Observe, how thou art asleep in a dwelling, and its doors are barred; on a
sudden thou findest thyself in a far-off city, which thou enterest without
moving thy feet or wearying thy body; without using thine eyes, thou
seest; without taxing thine ears, thou hearest; without a tongue, thou
speakest. And perchance when ten years are gone, thou wilt witness in the
outer world the very things thou hast dreamed tonight.

Now there are many wisdoms to ponder in the dream, which none but the
people of this Valley can comprehend in their true elements. First, what
is this world, where without eye and ear and hand and tongue a man puts
all of these to use? Second, how is it that in the outer world thou seest
today the effect of a dream, when thou didst vision it in the world of
sleep some ten years past? Consider the difference between these two
worlds and the mysteries which they conceal, that thou mayest attain to
divine confirmations and heavenly discoveries and enter the regions of
holiness.

God, the Exalted, hath placed these signs in men, to the end that
philosophers may not deny the mysteries of the life beyond nor belittle
that which hath been promised them. For some hold to reason and deny
whatever the reason comprehendeth not, and yet weak minds can never grasp
the matters which we have related, but only the Supreme, Divine
Intelligence can comprehend them:

How can feeble reason encompass the Qur'an,
Or the spider snare a phoenix in his web?(58)

All these states are to be witnessed in the Valley of Wonderment, and the
traveler at every moment seeketh for more, and is not wearied. Thus the
Lord of the First and the Last in setting forth the grades of
contemplation, and expressing wonderment hath said: "O Lord, increase my
astonishment at Thee!"

Likewise, reflect upon the perfection of man's creation, and that all
these planes and states are folded up and hidden away within him.

Dost thou reckon thyself only a puny form
When within thee the universe is folded?(59)

Then we must labor to destroy the animal condition, till the meaning of
humanity shall come to light.

Thus, too, Luqman, who had drunk from the wellspring of wisdom and tasted
of the waters of mercy, in proving to his son Nathan the planes of
resurrection and death, advanced the dream as an evidence and an example.
We relate it here, that through this evanescent Servant a memory may
endure of that youth of the school of Divine Unity, t