M6:1806 — هر درختی در رضاع کودکان / هم‌چو مریم حامل از شاهی نهان

Translation: Every tree, in the suckling of its children (fruits), Is like Mary, pregnant by a hidden King (God).

Meaning: Mawlana here posits that trees, in their bearing and nourishing of fruits, mirror the miraculous conception of Mary from a hidden divine source, suggesting that all of creation is perpetually engaged in a sacred and concealed process of gestation and birth.

This verse unveils Mawlana's profound perspective on the cosmic order, revealing the zenith of his gnostic worldview. In his interpretation, nature is not merely a mechanical apparatus but a living arena of love, pleasure, and spiritual generation. Mawlana asserts that every tree, as it nurtures and provides for its fruits—like a tender mother—in truth, assumes a state akin to that of the Virgin Mary. Mary, who conceived without conventional union, was made pregnant by a 'hidden King' (the Almighty God or a divine angel). This Marian analogy refers to a miraculous and unconventional conception; that is, what appears ordinary in nature is, in the eyes of the gnostic, replete with mystery and miracle, drawing its essence from an unseen power.

The pivotal point in understanding this verse lies in its deep connection to Mawlana's philosophy of 'pleasure' within the cosmic scheme. We tend to confine pleasure to humans and animals, but Mawlana extends its scope to trees and the entire universe. The tree becomes pregnant through 'love-play with spring.' This implies that the interaction between spring and the tree is not merely a mechanical action but an amorous communion in which the tree experiences pleasure. If it did not take pleasure, it would wither and remain barren. This pleasure is the fundamental condition for its flourishing and fruitfulness. Just as humans derive pleasure from union and love, the tree revels in the embrace of spring and yields fruit. From this perspective, all natural phenomena, from the spring's impregnation of the garden to the ripening of fruits, are manifestations of a cosmic dance, pleasurable and full of love, a testament to a vibrant, interconnected universe.

Mawlana's gnostic outlook interprets the world's connections not merely through material causality, but through pleasure and sorrow, union and separation. The tree burns from lack of spring and water—a form of suffering and grief—and conversely, it is ecstatic and conceives from the divine breath of spring—the apex of pleasure and union. This elucidation by Mawlana extends beyond sensory pleasures to encompass imaginary and even intellectual delights that bring richness to human life. Just as a person can flourish through beautiful imagination and thoughts, a tree is fertilized by the quality of spring. This insight portrays the world as a singular, living entity, all its parts dynamically connected in a vibrant and loving relationship, with this love and life originating from a 'hidden King.'

Key takeaways

• Mawlana perceives the world as a living arena of love and spiritual generation, not merely a mechanical system.
• The analogy of Mary for the tree signifies a miraculous conception from an unseen source, inherent in every natural phenomenon.
• Pleasure is a fundamental cosmic force, extending even to trees, and is essential for their flourishing and fruitfulness.
• The interaction between spring and the tree is an amorous act, creating pleasure and leading to fruition.
• Mawlana's gnostic view interprets the world's dynamics and connections through the lens of pleasure and sorrow, union and separation.