| Kitáb-i-Íqán | 70 |
thy heart, and put thou away all shame; bid the
worldlywise be gone, however great their name."
The heart must needs therefore be cleansed from the idle sayings of men, and sanctified from every earthly affection, so that it may discover the hidden meaning of divine inspiration, and become the treasury of the mysteries of divine knowledge. Thus hath it been said: "He that treadeth the snow-white Path, and followeth in the footsteps of the Crimson Pillar, shall never attain unto his abode unless his hands are empty of those worldly things cherished by men." This is the prime requisite of whosoever treadeth this path. Ponder thereon, that, with eyes unveiled, thou mayest perceive the truth of these words.
We have digressed from the purpose of Our argument,
although whatsoever is mentioned serveth
only to confirm Our purpose. By God! however
great Our desire to be brief, yet We feel We cannot
restrain Our pen. Notwithstanding all that
We have mentioned, how innumerable are the
pearls which have remained unpierced in the shell
of Our heart! How many the huris of inner meaning
that are as yet concealed within the chambers
of divine wisdom! None hath yet approached