CHAPTER SIX

O soul: Indeed, if a drinker were to take but a single draught of water, that one draught would establish within his soul the knowledge of the nature of all water. For the testing of a solitary part informs about the whole of its totality. He who looks upon a handful of dust has seen all dust; though the colors of the dust may vary, its essence does not. Likewise, for one who accompanies companions who are all of one nature and one essence, the knowledge of one of them informs about all of them, and the few inform about the many. So, O soul, restrict yourself to this explanation and let it suffice you, that you may be granted success in salvation and safety.

O soul: I see that everything yearns for its like, and every species joins with its own kind; therefore, it is incumbent upon you to be knowledgeable of this meaning.

O soul: You are pure, so do not accompany the turbid. You are luminous and radiant, so do not accompany the dark. You are living and rational, so do not accompany the ignorant and oppressive. You are clean and untainted, so do not accompany the impure and the defiled. You act with discernment and intellectual will, so do not accompany that which moves with the motion of wandering, confusion, and disorder.