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The Eighth Lesson: Sufiism.1283
facts of the case, as above stated. Misunderstood, the Sufi poems must seem
indeed like a blasphemous mingling of sensuality and religion, so that one
can scarcely blame writers like the Rev. W. R. Inge, who states that “The Sufis,
or Mahommedan Mystics, use erotic language very freely and appear like
true Asiatics, to have attempted to give a sacramental or symbolic character
to the indulgence of their passions.” The Rev. Inge also accuses the Sufis of
being most shocking and blasphemous, but his idea of shocking blasphemy
may be understood when it is remembered that he blames Emerson with
“playing with pantheistic Mysticism of the Oriental type,” and accuses him of
resembling the Persian Sufis in some respects. He merely lacked the crystalspectacles
of Understanding, when he read the Persian poems—that is all.
Let us quote you from some of these “shocking and blasphemous” erotic
Persian poets—these God-drunken souls, using the poetical imagery of
their land to express that which was the love of the All-Good; All-Beautiful,
to them. The following lines are from the poems of Jalalud-Din Rumi, one of
the greatest of the Sufi poets:
“Our Journey is to the Rose-Garden of Union.”
* * *
“Come! Come! Thou art the Soul, the Soul so dear, revolving!
Come! Come! Thou art the Cedar, the Cedar’s Spear, revolving!
Oh, come! The well of Light up-bubbling springs;
And Morning Stars exult, in Gladness sheer, revolving!”
* * *
“I am silent. Speak Thou, O Soul of Soul of Soul,
From desire of whose Face every atom grew articulate.”
* * *
“Give my heart-babe milk, relieve us from its weeping,
O Thou that helpest, every moment a hundred helpless like me.
Thy heart’s home, first to last, is Thy City of Union:
How long wilt Thou keep In exile this heart forlorn?”