within a negation. The indefinite form indicates a general denial of his being mentioned by any mentioner. This shows that God did not mention him to the entities He brought into existence before him, although he was mentioned to Him within Himself.
He then mentioned him to His angels by the rank for which he was created, rather than by his proper name Adam. Know this.
Chapter One Hundred and Twenty: On Knowledge of the Station of Gratitude and Its Mysteries
Gratitude is twofold: for attainment and for bounty.
The former comes from the spirit, the latter from the body.
Gratitude for bounty gives me its increase;
gratitude for attainment is like negation concerning the Unique.
Gratitude for attainment is bounded by its end,
while gratitude for bounty runs to no limit.
Know that gratitude's degrees in the divine mysteries are one thousand two hundred and fifty-one among the knowers of the people of God, and one thousand two hundred and twenty among the People of Blame. Its degrees in the lights are five hundred and fifty-one among the knowers and five hundred and twenty among the People of Blame of the lights.
(The Reality of Gratitude and Its Relation to God)
Notes
Translator’s note TN4119-1: The degrees are retained as supplied: 1,251 and 1,220 in the divine mysteries, and 551 and 520 in the lights, for the respective classes of knowers and People of Blame. The poem distinguishes gratitude for attainment from gratitude for bounty.
