thee, that the proof may be made complete and the blessing
abundant.

36 Know thou of a truth that the seeker must, at the beginning of his
quest for God, enter the Garden of Search. In this journey it behoveth the
wayfarer to detach himself from all save God and to close his eyes to all
that is in the heavens and on the earth. There must not linger in his
heart either the hate or the love of any soul, to the extent that they
would hinder him from attaining the habitation of the celestial Beauty. He
must sanctify his soul from the veils of glory and refrain from boasting
of such worldly vanities, outward knowledge, or other gifts as God may
have bestowed upon him. He must search after the truth to the utmost of
his ability and exertion, that God may guide him in the paths of His
favour and the ways of His mercy. For He, verily, is the best of helpers
unto His servants. He saith, and He verily speaketh the truth: "Whoso
maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways shall We assuredly guide him." (25) And
furthermore: "Fear God and God will give you knowledge." (26)

37 In this journey the seeker becometh witness to a myriad changes and
transformations, confluences and divergences. He beholdeth the wonders of
Divinity in the mysteries of creation and discovereth the paths of
guidance and the ways of His Lord. Such is the station reached by them
that search after God, and such are the heights attained by those who
hasten unto Him.

38 When once the seeker hath ascended unto this station, he will enter the
City of Love and Rapture, whereupon the winds of love will blow and the
breezes of the spirit will waft. In this station the seeker is so overcome
by the ecstasies of yearning and the fragrances of longing that he
discerneth not his left from his right, nor doth he distinguish land from
sea or desert from mountain. At every moment he burneth with the fire of
longing and is consumed by the onslaught of separation in this world. He
speedeth through the Paran of love and traverseth the Horeb of rapture.
Now he laugheth, now he weepeth sore; now he reposeth in peace, now he
trembleth in fear. Nothing can alarm him, naught can thwart his purpose,
and no law can restrain him. He standeth ready to obey whatsoever His Lord
should please to decree as to his beginning and his end. With every breath
he layeth down his life and offereth up his soul. He bareth his breast to
meet the darts of the enemy and raiseth his head to greet the sword of