' Faults '...

A man who drank too much of that which is limpid, often came to the
point when he lost both his senses and his self respect. Once, a
friend came across him in this deplorable state, lying on the road. So
he got a sack and put him in feet first and put the sack on his
shoulder and set off for home.

On the way, another drunk appeared,
reeling along, supported by a companion. At this, the man whose head
hung out of the sack, woke up, and seeing the other in this pitiable
state said reprovingly: "Ah, unhappy man, in the future drink two cups
of wine less, then you wll be able to walk as I do now--free and alone."

Our own state is not different. We see faults because we do not love.
If we had the least understanding of real love, the faults of those
near to us would appear as good qualities.



--Fariduddin Attar
from The Conference of the Birds
C. S. Nott version