Discourses of Rumi

86 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIpowerless, was living and not dead, and existedbefore the house was built. All these facts weknow, but we know them by proof. Such proof isnot permanent, and is soon forgotten. Lovers ofGod, however, being absorbed in God, have cometo know the Builder and have seen with the eye ofknowingness. They have eaten bread and salttogether, and mingled the two. The Builder isnever absent from their heart and their gaze. Menand women such as this pass away in God. Withthem, sin is not sin, and crime is not crime, sincethey are absorbed.A certain king ordered his slaves, every one, totake in their hand a golden cup to greet a guest.His favorite slave was also commanded to take acup. When the king showed his face, that specialslave, on beholding the king, lost control of himselfand was overwhelmed. The cup fell from hishand and was shattered. When the other slavessaw this they said, “Perhaps we should do this aswell,” and they cast down their cups deliberately.“Why did you do that?” the king scoldedthem.