On Joy and Sorrow

Then a woman said, Speak to us of

Joy and Sorrow.

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your

laughter rises was oftentimes filled

with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your

being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the

very cup that was burned in the potter’s

oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your

spirit, the very wood that was hollowed

with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your

heart and you shall find it is only

that which has given you sorrow that is

giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in

your heart, and you shall see that

in truth you are weeping for that which

has been your delight.

Some of you say, “Joy is greater than

sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is

the greater.”

But I say unto you, they are

inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits

alone with you at your board, remember

that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales

between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at

standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to

weigh his gold and his silver, needs

must your joy or your sorrow rise or

fall.