Serving the Guest: A Sufi Cookbook
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The Seen & the Unseen
Food serves as a versatile symbol, representing the visible world, or the full range of Divine sustenance as exemplified by its edible manifestation.
A man of heart eats his bread, then prays in seclusion;
He prays not for the sake of the bread.
He prays not for the sake of the bread.
You are like seeds, in bondage to the milk of earth;
Wean yourself
partake of the food of the heart.
Wean yourself
partake of the food of the heart.
The body is like a cup and a bowl —
containing both strength and heartburn.
containing both strength and heartburn.
Even though I can practice humility,
of which I could be proud and happy,
I have become used to Thy unlimited generosity;
from thy bread and thy banquet I ever partake.
of which I could be proud and happy,
I have become used to Thy unlimited generosity;
from thy bread and thy banquet I ever partake.
That I should be hungry
a foolish thought!
The sun and moon are both loaves of my bread.
The bone sought by the worldly wise is only worthy of my dogs.
O supplicants of Time, listen attentively:
my banquet spreads from Qaf to Qaf.
a foolish thought!
The sun and moon are both loaves of my bread.
The bone sought by the worldly wise is only worthy of my dogs.
O supplicants of Time, listen attentively:
my banquet spreads from Qaf to Qaf.
from Serving the Guest: A Sufi Cookbook
Copyright © 1999, 2000 by Kathleen Seidel
Sources of previously published material by other authors used by permission, and print sources for images, may be found at http://www.superluminal.com/cookbook.