M6:650 — جسم‌ها چون کوزه‌های بسته‌سر / تا که در هر کوزه چه بود آن نگر

Translation: Bodies are like closed-mouthed jars; Look to see what is within each jar.

Meaning: Our physical forms are mere vessels; the ultimate truth and value lie in their hidden contents, which is our inner being and essence.

This verse is one of those pivotal lines in the Mathnavi where Mowlana points to the essence of human distinction; a distinction not in appearance, but in inner reality. Humans, in their physical bodies and external forms, may exhibit many similarities, but these superficial resemblances, as Mowlana puts it, are often a 'highwayman' (رهزن) that obstructs true insight. This is akin to what is referred to as 'homonymy' (اشتراک لفظ) in philosophy and logic; where a single word or form conceals multiple meanings.

I have always emphasized that Mowlana constantly warns us against falling into the trap of superficiality. He states that our bodies are like closed-mouthed jars, implying that you cannot discern their contents from the outside. Through this parable, he invites us to a deeper contemplation of ourselves and others. One of these jars might be brimming with the 'water of life' (آب حیات)—a soul overflowing with gnosis, love, and human perfections. Another, however, might be filled with the 'venom of death' (زهر ممات)—an inner being laden with vices, grudges, and darkness. The outward appearance of both jars might be identical, but the difference 'between this beauty and that beauty' is as vast as 'heaven and a rope'.

The core of these teachings lies in Mowlana's emphasis on the 'soul-seeing eye' (دیدهٔ جان‌بین) as opposed to the 'body-seeing eye' (دیدهٔ تن‌بین). The 'body-seeing eye' perpetually gazes at appearances, becoming ensnared by physical beauty or social standing. This is what leads us astray by a seemingly good-natured individual whose inner self is ugly. However, the 'soul-seeing eye' transcends these appearances; it passes beyond the body and form to perceive the individual's spirit and soul with all its 'subtleties' (فن‌ها) and 'cunning' (حیله‌ها), or its 'perfections' (کمالات) and 'imperfections' (نقصان‌ها). This inward gaze not only saves us from the deception of appearances but also grants us a deeper insight into existence and our place within it. As Mowlana states elsewhere: 'The soul is the origin, and the body is the branch' (جان اصل است و بدن فرع), and 'The forms of the world are the sea's foam / Pass beyond the foam if you are of purity' (کف دریاست صورت‌های عالم / ز کف بگذر اگر اهل صفایی). Our body is ultimately foam upon the water, but our true reality resides in the hidden ocean of the soul.

Key takeaways

• The body is merely a vessel; true human value resides in one's inner content, not appearance.
• Outward similarities are deceptive and hinder the perception of truth (the 'homonymy' of forms).
• Humans with similar bodies can possess vastly different inner realities (water of life versus venom of death).
• One must transcend the 'body-seeing eye' and perceive the inner truth of individuals with the 'soul-seeing eye'.
• True beauty or ugliness lies in the human spirit and inner being, not in facial features or external form.
• The soul is the origin and reality of our being, while the body is but transient foam upon it.