The hidden River

THURSDAY, JUNE 15


The hidden River

If you don't see the hidden River,
see how the water wheel of stars continually turns.
If the heavens receive no rest from being moved by Love,
heart, don't ask for rest—be a circling star.

Do you think God lets you cling to any branch?
Wherever you make an attachment, He will break it.
Before God everything is like a ball,
subject to Him and prostrating before the bat.

How should you, O my heart,
being only one of a hundred billion particles,
not be in restless movement at Love's command?

~~~~~~~~~

Gar na-mi bini Ju-râ dar kamin
gardesh dulâb-e garduni bin
Chon qarâri nist gardun-râ azu
ay del akhtarvâr ârâmi ma-ju
Gar zani dar shâkh dasti kay helad
har kojâ payvand sâzi beshkalad
Chonke kolliyât pish-e U cho gust
sokhreh o sajdeh kon chawgân-e Ust
To keh yek jozvi delâ zin sad hazâr
chon na-bâshi pish-e hokmesh bi qarâr

-- Mathnawi VI: 913-915; 926-927
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

The image:
http://tinyurl.com/rmfjr

The Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/nno5b

A Persian interpretation:
http://tinyurl.com/qc8qe

The hidden River