Chapter VIII: Self-Examination and Self-Accounting
8. O baser self, Alas, for you ! Shake off your ignorance. Be prepared for your next world with the help of this world, as your creation and your resurrection are like one single soul-31:28 (Q). God says : I can reproduce creation as I created it first. You will come to life as He created you first. You will find no change in the eternal laws of God.
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9. O baser self ! Alas for you! You have fallen in attachment towards the world. So it is difficult for you to separate yourself from it, although you are advancing gradually and slowly to get away from it. Still you are growing your love for the world. Now think, how you are unmindful of God's punishment and reward and how you are heedless of the dreadful events of the Resurrection Day. You don't believe in death which will separate your from your beloved and dear things. Don't your consider him foolish who intends to get out of the royal palace by one door but keeps his eyes fixed for a long time on a beautiful damsel and does not move ? Don't you know that this world is the dominion of kings in which you have got but a little share ? For this the Holy Prophet said : The Holy Spirit infused into my soul and said: Love what you like but you shall have to leave it. Do what you wish, but you must get its consequence. Live as you like, but you must face death.
10. 0 baser self, Alas for you! Don't you know that behind the man who is addicted to the comforts of this life, there is death ? At the time of separating from them, the fire of repentance will be enkindled in his breast. He will be given a provision from the destroying poison but he will not know it. Don't you think over the persons who have passed away ? They built lofty buildings and lived in them for sometime and then passed away. Don't you see how God handed over his properties to his heirs and his enemies ? Don't you ponder how they saved money and amassed wealth, but they could not enjoy it ; and how they build lofty buildings but they could not live in them ? Rather they are now living in the bottom of earth. What foolishness is greater than this ? People are making them strong and firm but they must be separated from them. They are destroying their next world towards which they are advancing.
1 1 . 0 baser self, are you not ashamed that you are helping the foolishness of these fools and think that they are far-sighted people who will lead you towards these works ? Rather you are prone to follow them. You rather compare the prophets, the learned men and the wise men to these worldly people and think that they are more intelligent and wise.
12. 0 baser self, if you believe your wisdom and intelligence, what a wonderful thing is your affair? How great is your ignorance and how open is your ungratefulness. It is surprising
366 THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES Vol-IV