Of Seeking and Finding

Disciple. Where is knowledge?
Where is Truth?
Where is peace?
I am sorrowful, and find no comfort in men;
I have gone astray, and find no surety in the teachings of men;
Yea, even in myself I find no Truth, and no remedy for my doubt and sorrow
I have striven in the pride of my heart:
I have contended with men for my opinions;
I have mistaken evil for good, and have called ignorance knowledge;
And now I am alone, and there is none to hear me,
And if I cry, there is none to hear my voice.
Master. Nay, I am with thee, and I hear thy voice.
Disciple. Who art thou that dost assure, me?
Master. I am the Spirit of Truth.
Disciple. O Master! O Spirit of Truth!
Why didst thou not come to me before?
Why didst thou leave me so long desolate?
Master. Thou wert not desolate till now;
Pride was thy companion, and pride satisfied thee.
Where pride is, there I cannot come,
And he who listens to its flatteries, cannot hear my Voice.
Self - glory blinded thee, so that my Form thou couldst not see:
Self - exultation deafened thee, and when I called, thou didst not hear;
Self - seeking led thee astray, and my Way was hidden from thee.
But now, having put away pride, thou hast both seen and heard.
Ask, and I will answer;
Seek, and thou shalt find.
Disciple. Comfort me, O Master! for I am weary;
Strengthen me, for I am weak;
Teach me, for I am lacking in knowledge.
Master. He who deserts self, and takes refuge in me, is never deserted;
My Word is his comfort,
My Law his strength,
And my commands his Instruction and Knowledge.
Disciple. Speak thy Word, and I will listen;
Reveal thy Law, and I will walk therein;
Command me, and I, thy servant, will obey;
For thou art the Master whom I so long sought,
And having found thee, let me not depart from thee.
Master. He who follows self, abandons me;
But he who abandons self, lo! he is with me always.
Disciple. Hitherto I have clung to self;
I have followed after vain and empty desires;
And caught in the toils of self - delusion, I have not known thy presence;
But now, O Master! I have found thee;
And having found thee, let me remain with thee;
Let me be thy child, obeying thy voice;
Let me be thy pupil, receiving thy instruction;
Let me become thy disciple, and follow wheresoever thou dost lead.
Master. Thy humility, O disciple! hath made the mine.
Thou hast entered the Gateway leading to my Kingdom,
Even to the Kingdom of a righteous life.
Henceforth thou wilt follow Truth and not self;
Striving, thou hast entered;
Searching, thou hast revealed;
Seeking, thou hast found.
Ask whatsoever thou wilt and I will not withhold instruction.