36 Quotes About Sufi-gnosis

Sufis describe the heart as a mirror which the wayfarer polishes and polishes with aspiration andinner work, until no imperfection remains. Then the mirror of the heart can reflect the true light ofthe Beloved.

God placed within the heart the knowledge of Him, and so the heart became lit by God’s Light. By this light He gave the heart eyes to see. Then God spoke in a parable and said, “Compared to a niche wherein is a lamp.” The lamp of the Divine Light is in the hearts of those who believe in the Oneness of God. – Al-Hakim at-Tirmidhi

The Lama‘at of Iraqi belongs to a particular type of Sufi literature in which the purest doctrines of gnosis (al-ma‘rifah) were expressed in the language of love (al-mahabbah).

To the eye of the true Witness, no more than One is to be seen – but since this One Face shows Itself in two mirrors,each mirror will display a different face. (p. 73)

Each image paintedon the canvas of existenceis the form of the artist himself.Eternal Oceanspews forth new waves.„Waves“ we call them;but there is only the Sea.(p. 77)

Majnun may gaze at Layla‘s beauty, but this Layla is only a mirror […] God with Majnun‘s eye looks upon His own beauty in Layla, and through Majnun He loves Himself.

If You are Everythingthen who are all these people?And if I am nothingwhat's all this noise about?You are Totality,everything is You. Agreed.Then that which is "other-than-You"-what is it?Oh, indeed I know:Nothing exists but You...

The more I gazeat Your face, the moremy eyes inclinetoward Your visionlike one who dies of thirstby the ocean shore,lips to the wave,thirstier and thirstier.

You are the cloud that veils your own sun. Know the essential reality of your being. (Kitab al-isra/The Book of Nocturnal Voyage, p. 4.)