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Jackson6612 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

The eye of the Sea is one thing and the foam another.

The eye of the Sea is one thing and the foam another. Let the foam go, and gaze with the eye of the Sea. Day and night foam-flecks are flung from the sea: of amazing! You behold the foam but not the Sea. We are like boats dashing together; our eyes are darkened, yet we are in clear water.

Context: http://www.khamush.com/tales_from_masnavi.htm#The%20Elephant

1: What is "the eye of the Sea"? Reality?
2: What is "foam"? Illusion?
3: "foam-flecks are flung from the sea", does this mean that the reality is covered with illusions?
4: Was it supposed to be 'oh amazing' instead of "of amazing"?
5: "yet we are in clear water", does this mean that although from our perspective everything seems comprehensible still some realities are beyond of us?
  

Top answer

HTM Comparison of the sensual eye to the hand of one that felt the elephant. The eye of outward sense is as the palm of a hand, The whole of the object is not grasped in the palm. The sea itself is one thing, the foam another; Neglect the foam, and regard the sea with your eyes.

  • HTM Comparison of the sensual eye to the hand of one that felt the elephant.
  • The eye of outward sense is as the palm of a hand, The whole of the object is not grasped in the palm.
  • The sea itself is one thing, the foam another; Neglect the foam, and regard the sea with your eyes.
  • Waves of foam rise from the sea night and day, You look at the foam ripples and not the mighty sea.
  • We, like boats, are tossed hither and thither, We are blind though we are on the bright ocean.
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1 Answers
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I think that a different translation would clarify things:
http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0134/__P16.HTM

Comparison of the sensual eye to the
hand of one that felt the elephant.
The eye of outward sense is as the palm of a hand,
The whole of the object is not grasped in the

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