Discourses of Rumi

FIHI MA FIHI V 91ferent and can easily be distinguished. In the samemanner there are stages of travel from Konya toCaesarea that are distinct and well-known: Onemust pass Qaimaz, Uprukh, Sultan, and so forth.But the stages by sea from Antalya to Alexandriaare without landmarks. The ship’s captain knowsthe signs, but they are not shared with landsmensince landsmen cannot understand.The Amir said: “But even speaking about itimparts some benefit. We may not know everything,yet still we learn a little, and can find outand guess the rest.”Rumi replied: Yes indeed, by God! Someonesits wakeful through the dark night, thinking ofsome way to find the day. Though they do notknow how to get there, still, in waiting for daylight,the day approaches. Another person is travellingby caravan upon a dark night in a stormingrain. They do not know where they have gone,which way they are passing, or what distance theyhave covered, but when day comes they see theresults of that travelling and go on from there.Whoever labors for the glory of God, though boththeir eyes are sealed, their labor is not lost. Even