DO NOT CONFUSE THE MIRROR WITH THE SUN

When people are not aware of the sun, they adore the mirrors on which the sun reflects. That is silly! They eagerly try to protect the mirror, so that they don’t lose their sun in the mirror. Only when they realize that the real sun is out there, and does not vanish when their mirror breaks, they start loving the real sun. Their love turns completely toward the sun out there in the sky. They realize that the sun does not depend on the mirror. Rather, the sunshine in the mirror depends on the sun in the sky. The mirror is enlightened and shines because of the sun, not vice versa.

O human being! Your heart and nature is like a mirror. Your intense and innate love for eternity is not meant for the mirror, i.e. your heart and nature. Rather, that innate love is for the reflection of the Eternal and Majestic One, which shines upon the mirror of your heart to the extent of its capacity. It is because of a silly confusion that the love originally meant for the One got misdirected toward your own self. Now is the time to correct that mistake. Turn to Him and say, O the Eternal One, You are Eternal (Ya Baqī anta al-Baqī)! That is, since You exist and You are eternal, we do not worry at all about separation and nonexistence!*

All that lives on earth or in the heavens is bound to pass away: but forever will abide thy Sustainer’s Self, full of majesty and glory. (Quran 55:56-57)

*Excerpted from Said Nursi, Flashes, 17th Flash.