of eternal Universe
and Glory?
My son, tenderness is part of Truth.
And Truth is in Beauty and Love.
Comprehend this, My son, in the midnight hour.
I shall knock upon thy door at dawn.
Each new day, your flower grows.
And simply do you pronounce the words of the
building of the Temple.
I see a smile; I hear even laughter.
Blessed are you if, laying the stones,
you can cement them with laughter.
Joy to the worlds! I said it.
335. Travelers, why do you hasten on your way?
Where lies your destiny?
Where is your goal? Have you a goal?
Our goal is where the water merges into the clouds,
where the forest fades into the horizon.
Travelers, will you not rest upon your path?
Will you not taste the waters from the pure spring?
Nay, we must reach our goal.
Twilight already has enveloped the farthest mountain
And the nightingale has sung its song in the nearest
forest.
We must press on.
Travelers, proceed. The evening's freshness will revive you
on your way.
The travelers advance. Nearer is the goal.
The clouds transform themselves into temples.
But the way is long and twilight deepens.
Solitary pilgrims—look forward!
Along the way a Stranger walked:
May the Lord be merciful to you.
I said it.
336. Waterfalls and green grass, birds and winds—
all sing to me.
And on my way is born a song.
I proceed with ease.
But when the wind is still and the birds are flown
and the green grass bends, what shall I do,
My Lord?
Regard then Me.
As the mountains give rise to new heights,
And abysses crossed but confront me
with new mountains,
When I have traversed all deserts
and have scaled all summits—
What shall I see, O Lord?
Thou shalt see Me.
Chains of happiness and chains of bondage.
The slave drags heavily his fetters;
The chains of joy resound with mirth.
How shall I know the chains, O Lord?
Attune thine ear.
337. He who is with Us will have his hour of battle.
But he knows that he is ever victorious.
Regard those who call.
What beauty! Not only do they behold beauty
but they would share it with you.
To share is the pledge of victory.
And the words that open the gates are simple.
But few know how to apply them to the locked portals.
We perceive the festival of labor.
Into the flames of purification cast all prejudices,
and all obstacles of the material life.
What a great pyre upon the mountain lights the way!
Striving opens new ways.
338. Whose knocking do I hear?
It is you, fugitive!
Now I shall tell you,
You have been fleeing from Me with the same persistence
you manifested before, when building My Abodes.
You fled, attempting to hide yourself within the
sanctuaries of the world's temples.
Behind the steps of thrones did you conceal yourself.
Changing your appearance, you did secrete yourself
beneath the folds of tents.
You tried to lose yourself in earthly sounds
of flute and strings.
To where did you flee?
Now you stand before Me, and I say:
You have returned to Me. You have found again
My doors.
You saw how your mind had lost its light,
how dispersed was your joy.
And you now understand that the knocking one
will be admitted.
And the admitted one will be forgiven.
And you have now found better doors, and come,
seeing the futility of your flight.
And I will admit the knocking one and will say to him:
I have preserved for you your joy. Take up your chalice,
and work.
And thou, called Avirach,
Thou knowest already that flight is in vain.
Thou art standing now, approaching the doors,
And thy chalice awaits thee.
339. Joy! There is no present hour of happiness.
There is a past hour of happiness.
And there is a future hour of happiness.
The past hour holds you,