When I considered world to be my enemy and I went to God, His love possessed me to such an extent that I became enemy of myself.

When I considered world to be my enemy and I went to God, His love possessed me to such an extent that I became enemy of myself.

The saints of God are His brides, and none looks upon brides save those of their family. They are veiled in seclusion in His presence by intimacy. No one sees them, neither in the world nor the next.

The saints of God are His brides, and none looks upon brides save those of their family. They are veiled in seclusion in His presence by intimacy. No one sees them, neither in the world nor the next.

Someone asked: “By what means did you attain this gnosis?” He replied: “By a hungry stomach and a naked body.”

Someone asked: “By what means did you attain this gnosis?” He replied: “By a hungry stomach and a naked body.”

i triply divorced the world and alone proceeded to the Alone. I stood before the Presence and cried; “Lord God! I desire not but Thee. If I possess Thee, I possess all’... when God recognized my sincerity, the first grace that he accorded me was that He removed chaff of the self before me.”

i triply divorced the world and alone proceeded to the Alone. I stood before the Presence and cried; “Lord God! I desire not but Thee. If I possess Thee, I possess all’... when God recognized my sincerity, the first grace that he accorded me was that He removed chaff of the self before me.”

Someone asked: “When does a man know that he has attained real gnosis?” He replied: “At the time when he becomes annihilated under the knowledge of God, and is made everlasting on the carpet of God, without self and without creature.

Someone asked: “When does a man know that he has attained real gnosis?” He replied: “At the time when he becomes annihilated under the knowledge of God, and is made everlasting on the carpet of God, without self and without creature.

Someone asked: “When does a man reach submissiveness?” He replied: “When he does not attribute a station or state to his self and considers none among mankind worse than himself.”

Someone asked: “When does a man reach submissiveness?” He replied: “When he does not attribute a station or state to his self and considers none among mankind worse than himself.”

Gnostic sees nothing other than God in-His' sleep and nothing other than God in his waking hours. He does not conform to other-than God, and he does not look to other-than-God.

Gnostic sees nothing other than God in-His' sleep and nothing other than God in his waking hours. He does not conform to other-than God, and he does not look to other-than-God.

Paradise has no value in the eyes of lovers and lovers are veiled (from God) by their love.

Paradise has no value in the eyes of lovers and lovers are veiled (from God) by their love.

A mystic wrote to Bastami saying: “I am drunk from the long draught. I drank from the cup of His Love.” Bastami wrote back: “Someone else drank the seas of heavens and earth and his thirst is not quenched. His tongue is hanging out and he is pleading, is there no more?”

A mystic wrote to Bastami saying: “I am drunk from the long draught. I drank from the cup of His Love.” Bastami wrote back: “Someone else drank the seas of heavens and earth and his thirst is not quenched. His tongue is hanging out and he is pleading, is there no more?”

If the eight paradises are exhibited in our cell and the dominion of both the world along with their code is given to us, we will not forgo that one sigh which bursts out from the depth of the heart at dawn in recollection (of God) in the state of longing for Him.

If the eight paradises are exhibited in our cell and the dominion of both the world along with their code is given to us, we will not forgo that one sigh which bursts out from the depth of the heart at dawn in recollection (of God) in the state of longing for Him.

I say that. God is the mirror of myself, for with my tongue He speaks, and I have ceased to be myself.

I say that. God is the mirror of myself, for with my tongue He speaks, and I have ceased to be myself.

Mankind has states, but the gnostic has none. His human traits are effaced, and his essence has passed away into the essence of another. His traits are gone because the traits of another have taken their place.

Mankind has states, but the gnostic has none. His human traits are effaced, and his essence has passed away into the essence of another. His traits are gone because the traits of another have taken their place.

The gnostic flies and the ascetic travels afoot.

The gnostic flies and the ascetic travels afoot.

When God loves a man, He endows him with three qualities in token thereof: a bounty like that of the sea, a sympathy Jike that of the sun, and a humility like that of the earth. No suffering can be too great, no devotion too high, for the piercing insight and burning faith of true lover.

When God loves a man, He endows him with three qualities in token thereof: a bounty like that of the sea, a sympathy Jike that of the sun, and a humility like that of the earth. No suffering can be too great, no devotion too high, for the piercing insight and burning faith of true lover.