The Hymn of the Pearl is an ancient text and beautiful allegory of the spiritual journey from the highest levels, down to Earth and back up again. It is contained with the third-century text ‘Acts of Thomas’, but is believed to be composed by a different and unknown author and originally written in either the first or second century.
The narrative of the story can be recognised as what we now would describe “The Hero’s Journey” – although its aim is to describe what is happening to us spiritually. It also very closely matches a description of the spiritual hierarchy and journey set out by First Spiritual Temple and analysed here.
The headings have been added to provide summaries of each five line section. (Personal commentary has been added in brackets – but feel free to use your own interpretation.)
The translation below is from the Syriac by William Wright, Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles (London, 1871), pp. 238-245 https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Hymn_of_the_Pearl
1. The starting point
1. When I was a little child, and dwelling in my kingdom, in my father’s house, (in our original spiritual home before incarnating)
2.and was content with the wealth and the luxuries of my nourishers, (where we have everything we could want)
3. from the East, our home, my parents equipped me (and) sent me forth; (“The East” – where the light comes from, being sent forth to gain experience)
4. and of the wealth of our treasury they took abundantly, (and) tied up for me a load (we are given what we need for our upcoming incarnation on Earth)
5. large and (yet) light, which I myself could carry,
2. Preparation
6 gold of Beth-Ellaya, and silver of Gazak the great
7 and rubies of India, and agates from Beth-Kashan,
8 and they furnished me with the adamant, which can crush iron.
9 And they took off from me the glittering robe, which in their affection they made for me, (Separating from the parts of the soul that will remain in the spiritual Kingdom)
10 and the purple toga, which was measured and woven to my stature.
3. The mission
11 And they made a compact with me, and wrote it in my heart, that it might not be forgotten:
12 “If thou goest down into Egypt, and bringest the one pearl, (If you go down into the material world and seek the experience that is your mission)
13 which is in the midst of the sea around the loud-breathing serpent, (Which will not be easy to achieve – there will be obstacles)
14 thou shalt put on thy glittering robe and thy toga, with which (thou art) contented,
15 and with thy brother, who is next to us in authority, thou shalt be heir in our kingdom.”
4. Starting the journey
16 I quitted the East (and) went down, there being two guardians, (“Quitted the East” – leaving the homeland of the light)
17 for the way was dangerous and difficult, and I was very young to travel it. (Starting off the journey from the Kingdom in the East, through various spiritual realms, on the way to incarnating on Earth)
18 I passed through the borders of Maishan, the meeting-place of the merchants of the East, (Seems to be describing an area for spirits from the East travelling between the spiritual realms)
19 and I reached the land of Babel, and I entered the walls of Sarbug.
20 I went down into Egypt, and my companions parted from me. (“Went down into Egypt” – incarnated into the material world. The two spiritual guides then departed at this point.)
5. Initial interactions
21 I went straight to the serpent, I dwelt in his abode,
22 (waiting) till he should lumber and sleep, and I could take my pearl from him.
23 And when I was single and alone (and) became strange to my family,
24 one of my race, a free-born man [from the East], I saw there, (Recognizing those on the same path as us, or who are part of the same soul group)
25 a youth fair and loveable, the son of oil-sellers;
6. Friendship
26 and he came and attached himself to me, and I made him my intimate friend,
27 and associate with whom I shared my merchandise.
28. I warned him against the Egyptians and against consorting with [unclean things];
29 And I dressed in their dress, that they might not hold me in abhorrence, (To avoid being seen as a stranger)
30 because I was come from abroad in order to take the pearl, and arouse the serpent against me.
7. The forgetting
31 But in some way other or another they found out that I was not their countryman,
32 and they dealt with me treacherously, and gave their food to eat.
33 I forget that I was a son of kings, and I served their king; (Forgetting our spiritual nature we align with the world)
34 and I forgot the pearl, for which my parents had sent me, (And we forget our mission)
35 and because of the burden of their oppressions I lay in a deep sleep. (And the burdens of the world change us)
8. The concern
36 But all this things that befell me my parents perceived, and were grieved for me;
37 and proclamation was made in our kingdom, that every one should come to our gate [kingdom],
38 kings and princes of Parthia, and all the nobles of the East.
39 And they wove a plan on my behalf, that I might not be left in Egypt;
40 and they wrote to me a letter, and every noble signed his name to it:
9. The letter - Part 1
41 “From thy father, the king of kings, and thy mother, the mistress of the East,
42 and from thy brother, our second (in authority), to thee our son, who art in Egypt, greeting!
43 [Awake, and rise from your sleep.]
44 Call to mind that thou art a son of kings! See the slavery, — whom thou servest!
45 Remember the pearl, for which thou was sent to Egypt!
10. The letter - Part 2
46 Think of thy robe, and remember thy splendid toga,
47 which thou shalt wear and (with which) thou shalt be adorned, when thy name hath been read out in the list of the valiant,
48 and thy brother, our viceroy, thou shalt be in our kingdom.”
49 My letter is a letter, which the king sealed with his own right hand,
50 (to keep it) from the wicked ones, the children of Babel, and from the savage demons of Sarbug.
11. Awakened by the message
51 It flew in the likeness of an eagle, the king of all birds;
52 it flew and alight beside me, and became all speech.
53 At its voice and the sound of its rustling, I started and arose from my sleep.
54 I took it up and kissed it, and I began (and) read it;
55 and according to what was traced on my heart were the words of my letter. (We recognize from what is written within, the truth of our spiritual origin)
12. Remembering
56 I remembered that I was a son of royal parents, and my noble birth asserted itself.
57 I remembered the pearl, for which I had been sent to Egypt,
58 and I began to charm him, the terrible loud breathing serpent.
59 I hushed him asleep and lulled him into slumber, for my father’s name I named over him, (Invoking the power of a higher reality)
60 and the name of our second (in power), and the of my mother, the queen of the East.
13. Taking the pearl and starting the return
61 And I snatched away the pearl, and turned to go back to my father’s house. (Achieved the experience to be gained from life on Earth)
62 And their filthy and unclean dress I stripped off, and left it in their country; (The clothes in the land of Egypt – the way of Earthly living, or even the mortal body?)
63 and I took my way straight to come to the light of our home in the East.
64 And my letter, my awakener, I found before me on the road;
65 and as with its voice it had awakened me, (so) too with its light it was leading me.
14. The return
66 It, that dwelt in the palace, gave light before me with its form,
67 and with its voice and its guidance it also encouraged me to speed, and with its love it drew me on.
68 I went forth (and) passed by Sarbug; I left Babel on my left hand;
69 and I came to the great Maisan, to the haven of merchants,
70 which sitteth on the shore of the sea.
15. Sending the robe
71 And my bright robe, which I had stripped off, and the toga that was wrapped with it,
72 from Rantha and Reken[?] my parents had sent thither
73 by the hand of their treasures, who in their truth could be trusted therewith.
74 And because I remembered not its fashion,— for in my childhood I had left it in my father’s house,— [“But I could not recall my splendor, for it had been when I was still a child and quite young that I had left it behind in my father’s palace.”]
75 on a sudden, when I received it, the garment seemed to me to become like a mirror of myself. [“See the garment reflected as in a mirror”]
16. Recognition of unity
76 I saw it all in all, and I to received all in it, [“I perceived in it my whole self as well and through it I knew and saw myself”]
77 for we were two in distinction and yet gain one in one likeness. [“For though we originated from the one and the same we were partially divided, then again we were one, with a single form.”]
78 And the treasurers too, who brought it to me, I saw in like manner
79 to be two (and yet) one likeness, for one sign of the king was written on them (both),
80 of the hands of him who restored to me through them my trust and my wealth,
17. Further description of the robe
81 my decorated robe, which was adorned with glorious colors,
82 with gold and beryls and rubies and agates and sardonyxes, varied in color.
83 And it was skillfully worked in its home on high, and with diamond clasps were all its seams fastened;
84 and the image of the king of kings was embroidered and depicted in full all over it,
85 and like the stone of the sapphire too its hues were varied.
18. Knowledge and speaking of the robe
86 And I saw also that all over it the instincts of knowledge were working, (The knowledge we once had when in the Kingdom)
87 and I saw too that it was preparing to speak.
88 I heard the sound of its tones, which it uttered, saying:
89 “I am the active in deeds, whom they reared for him before my father;
90 and I perceived myself, that my stature grew according to his labors.” (Stature grew according to his labors – The soul grew from the positive actions of the body/personality)
19. Joining with the robe again
91 And in its kingly movements it poured itself entirely over me,
92 and on the hand of its givers it hastened that I might take it.
93 And love urged me to run to meet it and receive it;
94 and I stretched forth and took it. With the beauty of its colors I adorned myself,
95 and I wrapped myself wholly in my toga of brilliant hues. (The beautiful colours of the soul)
20. Ascending further within the Kingdom
96 I clothed myself with it, and went up to the gate of salutation and prostration;
97 I bowed my head and worshipped the majesty of my father who sent me,—
98 for I had done his commandments, and he too had done what he promised,—
99 and the gate of his [ancient royal building] I mingled with his princes,
100 for he rejoiced in me and received me, and I was with him in his kingdom,
21. Ending
101 and with [harmonious voices] all his servants praised him.
102 And he promised that to the gate too of the king of kings with him I should go,
103 and with my offering and my pearl with him should present myself to our king.
