Sunlight: March 2008

Monday, March 31, 2008

[Sunlight] "O soul, the breeze of spring is coming" -- Ghazal 3034

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal 3034, from the "Diwan-e Shams" -
the "Collection of Shams", in a version by Coleman Barks, and in
translation by A.J. Arberry:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Water opens the garden like a new friendship.
Leaf says to fruit, "Quit scratching your ear,
and come outside."

The sweet grape makes the deepest teacher,
because its trunk is spindly.

Lust is a winter the garden contracts in,
for how long? Too long.

Wash your face with Spring water.
Now a branch of blooms talks to the basil,
"Lie down."

Birds say to trees, "Hold us."

A rose to God: "Don't let winter come again."

The reply:

"Don't grieve over December,
or Mongol tribes that raid Khorasan.
That is my concern.

Juice doesn't flow from fruit
unless you squeeze them.
I give unnumbered life
when I take away the numbers.
I serve wine that gives no headache
when I withhold the headache wine.

But you go on painting pictures and blackening
pages of print, like smoke obscuring light.
Read the day instead of books.

Get off your horse and let him ride away,
the perfect equestrian."

-- Version by Coleman Barks, from a translation
by John Moyne
"These Branching Moments"
Copper Beech Press, 1988

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

O soul, the breeze of spring is coming, so that you may raise
your hand towards the rose garden.
Grass and lily, tulip and hyacinth said, "There grows what-
ever you sow."
Buds and rose blossoms came as a helmet so that the ugliness
of the thorn may not appear.*
Elevation has come to the tall cypress, it has found glory
after humiliation.
Spirit enters all the garden, for water displays spirit-bestow-
ing;
The beauty of the garden increases from water--it has come as
most blessed friendship.
Leaf has sent a message to fruit, "You come quickly, do not
scratch your ear."
That sweet grape is king of the fruits, because its tree was
emaciated.
In the winter of lust how long shall the garden of our heart re-
main imprisoned and walled in?
Seek the way from the heart, seek the moon from the soul;
what does the earth possess but dust?
Rise, wash your face, but with a water which beautifies the
cheek of the rose.
The branch of blossoms said to the basil, "Lay down what-
ever you posses in our path."
The nightingale said to the garden, "We are the quarry of
your snare."
The rose entreats God for mercy, "Do not put winter in com-
mand over us."
God says, "How does juice come out of fruit until you squeeze
it?
"Do not grieve over December and the raiding Gozz, and re-
gard this business as lying at my door.*
"Thanks and praise, joy and increase do not appear except
you lament.
"I will give you life unnumbered if I take away numbered life;
"I will give you wine without headache if I take away wine
that yields headache."
Though many pictures have knowledge, why do you go on
painting the pages?
Through you the face of the pages has been blackened; how
can you read the writing of day?
Have done with smoke; look at the light from the moon of the
Beloved in the dark night.
Enough, enough, come down from your horse, so that he may
ride forth, the horseman supreme.

-- Translation by A. J. Arberry
"Mystical Poems of Rumi 2"
The University of Chicago Press, 1991

* This line could be translated: "Bud and flowers came as
forgiveness so that you may not see the ugliness of the thorn."
* The nomadic Gozz tribes invaded and destroyed Khorasan in
the twelfth century.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------------

Archive for Sunlight can be accessed at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight /messages
To subscribe, please send an email to : sunlight-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To unsubscribe, please send an email to: sunlight-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:Sunlight-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Sunlight-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Friday, March 28, 2008

[Sunlight] Devour my verse the moment it is fresh

Today, Sunlight offers Ghazal (Ode) 981, from Rumi's "Diwan-e
Shams", in a literal translation by Chittick, a poetic version by
Star, and a second literal by A.J. Arberry:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My poetry is like Egyptian bread: Night passes
and you cannot eat it.
Eat it while it is fresh, before the dust settles
on it!
Its place is in the tropics of the awareness - it
dies in this world because of the cold.
Like a fish, it flops a moment on dry ground. A
while later you see it lifeless.
If you eat it imagining it to be fresh, you will
have to paint many fantastic images.
You will devour your own imagination, not
these ancient words, oh man!

-- Translation by William C. Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love - The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi"
State University of New York Press, Albany, 1983

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The Bread of Egypt"

My poetry is like the bread of Egypt -
if one night passes
it will become stale.
Partake while it is still fresh,
before it dries out in the air.

My words rise in the warmth of the heart,
they fade in the cold of the world.
Like fish on dry land
they quiver for a moment, then die.

If you take in my words but do not digest them
you'll have to color every truth
with your own imaginings.

O man, you drink from an empty cup
while the precious wine gets poured
in the gutter.
You drink from the well of your own delusion
while spitting out
these sweet and ancient words.

If you eat stale bread
thinking that it's fresh,
all you'll get is a stomachache.

-- Version by Jonathan Star
"Rumi - In the Arms of the Beloved"
Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, New York 1997

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My verse resembles the bread of Egypt - night passes over it,
and you cannot eat it any more.
Devour it the moment it is fresh, before the dust settles
upon it.
Its place is the warm climate of the heart; in this world it dies
of cold.
Like a fish it quivered for an instant on dry land, another
moment and you see it is cold.
Even if you eat it imagining it is fresh, it is necessary to
conjure up many images.
What you drink is really your own imagination; it is no old tale,
my good man.

-- Translation by A. J. Arberry
"Mystical Poems of Rumi 1"
The University of Chicago Press, 1968

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Thursday, March 27, 2008

[Sunlight] Borrowed wisdom

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

O brother, Wisdom is pouring into you
from the beloved saint of God.
You've only borrowed it.
Although the house of your heart
is lit from inside,
that light is lent by a luminous neighbor.
Give thanks; don't be arrogant or vain;
pay attention without self-importance.
It's sad that this borrowed state
has put religious communities
far from religious communion.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ay barâdar bar to hekmat jâriyast
ân ze abdâl ast va bar to `âriyast
Garche dar khvod khâneh nuri yâftast
ân ze hamsâyeh-ye monavver tâftast
Shokr kon gherreh ma-shaw bini ma-kon
gushdâr va hich khvod bini ma-kon
Sad darigh o dard kin `âriyati
ommatân-râ dur kard az ommati

-- Mathnawi I: 3255-3258
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

[Sunlight] As soon as you clear your hearing -- Ghazal 550

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

the voice of a saviour
will shortly be heard
as soon as you
clear your hearing

don't drink now
this polluted water
the elixir of life
will soon arrive

if you desire grace
lose your selfish self
till you can taste
the sweet essence

in the blackest
of your moments
wait with no fear

since the water of life
was found by the prophet
in the darkest caverns

-- Ode (Ghazal) 550
Translated by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Fountain of Fire
Burning Gate Press, Los Angeles, 1994.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

[Sunlight] Two opposing objects of desire

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you hear a secret from a friend at midnight,
you'll know that friend when he speaks to you at dawn;
and if two people bring news to you in the night,
you'll recognize them both in the daylight by the way they speak.
If during the night the sound of a lion and the sound of a dog
enter someone's ear and he could not see them in the dark,
when day breaks and they begin to speak again,
the intelligent hearer will know them by their voice.
And so it is, both the Devil and the angelic Spirit
present us with objects of desire
to awaken our power of choice.
There is an invisible strength within us;
when it recognizes two opposing objects of desire, it grows stronger.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nim shab chon be-shenavi râzi ze dust
chon sokhan guyad sahar dâni keh ust
Var do kas dar shab khabar ârad torâ
ruz az goftan shenâsi har do-râ
Bâng-e shir o bâng-e sag dar shab resid
surat-e har do ze târiki na-did
Ruz shod chon bâz dar bâng âmadand
pas shenâsadeshân ze bâng ân hushmand
Mokhallas-e in keh Div o Ruh `orzeh-dâr
har do hastand az tatemmeh-ye ekhtiyâr
Ekhtiyâri hast dar mâ nâ-padid
chon do matlab did âyad dar mazid

-- Mathnawi V:3000-3005
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Monday, March 24, 2008

[Sunlight] Spring is here, friends -- Ghazal 1370

Today, Sunlight offers a spring-themed poem, celebrating both
the changing of the season, and the Nowrooz holiday. Nowrooz is the
new year in Iran, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan,
parts of India and among the Kurds. The word itself literally means
"new day" in Persian, and the festival marks the beginning of the
solar year and new year on the Iranian calendar, as well as among
several other nationalities.

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal (Ode) 1370, from Molana Rumi's
"Diwan-e Shams" ("The Collection of Shams"), in a version by
Coleman Barks, and in a second generation translation from Turkish,
by Nevit Ergin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The Whole Place Goes Up"

Today with Spring here finally we ought to be living
outdoors with our friends.
Let's go to those strangers in the field
and dance around them like bees from flower to flower,
building in the beehive air
our true hexagonal homes.

Someone comes in from outside saying,
"Don't play music just for yourselves."
Now we're tearing up the house like a drum,
collapsing walls with our pounding.
We hear a voice from the sky calling the lovers
and the odd, lost people. We scatter lives.
We break what holds us, each one a blacksmith
heating iron and walking to the anvil.
We blow on the inner fire.
With each striking we change.

The whole place goes up, all stability gone in smoke.
Sometimes high, sometimes low, we begin anywhere,
we have no method.
We're the bat swung by powerful arms.
Balls keep rolling from us, thousands of them underfoot.

Now we're still. Silence also is wisdom, a flame
hiding in cotton wool.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
"Open Secret"
Threshold Books, 1984

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spring is here, friends.
Let's stay in the garden
And be guests to the strangers of the green.

We'll fly from one flower to the other,
Like bees making the six corners
Of this earth's hives prosperous.

An envoy came from this fortress
And said, "Don't beat the drum secretly.
With our yells, we would tear down the place
Where that Love's drum is beating."

Hear that voice which comes from the sky,
"Rise, all insane ones.
I sacrifice my Soul to the insane.
Let's scatter our Soul today."

Let's break all the chains.
Every one of us is a blacksmith.
Let's go to the fireplace where the pincers are.

Let's fan the flame of the Heart's fire
Like the furnace of blacksmiths.
So we can have iron Hearts
Under our control with breath.

We'll put fire in this universe,
Incite riots in the sky,
Make his sober, resisting mind
Turn around, become dizzy like ours.

We are like a ball, without hands and feet,
Sometimes at the end
And sometimes at the beginning of the square.
Who told you we could do what we want?
Who told you we are independent?

No, no. We are like a club
In the hand of the Sultan.
We send hundreds of thousands of balls
To His feet.

Let's be silent. Silence is made
With some material like craziness.
His mind is such a fire
That we hide this fire by wrapping it in cotton.

-- Translation by Nevit O. Ergin
"Divan-i Kebir" -- Meter 1
Walla Walla, Washington: Current, 1995.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Friday, March 21, 2008

[Sunlight] "Wings in place of my slow feet" -- Nader Khalili

This week, Sunlight remembers and thanks Nader Khalili*:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

how long
can i see myself
chained in this prison
chained in this world

the time has come
to take my good life
in my hands and
gallop to the sublime

finally purified
i'm no more polluted
and from now on
i'll take my quests
directly to God Himself

i was given
at my birth
all the estates and mansions
it will be a heresy
to accept only
a doorkeeper's job

once i alter this
doorkeeper's attitude
once i change the
essence in my mind
happiness will replace misery

now my dear heart
since you and i are all alone
having your midnight message
i'll do exactly
that which you know

once i grow wings
in place of my slow feet
all obstacles will vanish
and i really can fly in
time and space again

-- Ghazal 1391
Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi -- Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1994

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* Nader Khalili (1936-2008)

http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/photos/view/68db?b=1

There will be a memorial at Cal-Earth on March 29

http://calearth.org/

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Thursday, March 20, 2008

[Sunlight] "From paradise to paradise" -- Nader Khalili

This week, as Nowrooz and spring are in blossom, Sunlight
remembers and thanks Nader Khalili*.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

one by one
our friends
filled with joy and quest
begin to arrive

one by one our friends
the worshipers of ecstasy
begin to arrive

more friends and sweethearts
filling you with love
are on their way

darlings of spring
journeying from gardens
begin to arrive

one by one
living their destiny
in this world

the ones who are gone are gone
but the ones who survived
begin to arrive

all their pockets
filled with gold
from endless treasures

bringing gifts
for the needy of the world
begin to arrive

the weak and the exhausted
the frightened by love
will be gone

the rejuvenated
the healthy and happy
begin to arrive

the pure souls
like the spectrums
of the shining sun

descending from the high heavens
to lowly earth
begin to arrive

luscious and happy
the blessed garden
whose heavenly fruits

spring forth
from the virgin winter
begin to arrive

those who are born
from the roots
of generosity and love

taking a journey
from paradise to paradise
begin to arrive

-- Ghazal 891
Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi -- Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1994

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* Khalili's "Rumi Dome":

http://www.calearth.org/cvillage/cerumidm.htm

http://news.dadaksa.com/travel_zine_01_49/log21.htm

Nowrooz Mobarak

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

[Sunlight] "Your sudden journey" - Nader Khalili

This week, Sunlight remembers and thanks Nader Khalili.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

your sudden journey
from our city
my beloved
filled you with sweetness
and left me in the dark

you went along
with your own sweetheart
the one for whom
every soul is ready
to leave the body and fly

it was that spectrum
the one who came
first as a light
brightened your path
then took you away in limelight

you were ready
happy to leave this lowly earth
while filled with ecstasy
you flew away with rapture
to the ultimate and beyond

now that you're gone
you've forever found
the ultimate paradise
free from bread
free from bread givers

now you are
like a pure soul
like a dream
every moment
taking a new form

send me some words
of your tender journey
my beloved and
if you don't
i know for sure
you're forever immersed
like a precious pearl
in the endless sea

-- Ghazal 2565, from the Diwan-e Shams
Translation by Nader Khalili.
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1995

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://calearth.org/products_files/racing.htm

Nowrooz Mobarak (http://www.aiap.org/norooz/about_norooz.html).

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

[Sunlight] I was dead, I came alive -- Ghazal 1393

This week, Sunlight remembers, and thanks, Nader Khalili.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i was dead
i came alive
i was tears
i became laughter

all because of love
when it arrived
my temporal life
from then on
changed to eternal

love said to me
you are not
crazy enough
you don't
fit this house

i went and
became crazy
crazy enough
to be in chains

love said
you are not
intoxicated enough
you don't
fit the group

i went and
got drunk
drunk enough
to overflow
with light-headedness

love said
you are still
too clever
filled with
imagination and skepticism

i went and
became gullible
and in fright
pulled away
from it all

love said
you are a candle
attracting everyone
gathering every one
around you

i am no more
a candle spreading light
i gather no more crowds
and like smoke
i am all scattered now

love said
you are a teacher
you are a head
and for everyone
you are a leader

i am no more
not a teacher
not a leader
just a servant
to your wishes

love said
you already have
your own wings
i will not give you
more feathers

and then my heart
pulled itself apart
and filled to the brim
with a new light
overflowed with fresh life

now when the heavens
are thankful that
because of love
i have become
the giver of light

-- Ghazal 1393
Translation by Nader Khalili,
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1994

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.earthlight.org/khalili_interview.html

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Monday, March 17, 2008

[Sunlight] "In every breath" - Nader Khalili

This week, Sunlight remembers, and thanks, Nader Khalili.*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

in every breath
if you're the center
of your own desires
you'll lose the grace
of your beloved

but if in every breath
you blow away
your self claim
the ecstasy of love
will soon arrive

in every breath
if you're the center
of your own thoughts
the sadness of autumn
will fall on you

but if in every breath
you strip naked
just like a winter
the joy of spring
will grow from within

all your impatience
comes from the push
for gain of patience
let go of the effort
and peace will arrive

all your unfulfilled desires
are from your greed
for gain of fulfillments
let go of them all
and they will be sent as gifts

fall in love with
the agony of love
not the ecstasy
then the beloved
will fall in love with you

-- Ghazal (Ode) 323
Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1994

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* To learn more about Nader Khalili:

http://www.calearth.org/khalili.htm

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Friday, March 14, 2008

[Sunlight] In Love that Long -- Ghazal 2325

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am here, this moment, inside the beauty,
the gift God has given,
our love:

this gold and circular sign
means we are free of any duty:

out of eternity
I turn my face to you, and into
eternity:

we have been in
love that long.

-- Ghazal (Ode) 2325
Version by Coleman Barks, with Nevit Ergin
"The Glance"
Viking-Penguin, 1999

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------------

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Thursday, March 13, 2008

[Sunlight] "Living and dying are one"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wherever the Eternal Command takes its course,
living and dying are one to God's willing servant.
He lives for God's sake, not for riches;
he dies for God's sake, not from fear and pain.
His faith exists for the sake of doing God's will,
not for the sake of Paradise and its trees and streams.
His abandonment of infidelity is also for God's sake,
and not out of fear of the Fire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Har kojâ Amr-e Qedam-râ maslakist
zendegi o mordegi pishesh yekist
Bahr-e Yazdân mi ziyad ni bahr-e ganj
bahr-e Yazdân mi merad nah az khawf o ranj
Hast imânesh barâ-ye khvâst-e U
ni barâ-ye Jannat o ashjâr o ju
Tark-e kofresh ham barâ-ye Haqq bovad
ni ze bim-e ânke dar tesh ravad

-- Mathnawi III:1909-1912
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

[Sunlight] A reminder of your true self -- Ghazal 1244

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sana'i ! If you don't find a friend, be your own
friend! In this world of every kind of man and every kind of
task, be a man for your own task!*
Each member of this caravan is stealing his own
baggage -- place your own self behind and sit before your
baggage!
People sell ephemeral beauty and buy
ephemeral love -- pass beyond those two dry riverbeds and be
your own river!
These friends of yours keep on pulling you by
the hand toward nonexistence -- steal back your hand and be
your own helper!
These beauties painted on canvas veil the
beauties of the heart-lift up the veil and enter: Be with your
own Beloved!
Be with your own Beloved and be a well-thinking,
good man! Be more than two worlds -- dwell in your own
domain!
Go, do not become drunk with the wine that
increase arrogance -- behold the brightness of that Face and be
soberly aware of your own Self!

-- Ghazal (Ode) 1244
Translation by William C. Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983

* Rumi refers to Sana'i's discussion of good and evil companions
in his Hadiqat al-haqiqat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

[Sunlight] "The difference between truth and falsehood"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The difference between truth and falsehood becomes visible
the moment the collyrium of grace clears the eye;
otherwise, dung and musk seem the same
to one whose nose is clogged.
To cure boredom he picks up something to read,
neglecting the words of the Almighty,
that by means of some entertaining article
he may quell the painful fire and anxiety.
Either pure water or urine would work to put out the fire.
But if you really come to know this pure water,
the Word of God which is of the spirit,
all distress will vanish from your soul,
and your heart will find its way to the rose garden,
for everyone who catches a scent of the mystery of revelation
discovers a spiritual orchard with a running brook.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Farq ângah bâshad az haqq o majâz
keh konad kohl-e `iyânat cheshm-bâz
Var nah poshk o moshk pish-e akhshami
har do yeksânast chon na-bovad shammi
Khvishtan mashghul kardan az malâl
bâshadesh qasd az kalâm-e Zu al-Jalâl
K-âtesh-e vasvâs-râ o ghosseh-râ
zân sokhan be-neshânad o sâzad davâ
Bahr-e in meqdâr âtesh shândan
âb-e pâk o bawl yeksân shod beh fann
Âtesh-e vasvâs-râ in bawl o âb
har do be-neshânand hamchon vaqt-e khvâb
Lik gar vâqef shavi zin âb-e pâk
keh Kalâm-e izadast o ruh-nâk
Nist gardad vasvaseh-ye kolli ze jân
del biyâyad rah beh su-ye golestân
Zânkeh dar bâghi o dar juyi parad
harkeh az serr-e sohof buyi barad

-- Mathnawi IV: 3464-3472
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Monday, March 10, 2008

[Sunlight] Weary of a secret joy -- Ghazal 2880

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal (Ode) 2880, in a version by Coleman
Barks, and in the translation by A.J. Arberry from which Barks
developed his version:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With the sacredness you give and describe,
turn us upside down that other people
may know you're here. We're tired of secret joy,
bashfulness and being ashamed.

Reasons for holding back fly off like doves.
You speak your subtle truth to this ring of blank faces,
and someone suddenly finds something in a pile of ashes.

Why am I talking? You know what's happening.
Simply say it.
Walk around to each of us and pour the wine
and spoon out that eggplant fricassee concoction!

-- Poetic rendition by Coleman Barks
"These Branching Moments"
Copper Beech Press, 1988

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the right and sanctity of that, that you are the soul of all
men, fill a cup with that whose description you know well.
Turn everything upside down, leave neither up or down, so
that men may know that today you are in this meydan.*
Strike the fire of wine in the chattel of shyness and shame; the
drunkards' hearts are weary of secret joy.
The time has come for you to bring back to us that departed
heart, that you should set our reasons aflying like your doves.
You are speaking subtleties in the ring of dissolute drunkards;
it is fine when the treasure shines out in a ruin.
Circumambulate the fermented wine among these consumed
ones; place before the raw ones that fricassee and eggplant
concoction.
What has become of me? You tell me, for how should I know
what has become of me, your lips utter [those] words so easily.

-- Translation by A. J. Arberry
"Mystical Poems of Rumi 2"
The University of Chicago Press, 1991

* "meydan" is a square

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Friday, March 07, 2008

[Sunlight] "Be drunk in love" -- Ghazal 455

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal 455*, in a version by Helminski,
and in translation by Arberry:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Inner Garment of Love

A soul which is not clothed
with the inner garment of Love
should be ashamed of its existence.

Be drunk with Love,
for Love is all that exists.
Where is intimacy found
if not in the give and take of Love.

If they ask what Love is,
say: the sacrifice of will.
If you have not left your will behind,
you have no will at all.

The lover is a king of kings
with both worlds beneath him;
and a king does not regard
what lies at his feet.

Only Love and the lover
can resurrect beyond time.
Give your heart to this;
the rest is second-hand.

How long will you embrace
a lifeless beloved?
Embrace that entity
to which nothing can cling.

What sprouts up every spring
will wither by autumn,
but the rose garden of Love
is always green.

Both the rose and the thorn
appear together in spring,
and the wine of the grape
is not without its headaches.

Don't be an impatient
bystander on this path -
by God there's no death
worse than expectation.

Set your heart on hard cash
if you are not counterfeit,
and listen to this advice
if you are not a slave:

Don't falter on the horse
of the body; go more lightly on foot.
God gives wings to those
who are not content to ride an ass.

Let go of your worries
and be completely clear-hearted,
like the face of a mirror
that contains no images.

When it is empty of forms,
all forms are contained in it.
No face would be ashamed
to be so clear.

If you want a clear mirror,
behold yourself
and see the shameless truth
which the mirror reflects.

If metal can be polished
to a mirror-like finish,
what polishing might the mirror
of the heart require?

Between the mirror and the heart
is this single difference:
the heart conceals secrets,
while the mirror does not.

-- Version by Kabir Helminski
"Love is a Stranger"
Threshold Books, 1993

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That spirit which wears not true love as a garment is
better not to have been; its being is nothing but a
disgrace.
Be drunk in love, for love is all that exists; without the
commerce of love there is no admittance to the Beloved.
They say, "What is love?" Say, "The abandonment of free
will." He who has not escaped out of free will, no free will
has he.
The lover is an emperor; the two worlds are scattered over
him; the king pays no heed to the scattering.
Love it is and the lover that remain till all eternity;
set not your heart on aught but this, for it is merely
borrowed.
How long will you embrace a dead beloved? Embrace the soul
which naught embraces.
What was born of spring dies in the season of autumn;
love's rosebower receives no replenishment from spring.
The rose that comes of spring, the thorn is its companion;
the wine that comes of pressed grapes is not exempt from
crop-sickness.
Be not an expectant spectator on this path; for by Allah,
there is no death worse than expectancy.
Set your heart on the true coin, if you are not
counterfeit; give ear to this subtlety, if you lack an
earring.
Tremble not on the body's steed; fare lighter afoot; God
gives wings to him who rides not on the body.
Let go care and become wholly clear of heart, like the
face
of a mirror without image and picture
When it has become clear of images, all images are
contained in it; that clear-faced one is not ashamed of any
man's face.
Would you have your self clear of blemish? Gaze upon Him,
for He is not ashamed or afraid of the truth.
Since the steely face gained this skill from purity, what
shall the heart's face, which is without dust, discover?
I said, "What shall it discover?" No, I will not say;
silence is better, lest the heart-ravisher should say, "He
cannot keep a secret.

-- Translation by A.J. Arberry
"Mystical Poems of Rumi 1"
University of Chicago Press, 1991

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* Sunlight note -- Professor Nicholson refers to this ghazal as N13.

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Thursday, March 06, 2008

[Sunlight] Generosity

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Generosity, then, comes from the eye—
not from the hand— it's seeing that matters:
only one who sees is saved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pas sakhâ az chashm âmad nah ze dast
did dârad kâr joz binâ na-rast

-- Mathnawi II: 900
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

[Sunlight] "Ready to drink every flame"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

rocking and rolling
what have you been drinking
please let me know

you must be drunk
going house to house
wandering from street to street

who have you been with
who have you kissed
who's face have you been fondling

you are my soul
you are my life
i swear my life and love is yours

so tell me the truth
where is that fountainhead
the one you've been drinking from

don't hide this secret
lead me to the source
fill my jug over and over again

last night i finally caught
your attention in the crowd
it was your image filling my dream

telling me to stop this wandering
stop this search for
good and evil

i said my dear prophet
give me some of
that you've drunk for ecstasy of life

if i let you drink you said
any of this burning flame
it will scorch your mouth and throat

your portion has been
given already by heaven
ask for more at your peril

i lamented and begged
i desire much more
please show me the source

i have no fear
to burn my mouth and throat
i'm ready to drink every flame and more

-- Ghazal (0de) 2154
Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi - Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1995

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

[Sunlight] "Deliver me from this imprisonment of free will"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deliver me from this imprisonment of free will,
O gracious and long-suffering Sustainer!
The one-way pull on the Straight Path*
is better than the two-way pull of perplexity.
Though You are the only goal of these two ways,
still this duality is agnonizing to the spirit.
Though the destination of these two ways is You alone,
still the battle is never like the banquet.
Listen to the explanation God gave in the Qur'ân:
they shrank from bearing it.**
This perplexity in the heart is like war:
when a man is perplexed he says,
"I wonder whether this is better for my situation or that."
In perplexity the fear of failure and the hope of success
always are in conflict with each other, now advancing, now retreating.
From You came this ebb and flow within me;
otherwise, O glorious One, this sea of mine was still.
From that source from which You gave me this perplexity,
likewise now, graciously give me clarity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ay Khodâvand-e Karim o bordbâr
deh amânam zin doshâkheh-ye ekhtiyâr
Jazb-e yekrâheh-ye Sirât al-mustaqim*
beh ze do rah-e taraddod ay Karim
Zin do rah garcheh hameh maqsad Toyi
lik khvod jân kandan âmad in doyi
Zin do rah garcheh be-joz-e To `azm nist
lik hargez razm hamchon bazm nist
Dar Nabi be-shenaw bayânesh az Khodâ
âyat-e ashfaqna an yahmilnahâ*
In taraddod hast dar del chon vaghâ
"kin bovad beh yâ keh ân hâl-e merâ"
Dar taraddod mi zanad bar hamdegar
khawf o omid behi dar karr o farr
Avvalam in jazr o madd az To resid
var nah sâken bovad in bahr ay Majid
Ham az ânjâ kin taraddod dâdiyam
bi taraddod kon merâ ham az karam

*al-Fâtihah, 6
**al-Ahzâb, 72

-- Mathnawi VI: 203-211
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Monday, March 03, 2008

[Sunlight] "Gnats inside the wind"

The gnats come to Solomon to seek justice, and find
non-existence: a poetic version of the Mathnawi story from Coleman
Barks, and the literal translation by Nicholson, upon which Barks
based his version.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gnats inside the wind

Some gnats came from the grass to speak with Solomon.

"O Solomon, you are the champion of the oppressed.
You give justice to the little guys, and they don't get
any littler than us! We are tiny metaphors
for frailty. Can you defend us?"

"Who has mistreated you?"

"Our complaint is against the wind."

"Well," says Solomon, "you have pretty voices,
you gnats, but remember, a judge cannot listen
to just one side. I must hear both litigants."

"Of course," agree the gnats.

"Summon the East Wind!" calls out Solomon,
and the wind arrives almost immediately.

What happened to the gnat plaintiffs? Gone.

Such is the way of every seeker who comes to complain
at the High Court. When the presence of God arrives,
where are the seekers? First there's dying,
then union, like gnats inside the wind.

-- Mathnawi III: 4624 - 59
Poetic version by Coleman Barks
"The Essential Rumi"
HarperSanFrancisco, 1995

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~How, in the presence of Solomon, on whom be peace,
the gnat appealed for justice against the Wind.~~

The gnat came from the garden and the grass, and the gnat
began to demand justice from Solomon,
Saying, "O Solomon, thou dealest out justice to the devils
and the children of men and the Jinn.
Bird and fish are under the protection of thy justice: who is
the lost one whom thy bounty hath not sought out?
Give justice to us, for we are very miserable: we are deprived
of the orchard and the rose garden.
The difficulties of every weakling are solved by thee: the gnat
in sooth is the (proverbial) similitude for weakness.
We are celebrated for weakness and frailty*: thou art cele-
rated for kindness and care of the lowly.
O thou who hast reached the limit in (traversing) the stages
of Power, (while) we have reached the limit in failure and
abberation,
Do justice, relieve us from this sorrow, take our hand (to help
us), O thou whose hand is the hand of God."
Then Solomon said, "O seeker of equity, tell (me), against
whom art thou demanding justice and equity?
Who is the oppressor that in (his) insolence* has done thee
injury and scratched thy face?
Oh wonderful! Where, in Our epoch, is the oppressor that
is not in Our prison and chains?
When We were born, on that day Injustice died: who, then,
hath produced (committed) in Our epoch an act of injustice?
When the light dawned, the darkness vanished: darkness is
the origin and support of injustice.
Look, (some of) the devils are doing work and service; the
others are bound in shackles and bounds.
The origin of injustice of the oppressors was from the
devil: the devil is in bondage: how did violence appear?
(The Divine Will uttered in) 'Be, and it was' hath bestowed
the kingdom on Us, that the people may not cry out in lament
to Heaven;
That burning sighs* may not soar upward; that the sky and
the stars* may not be shaken;
That the empyrean may not tremble at the orphan's wail; that
no (living) soul may be marred by violence.
We established a law (of justice) throughout the kingdoms (of
the earth), to the end that no (cry of) 'O Lord!' should go up to
the skies.
O oppressed one, do not look to Heaven, for thou hast a
heavenly king in the temporal world."
The gnat said, "My appeal is against the hand (might) of the
Wind, for he opened the two hands of oppression against us.
Through his oppression we are in sore straits: with closed
lips we are drinking blood (suffering torment) from him."

~~ How Solomon, on whom be peace, commanded the plaintiff
gnat to bring its adversary to the court of judgement. ~~

Then Solomon said, "O thou with the pretty voice, it behoves
thee to hearken with (all thy) soul to the command of God.
God hath said to me, 'Beware, O Judge! Do not hear one
litigant without the other litigant."
Until both litigants come into the presence, the truth does
not come to light before the judge.
If the (one) litigant alone raises a hundred clamours, beware,
beware! Do not accept his word without (hearing) his ad-
versary.'
I dare not avert my face from the (Divine) command. Go,
bring thy adversary before me."
It (the gnat) said, "Thy words are an argument (conclusive) and
sound. My adversary is the Wind, and he is in thy jurisdiction."
The King shouted, "O East-wind, the gnat complains of thy
injustice: come!
Hark, come face to face with thy adversary and reply to thy
adversary and rebut thy opponent."
When the Wind heard (the summons), he came very rapidly:
the gnat at once took to flight.
Then Solomon said, "O gnat, where (art thou going)? Stop,
that I may pass judgement on (you) both."
It (the gnat) answered, "O King, my death is from his being:
verily, this day of mine is black from his smoke.
Since he has come, where shall I find rest? for he wrings the
(vital) breath out of my body."
Even such is the seeker at the Court of God: when God comes,
the seeker is naughted.
Although that union (with God) is immortality on immor-
tality, yet at first that immortality (baqa) consists in dying to
self (fana).
The reflections that are seeking the Light are naughted when
His Light appears.
How should the reason remain when He bids it go?* Every-
thing is perishing except His Face.
Before His Face the existent and the non-existent perish:
existence in non-existence is in sooth a marvellous thing!
In this place of presence (all) minds are lost beyond control;
when the pen reaches this point, it breaks.

-- Mathnawi III: 4624-4663
Translation by Reynold A. Nicholson
"The Mathnawi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi"
E.J.W. Gibb Memorial, 1990

* Literally, "broken-wingedness."
* Literally, "wind and moustache." "bluster."
* Literally, "smokes."
* Literally, "Suha," the name of a small star.
* "Bids it go" -- Literally, "when He gives (it its) head, i.e.,
dismisses (it)."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sunlight/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Sunlight on Facebook

Followers

Popular Posts

Subscribe To

Search This Blog

Search by Google

Archive

Monday, March 31, 2008

Friday, March 28, 2008

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Monday, March 24, 2008

Friday, March 21, 2008

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Monday, March 17, 2008

Friday, March 14, 2008

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Monday, March 10, 2008

Friday, March 07, 2008

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Monday, March 03, 2008