O My eminent friend! Those who progress in mystic wayfaring are of four kinds. I shall describe them in brief, that the grades and qualities of each kind may become plain to thee.
The First Valley
If the travelers seek after the goal of the Intended One (maqsúd), this station appertaineth to the self — but that self which is “The Self of God standing within Him with laws.” [A Muslim Hadith(tradition)]
On this plane, the self is not rejected but beloved; it is well-pleasing and not to be shunned. Although at the beginning, this plane is the realm of conflict, yet it endeth in attainment to the throne of splendor. As they have said: “O Abraham of this day, O Friend Abraham of the Spirit! Kill these four birds of prey,” [The Mathnaví. Here Rúmí tells a story of four evil birds which, when put to death, changed into four birds of goodness. The allegory refers to subduing evil qualities and replacing them with good.] that after death the riddle of life may be unraveled.
This is the plane of the soul who is pleasing unto God. (Baha’u’llah, The Four Valleys)
