Suhrawardi - Three Treatises on Mysticism.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

30
proof against fire. 1 And the morning breeze comes from
his breath, therefore the lovers tell it the secrets of their
hearts and minds.
And all that has been written here is concealed from
what is in the breast; a part of it is a brief account of him
and his note,
First Part about the Beginnings and it has three
Chapters.
Chapter
Chapter
one on the excellence of this science.
two on what appears to the Ahl-i-13aday&.
Chapter three on Tranquillity.
Second Part about the Ends and it has three
Chapters.
Chapter one on Annihilation.
Chapter two on The more learned one is the more perfect
Chapter three on The affirmation of man's relish towards the
Truth.
he is
PART ONE
ABOUT THE BEGINNINGS
CHAPTER ONE
ON THE EXCELLENCE OF THIS SCIENCE OVER ALL OTHER SCIENCES.
Be it not unknown to the light-hearted that the
preference
of a science to others is due to several
reasons. Firstly, the "known" should be nobler, e. g. goldsmithship
is preferable to pack-saddle-craft ;
because that
deals with gold and this other with wood and wool.
Secondly, because the arguments
stronger than those of any other science.
of this science are
1. Of. Encycl. of Islam s.v. Slmurgh s.v. and O. Spies in " Handwroerfcedbuch
des deutschen Maerchens, herg von L. Mackeusen, Vol. II, p,7L