I sat on the river bank.
 Wise books were lying before me.
 My mind was filled with philosophical questions.
 Man in the dark robe approached me and said:
 "With what riddles of wisdom are your thoughts
 occupied?"
 "You will not help me. You have a lack of discernment."
 It was my answer to the stranger.
 Suddenly tongues of flames were seen
 over my books for a few seconds.
 -"What does it mean?"- I asked.

 "The words of books are dead knowledge
 if you do not feel souls of the writers.
 The one who is constantly moving
 on the road of perfection
 is more blessed than those
 who sit on the mountain of achievements"-
 It was the reply on my question.

 The words of dark-clad man
 changed my heart completely
 and I began to whirl with him
 in the embraces of the truth.

  Sheikh Igor ibn Abi Sufyan-Marinovsky

 Part of free image "Sunrise in the Catskills" by Thomas Cole
 Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington