Don Gagnon’s Kindle Notes & Highlights for The Conference of the Birds (Illustrated)

Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him not, He is with you this Moment, on this Spot, Your Lord through all Forgetfulness and Crime, Here, There, and Everywhere, and through all Time.

Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him not, He is with you this Moment, on this Spot, Your Lord through all Forgetfulness and Crime, Here, There, and Everywhere, and through all Time.

9%

'The Royal Road is not for all to tread, Nor is the Royal Palace for the Rout, Who, even if they reach it, are shut out. The Blaze that from my Harim window breaks With fright the Rabble of the Roadside takes; And ev'n of those that at my Portal din, Thousands may knock for one that enters in.'

12%

Each one must do his best and all endure, And all endeavour, hoping but not sure.

29%

Gold, as you say, is but dull Metal dead, And hanging on the Hoarder's Soul like Lead: But Rubies that have Blood within, and grown And nourisht in the Mountain Heart of Stone, Burn with an inward Light, which they inspire, And make their Owners Lords of their Desire.'

46%

But in that Mirror if with purged eyes Thy Shadow Thou for Shadow recognise, Then shalt Thou back into thy Centre fall A conscious Ray of that eternal All.'

47%

For He who fix'd the Race, and knew its Length And Danger, also knew the Runner's Strength.

50%

For like a Child sent with a fluttering Light To feel his way along a gusty Night Man walks the World: again and yet again The Lamp shall be by Fits of Passion slain: But shall not He who sent him from the Door Relight the Lamp once more, and yet once more?

89%

With Cries of agonising Glory still All of that Self burn up that burn up will, Leaving the Phoenix that no Fire can slay To spring from its own Ashes kindled—nay, Itself an inextinguishable Spark Of Being, now beneath Earth-ashes dark, Transcending these, at last Itself transcends And with the One Eternal Essence blends.

90%

He only knew the Flame who in it burn'd; And only He could tell who ne'er to tell return'd.

98%

'The Sun of my Perfection is a Glass Wherein from Seeing into Being pass All who, reflecting as reflected see Themselves in Me, and Me in Them: not Me, But all of Me that a contracted Eye Is comprehensive of Infinity: Nor yet Themselves: no Selves, but of The All Fractions, from which they split and whither fall.