an assigned name.

O dear one, do we call the tree the art of the artisan or his knowledge?Or do we call it wax or the result of tools and craftsmanship?

Though the tree is the product of all theseIt appears to be different when perceived .

When the wax took the distinct form of a treeEssence became hidden in the midst of art.

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Perhaps to say that everything is real is stupid,Again to say that everything is false is equally unfitting.

If you split a betel leaf it is still a betel leaf.Again if you spoil a flower it is still a flower.

Likewise everything has a unique name.What was it previously? And how did it attain this honour now?

If you rub all the individual parts down to their essenceThey become wax again after giving up their myriad forms.

Form and formlessness Verily we are from God and to Him we shall return.

Though one real face is manifestedIt is hidden in the multiplicity of forms.

When you go beyond the multiplicity of forms

Constancy becomes the real face of Divinity.

The true meaning of everything returns to its originBecomes visible and clear through His grace.

Objects become manifest arising from the core of the Artisan.When it remained His knowledge, no on could see the wax as a tree;

And after its existence, it is reabsorbedInto the core of the Artisan.

People possessed with reason say, it is perpetually a tree,Because they are devoid of the knowledge of the trees source.

People possessed with vision,Say,It is purely wax, when they behold a tree.They are resolute in their knowledge of the source.

People of reason and those of vision have beheld the treeEither as an expression or as true essence.

However, in the phenomenon of the tree,Both witnessed the beauty (jamaal) of the Artisan.

When Knowledge engaged in creation,The tree became the site of manifestation.

Those who are the upholders of Unity and are unwavering,Behold the beauty of the Artisan in the form of the tree.They see the Artisan in the light ofall creation.

O Khadre Alam, reflect on the qualities of DivinityYou will then know the essence of existence.