MYSTICISM AND HUMOURby
Henry Corbin
from Spring Journal 1973
Publisher’s Note: This translation has been prepared from the second part of a lecture entitled "Mystique et Humour chez Sohrawardi, Shaykh al-Israq" presented in Teheran, November 19, 1969, and which has been published in French in Collected Papers on Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism, (Institute of Islamic Studies, Teheran Branch, McGill University, Montreal), Teheran, 1971, pp. 16-38; this translation is of pp. 26—38. For further authoritative material on Sohrawardi, see the author's En Islam iranien, vol. II: "Sohrawardi et les Platoniciens de Perse", Paris: Gallimard, 1971.
Photo: Upupa epops, the Hoopoe, King Solomon's Bird.
Mysticism & Humor
And, most pertinent here is this poem from Rumi,
Longing for the Birds of Solomon
Is this stuff poetry? It's what birds sing in cages.
Where are the words spoken by the birds of Solomon?
How would you know their cries, if you heard them,
When you haven't seen Solomon even for two seconds?
Solomon's bird lifts his wings, one tip touches East, one West.
Those who hear the notes feel an intensity in their whole body.
The bird descends from the Holy One's bedroom door to earth.
And from earth it flies among light back to the Great Seat.
Without Solomon every bird is a bat in love with darkness.
Listen, oh mischievous bat, try to become his friend. Do you want to stay
in your cave forever?
If you go even three feet towards Solomon's mountain,
Others will use that as a yardstick to measure their lives.
Suppose your leg is gimpy, and you have to hop, what's the difference?
Going toward Solomon, even by limping, the leg grows whole.
Translation by Robert Bly, from 'The Rumi Collection' Edited by Kabir Helminski
Mysticism & Humor
And, most pertinent here is this poem from Rumi,
Longing for the Birds of Solomon
Is this stuff poetry? It's what birds sing in cages.
Where are the words spoken by the birds of Solomon?
How would you know their cries, if you heard them,
When you haven't seen Solomon even for two seconds?
Solomon's bird lifts his wings, one tip touches East, one West.
Those who hear the notes feel an intensity in their whole body.
The bird descends from the Holy One's bedroom door to earth.
And from earth it flies among light back to the Great Seat.
Without Solomon every bird is a bat in love with darkness.
Listen, oh mischievous bat, try to become his friend. Do you want to stay
in your cave forever?
If you go even three feet towards Solomon's mountain,
Others will use that as a yardstick to measure their lives.
Suppose your leg is gimpy, and you have to hop, what's the difference?
Going toward Solomon, even by limping, the leg grows whole.
Translation by Robert Bly, from 'The Rumi Collection' Edited by Kabir Helminski
Tom, I hope you are entertaining the thought of editing a volume of Corbin's shorter/occasional/personal/meditative pieces. These recent things are great.
ReplyDeleteJoseph - Glad you find them of use. I'll ponder the possibility. - Tom
ReplyDelete