On this plane, the self is not rejected but beloved; it is well-pleasing
and not to be shunned. Although at the beginning, this plane is the realm
of conflict, yet it endeth in attainment to the throne of splendor. As
they have said: “O Abraham of this day, O Friend Abraham of the Spirit!
Kill these four birds of prey,”(91) that after death the riddle of life
may be unraveled.

This is the plane of the soul who is pleasing unto God. Refer to the
verse:

O thou soul who art well assured,
Return to thy Lord, well-pleased, and pleasing unto Him.(92)

which endeth:

Enter thou among My servants,
And enter thou My paradise.(93)

This station hath many signs, unnumbered proofs. Hence it is said:
“Hereafter We will show them Our signs in the regions of the earth, and in
themselves, until it become manifest unto them that it is the truth,”(94)
and that there is no God save Him.

One must, then, read the book of his own self, rather than some treatise
on rhetoric. Wherefore He hath said, “Read thy Book: There needeth none
but thyself to make out an account against thee this day.”(95)

The story is told of a mystic knower, who went on a journey with a learned
grammarian as his companion. They came to the shore of the Sea of