Chapter X: Remembrance of Death
being split up, you will not find any impression of letters in it. As the impression of letters is not found therein, you will understand that similarly the affairs of the world are imprinted in the Guarded Tablet. As the outward figure is seen in the mirror if placed directly before it, sol the pictures in the Guarded Tablet are seen if placed directly before the mirror of human soul. But if there are screens of refuges or uncleanliness over the mirror, no figure will be reflected in the mirror. Similarly if there are screen of passions, sins and love of world over the soul, the things of the Guarded Tablet cannotbe reflected therein.
SOUL IS A MIRROR : In the soul effect of knowledge is reflected. Similarly the Guarded Tablet is a mirror. Therein is reflected all the effects of knowledge. Passions and temptations are screens between the two mirrors. For this reason, the things of the Guarded Tablet are nor reflected in soul. That is included within the spiritual world. If owing to the effect of the blowing of wind, the screen is partly anoS temporarily removed, then something of the spiritual world is reflected for a short time like the sparkling of electricity in the mirror of soul. So long as he remains awake, the affairs of this material world and the five senses keep him engaged. That is the screen for the spiritual world. The meaning of sleep is that then the senses remain passive and they do not exercise any influence over soul at the time. When the soul is free from these senses and their bases are cleared off, the screen over the Guarded Tablet is lifted up and something therefrom is reflected in his soul just as a figure of one mirror falling upon another mirror without figure is reflected.
Sleep keeps the mind free from the working of the senses but does not keep it free from the ideas and thoughts of the world. An idea follows what falls upon heart. Illustration can be given of it. This idea is established in brain and takes permanent root. When he gets up from sleeps, he remembers the idea. Take up an example. Once a man said to Ibn-Sirin : I dreamt that I have got a seal in my hand whereaith I am putting seals on the faces of men and on female organs. He then said : You are a proslaimer of Azan, you will proclaim Azan at the time of Fajr in the month of Ramazan, He said : You have spoken the truth. Now look to the meaning of 'seal' which is to prohibit. That is reflected in the man's soul from what is within the Guarded Tablet. To prohibit the people from food and drink is that thing. The^neaning of
Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 419
closing with seal is to prohibit. Brain contains no figure but a picture of the figure born out of ideas. This is the better explanation of the sea of dream which is limitless.