The Bubble on the Ocean
How human knowledge and existence are like bubbles on the ocean of Divine grace.
— Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, Mesnevi-i Nuriye, Hubab (The Bubble)Human knowledge and power are like a tiny bubble on the surface of a vast ocean. That bubble reflects the light of the sun, but the light does not belong to it. If that bubble thinks the light within it is its own property, it will plunge into great darkness the moment it bursts. But if it knows that the light comes from the sun, even when the bubble bursts, it finds permanence because the owner of the light is eternal. O human! Every perfection and beauty in you is a reflection of that pre-eternal sun. Know yourself as a bubble, and be grateful to the sun.
Key Philosophical Insight
Acknowledging our derived nature connects us to eternal sources, saving us from the dread of our own fragility.
Q&A Analysis & Recap
Q What happens to the bubble when it claims the light as its own?
A It falls into darkness and despair upon its inevitable bursting.