light of reunion. He had driven one who was afar, into
the garden of nearness, had guided an ailing soul to the heart's
physician.

Now if the lover could have looked ahead, he would have blessed the
watchman at the start, and prayed on his behalf, and he would have seen
that tyranny as justice; but since the end was veiled to him, he moaned
and made his plaint in the beginning. Yet those who journey in the garden
land of knowledge, because they see the end in the beginning, see peace in
war and friendliness in anger.

Such is the state of the wayfarers in this Valley; but the people of the
Valleys above this see the end and the beginning as one; nay, they see
neither beginning nor end, and witness neither "first" nor "last."(24) Nay
rather, the denizens of the undying city, who dwell in the green garden
land, see not even "neither first nor last"; they fly from all that is
first, and repulse all that is last. For these have passed over the worlds
of names, and fled beyond the worlds of attributes as swift as lightning.
Thus is it said: "Absolute Unity excludeth all attributes."(25) And they
have made their dwelling-place in the shadow of the Essence.

Wherefore, relevant to this, Khajih 'Abdu'llah(26)--may God the Most High
sanctify his beloved spirit--hath made a subtle point and spoken an
eloquent word as to the meaning of "Guide Thou us on the straight
path,"(27) which is: "Show us the right way, that is, honor us with the
love of Thine Essence, that we may be freed from turning toward ourselves
and toward all else save Thee, and may become wholly Thine, and know only
Thee, and see only Thee, and think of none save Thee."

Nay, these even mount above this station, wherefore it is said:

Love is a veil betwixt the lover and the loved one;
More than this I am not permitted to tell.(28)

At this hour the morn of knowledge hath arisen and the lamps of wayfaring
and wandering are quenched.(29)

Veiled from this was Moses
Though all strength and light;
Then thou who hast no wings at all,
Attempt not flight.(30)

If thou be a man of communion and prayer, soar up on the wings of
assistance from Holy Souls, that thou mayest behold the mysteries of the
Friend and attain to the lights of the Beloved, "Verily, we are from God
and to Him shall we return."(31)

After passing through the Valley of knowledge, which is the last plane of
limitation, the wayfarer cometh to

The Valley of Unity

and