Four Things to Know

Hatim al-Asamm said, “I have chosen four things to know and discarded all other kinds of knowledge.”

“The first is this: I know that my daily bread is apportioned to me and will neither be increased or decreased, so I have stopped trying to add to it.”

“Secondly, I know I owe to God a debt which no one else can pay for me, so I am busy about paying it.”

“Thirdly, I know that there is someone pursuing me – Death – whom I cannot escape from, so I have prepared myself to meet him.”

“Fourth, I know that God is observing me, so I am ashamed to do what I should not.”
_{Farid al-Din ’Attar: Perfume of the Desert, translated by Andrew Harvey}

I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in darkness, The Astonishing Light
Of your own Being!
_{I Heard God Laughing, Renderings of Hafiz, by Daniel Ladinsky}