Sunlight: July 2008

Thursday, July 31, 2008

[Sunlight] If you are my soul's familiar friend

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

If you are my soul's familiar friend,
my words of reality
aren't mere remarks.
If at midnight I say, "I am near:
come now, don't be afraid of the night,
I am your kin,"
these two assertions are real to you,
since you recognize your own relative's voice;
and even more, your delight
at hearing the voice of your kinsman bears witness
to the truthful presence of your dear friend.

` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `

Gar to hasti âshnâ-ye jân-e man
nist da`vâ goft ma`nâ-lân-e man
Gar be-guyam nim-shab "Pish-e tovam
hin ma-tars az shab keh man khvish-e tovam"
In do da`vâ pish-e to ma`nâ bud
chon shenâsi bâng-e khvishâvand-e khvod
Lazzat-e âvâz-e khvishâvand niz
shod gavâ bar sedq-e ân khvish-e `aziz

-- Mathnawi II: 3573-3575; 3578
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

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

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Wednesday, July 30, 2008

[Sunlight] Wake up -- Ghazal 2133

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

wake up, wake up
this night is gone
wake up

abandon abandon
even your dear self
abandon

there is an idiot
in our market place
selling a precious soul

if you doubt my word
get up this moment
and head for the market now

don't listen to trickery
don't listen to the witches
don't wash blood with blood

first turn yourself upside down
empty yourself like a cup of wine
then fill to the brim with the essence

a voice is descending
from the heavens
a healer is coming

if you desire healing
let yourself fall ill
let yourself fall ill

-- Ghazal (Ode) 2133
Translated by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Burning Gate Press, Los Angeles, 1994

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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Tuesday, July 29, 2008

[Sunlight] Spiritual nudity

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Those who wear clothes look to the launderer,
but the naked soul wears illumination.
Either withdraw from the naked
or take off your clothes like them.
If you can't become wholly naked,
take the middle way
and take off at least some of what you wear.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jâmeh-pushân-râ nazar bar gâzorast
jân-e `oryân-râ tajalli zivarast
Yâ ze `oryânân be-yeksu bâz raw
yâ cho ishân fâregh az tan jâmeh shaw
Var na-mi tâni keh koll `oryân shavi
jâmeh kam kon tâ rah-e awsat ravi

-- Mathnawi II: 3524-3526
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
Rumi: Daylight
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

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Monday, July 28, 2008

[Sunlight] Inside Shams's Universe

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

Inside Shams's Universe

Inside a lover's heart there's
another world, and yet another

inside the Friend of this community
of lovers, an ear that interprets

mystery, a vein of silver in the
ground, another sky! Intellect and

compassion are ladders we climb,
and there are other ladders; as we

wallk in the night, the voice that
talks of forgiveness; inside Shams's

universe candlelight itself becomes
a moth to die in his candle.

-- Ghazal 384
Version by Coleman Barks
"The Soul of Rumi"
HarperCollins, 2001

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

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Friday, July 25, 2008

[Sunlight] Beyond sense perception -- Ghazal 2293

Today, Sunlight offers Ghazal 2293, in translations by Professor
Arberry and Professor Chittick:

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

I keep on seeing a moon in my eyes outside of
my eyes, but the eyes have not seen him, nor have the ears
heard news of him.
From the moment I first looked furtively at that
face, I have seen neither tongue, spirit, nor heart except in
selflessness.
If Plato had seen the beauty and loveliness of
that moon, he would have become madder than I and more
distraught.
Eternity is the mirror of temporality and
temporality of Eternity: In that mirror, these two are
intertwined like his two tresses.
Beyond sense perception is a cloud whose rain
is all spirit – what rains have rained as largesse upon the dust
of his body!
The moon-faced beauties of heaven have seen
the reflection of his face – ashamed at his beauty, they scratch
their heads in wonder.
Eternity-without-beginning grasped the hand of
Eternity-without-end and together they went to the palace of
that moon. Jealously looked at the two and laughed:
"Around his palace what lions have come out of
jealousy, roaring for the blood of the self-sacrificers and
the sincere."
Suddenly I asked, "Who is that king?" "Shams
al-Din, the king of Tabriz," and my blood began to boil.

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

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

I am seeing a moon outside the eye in the eye, which neither
eye has seen nor ear heard of.
I do not see tongue and soul and heart save without myself,
from that moment that I stole a glance at that cheek.
Had Plato seen the loveliness and beauty of that moon, he
would have become madder and more distressed than I.
Eternity is the mirror of the temporal, the temporal the mirror
of pre-eternity – in this mirror those two are twisted together
like his tresses.
A cloud beyond the senses whose rain is all spirit; sprinkling
on the dust of the body – what rains he has rained!
The moonfaced ones of heaven, seeing the picture of his
face, have become ashamed before that beauty and scratched
the back of their necks*.
Post-eternity took the hand of pre-eternity and took it towards
the palace of that moon: having seen both, it laughed in jealous
pride at the two.
About and around his palace what lions there are, roaring
jealously, aiming at the blood of the self-sacrificing, adventurous
men.
Suddenly the word jumped from my mouth, "Who is that
king? Shams-al din king of Tabriz"; and at those words my
blood surged.

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

*To scratch the back of one's neck or ear signifies embarrassment.

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

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Thursday, July 24, 2008

[Sunlight] Disappearing reflections

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

Such is the seeker of the court of God:
when God comes, the seeker is no more.
Although union with God is immortality upon immortality,
yet at first that immortality consists in dying to self.
The reflections that are seeking the Light
disappear when His Light appears.
How should reason remain when He bids it go?
Everything is perishing except His Face.*
Before His Face the existent and the nonexistent perish:
existence in nonexistence is truly a marvelous thing!
In this place of presence all minds are lost beyond control;
when the pen reaches this point, it breaks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hamchonin juyâ-ye dargâh-e Khodâ
chon Khodâ âmad shavad juyandeh lâ
Garcheh ân vaslat baqâ andar baqâst
lik zavâl-e ân baqâ andar fanâst
Sâyeh-hâyi keh bovad juyâ-ye nur
nist gardad chon konad nuresh zohur
`Aql kay mânad cho bâshad sar deh U
Kullu shay'in hâlikun illâ wajhu*
Hâlek âyad pish-e vajhesh hast o nist
hasti andar nisti khvod torfeh-'ist
Andarin mahzar kherad-hâ shod ze dast
chon qalam injâ resideh shod shekast

-- Mathnawi III:4658-4663
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

*al-Qasas, 88

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

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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

[Sunlight] Each sleepless night

Today, Sunlight offers three presentations of Quatrain 36:

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

I cannot sleep in your presence.
In your absence, tears prevent me.
You watch me My Beloved
on each sleepless night and
only You can see the difference.

-- Translation by Azima Melita Kolin
and Maryam Mafi
"Rumi: Hidden Music"
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I am with you, we stay up all night.
When you're not here, I can't go to sleep.

Praise God for these two insomnias!
And the difference between them.

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

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

as long as I'm with you
I can't sleep
having you
as long as you are away
I can't sleep
crying for you
dear God
I'm sleepless
both nights
but look at the
difference in the
two insomnias

--Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Dancing the Flame"
Cal-Earth Press, 2001

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

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Tuesday, July 22, 2008

[Sunlight] "The most powerful of attractors"

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

The belly attracts bread to its resting-place;
the heat of the liver attracts water.
The eye is an attractor of beautiful persons
from these different quarters of town;
the nose is attracting scents from the garden,
while the sense of sight is an attractor of color,
and the brain and nose attract sweet perfumes.
O Lord who knows the secret, preserve us
from these attractions by the attraction of Your grace!
You, Owner of everything, are the most powerful of attractors:
it would be fitting if You would redeem the helpless.

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

Me`deh nân-râ mi keshad tâ mostaqarr
mi keshad mar âb-râ taf-e jegar
Cheshm jazzâb-e botân zin kuy-hâ
maghz juyân az golestân buy-hâ
Zânkeh hess-e cheshm âmad rang kesh
maghz o bini mi keshad bu-hâ-ye khvosh
Zin keshesh-hâ ay Khodâ-ye râzdân
to be-jazb-e lotf khvodemân deh amân
Ghâlebi bar jâzebân ay Moshtari
shâyad ar dar mândegân-râ vâ khari

-- Mathnawi VI: 2901-2905
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

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

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Monday, July 21, 2008

[Sunlight] Precarious unknowing -- Ghazal 2953

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

"Continuously"

Listening to the prophet David play,
psalms and music, a strange excitement

came, presence and patience. Egyptian
granaries full of grain and Joseph's

handsomeness. Actual sun and nearness.
Sky, undecided; earth, silent: in this

precarious unknowing we live, love
doesn't want to say the name of Hu.

You stay concealed. A falcon lights.
How far away? Mount Sinai under Moses.

The indications are that you are the one
who appears, not again, but continuously.

-- Ghazal 2953
Version by Coleman Barks, with Nevit Ergin
"The Glance"
Viking-Penguin, 1999

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

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Friday, July 18, 2008

[Sunlight] Who is this Beautiful One?

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal (Ode) 566, from Rumi's "Diwan-e
Shams", in a poetic version by Jonathan Star, and a literal
translation by A.J. Arberry:

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

"Love Tricks"

Who is this Beautiful One,
This One who stays up all night
teaching love tricks to Venus and the Moon?
This One
whose enchanting gaze
seals up the two eyes of heaven?

O seekers, it is your own heart!

Day and night,
I am so taken by Him
that no one can be taken by me.
At the beginning I was born of his love,
In the end I gave Him my heart.
A fruit which falls from a branch
must first cling to that same branch.

A man may run from his own shadow,
searching for light,
but will he ever find a place to rest?

The tip of His curl is saying,
"Walk this tightrope."
The fire of His candle is saying,
"O Moth, come here."
O heart, be steady,
dance gently upon that rope.

But the moment you hear His call
fly into the candle's flame.

When you knew the rapture of this burning
you would not go on for another moment
without its heat.
Even if the water of life
were pouring all around
it would not lure you from the flames.

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

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

A fair idol that all the night teaches tricks to Venus and the
moon, his two eyes by witchery sew up the two eyes of heaven.
Look out for your hearts, Moslems, for I at all events am so
commingled with Him that no heart is commingled with me.
First I was born of His love, finally I gave my heart to
Him; when fruit is born of a branch, from that branch it hangs.
I am fleeing from my own shadow, for the light is hidden
from the shadow; where shall he rest at last who flees from his
shadow?
The- tip of His tress is saying, "Ha, quick, to the rope-trick!"
The cheek of His candle is saying, "Where is the moth, that it
may burn?"
For the sake of that rope-trick be brave,* and become a
hoop; fling yourself into the fire, when His candle is kindled.
When you have seen the joy of burning you will no more
endure without the flame; even if the water of life came to
you, it would not stir you from the flame.

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

*Also translated as, "make haste."

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

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Thursday, July 17, 2008

[Sunlight] Hearts and minds

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

If the house of the head is completely filled with crazy passion,
anxiety will fill the heart.
The rest of the bodily members aren't disturbed by thinking,
but hearts are consumed by persistent thoughts.
Take refuge in the autumn gale of fear of God:
let last year's peonies be shed;
for these flowers keep new buds from blossoming,
and it's only for the sake of their growth
that the tree of the heart exists.
Put yourself to sleep and escape from this vain thinking:
then lift up your head into spiritual wakefulness.
Like the Seven Sleepers of the Cave,* pass quickly, O mistress,
into the state of those who are awake
though you would say they are asleep.**

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Khâneh-ye sar jomleh por sawdâ bovad
sadr por vasvâs o por ghawghâ bovad
Bâqi-ye a`zâ ze fekr âsudeh-'and
v-ân sodur az sâderân farsudeh-'and
Dar hazzân o bâd-e khawf-e Haqq goriz
ân shaqâyeq-hâ-ye pârin-râ be-riz
In shaqâyeq man`-e naw oshkuf-hâst
keh derakht-e del barâ-ye ân namâst
Khvish-râ dar khvâb kon zin eftekâr
sar ze zir-e khvâb dar yaqzat bar âr
Hamcho ân As.hâb-e Kahf* ay khvâjeh zud
raw be-ayqâzan keh tahsabuhum ruqûd**

-- Mathnawi VI:4459-4464
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

*A reference to the story of the Seven Companions of the Cave
and their miraculous sleep of several centuries. Qur'ân: Sûrat
al-Kahf (The Cave).
**al-Kahf, 18:18

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

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Wednesday, July 16, 2008

[Sunlight] He who transforms

Media page:
http://tinyurl.com/rumi-ghazal-528

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal (Ode) number 528, from Rumi's
Diwan-e Shams, in a poetic translation by Nader Khalili, and a literal
translation by A.J. Arberry:

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

who is this existence
who puts sadness
in your heart

who is this soul
who sweetens your grief
as soon as you crawl

the one who first frightens you
with deadly snakes
before opening the treasure vault

who changes a monster
to an angel
a sorrow to happiness

who gives the blind
wisdom and
inner sight

who changes darkness
to light
thistles to flowers

who sheds the sins
of the sinful like
autumn leaves

and puts guilt
in the heart of
its own enemies

who makes them
repent and in silence
says amen and
whose amen brings
inner happiness
and soulful delight

who changes bitter thoughts
to lightness and
joyous zeal

bestows fire
and makes you leap
with unknown joy

the fire that can
make a hero
from a desperate heart

who is this existence
who is this
tell me who

-- Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Burning Gate Press, Los Angeles, 1994

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

Who is that, who is that who makes the breast sorrowful,
then when you make complaint before Him, He turns your
bitter sweet?
First He appears as a deaf adder, lastly He is a treasure of
pearls. Sweet King, who in a moment transforms that bitter-
ness to goodness!
Let it be a demon, He makes it into a houri, let it be a
funeral, He makes it into a marriage-feast; and He makes
knowing and world-beholding one blind from his mother's
womb.
He makes the dark bright, He makes the thorn into a
rosebud; He draws the thorn out of your palm, and fashions
you a pillow of roses.
For the sake of Abraham His friend He causes the fire to
flame, and converts Nimrod's furnace into blossom and eg-
lantine.
He who gives light to the stars and succour to the helpless,
He benefits His servant, and too applauds His servant.
He causes all the sins of the sinners to scatter like Decem-
ber leaves; into the ears of those who speak Him ill He recites
forgiveness of sin.
He says, "Say, O Faithful One, pardon the sin of one who
slipped"; when a servant enters upon prayer, He secretly says
Amen.
It is His amen which gives a man joy in his prayer; like a
fig, He is inwardly and outwardly alike sweet and pleasant.
It is rapture which in good and evil gives strength to hand
and foot, for this rapture mates the strength of a Rustam to the
body of a poor wretch.
With rapture the poor wretch is a Rustam, without rapture
Rustam is one full of grief; but for rapture, how would the Friend
of the Soul stablish the soul?
I sent forth my heart timely (for it know swiftly to travel
the way), to carry the description of Shams-I Din to the Tabriz
of fidelity.

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

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

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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

[Sunlight] Tempted by the bait

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

The bird tempted by the bait may still be on the roof,
but with wings outspread, it is already imprisoned in the trap.
If with all its soul it has given its heart to the bait,
consider it caught, even though it may still appear to be free.
Consider the looks it gives to the bait to be
the knots it is tying on its own legs.
The bait says, "You may be stealing looks away from me,
but know that I am stealing patience and constancy away from you."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Morgh-e fetneh-ye dâneh bar bâmast u
par-e goshâdeh basteh-ye dâmast u
Chon be-dâneh dâd u del-râ be-jân
nâ-gerefteh mar varâ be-gerefteh dân
n nazar-hâ be-dâneh mi konad
ân gereh dân ku beh pâ bar mi zanad
Dâneh guyad "Gar to mi dozdi nazar
man hami dozdam ze to sabr o maqarr"

-- Mathnawi IV:620-623
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

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

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Monday, July 14, 2008

[Sunlight] How to cure bad habits -- Ghazal 1073

Media page:
http://tinyurl.com/rumi-ghazal-1073

Today, Sunlight offers Ghazal 1073, From Rumi's "Diwan-e Shams",
in a poetic version by Coleman Barks, and in the translation by A.J.
Arberry upon which Professor Barks based his version:

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

"My Worst Habit"

My worst habit is I get so tired of winter
I become a torture to those I'm with.

If you're not here, nothing grows.
I lack clarity. My words
tangle and knot up.

How to cure bad water? Send it back to the river.
How to cure bad habits? Send me back to you.

When water gets caught in habitual whirlpools,
dig a way out through the bottom
to the ocean. There is a secret medicine
given only to those who hurt so hard
they can't hope.

The hopers would feel slighted if they knew.

Look as long as you can at the friend you love,
no matter whether that friend is moving away from you
or coming back to you.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
"The Essential Rumi"
HarperSanFrancisco, 1995

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

I have a bad habit; I am weary; pray excuse me. How shall my
habit become seemly without your fair face, my beauty?
Without you I am like winter, people are tormented because
of me; with you I am as a rosebower, my habit is the habit of
spring.
Without you I lack reason, I am weary, everything I say is
crooked, I am ashamed of reason and reason is shamefast at the
light of your face.
What is the remedy for bad water? To return to the river.
What is the remedy for bad habits? To see the beloved's face again.
I see the water of the soul imprisoned in this whirlpool of the
body; I dig out the earth to make a way to the sea.
You have a potion which you give the despairing, secretly, lest
the hopeful, grieving for it, should utter lamentation.
O heart, so much as you are able do not withhold your eye
from the Beloved, whether He withdraws from you or draws
you into His bosom.

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

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Friday, July 11, 2008

[Sunlight] "A figment of my imagination"

Today, Sunlight offers three interpretations of Quatrain 67:

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

Sometimes I feel like a king,
sometimes I moan in my own prison.
Swaying between these states
I can't be proud of myself.
This "I" is a figment of my imagination.

-- Translation by Azima Melita Kolin
and Maryam Mafi
"Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved"
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1999

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

I thought I had self-control,
so I regretted times I didn't.

With that considering over, the one thing I know
is I don't know who I am.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
"Unseen Rain"
Threshold Books, 1986

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

there was a time
when my thought
soared as a king
or a time when I mourned
like a prisoner
those days are gone
and I have promised
not to take myself
seriously again

--Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Dancing the Flame"
Cal-Earth Press, 2001

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

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Thursday, July 10, 2008

[Sunlight] As it really is

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

You, who have made it easy
for us to labor fruitlessly in the world,
deliver us!
To us it seems a tempting bait,
and it's really a hook:
show it to us as it really is.

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

Ay moyasser kardeh mâ-râ dar jahân
sokhreh o bikâr mâ-râ vâ rahân
To`meh be-namudeh be-mâ vân budeh shast
ânchonân be-namâ be-mâ ân-râ keh hast

-- Mathnawi II: 466-467
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

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

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Wednesday, July 09, 2008

[Sunlight] The need for more wine -- Ghazal 797

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

From the day the drunkards first felt the need
for more wine, the shaykh has held the cup of the spirit in his
hands.
Like dustmotes, we dance before him each
morning-such is the custom of sun-worshipers.
Until Eternity-without-end his sun's face will
display dawn after dawn, transmuting hearts of stone into
precious rubies.
Oh Saliih al-Di-n, oh "Rectitude of the
Religion" and the heart, thou art outside of the six directions --
otherwise, how hast thou made them all so luminous?
How could he who is thy love's slave be cold in
love for God? For the rectitude of the religion and the heart is
a burning fire!
If you need a heart, seek the pleasure of his
heart! But how should the heavy-spirited man seek his heart?
Oh, many a faith has become unbelief without
him! Oh, many an unbelief has become faith through his
blessing!
You see that an ash heap is black-faced and
black-hearted -- so whatever it says about that mine of gems is
slander!
Shams-i Tabrizi! Thou art the king of all men
of beautiful spirits! Perhaps Joseph of Canaan can rival thee in
beauty.

-- Ghazal 797
Translation by William C. Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983

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

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Tuesday, July 08, 2008

[Sunlight] No room for anything but water

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

The surface of thought's stream
carries sticks and straws--
some pleasant, some unsightly.
Seed-husks floating in the water
have fallen from the fruits of the invisible garden.
Look for the kernels back in the garden,
for the water comes from the garden into the riverbed.
If you don't see the flow of the water of Life,
look at this movement of weeds in thought's stream.
When the water flows more fully,
the husks, our ideas, pass along more quickly.
When this stream has become a torrent,
no care lingers in the mind of gnostics:
since the water has become so swift and full,
there is no longer room in it for anything but water.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ru-ye âb ju-e fekr andar ravesh
nist bi khâshâk-e mahbub o vahsh
Qeshr-hâ bar ru-ye in âb ravân
az semâr-e bâgh-e ghaybi shod davân
Qeshr-hâ-râ maghz andar bâgh ju
zânke âb az bâgh mi âyad be-ju
Gar na-bini raftan âb-e hayât
be-negar andar ju-ye in sayr-e nabât
b chon anboh-tar âyad dar gozar
zu konad qeshr-e sovar zutar gozar
Chon be-ghâyat tiz shod in ju ravân
ghamm na-pâyad dar zamir-e `ârefân
Chon be-ghâyat momtali bud o shetâb
pas na-ganjad andaru ellâ keh âb

-- Mathnawi II:3296-3302
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

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

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Monday, July 07, 2008

[Sunlight] "Choose A Suffering" -- Ghazal 1246

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

Choose A Suffering

Yesterday in the assembly I saw my
soul inside the jar of the one who

pours. "Don't forget your job," I
said. He came with his lighted

face, kissed the full glass, and as
he handed it to me, it became a

red-gold oven taking me in, a ruby
mine, a greening garden. Everyone

chooses a suffering that will change
him or her to a well-baked loaf.

Abu Lahab, biting his hand, chose
doubt. Abu Huraya, his love for

cats! One searches a confused mind
for evidence. The other has a

leather sack full of what he needs.
If we could be silent now, the

master would tell us some stories
they hear in the high council.

-- Ghazal (Ode) 1246
Version by Coleman Barks
"The Soul of Rumi"
HarperSanFrancisco, 2001

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

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Friday, July 04, 2008

[Sunlight] As Lakewater Rises in Mist -- Ghazal 2349

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

As Lakewater Rises in Mist

The singer sings about love, until
the Friend appears in the doorway.

Kitchen smoke drifts up into clouds
and becomes a thousand-year-old wine.

I am here, not reckoning the credit
accumulated or future speculation.

I am the vineyard and the barrel
where the grapes are crushed, the

entire operation, whose transaction
pours this glass of wine, this moment,

thia poem. A man stumbles by with
baggage, papers from the house, regret

and wishing, not knowing which to
tend to. Neither. After you see

the face, concerns change, as
lakewater rises into mist.

-- Ghazal (Ode) 2394
Version by Coleman Barks, with Nevit Ergin
"The Glance"
Viking-Penguin, 1999

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

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Thursday, July 03, 2008

[Sunlight] Story of the secluded dervish

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

Love for Certain Work

Traveling is as refreshing for some
as staying at home is for others.

Solitude in a mountain place
fills with companionship for this one,
and dead-weariness for that one.

This person loves being in charge
of the workings of a community.
This one loves the ways that heated iron
can be shaped with a hammer.

Each has been given a strong desire
for certain work. A love for those motions,
and all motion is love.

The way sticks and pieces of dead grass
and leaves shift about in the wind
and with the direction of rain and
puddle-water on the ground,
those motions are all a following
of the love they've been given.

-- Mathnawi III, 1616-1619
Version by Coleman Barks
Rumi: One-Handed Basket Weaving
Maypop, 1991

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just as staying at home is easy for some,
traveling comes easy to others.
Each of us was made for some particular work,
and the desire for that work has been placed in our hearts.
How should hand and foot be set in motion without desire?
If you see your desire leading toward Heaven,
unfold your wings to claim it;
but if you see your desire bends to the earth,
keep lamenting.
The wise weep in the beginning;
the foolish beat their heads at the end.
Discern the end from the beginning
so that you may not be repenting
when the Day of Reckoning arrives.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hamchonânke sahl shod mâ-râ hazar
sahl shod ham qawl digar-râ safar
Har kasi-râ bahr-e kâri sâkhtand
mayl-e ân-râ dar delesh andâkhtand
Dast o pâ bi mayl jonbân kay shavad
khâr o khas bi âb o bâdi kay ravad
Gar be-bini mayl-e khvod su-ye samâ
par-e dawlat bar goshâ hamchon homâ
Var be-bini mayl-e khvod su-ye zamin
nawheh mi kon hich ma-neshin az hanin
`qelân khvod nawh-hâ pishin konand
jâhelân âkher be-sar bar mi zanand
Ze ebtedâ-ye kâr âkher-râ be-bin
tâ na-bâshi to pashimân Yawm-e Din

-- Mathnawi, III:1616-1623
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

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

Story of the secluded dervish:

There was a dervish dwelling in a mountainous place:
solitude was his bedfellow and boon-companion.
Since the refreshing breeze* (of favour) was coming for him
from the Creator, he was weary of the breaths of man and
woman.
Just as staying at home is easy to us, so traveling is easy to
another class of people.
In the same way as thou art in love with dominion, that
worthy man is in love with the ironsmith's handicraft.
Every one has been made for some particular work, and the
desire for that (work) has been put into his heart.
How should sticks and straws go (from their place) without any
water or wind?
If thou see (that) thy desire (is) towards Heaven, unfold the
wings of empire, like the Huma* ;
But if thou see (that) thy desire (is) towards the earth, keep
lamenting, cease not at all from moaning.
The wise, indeed, make lamentations at first; the foolish beat
their heads at the last.
From the beginning of the affair discern the end (thereof), so
that thou mayst not be repenting on the Day of Judgment.

-- from: Book III, 1614-23
Translation and Commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson
The Mathnawi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi
Published and Distributed by
The Trustees of The "E.J.W. Gibb Memorial"

* Literally, "the north-wind."
* The lammergeier (great bearded vulture). According to popular belief
the falling of its shadow on any one was a sign that he would become king.

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

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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

[Sunlight] Tonight we go to that place of eternity

Today, Sunlight offers two interpretations of Quatrain 168:

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

Tonight we go to that place of eternity.
This is the wedding night –
a never-ending union
of lover and Beloved.

We whisper gentle secrets to each other
and the child of the universe
takes its first breath.

-- Version by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva
A Garden Beyond Paradise
Bantam Books, 1992

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

This night there are no limits to what may be given.
This is not a night but a marriage,
a couple whispering in bed in unison the same words.
Darkness simply lets down a curtain for that.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
"Unseen Rain"
Threshold Books, 1986

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

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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

[Sunlight] What does the water of your stream carry?

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

-- Mathnawi II:3296-3302
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

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

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