MONDAY, MAY 1
“I see my beauty in you” -- Ghazal 2234
I See My Beauty in You
I see my beauty in you. I become
a mirror that cannot close its eyes
to your longings. My eyes wet with
yours in the early light. My mind
every moment giving birth, always
conceiving, always in the ninth
month, always the come-point. How
do I stand this? We become these
words we say, a wailing sound moving
out into the air. These thousands of
worlds that rise from nowhere, how
does your face contain them? I’m
a fly in your honey, then closer, a
moth caught in flame’s allure, then
empty sky stretched out in homage.
-- Ghazal (Ode) 2234
Version by Coleman Barks, with Nevit Ergin
"The Glance"
Viking-Penguin, 1999
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/no2bw==============================
TUESDAY, MAY 2
You can’t sit inactive for a moment;
you can’t rest until some good or bad
has come out of you.
These impulses to action
bring your inner consciousness
more clearly into outer view.
How then should the reel—
which is the body—
become still, when the line’s end—
which is the mind—is pulling.
~ ~ ~ ~
Yek zamân bi kâr na-tavâni neshast
tâ badi yâ nika’i az to na-jast
in taqâzâ-hâ-ye kâr az bahr-e ân
shod movakkal tâ shavad serret `iyân
Pas kalâbeh-ye tan kojâ sâken shavad
chon sar-e reshteh-ye zamiresh mi-kashad
-- Mathnawi II: 996-998
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/ldfqhthe Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/ppta3==============================
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3
Thy shining Face has become my spirit's mirror -
we two were once one, my spirit and thy Spirit.
Oh perfect, full Moon! The house of the heart is
Thine! The intellect - which was once the master - has
become Thy slave and doorman.
From the day of Alast the spirit has been drunk
with Thee, though for a time it was distracted by water
and clay.
Since the clay has now settled to the bottom, the
water is clear - no more do I say, "This is mine, that is
Thine."
Now the Emperor of Rum has smashed the
Ethiopians* - may Thy laughing good fortune be forever
victorious!
Oh, Thy Face is like the moon - let me lament
from time to time, for Thy eloquent love has become my
veil.
-- Ghazal (Ode) 2243
Translation by William C. Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983
* Rum or the Byzantine Empire is employed by Rumi to symbolize
light and union, while the Ethiopians symbolize darkness and
separation.
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/ld6qqthe Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/q7fok==============================
THURSDAY, MAY 4
“Burning only makes me brighter”
Should love's heart rejoice unless I burn?
For my heart is Love's dwelling.
If You will burn Your house, burn it, Love!
Who will say, "It's not allowed?"
Burn this house thoroughly!
The lover's house improves with fire.
From now on I will make burning my aim,
for I am like the candle: burning only makes me brighter.
Abandon sleep tonight; traverse for one night
the region of the sleepless.
Look upon these lovers who have become distraught
and like moths have died in union with the One Beloved.
Look upon this ship of God's creatures
and see how it is sunk in Love.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tâ na-suzam kay khonok gardad delesh
ay del mâ khândân o manzelesh
Khâneh-ye khvod-râ hami suzi be-suz
kist ânkas ku be-guyad "Lâ yajuz"
Khvish be-suz in khâneh-râ ay shir mast
khâneh-ye `âsheq chonin avvali-tarast
Ba`d azin in suz-râ qebleh konam
zânkeh shama`am man be-suzesh rawshanam
Khvâb-râ bo-g'zâr emshab ay pedar
yek shabi bar ku-ye bi khvâbân gozar
Be-negar in-hâ-râ keh majnun gashteh-'and
hamcho parvâneh beh vaslat koshteh-'and
Be-negar in kashti-ye khalqân gharq-e `Eshq
azhdahâyi gasht guyi halq-e `Eshq
-- Mathnawi VI: 617-623
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/m537nthe Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/ozpbe==============================
FRIDAY, MAY 5
Don’t look at your form, however ugly or beautiful.
Look at love and at the aim of your quest.
O you whose lips are parched, keep looking for water.
Those parched lips are proof that eventually you will
reach the source.
-- Mathnawvi, III: 1438/1440
Breathing Truth - Quotations from Jalaluddin Rumi
Selected and Translated by Muriel Maufroy
Sanyar Press - London, 1997
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/pk2futhe Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/otne2==============================
MONDAY, MAY 8
"Green from Inside"
The moon comes to visit as a guest
of the night. Rose sits down by
thorn. Someone washing clothes
asks for the sun's forgiveness!
Compass leg circles the point.
Muhammad arrives here, a stranger,
Spring to this dry tree. Hallaj
smiles at his cross. The pomegranate
flowers. Everyone talks about
greenery, not with words but quietly
as green itself talks from inside,
as we begin to live our love.
-- Ghazal (ode) 2400
Version by Coleman Barks, with Nevit Ergin
"The Glance"
Viking-Penguin, 1999
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/rqyyb==============================
TUESDAY, MAY 9
When through spiritual poverty someone is graced with nonexistence,
like Muhammad, he loses his shadow.
Fanâ'* graced the Prophet who said, "Poverty is my pride."
He became shadowless like the flame of a candle.
When the candle has become entirely flame from head to foot,
a shadow has no way to approach it.
The waxen candle fled from itself and its shadow into radiance
for the sake of the One by whom it was made.
God said, "I molded you for the sake of fanâ'."
It replied, "And so I took refuge in fanâ'."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Chon fanâsh az faqr pirâyeh shavad
u Mohammad-vâr bi sâyeh shavad
"Faqr fakhri"-râ fanâ* pirâyeh shod
chon zabâneh-ye shama` u bi sâyeh shod
Shama` jomleh shod zabâneh pâ o sar
sâyeh-râ na-bovad beh-gerd-e u gozar
Mum az khvish o ze sâyeh dar gorikht
dar sho`â` az bahr-e U ki shama` rikht
Goft U "Bahr-e fanâyet rikhtam"
goft "Man ham dar fanâ be-gorikhtam"
*Disappearance of the individual self in the being of God.
-- Mathnawi V: 672-676
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/p7knnthe Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/obermthe Persian interpretation:
http://tinyurl.com/qfgdc==============================
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
The quarry of annihilation
You imprisoned in air nine spheres of emerald till
you brought into orbit a form of earth.
Water, what are you washing? Wind, what are
you seeking? Thunder, why are you roaring? Sphere,
why are you turning?
Love, why are you laughing? Reason, why are
you binding? Patience, why are you content? Face, why
are you pale?
What place is there for the head on the road of
fidelity? What worth has life itself in the religion of
manliness?
That man is perfect in quality who is the quarry
of annihilation; there is room for not one hair in the circle
of uniqueness.
Whether anguish or joy, it is far from freedom;
cold is that person who remains in hotness and coldness.
Where is the gleam of the charming brow if you
have seen my moon? Where is the gleam of drunkness if
you have drunk spiritual wine?
Has not disquietude from this purse and that bowl
seized you? After all you are not a blind ass; what are you
circling around?
With the breast unwashed what profits it to wash
the face? From greed you are like a broom, you are always
in this dust.
Every day for me is Friday, and this sermon of
mine is perpetual; this pulpit of mine is high, my screen is
true manliness.
When the steps of this pulpit become empty of men,
the spirits and the angels will bring a present from God.
-- Translation by A. J. Arberry
"Mystical Poems of Rumi 2"
The University of Chicago Press, 1991
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/nqo2nthe Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/rw8vw==============================
THURSDAY, MAY 11
This marvellous opinion
The goods of this world and this body are melting snow;
yet God buys them, for it is said God has purchased.*
You prefer the melting snow to God's offer,
because you are dubious, you have no certainty.
There is this marvellous opinion within you
which won't fly to that garden of certainty.
Every opinion is really thirsting for conviction
and flapping its wings in pursuit.
When it attains knowledge, then the wing becomes a foot,
and its knowledge begins to scent that garden.
In the tested Way,
knowledge is inferior to certainty but above opinion.
Know that knowledge is a seeker of certainty,
and certainty is a seeker of vision and intuition.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mâl o tan barfand rizân-e fanâ
Haqq kharidâresh keh Allâha-shtarâ*
Barf-hâ ze ân az saman-e avvalistet
keh hayi dar shakk yaqini nistet
Vin `ajab zannast dar to ay mohin
keh na-mi parad be-bostân-e yaqin
Har gomân teshneh-ye yaqin ast ay pesar
mi zanad andar tazâyod bâl o par
Chon resad dar `elm pas par pâ shavad
mar yaqin-râ `elm-e u buya shavad
Zânke hast andar Tariq-e moftatan
`elm kamtar az yaqin va fawq-e zann
`Elm juyâ-ye yaqin bâshad be-dân
vân yaqin juyâ-ye didast va `iyân
*al-Tawbah, 111
-- Mathnawi III: 4115-4121
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/pxawvthe Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/ptgswthe Persian interpretation:
http://tinyurl.com/qkvv6==============================
FRIDAY, MAY 12
Sunlight offers Ghazal 120, from Molana Rumi's "Diwan-e Shams",
in versions by Jonathan Star and Kabir Helminski, and in translation by William Chittick:
We Can See the Truth in Your Eyes
For ages you have come and gone
courting delusion.
For ages you have run from the pain
and forfeited the ecstasy.
So come, return to the root of the root
of your own soul.
Although you appear in earthly form
Your essence is pure Consciousness.
You are the fearless guardian
of Divine Light.
So come, return to the root of the root
of your own soul.
When you lose all sense of self
the bonds of a thousand chains will vanish.
Lose yourself completely.
Return to the root of the root
of your own soul.
You descended from Adam, by the pure Word of God,
but you turned your sight
to the empty show of this world.
Alas, how can you be satisfied with so little?
So come, return to the root of the root
of your own soul.
Why are you so enchanted by this world
when a mine of gold lies within you?
Open your eyes and come -
Return to the root of the root
of your own soul.
You were born from the rays of God's Majesty
when the stars were in their perfect place.
How long will you suffer from the blows
of a nonexistent hand?
So come, return to the root of the root
of your own soul.
You are a ruby encased in granite.
How long will you deceive Us with this outer show?
So come, return to the root of the root
of your own soul.
After one moment with that glorious Friend
you became loving, radiant, and ecstatic.
Your eyes were sweet and full of fire.
Come, return to the root of the root
of your own soul.
Shams-e Tabriz, the King of the Tavern,
has handed you an eternal cup.
And God in all His glory is pouring the wine.
So come! Drink!
Return to the root of the root
of your own soul.
-- Version by Jonathan Star
"Rumi - In the Arms of the Beloved"
Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, New York 1997
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Root of the Root of Your Self
Don't go away, come near.
Don't be faithless, be faithful.
Find the antidote in the venom.
Come to the root of the root of yourself.
Molded of clay, yet kneaded
from the substance of certainty,
a guard at the Treasury of Holy Light -
come, return to the root of the root of your Self.
Once you get hold of selflessness,
you'll be dragged from your ego
and freed from many traps.
Come, return to the root of the root of your Self.
You are born from the children of God's creation,
but you have fixed your sight too low.
How can you be happy?
Come, return to the root of the root of your Self.
Although you are a talisman protecting a treasure,
you are also the mine.
Open your hidden eyes
and come to the root of the root of your Self.
You were born from a ray of God's majesty
and have the blessings of a good star.
Why suffer at the hands of things that don't exist?
Come, return to the root of the root of your Self.
You are a ruby embedded in granite.
How long will you pretend it isn't true?
We can see it in your eyes.
Come to the root of the root of your Self.
You came here from the presence of that fine Friend,
a little drunk, but gentle, stealing our hearts
with that look so full of fire; so
come, return to the root of the root of your Self.
Our master and host, Shamsi Tabriz,
has put the eternal cup before you.
Glory be to God, what a rare wine!
So come, return to the root of the root of your Self.
-- Version by Kabir Helminski
"Love is a Stranger
Threshold Books, 1993
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How long will you move backwards? Come
forward! Enter not into unbelief, come to religion!
Behold the elixir hidden within the venom --
come to the venom! And come, return to the root of the root
of your own self!
Although in form you are earthly, you have
been kneaded from certainty's substance.
You guard the treasury of God's Light -- so come,
return to the root of the root of your own self!
Once you have tied yourself to selflessness, you
will be delivered from selfhood
And released from the ties of a hundred
snares -- so come, return to the root of the root of your own self!
Though you are the talisman protecting the
world's treasure, within yourself, you are the Mine.
Open your hidden eyes and come, return to the
root of the root of your own self!
You were born of the rays of God's majesty and
have gained the good fortunes of your auspicious star.
How long will you suffer at the hands of
nonexistent things? Come! Return to the root of the root of
your own self!
You are a ruby in the midst of granite -- how
long will you try to deceive us?
We can see the truth in your eyes -- so come,
return to the root of the root of your own self!
You came here from the presence of that
haughty Friend, so you are drunk, gentle, and heart-ravishing,
And your eyes are sweet and full of fire -- so
come, return to the root of the root of your own true self!
The king and saki, Shams-i Tabrizi, has placed
before you the everlasting cup.
Glory be to God! What marvelous pure wine!
So come, return to the root of the root of your own self!
-- Translation by William Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/lqvt7==============================
MONDAY, MAY 15
The Phrasing Must Change
Learn about your inner self from those who know such things,
but don't repeat verbatim what they say.
Zuleikha let everything be the name of Joseph, from celery seed
to aloes wood. She loved him so much she concealed his name
in many different phrases, the inner meanings
known only to her. When she said, The wax is softening
near the fire, she meant, My love is wanting me.
Or if she said, Look, the moon is up or The willow has new leaves
or The branches are trembling or The coriander seeds
have caught fire or The roses are opening
or The king is in a good mood today or Isn't that lucky?
Or the furniture needs dusting or
The water carrier is here or It's almost daylight or
These vegetables are perfect or The bread needs more salt
or The clouds seem to be moving against the wind
or My head hurts or My headache's better,
anything she praises, it's Joseph's touch she means,
any complaint, it's his being away.
When she’s hungry, it’s for him. Thirsty, his name is a sherbet.
Cold, he’s a fur. This is what the Friend can do
when one is in such love. Sensual people use the holy names
often, but they don’t work for them.
The miracle Jesus did by being the name of God,
Zuleikha felt in the name of Joseph.
When one is united to the core of another, to speak of that
is to breathe the name Hu, empty of self and filled
with love. As the saying goes, The pot drips what is in it.
The saffron spice of connecting, laughter.
The onion smell of separation, crying.
Others have many things and people they love.
This is not the way of Friend and friend.
-- Mathnawi VI: 4020-43
Version by Coleman Barks
"The Essential Rumi"
HarperSanFrancisco, 1995
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/rdvy2The Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/orpczA Persian interpretation:
http://tinyurl.com/mzf6d http://tinyurl.com/n7bbm http://tinyurl.com/nluq6==============================
TUESDAY, MAY 16
"The body is like a letter"
The body is like a letter:
look into it and see whether it's worthy to be read by the King.
Go into a corner, open the letter, and read what is in it,
see whether its words are suitable for royalty.
If it isn't suitable, tear it to pieces,
write another letter, and remedy the fault.
But don't think it's easy to open the letter of the body;
otherwise everyone would readily discover the secret of the heart.
How difficult it is to open that letter!
It's only for the strong, not for those playing games.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kâlbod nâmeh-st andar vay negar
hast lâyeq Shâh-râ ânkeh be-bar
Gusheh-'i raw nâmeh-râ bo-g'shâ be-khvân
bin keh harfesh hast dar khvord-e shahân
Gar ne-bâshad dar khvor ân-râ pâreh kon
nâmeh-ye digar nevis va châreh kon
Lik fath-e nâmeh-ye tan zap ma-dân
var nah har kas serr-e del didi `iyân
Nâmeh bo-g'shâdan cheh doshvârast o sa`b
kâr-e mardânast nah teflân o ka`b
-- Mathnawi, IV:1564-1568
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/rrcscThe Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/pb6xxA Persian interpretation:
http://tinyurl.com/r8nxg==============================
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
“Do you think I am in control here?”
Today, Sunlight offers two interpretations of Quatrain 1359:
Do you think I am in control here?
That for a moment, or even half a moment,
I can tell you what’s going on?
I am no more than a pen in a writer’s hand.
A ball smacked around by a polo stick.
-- Version by Jonathan Star
"Rumi - In the Arms of the Beloved"
Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, New York 1997
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you think I know what I'm doing?
That for one breath or half-breath
I belong to myself?
As much as a pen knows what it's writing
or the ball can guess where it's going next.
-- Version by Coleman Barks
"The Essential Rumi"
Castle Books, 1997
The Persian image:
http://tinyurl.com/msnnaThe Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/nq3vn==============================
May 2006 - Part I
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