154 TheSpiritual Life.
than the goal. That as long as service is
consciously service of others, that is,of othersseparated fromourown self,that thereis still
incompletenessintheethics,thereisstilllackof
spiritualityinthesoul.Some of you may remember that exquisite
Persian poem in which the lover, seeking his
beloved, finds closed against him the door of
herchamber,andknocks,pleadingforadmission.
From within the closed room sounds a voice
asking "Who asks for admission?" And
believingthathis lovewas the best claim that
couldbegivenforhis entry,heanswered, "It
is thy beloved that knocks." But there was
silencewithinthe roomandthe doorremained
closedagainstthesuppliant. Outintotheworld
hewentandlearned deeper lessonsof life,and
of love; and coming back once more to the
closed door, he struck thereon and asked for
entry. Againthevoicecame, '*Whoisitthat
knocks?" Buttheanswerthistimewasother
thanatfirst. Nolonger"Thybeloved"came
thewords,but,"Itisthyselfthatknocks,"and
thenthedoorunclosed,hepassedthethreshold.
Foralltruelovehasitsrootinunity,andthere
againitisnot twainbutone. Soitwouldseem
that in the highest ethic this is the true note