LIGHTHOUSES

Alice Redux: The Caterpillar

He:   Who Are You?
She: Who Am I?
He:   Are you light that does not yet know it is light?
She: How will I know I am light?
He:   How do you know what you cannot think?
She: How can I know what I cannot think?
He:   What is it that is thinking?
She: Me?
He:   How do you differ from what you think?
She: Am I and my thoughts the same?
He:   How can you find out?
She: Recite?

The lighthouses are different, But the Light is the same. So many shining lighthouses rusting by the sea, Forget about them. Concentrate on essence, concentrate on Light In lucid bliss, calmly smoking off its own holy fire, The Light streams towards you from all things, All people, all possible permutations Of good, evil, thought, passion. The lamps are different, But the Light is the same. One matter, one energy, one Light, one Light-mind, Endlessly emanating all things. One turning and burning diamond. One, one, one. Ground yourself, strip yourself down, To blind loving silence. Stay there, until you see You are gazing at the Light With its own ageless eyes.

—Mevlana Rumi (1207-1273)
—Andrew Harvey (translator)