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A Series of Lessons on the Inner Teachings of the Philosophies and Religions of India1274
every man’s soul as a mirror in which was reflected the Image of God, and
which image constituted the Spirit with each man, and which was his true
Self. There is a great difference between the conception of the Indwelling
Spirit—the Immanent God, and that of the “I Am God” teachers.
One of the most confusing points about the Sufi teachings, to the Western
mind, is the symbology of the writers, and the corresponding fact that many
of their sacred writings seem to be mere voluptuous and bacchanalian
rhapsodies, filled with references to “the grape,” or “the vine,” or the “red wine,
and wine-cup,” as well as praises of “the Beloved Damsel”; the “Beloved”; the
“Embrace of Love”; the “Nuptial Couch”; and much other imagery which to
the Western mind is connected, with subjects far removed from religion and
devotion. But when one has the key, and recognizes, as does the Persian,
that in these verses there is to be seen two separate meanings, besides the
five mystical meanings, which are claimed for all mystic poetry, there may be
an understanding.
The cause of this peculiar style lies in the fact that outside of the natural
exuberant imagery of the Oriental mind, which the West finds difficult to
understand, there always has been the necessity of the Sufi veiling his inner
meaning beneath the form of current poetical subjects. Surrounded on all
sides by the hordes of ignorant, bigoted, fanatical orthodox Mahommedans,
the Sufi has been compelled to take refuge in this peculiar symbology. To
the Persian, and particularly to the Sufi mystic, there must always be a “veil”
before the outer and vulgar meaning of the verses, which veil must be pulled
aside by the elect before they may see the beauties which lie behind the
covering—the vulgar see nothing but the painted veil with its gross, sensual
figures appearing thereon, which veil is boldly pulled aside by those who
Understand, and who would see the truth Behind the Veil.
This symbolism is based upon the Ecstasy of the Recognition of the
God Within—the Presence of the Indwelling Spirit. And accordingly, “The
Embrace” means the ecstasy of the conscious Union with Divinity; the
“Wedding” the entrance into the Knowledge; the “Wine” the Sufi Mystical