Discourses of Rumi

160 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIhave achieved union, and other saints beyondthose, called the Veiled Ones of God. The formersaints are ever pleading humbly, “Oh Lord God,show us one of Thy Veiled Ones.” Now as forthose tavern-haunting braggarts, of course theycannot reach or see what their own boastinghides. How can one see the Veiled Ones of God,or know them without their will?It is not an easy matter. Even the spiritualangels, who are not tempted by either wealth norrank, who have no veil to separate them, whosefood is the pure Light and Beauty of God, whoseeyes—keen and farsighted—see only pure Love,these spiritual angels swing between favor anddisfavor toward the people of this world. This isso that, during our moments of disgrace we mighttremble and ask, “What have I become? What doI know?” And if some light should shine upon usand we should be graced by a certain joy, wemight give thanks a thousandfold to God, saying,“How am I worthy of this?”Submitting yourself in this way, you can experiencegreat joy even from a word or a glimpse ofShams. For the sail on the ship of our being is our