The Longing For Paradise Is

But If You Love And Must Needs Have Desires, Let These Be Your Desires: To Melt And Be Like A Running Brook That Sings Its Melody To The Night. To Know The Pain Of Too Much Tenderness. To Be Wounded By Your Own Understanding Of Love; And To Bleed Willingly And Joyfully. To Wake At Dawn With A Winged Heart And Give Thanks For Another Day Of Loving; To Rest At Noon Hour And Meditate Love's Ecstasy; To Return Home At Eventide With Gratitude; And Then To Sleep With A Prayer For The Beloved In Your Heart And A Song Of Praise On Your Lips.

Wailing And Lamentation Befit Those Who Stand Before The Throne Of Life And Depart Without Leaving In Its Hands A Drop Of The Sweat Of Their Brows Or The Blood Of Their Hearts.

Only Yesterday I Was No Different Than Them, Yet I Was Saved. I Am Explaining To You The Way Of Life Of A People Who Say Every Sort Of Wicked Thing About Me Because I Sacrificed Their Friendship To Gain My Own Soul. I Left The Dark Paths Of Their Duplicity And Turned My Eyes Toward The Light Where There Is Salvation, Truth, And Justice. They Have Exiled Me Now From Their Society, Yet I Am Content. Mankind Only Exiles The One Whose Large Spirit Rebels Against Injustice And Tyranny. He Who Does Not Prefer Exile To Servility Is Not Free In The True And Necessary Sense Of Freedom.

A Truly Religious Man Does Not Embrace A Religion; And He Who Embraces One Has No Religion.

And All Knowledge Is Vain Save When There Is Work, And All Work Is Empty Save When There Is Love; And When You Work With Love You Bind Yourself To Yourself, And To One Another, And To God.