M6:4141 — خویشتن رسوا مکن در شهر چین / عاقلی جو خویش از وی در مچین

Translation: Do not disgrace yourself in the city of Chīn (China). Seek a sage (āqil); do not pull yourself away from them. Meaning: This verse advises against disgracing oneself by pursuing superficial or worldly wisdom and instead urges one to find a true spiritual guide and remain steadfastly with them.

This beyt by Mowlana is, unequivocally, a firm insistence on the absolute necessity of a pīr (spiritual elder) or ustād (master) on the path of spiritual journeying (sulūk). I have repeatedly emphasized that Mowlana continuously stresses that without a guide, this labyrinthine path will not reach its destination; it may even lead to misguidance and disgrace (rosvā’ī).

The 'City of Chīn' (China) here symbolizes the realm of partial intellect (ʿaql-e juzvī) and limited, superficial knowledge. China, being distant and outwardly magnificent, sometimes serves in our literature as a symbol for something visually appealing but unattainable, or even deceptive. Mowlana here warns: 'Do not disgrace yourself in this city, full of the glitter of deficient intellects.' The phrase 'to disgrace oneself' means to fall into misguidance, failure, and spiritual disrepute by relying on one's partial intellect and self-sufficiency in the pursuit of truth. This is precisely the danger that constantly threatens unguided wayfarers.

I have previously referred to the story of Nimrod and his vultures in the Masnavi. Nimrod would sit on a throne carried by vultures, hoping to reach the heavens, but the vultures' wings would break mid-flight, bringing him down. Mowlana likens ʿaql-e juzvī to these very vultures. This intellect, in its longing to reach God, spreads its wings but breaks midway, disgracing and bringing down its rider. This beyt follows a discussion where Mowlana states: 'Partial intellect is like a lowly follower; its splendor is connected to carrion-eating' – meaning partial intellect is weak, like a carrion-eating vulture. In contrast, 'The intellect of the saints (abdāl) is like Gabriel's wing; it flies mile after mile to the shadow of the Sidrah' – it is the intellect of the saints that soars like Gabriel's wing to the Sidrat al-Muntahā (the Lote Tree of the Utmost Bound), reaching the highest stages of truth. The 'City of Chīn' is the arena for this same partial intellect, which yields nothing but disgrace.

The beyt continues: 'Seek a sage (āqil); do not pull yourself away from them.' The term āqil here does not simply mean a person of intellect, but rather refers to the 'rightly-guiding elder' (pīr-e rashād) and 'master' (ustād), someone who has attained the rank of 'the intellect of the saints.' The instruction is to seek such a sage, and more importantly, 'do not pull yourself away from them' – meaning, do not separate yourself, do not withdraw, do not become distant from them. This expression is a profound emphasis on the necessity of companionship and steadfast adherence to the pīr. Spiritual journeying without a master or guide is like riding a horse bar-ʿamiyā (blindly and without direction). Prophets and saints shorten the path and bring the destination closer; otherwise, our short lives may well end without reaching the goal for lack of a guide. Mowlana emphatically states: 'Choose the pīr and know them to be the very path itself.' This beyt, beyond any doubt, is one of the foundational teachings of the Masnavi, demonstrating that for attaining true knowledge of the Real, mere intelligence and self-reliant reason are insufficient; rather, surrender and trust in a guide who has traversed the path themselves are vital.

Key takeaways

• Reliance on partial intellect (ʿaql-e juzvī) in spiritual pursuit leads to misguidance and disgrace.
• The 'City of Chīn' symbolizes superficial and worldly knowledge that distracts the seeker from their true goal.
• The imperative to find a true 'sage' (āqil) or 'elder' (pīr) for guidance on the spiritual path.
• Remaining steadfastly attached to the master and not distancing oneself is crucial for attaining truth.
• Without a guide, the spiritual journey becomes prolonged, and one's short life may end before reaching the destination.