M6:3590 — ای کشیده ز آسمان و از زمین / مایه‌ها تا گشته جسم تو سمین

Translation: O you who have drawn substances from the sky and from the earth, / Until your body has become corpulent. Meaning: This verse reminds humanity that the physical body is composed of diverse elements drawn from the heavens and the earth, which contribute to its growth and substance.

Mowlana, in this verse, explicitly points to the origin and source of the human body. He addresses us, saying, 'O you whose body has become corpulent and fleshy from the substances drawn from the sky and the earth.' The word samīn here means fleshy or fat, not precious, which is spelled with a different 's' in Persian. This is not a mere descriptive statement; it is a profound articulation of the very nature of our existence.

I have said this many times: we are beings assembled from across the entire cosmos. Our body, though seemingly small, is in reality the manifestation and essence of the whole universe. From elements found in soil and water, to sunlight, and even particles that may have reached Earth from distant stars millions of years ago – all have participated in the formation of our being. This is not merely a scientific truth, but a mystical insight: 'the entire world, in a sense, is gathered within us.' The collaboration of all existence for the emergence of a single being has occurred in us.

Immediately after this verse, Mowlana uses more provocative language, stating, 'You have stolen the body from the components of the world; you have cut it piece by piece from this and that.' This expression 'stolen' is highly stimulating, but he himself later qualifies it, saying, 'This is borrowed.' The truth is that this existence and this body are not ours; they are a trust, a loan. Just as stolen goods are impermanent and lead the thief to the gallows, this body, seemingly 'stolen' from the world, is also impermanent and will lead us to accountability.

Therefore, ignorance of this truth leads humanity to mistakenly believe that they have taken these things 'for free' and that no one will hold them accountable. No, atom by atom, particle by particle, this existence will be accounted for. This body, to which we have become attached, is nothing but a trust that must one day be returned. Hence, my emphasis is that we must find a reliance that is not returnable, that is firm, and that remains perpetually at our disposal. Attachment to that which is transient is a grave error that gives rise to much human suffering.

Key takeaways

• The human body is the essence and manifestation of the entire cosmos, a composite of elements from sky and earth.
• Our physical existence is a divine 'loan' or 'trust,' not our absolute property.
• Relying on this body or what we gain from the world is a grave error, as it is transient and reclaimable.
• Ignoring the entrusted nature of our existence leads to the illusion that we have acquired everything 'for free.'
• To overcome suffering, one must find an eternal and stable foundation of reliance that is not subject to return.