The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark QUOTES

1 " Ask not of things to shed their veils. Unveil yourselves, and things will be unveiled. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

2 " Logic is immaturity weaving its nets of gossamer wherewith it aims to catch the behemoth of knowledge. Logic is a crutch for the cripple, but a burden for the swift of foot and a greater burden still for the wise. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

3 " Often you shall think your road impassable, sombre and companionless. Have will and plod along; and round each curve you shall find a new companion. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

4 " So think as if your every thought were to be etched in fire upon the sky for all and everything to see. For so, in truth, it is. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

5 " The more elaborate his labyrinths, the further from the Sun his face. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

6 " How much more infinite a sea is man? Be not so childish as to measure him from head to foot and think you have found his borders. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

7 " Because of their lust for authority men are in constant turmoil. Those in authority are ever fighting to maintain it. Those out of authority are ever struggling to snatch it from the hands of those who hold it. While Man, the God in swaddling-bands, is trampled under foot and hoof
and left on the field of battle unnoticed, unattended and unsolved. So furious is the fight, and so blood crazed the fighters that none, alas, would stop to lift the painted mask off the face of the spurious bride and expose her monstrous ugliness to all.
Believe, O monks, that no authority is worth the flutter of an eyelash, except the authority of Holy Understanding which is priceless. For that no sacrifice is great. Attain it once, and you
shall hold it to the end of Time. And it shall charge your words with more power than all the armies of the world can ever command; and it shall bless your deeds with more beneficence than all the world authorities combined can ever dream of bringing to the world. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

8 " Once Understanding is unveiled, then victory is won and Peace established in the heart for ever and anon. An understanding heart is ever at peace even amid a war-dazed world. An ignorant heart is a dual heart. A dual heart makes for a dual world. A dual world breeds constant strife and war. Whereas an understanding heart is a single heart. A single heart makes for a single world. A single world is a world at peace. For it takes two to make a war. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

9 " If you would truly govern men, dive to their utmost depths. For men are more than foaming waves. But to dive to the utmost depts of men, you must first dive to your own utmost depth. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

10 " Seek no authority over the lives of men; of that the Omniwill is master. Nor seek authority over the goods of men; for men are chained so much to their goods as to their lives, and they distrust
and hate the meddlers with their chains. But seek a way into the hearts of men through Love and Understanding; for once installed therein you can and better work to loose men of their chains. For love will guide your hand, while Understanding holds the lantern. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

11 " Look not into a passion’s mouth to see if it have fangs or honeyed mandibles. The bee that gathers up the nectar of the flowerers gathers their poison, too. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

12 " Not celibate are they who wear monastic garb and shut themselves away behind thick walls and massive iron gates, But
celibate are they whose hearts and minds are celibate, whether they be in cloisters or in the public marts. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

13 " A perfect unit is the Earth. Why do you persist in disremembering her with swords and boundary marks? "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

14 " The really poor is he who misuses what he has. The really rich is he who well uses what he has. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

15 " To the unspoiled, even a snikebite is a loving kiss. But to the spoiled even a loving kiss is a snake bite. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

16 " إن وراء كل هدف تخطئونه، هدفاً آخر تدركونه، وهو الأصلح لكم والأهم، فلا تجدنّ الخيبة إلى قلوبكم سبيلاً. "

― ميخائيل نعيمة , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

17 " Love is the law of God. You live that you may learn to love. You love
that you may learn to live. No other lesson is required of Man.You are
the tree of Life. Beware of fractionating yourselves. Set not a fruit against a fruit, a leaf against a leaf, a bough against a bough; nor
set the stem against the roots; nor set the tree against the mother-
soil. That is precisely what you do when you love one part more than
the rest, or to the exclusion of the rest. No love is possible except
by the love of self. No self is real save the All-embracing Self.
Therefore is God all Love, because he loves himself. So long as you
are pained by Love, you have not found your real self, nor have you
found the golden key of Love. Because you love an ephemeral self, your
love is ephemeral. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

18 " فكِّــروا كما لو كانت أفكاركم منقوشة بأحرف من نار على صفيحة الجَلَد حيث تبصرها و تقرأها جميع الكائنات. و إنها في الواقع لكذلك.
و تكلَّــموا كما لو كان العالم كله أذنا واحدة مصغية إلى ما تقولون. و إنه في الواقع لكذلك.
و اعمــلوا كما لو كان كلّ عمل من أعمالكم سيرتدّ بنتيجته إليكم. و إنه في الواقع لكذلك.
و تمــنُّوا كما لو كنتم الأمنية التي تتمنّـون. و إنكم في الواقع لكذلك.
و احيوا كما لو كان ربُّـكم في حاجة إلى حياتكم ليحيا هو حياته. و إنه في الواقع لكذلك. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

19 " No love is Love that subjugates the Lover.
No love is Love that feeds on flesh and blood.
No love is Love that draws a woman to a man only to breed
more women and men and thus perpetuate their bondage to the flesh. "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark

20 " إذا كنتم عبيداً في الأرض وقيل لكم: ازهدوا في حرية الأرض،ففي السماء تنتظركم حرية لاتوصف. اجيبوه: من لم يتذوق الحرية في الأرض لن يعرف طعمها في السماء

If you are slaves on Earth & you were told: “Renounce Earthly Freedom, for in Heaven awaits you unimaginalbe Freedom!” Answer him: “He who did not taste Freedom on Earth, will not know it in Heaven! "

― Mikhail Naimy , The Book of Mirdad: The strange story of a monastery which was once called The Ark