renderings. Their wings could not resist unfurling, breaking out of conventional space and cultural-bound time, hoping to lift many in the wake of their freedom. How did that ever happen?
Emerson read Goethe’s versions and was deeply moved by them. Emerson was also an earnest student of a wide variety of books of Eastern philosophy, religion, history, and poetry. In the spring of 1846, Emerson purchased Hammer-Purgstall’s Hafiz translations from the bookstore of his friend, Elizabeth Peabody.
(The Beloved’s name in all things; the Perfect Master and divine love)
I hear the voice Of every creature and plant, Every world and sun and galaxy— Singing the Beloved’s Name!
A Perfect Master experiences life as an infinite and continuous flow of divine love, swirling in, around and through all forms of life and all realms of creation. It is an experience of total unity with all life and all beings. A Perfect Master personifies perfect joy, perfect knowing, and perfect love and expresses these qualities in every activity of life.
If you knew the glorious end of your journey, at least half of your attention could be lifted from anything you can now focus on that may cause you pain.
I wonder how God ever gets any work done when He could just be gazing at Himself in awe all day? What discipline He shows.
(God’s applause, dissolving in the infinite, and listening as devotion)
GOD IS APPLAUDING God is applauding our every act, but He hides that reality from most, until we can understand more about real love.
DISSOLVING IN THE INFINITE I have opened all the windows in my house. Eagles fly in and out, as do any words that are spoken about me. Anything my ears might detect, firsthand or second… I might give that news a moment’s attention and then just let it be the tiny evaporating whiff of smoke it is, dissolving in the Infinite.
HOW DO I LISTEN? How do I listen to others? As if everyone were my Master speaking to me his cherished last words. How do I listen to you? As if you were the Alpha and Omega of all sound.
Put a saddle on every particle of space and ride like a wild cowboy, and just keep going. Having fun everywhere, while you sink your spurs deeper into all Being— and into what can be called God… Who then just laughs.
There is something I have seen in the interior of Muhammad that is the luminous root of all in existence, independent of space and time’s novice dance across a single lute string of the infinite.
(Enlightenment, joy, and freedom from fear of God)
It is a great injustice and a monumental act of cruelty for any religion to make someone fear God.
Study those who sing the most, but are free of criticism or praise. Following that advice, things turned out just as I suspected: I started spending more time with birds.
What is true enlightenment? It is knowing everything is rave-worthy, but having the balance, the discernment, to withhold your applause at times, when there are young souls near… or people trying to sleep.
If your heart can not find a joyful work, then the jaws of this world will probably grab hold of your—sweet ass.
There is really no place for I can’t in love. A thought like that goes against the grain of light’s astounding ability. I saw caring’s beauty in action; there was a splendor there I needed to imbibe. But such a force, mastery in service, it tears you from your moorings, it will bring you into an arena where a gladiator you will need to become, but one that may never get cheered. Some heroic deed you will do in silence, for that is greatness’s preference—no fame. If the world comes to know you, be a good host to the attention you get. Use all as a tool, dear, to build a shelter for your mind, and others in need.
(Loneliness, love, and pure divine love as a smashing force)
NOVEMBER 6 MY EYES SO SOFT Don’t surrender your loneliness so quickly. Let it cut more deep. Let it ferment and season you as few human or even divine ingredients can. Something missing in my heart tonight has made my eyes so soft, my voice so tender, my need of God absolutely clear.
NOVEMBER 9 HOW FASCINATING How fascinating the idea of death can be. Too bad, though, because it just isn’t true.
Pure divine love is no meek priest or tight banker; it will smash all your windows and only then throw in the holy gifts.
THE SUBJECT TONIGHT IS LOVE The subject tonight is love, and for tomorrow night as well. As a matter of fact, I know of no better topic for us to discuss until we all die!
(Forgiveness as treasure; the student who learned to go looking for trouble)
FORGIVENESS IS THE CASH Forgiveness is the cash you need. All the other kinds of silver really buy just strange things.
Forgiveness is part of the treasure you need to craft your falcon wings and return to your true realm, our true realm of divine freedom.
JUST LOOKING FOR TROUBLE I once had a student who would sit alone in his house at night shivering with anxiety and fear. And come morning, he would often look as though he had been raped by a ghost. Then one day my compassion crafted him a knife from my own divine sword. Since then, I have become very proud of this student. For now, come evening, not only has he lost all his apprehensions; now he goes out just looking for trouble.
That is why Hafiz says, “Bring your cup near me, for I am a Sweet Old Vagabond with an infinite leaking barrel of Light and Laughter and Truth that the Beloved has tied to my back. Dear one, indeed, please bring your heart near me. For all I care about is quenching your thirst for freedom! All a sane man can ever care about is giving Love!”
(Everything is sacred; the world as grace)
Sing a few ribald songs to your pets and plants— why not let them get drunk and loose? Let’s toast every rung we’ve climbed on evolution’s ladder. Whisper, “I love you! I love you!” to the whole mad world. Let’s stop reading about God—we will never understand Him. Jump to your feet, wave your fists, threaten and warn the whole universe that your heart can no longer live without real and lasting feelings!
What is it in that sweet voice inside that incites you to fear? Now is the time for the world to know that every thought and action is sacred. This is the time for you to deeply compute the impossibility that there is anything but Grace. Now is the season to know that everything we do… is sacred.
November 29 There Is A Wonderful Game
And God, knowing all our thoughts, and all our thoughts are just innocent steps on the path, then addressed my heart, God revealed a sublime truth to the world when He sang, “I am made whole by your life. Each soul, each soul completes Me.”
Sit down with a name of God on your tongue, or let your spirit arms reach within and embrace something sacred there; you might begin to shine. All that lives in shadows, all names and forms, will then run from—or bow to—the king of the jungle… your soul, your soul.
Weeks went by, then months. The saint’s cheeks blossomed into beautiful roses. He became like a young bride, pregnant with a holy child. His gratitude was speechless, and his eyes shone like two planets making love.
Life went on, amidst the ten thousand other wonders: Whiskers and weeds and trees and charming babies kept emerging.
Galaxies gave away their ingenious ideas and told us of their private body functions. So man too, eats, burps and excretes more worlds.
Holy books were written trying to describe a mere kiss on the cheek
A lover’s pain is like holding one’s breath too long in the middle of a vital performance, in the middle of one of Creation’s favorite songs.
DROPPING KEYS The small man builds cages for everyone he knows, while the sage, who has to duck his head when the moon is low, keeps dropping keys all night long for the beautiful, rowdy prisoners.