M6:3508 — وز درونشان عالمی بی‌منتها / در میان خرگهی چندین فضا

Translation: And within them, a boundless world; Within a tent, so many spaces.

Meaning: This verse points to the immense and intricate inner world of human beings, which, despite the seemingly limited physical body, encompasses an infinite realm of meanings and potentials.

In this verse, which continues Mowlana's wondrous description of the divine creation of human existence, he points to the profound and boundless inner world. Prior to this, he elaborated on the beauty and proportion of the physical body, likening it to a palace with various porticos, ponds, and royal chambers. Yet, here he transcends that proportional physical edifice, declaring: "And within them, a boundless world." This "tent" (khar-gah), though seemingly finite, conceals within its core innumerable and infinite spaces and realms.

I have often stated that in Mowlana's view, this world possesses an outer and an inner dimension, bound in a marvelous relationship. What appears from the outside as a limited, earthly body is, from within, a boundless and infinite world. This boundlessness is not merely a reference to mental or emotional capacities; rather, it alludes to the grandeur of the human spirit and soul, which is not confined by material dimensions. The soul, much like water (which is formless yet takes the shape of any vessel), or light (which is colorless yet reveals all colors), or the breath through the reed (which has no melody itself yet gives rise to all melodies), is formless yet manifests infinite forms and meanings.

This must be understood as God's "lawful magic" (sahr-e halal). As Mowlana elucidates further in this very discussion, God is the "skillful manipulator of appearances" (sahhāra), presenting the world in such a way that the transcendent becomes immanent. It is He who contracts and expands, closing one eye and opening another. That boundless worlds should be contained within a finite body (khar-gah) is itself a miracle of this lawful magic and the artistry of the divine "Architect" (zāv). The body is not merely a container or vessel for the soul; rather, the soul is a vast, placeless entity that accompanies the body. This insight liberates humanity from material constraints, enabling us to recognize our limitless inner potentials. This is precisely the "self-knowledge" that Mowlana deems the "root of the roots of the roots of religion."

Key takeaways

• Despite its limitations, the human body serves as a vessel for an infinite inner world.
• This verse exemplifies divine architecture, creating an boundless interior from a finite exterior.
• The nature of the soul is formless and vast, transcending the material dimensions of the body.
• Through His 'lawful magic,' God manifests the infinite within the finite.
• Recognizing this 'boundless inner world' is key to true self-knowledge and religious insight.