M6:343 — باز رو در کان چو زر ده‌دهی / تا رهد دستان تو از ده‌دهی

Translation: Go again to the mine, like pure gold, ten-out-of-ten, So that your hands may be freed from the habit of rejecting (deh-dehi).

Meaning: Mowlana urges us to turn away from superficial, impure sources and seek the absolute, unadulterated origin of being. Only then can we break free from the cycle of regret and rejection, attaining true tranquility and acceptance.

This couplet is an earnest invitation to transcend fleeting appearances that, though initially alluring, ultimately leave a bitter taste. Mowlana explicitly urges us to hasten towards the 'mine of ten-out-of-ten gold' (kān cho zar deh-dehi); that is, to the very fount of pure truth, an absolute gold utterly free of adulteration. This call is a summons to abandon all trivial and paltry worldly sources that trap us in a cycle of fluctuating desires and incessant regrets.

The term deh-dehi carries profound meaning here, and Mowlana's dual usage of it is, for me, highly illuminating. The first instance refers to 'one hundred percent purity,' signifying unadulterated truth. The second deh-dehi, however, denotes the act of 'deh dādan'—to reject with all ten fingers, to scorn, to dismiss, to devalue. Mowlana elaborates that any 'form' (sūratī) we eagerly admit into our hearts will, out of the ensuing regret and bitterness, eventually be 'deh dād' (rejected) by us. This narrative repeats itself endlessly in our lives, much like the story of the moth that mistakes fire for light, rushes towards it, burns its wings, flees in tears, yet, due to forgetfulness and avarice, returns once more to the same flame. This illustrates the instability and immaturity of those still midway on the spiritual path, lacking firm resolve; they constantly repent and then break their repentance, effectively spinning their wheels.

Mowlana desires that our hands be freed from this deh-dehi. This liberation signifies breaking free from the habit of embracing something with fervor only to later discard it with remorse and regret. Such a state characterizes one who has not yet discovered an enduring truth and continually falls prey to superficialities. To escape this vicious cycle, there is no recourse but to turn to the 'mine of ten-out-of-ten gold'—that is, to seek refuge in that absolute, unblemished truth that bears no bitterness and never leads to regret. It is here that one attains the 'station of contentment' (maqām-i rizā), a state where even the tongue is sealed from prayer, not out of indifference to God, but out of absolute surrender to divine decree. In this station, there is no longer any need to alter circumstances, for what is, in the mystic's view, is itself absolute perfection, and any 'deh dādan' towards it stems from ignorance. This is the destiny of those who have reached that mine of pure gold; their hands no longer reject anything, for they perceive all existence as a manifestation of that single truth.

Key takeaways

• Liberation from Impurity: Truth is like 'ten-out-of-ten' (pure) gold, and one must discern it from lesser, impure sources.
• The Cycle of Regret and Rejection: As long as we are captivated by appearances, we eagerly embrace things only to later reject them out of remorse, creating an endless loop.
• Freedom from 'Deh Dādan': The goal of spiritual journey is to free one's hands from this habit of rejection and devaluation, which stems from a lack of pure understanding.
• The Moth's Lesson: The story of the moth and the fire symbolizes those who, due to forgetfulness and avarice, repeatedly break their repentance and return to what previously caused their suffering.
• The Station of Contentment (Maqām-i Rizā): The highest spiritual stage is attaining maqām-i rizā, where there is neither complaint nor even a need to pray for change, but rather absolute surrender to divine decree.
• Purity of Perception: Only by reaching absolute truth can one achieve lasting tranquility, accepting all that is as a manifestation of that singular truth, and rejecting nothing.