This page has been validated.
The Book of Ighan
93

seated upon the right hand of Power and Dominion. They are established and rest upon the Throne of Eternal Might, although outwardly in the utmost humiliation; and occupy the seat of Sovereignty and authority while apparently in the extremity of weakness.

Thus one day Jesus the Son of Mary, seated Himself upon a chair and made explanations through the melodies of the Holy Spirit, the import of which is this: "O people! My food is from the herbs of the earth, by which I satisfy my hunger. My bed is the bare ground; during the night my lamp is the light of the moon and I have no steed but my feet. Who upon earth is richer than I? "I swear by God that a hundred thousand wealths revolve around this poverty and a hundred thousand Kingdoms of glory seek after this lowliness. Shouldst thou attain to a sprinkling of the ocean of these significances thou wilt abandon the world of phenomena and existence and sacrifice thy life around the shining lamp, as doth the "bird of fire."

A similar instance is related of His Holiness Sadik. On a certain day, one of His followers complained of poverty, before His Holiness. That Eternal Beauty said: "Thou art rich and hast drunk from the wine of wealth." The indigent one, astonished at the words of that brilliant countenance, said, "How am I rich while I am in need of a single coin?" His Holiness replied, "Hast thou not love for us?" He said, "Yes, O Thou son of the Messenger of God!"