Volume One
The body is like a cage. Those who enter and leave, those who feign friendship with humanity, deceive the soul within with thorns. It says, “I will be your confidant.” Another says, “No, I am your equal, your peer.”
One proclaims: “In the realm of existence, there is no one like you in terms of virtue, goodness, and generosity.” The other declares: “Both worlds are yours. All creatures are subject to your soul.” Then, seeing the people intoxicated by him, he becomes arrogant and begins to slip away from hand and grasp.
The world’s favor and flattery is a pleasant morsel, but eat it sparingly. For it is a bite of fire! The fire is hidden; the pleasure is apparent. Its smoke will eventually reveal itself.
Do not say: “I will swallow those praises! He praises you out of greed. I understand him.” The one who praises you may speak against you in public, and his influence will burn your heart for days.
Even though he speaks ill of you because he failed to obtain what he hoped from your deprivation, those words touch your heart and you remain under his influence. Say, ‘There is nobility even in praise!’ For you will also remain under the influence of praise. That praise causes the soul to expand and be deceived.
But this influence is not outwardly visible, because being praised is sweet. Criticism is bitter, so it appears bad immediately. Criticism is like a boiled medicine; if you take it or swallow it, you will suffer pain and anguish for a long time.
If you eat something sweet, its pleasure lasts only a moment, and its effect does not last as long. Because it seems to last a long time, its effect is hidden. Understand everything with its opposite! The influence of praise is like the effect of sugar; it acts secretly and later produces a boil that must be lanced.
The ego became Pharaoh-like due to excessive flattery. Be humble, despised, insignificant; do not feign greatness! Be a servant as much as you can, not a sultan! Be like a ball that causes effort, not a target for the game! Otherwise, when your grace and beauty disappear, those who rise and fall with you will become weary of you.
Those who previously deceived you will give you the name “Devil” when they see you. They all say, “A corpse risen from its grave,” like a young man. First, they give him the name Allah, intending to trap him with flattery. But when evil becomes his reputation and time passes, even the Devil will be ashamed to approach him.
The Devil comes to a person for an act of wickedness; he does not come to you. For you are worse than the Devil. As long as you are human, the Devil follows your footsteps, chases after you, and makes you taste his wine.
O worthless man! The Devil flees from you when you resist his nature and become devilish. Even he who clings to your hem will flee from you when you reach this state!