pacious chamber. This is one of the signs of God. Guided indeed is he
whom God guideth; but for him whom He misleadeth, thou shalt by no means
find a patron."

If a man could know what lieth hid in this one verse, it would suffice
him. Wherefore, in praise of such as these, He hath said: "Men whom
neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of
God...."(102)

This station conferreth the true standard of knowledge, and freeth man
from tests. In this realm, to search after knowledge is irrelevant, for He
hath said concerning the guidance of travelers on this plane, "Fear God,
and God will instruct thee."(103) And again: "Knowledge is a light which
God casteth into the heart of whomsoever He willeth."(104)

Wherefore, a man should make ready his heart that it be worthy of the
descent of heavenly grace, and that the bounteous Cup-Bearer may give him
to drink of the wine of bestowal from the merciful vessel. "For the like
of this let the travailers travail!"(105)

And now do I say, "Verily we are from God, and to Him shall we
return."(106)

The Third Valley

If the loving seekers wish to live within the precincts of the Attracting
One (Majdhub),(107) no soul may dwell on this Kingly Throne save the
beauty of love. This realm is not to be pictured in words.

Love shunneth this world and that world too,
In him are lunacies seventy-and-two.
The minstrel of love harpeth this lay:
Servitude enslaveth, kingship doth betray.(108)

This plane requireth pure affection and the bright stream of fellowship.
In telling of these companions of the Cave He saith: "They speak not till
He hath spoken; and they do His bidding."(109)

On this plane, neither the reign of reason is sufficient nor the authority
of self. Hence, one of the Prophets of God hath asked: "O my Lord, how
shall we reach unto Thee?" And the answer came, "Leave thyself behind, and
then approach Me."

These are a people who deem the lowest place to be one with the throne of
glory, and to them beauty's bower differeth not from the field of a battle
fought in the cause of the Beloved.

The denizens of this plane speak no words--but they gallop their chargers.
They see but the inner reality of the Beloved. To them all words of sense
are meaningless, and senseless words are full of meaning. They cannot tell
one limb from another, one part from another. To them the mirage is the
real river; to them going away is returning. Wherefore h