CONCERNING CONTENTMENT  
He knows not God nor performs His worship who is not contented with his lot.
 
Contentment maketh a man rich—tell this to the avaricious.
 
O irresolute one! be tranquil, for grass grows not upon revolving stones.
 
Pamper not thy body if thou be a man of sense, for in so doing dost thou seek thine own destruction.
 
The wise acquire virtue, and they that pamper their bodies are devoid of merit.
 
Eating and sleeping is the creed of animals; to adopt it is the manner of fools.
 
Happy is that fortunate man who, in meditation, prepares for the last journey by means of the knowledge of God.
 
To him who knows not the darkness from the light the face of a demon is as that of a Houri.[26]
 
How can the falcon fly to the sky when the stone of avarice is tied to its wing?
 
If thou pay less attention to thy food than to worship thou mayest become an angel. First[81] cultivate the qualities of a man, then reflect upon the character of angels.
 
Eat in proportion to thy hunger; how can he give praises who scarce can breathe by reason of his gluttony?
 
He whose stomach is full is void of wisdom. The prey is entrapped in the snare because of its greed.
Story of the King of Khwarazm[27]
 
A covetous man paid an early morning visit to the king of Khwarazm, and twice prostrated himself to the ground before him.
 
“Tell me, O father,” his son inquired, “didst thou not say that Mecca was thy place of worship? Why didst thou to-day repeat thy prayers before the king?”
 
Contentment exalteth the head; that which is full of avarice comes no higher than the shoulder.
 
He who has wrapped up the volume of his avarice needs not to write to any one, “I am thy slave and servant.”
 
By begging wilt thou be driven from every assembly; drive it from thyself, so that no one may drive thee away.
Concerning the Evils of Over-eating
 
Some said to a pious man who was stricken with fever: “Ask for some conserve of roses from such a one.”
 
[82]
 
“Oh, friend,” he replied, “it were better to die in bitterness than to endure the affliction of his sour face.”
 
A wise man does not eat conserve of roses from the hand of one whose face has been soured by pride.
 
Pursue not that which thy heart desires, for the pampering of the body destroys the fires of life.
 
The gluttonous man bears the weight of his corpulence; if he obtain not food, he bears the weight of grief. It is better that the stomach should be empty than the mind.
Story of a Glutton
 
In company with some religious mendicants I entered a date-grove in Busra. One of the party was a glutton. He, having girt his loins, climbed up a tree, and, falling headlong, died.
 
The headsman of the village asked, “Who killed this man?”
 
“Go softly, friend,” I answered; “he fell from a branch—’twas the weight of his stomach.”
Story of a Recluse
 
The Amir of Tartary presented a silken robe to an elderly recluse, who, putting it on, kissed the hand of the messenger, and said: “A thousand praises to the king! Excellent is this splendid robe, but I prefer my own patched habit.”
 
[83]
 
If thou hast relinquished the world, sleep upon the bare ground—kiss it not before any one for the sake of a costly carpet.
Story illustrating the Evils of Avarice
 
To a poor man who had naught to eat but bread and onions, a foolish man remarked: “Go, wretched man, and bring some cooked meat from the public feast. Ask boldly and be not afraid of any one, for he who is modest must go without his share.”
 
Acting on this advice, the beggar put on his cloak and started off. The servants of the feast tore off his clothes and broke his arm.
 
Weeping, he cried: “Oh my soul! What remedy is there for one’s own actions? One seized by avarice becomes the seeker of his own misfortunes. After this, the bread and onions are good enough for me.”
 
A barley loaf procured by the exertions of one&rsquo............