M6:1921 — چون گذاره شد حواسش از حجاب / پس پیاپی گرددش دید و خطاب

Translation: Once his senses have passed beyond the veil, / Then seeing and address shall become continuous for him. Meaning: This verse asserts that when a person's senses break through the spiritual veils, they attain an unbroken, reciprocal connection and dialogue with the unseen world.

This verse follows a delightful anecdote recounted by Mawlana about a Sufi who, in his solitude and isolation, believed he was speaking to a wall. Yet, suddenly, from beyond "six hundred veils," he heard the response of the Divine Presence. This event brought him such immense joy that he "could not contain himself." Mawlana, in this beyt, explains the consequence of such an opening. He states: "When from the senses one bond is loosened / Others follow after it, one by one." These key words are the cipher to understanding this verse. If one sense, for instance, hearing, traverses the veils and opens a window to the unseen realm, then the other senses follow suit and also attain an opening. This breakthrough is not a one-time occurrence; rather, it is "continuous" (pīāpī), meaning it is constant and flowing. What then ensues is "seeing and address" (dīd o khiṭāb) — not merely a passive observation, but an active, reciprocal seeing, and being addressed by and understanding the message of the Beloved from the higher realm. This perpetual "seeing and address" is a clear sign of the constant and active presence of the Divine. At this stage, the seeker realizes that he was never speaking to a dead nature or an inanimate wall, but rather is in communication with a "living world, a conscious cosmos, with God enthroned above this world." Such a discovery brings forth the highest degree of joy for him; a joy born from liberation from veils and the attainment of union. This station is the exact opposite of the existential "loneliness" that Western philosophers speak of; at this stage, the seeker realizes that he was never alone and has always had a present, observing, and responsive Beloved. The separation that is spoken of at the beginning of the Masnavi ultimately leads to such a union, which is itself entirely about mutual seeing, hearing, and understanding.

Key takeaways

• The opening of one sense to the unseen realm sequentially opens the path for all other senses.
• "Seeing and address" here signifies a continuous, reciprocal communication with the spiritual world, not merely passive observation.
• This ongoing connection testifies to the living, conscious nature of the cosmos and the Beloved's perpetual presence.
• Attaining this stage of mystical insight brings profound and ineffable joy to the seeker.
• This experience stands in direct contrast to existential "loneliness," as the seeker finds himself in the constant, responsive presence of the Divine.