„There is much less difference between a mystic faith in God and an atheist’s rational faith in mankind than between the former’s faith and that of a Calvinist whose faith in God is rooted in the conviction of his own powerlessness and in his fear of God’s power.“
– Erich Fromm (zit. nach Victor Gollancz, A Year of Grace)
„Everyone must have two pockets, so that he can reach into the one or the other, according to his needs. In his right pocket are to be the words: ‚For my sake was the world created,‘ and in his left: ‚I am earth and ashes.'“
– Rabbi Bunam of Pzhysha
„Someone saw Nasrudin searching for something on the ground.
‚What have you lost, Mulla?‘ he asked. ‚My key,‘ said the Mulla. So they both went down on their knees and looked for it.
After a time the other man asked: ‚Where exactly did you drop it?‘
‚In my own house.‘
‚Then why are you looking here?‘
‚There is more light here than inside my own house.'“
– Idries Shah (The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin)
V
My longing sought the Upland and my affliction the Lowland, so that I was between Najd and Tiháma.
They are two contraries which cannot meet: hence my disunion will never be repaired.
What am I to do? What shall I devise? Guide me O my censor, do not affright me with blame!*
Sighs have risen aloft and tears are pouring over my cheeks.
The camels, footsore from the journey, long for their homes and utter the plaintive cry of the frenzied lover.
– Muhyiddin Ibn al-Arabi (The Tarjuman Al-Ashwaq)
* ‚My Censor‘ i.e. the blaming soul
