Sunlight: October 2010

Friday, October 29, 2010

[Sunlight] "This appearance of identity"

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

All this dying is not the death of the physical form:
this body is only an instrument for the spirit.
There is many a martyred soul that has died to self in this world,
though it goes about like the living.
The animal self has died, though the body, which is its sword, survives:
the sword is still in the hand of that eager warrior.
The sword is the same sword; the person is not the same person,
but this appearance of identity bewilders you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In hameh mordan nah marg-e suratast
in badan mar ruh-râ chon âlatast
Ay basâ nafs-e shahid-e mo`tamad
mordeh dar donyâ cho zendeh mi ravad
Ruh rahzan mord o tan keh tigh-e ust
hast bâqi dar kaff-e ân ghazv-just
Tigh ân tighast mard ân mard nist
lik in surat torâ hayrân konist

-- Mathnawi V: 3281; 3826-3828
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

-- Mathnawi V: 3281; 3826-3828
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

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

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

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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/

Thursday, October 28, 2010

[Sunlight] No one in the world is as precious as you -- Ghazal 2148

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

i swear my dear son*
no one in the entire world
is as precious as you are

look at that mirror
take a good look at yourself
who else is there above and beyond you

now give yourself a kiss
and with sweet whispers
fill your ears to the brim

watch for all that beauty
reflecting from you
and sing a love song to your existence

you can never overdo
praising your own soul
you can never over-pamper your heart

you are both
the father and the son
the sugar and the sugar cane

who else but you
please tell me who else
can ever take your place

now give yourself a smile
what is the worth of a diamond
if it doesn't smile

how can i ever put a price
on the diamond that you are
you are the entire treasure of the house

you and your shadow
are forever present in this world
you're that glorious bird of paradise*

-- Ghazal 2148, from the Diwan-e Shams
Poetic translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1994

Sunlight notes:

*my dear son: literally, "O son" [ay pesar] in the Persian. Could refer
to anyone, but here it probably refers to one of Rumi's disciples,
rather than his son, Sultan Walad. In general, Rumi uses such phrases
as "O son" and "O youth" to address the reader, as well as to add
syllables to a verse.
*glorious bird of paradise: the "homaa," a miraculous bird whose
shadow, if it should fall upon a man, destines him to become a king.
Therefore, this bird is a symbol good fortune.

-- Footnotes (c) Ibrahim Gamard, 2000

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

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

[Sunlight] "Stop struggling"

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

Since you saw this spring, why didn't
you become water?
Since you saw the Friend near, why do
you still have love for yourself?
Since you are in the shop of the sweet-seller,
why this bitter look?
Since you are swimming in the river of life,
why are you dry and miserable?
Don't be stubborn, do not flee from happiness.
You are imprisoned in a net from which
you can't escape,
Stop struggling! Stop struggling!

-- Ghazal (Ode) 638
"Breathing Truth - Quotations from Jalaluddin Rumi"
Selected and Translated by Muriel Maufroy
Sanyar Press - London, 1997

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

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

[Sunlight] The knowledge market

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

Conventional knowledge is for sale;
when it finds a purchaser,
it glows with delight.
The purchaser of real knowledge is God:
its market is always splendid.
The owner of real knowledge has closed his lips
and is enraptured in his trading:
the buying is without end,
for "God has purchased."*

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

`Elm-e taqlidi bud bahr-e forukht
chon biyâbad moshtari khvosh bar forukht
Moshtari-ye `elm-e tahqiqi Haqq ast
dâyeman bâzâr-e u bâ rawnaq ast
Lab be-basteh mast dar bay` o sherâ
moshtari bi hadd keh "Allâha-shtarâ"*

*al-Tawbah 9:111

-- Mathnawi II: 3265-3267
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)

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

Monday, October 25, 2010

[Sunlight] "Watch a One-Year-Old"

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

Watch a One-Year-Old

Anger rises when you're proud
of yourself. Humble that. Use

the contempt of others, and your
own self-regarding, to change, like

the cloud in folklore that became
three snake shapes. Or if you like

the dog-barking lion wrath, enjoy
the hurt longer. Watch a one-year-

old, how it walks, the slow wisdom
there. Sometimes a sweet taste

makes you sour and mean. Listen
to the voice that says, It was for

you I created the universe. Then
kill and be killed in love. You've

been two dogs dozing long enough!

-- Ghazal (Ode) 2198
Version by Coleman Barks
"The Soul of Rumi"
HarperSanFrancisco, 2001

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

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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, October 22, 2010

[Sunlight] "Which of them is the fairest?"

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

A beloved said to her lover,
"O youth, you've visited many cities,
which of them is the fairest?"
He replied, "The city where my sweetheart is."
Wherever the carpet is spread for our King,
there is the spacious plain,
even though it be as narrow as the eye of a needle.
Wherever a Joseph radiant as the moon may be,
Paradise is there, even though it be the bottom of a well.

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

Goft ma`shuqi be-`âsheq k-ay fatâ
to be-ghorbat dideh-'i bas shahr-hâ
Pas kodâmin shahr ze ân-hâ khvoshtarast
goft ân shahri keh dar vay delbarast
Har kojâ bâshad shah-e mâ-râ besât
hast sahrâ gar bovad samm al-khiyât
Mar kojâ keh Yusofi bâshad cho mâh
Jannatast archeh keh bâshad qa`r-e châh

-- Mathnawi III: 3808-3811
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)

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

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

[Sunlight] From Black Soot -- Ghazal 2290

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

"From Black Soot"

What became of last night's promise? -
You broke it this morning!
But why should I care?
I can conquer the world with a blink,
I can heal a broken heart with a smile.

O heart,
Make your wish -
The gifts are ready,
the King is waiting with open arms.
The light of His Face
is shining upon you.

I never heard a King say,
"Wait till tomorrow,
then I'll give you everything."
Has dim light ever shown from the face of a full moon?

Where are the favors?
Where are the wise men?
Where are the open doors?
Where is the Revealer of Secrets? -
The answer is: "Right here!"
They are here, from the beginning to the end.
So it says,
"You are what you seek."

Enough talk from me.
I have died at the Beloved's feet.
No, I am wrong -
One who gains life through Him
can never die.

When the King's reflection dances upon the earth
Mud and stone come to life,
brittle trees laugh,
barren women give birth.

If His reflection can do this
Imagine what the light of His Face can do!
It is the brightness of every thought,
The light animating every soul,
The source of life
from the Sun to the fourth heaven.

But one can only know the taste of salt
by sprinkling it on his food.

What a wonder!
The Beloved is in love with the lover.
What a miracle!
From black soot grows a paradise.

-- Ode 2290
Version by Jonathan Star
"Rumi - In the Arms of the Beloved "
Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam, New York 1997

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

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

[Sunlight] "You are nearer to me than my jugular vein"

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

You are my face; no wonder I don't see You:
such closeness is a mystifying veil.
You are my reason; it's no wonder I don't see You,
because of all this perplexity of thought.
You are nearer to me than my jugular vein.

~ ~ ~ ~

Anta wajhî lâ `ajab an lâ arâh
ghâyat al-qurb hijâb al-ishtibâh
Anta `aqlî lâ `ajab an lâ arak
min wufûr al-iltibâs al-mushtabak
Ji'ta aqrab Anta min habl al-warîd
kam aqul yâ, yâ nidâh lil-`abîd

-- Mathnawi: VI: 666-668
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)

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

Monday, October 18, 2010

[Sunlight] Inside the rose -- Ghazal 200

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

Inside the Rose

That camel there with its calf running
behind it, Sutur and Koshek, we're like

them: mothered and nursed by where and
who we are from, following our fates

where they lead, until we hear a drum
begin, grace entering our lives, a prayer

of gratitude. We feel the call of God,
and the journey changes. A dry field

of stones turns soft and moist as cheese.
The mountain feels level under us. Love

becomes agile and quick, and suddenly
we're there! This traveling's not done

with the body. God's secret takes form
in your loving. But there are those in

bodies who are pure soul. It can happen.
These messengers invite us to walk with

them. They say, "You may feel happy
enough where you are, but we can't do

without you any longer! Please." So
we walk along inside the rose, being

pulled like the creeks and rivers are,
out from the town onto the plain. My
guide, my soul, your only sadness is when
I am not walking with you. In deep silence,

with some exertion to stay in your company,
I could save you a lot of trouble!

-- Ghazal (Ode) 200
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)

<*> To change settings via email:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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, October 15, 2010

[Sunlight] How should he have any doubt?

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

Since wisdom is the stray camel of the faithful believer,
he knows it with certainty from whomever he hears it.
When he finds himself right in front of it,
how should he have any doubt?
How should he mistake himself?

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

Pas cho hekmat zâlleh-ye mo'men bovad
ân ze har keh bo-sh'nud muqen bovad
Chonke khvod-râ pish-e u yâbad faqat
chon bovad shakk chon konad khvod-râ ghalat

-- Mathnawi II: 3591-3592
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)

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

Thursday, October 14, 2010

[Sunlight] Pass beyond your nature

Pollute not your lips by kissing every mouth and eating
every food! Then the Beloved's lips will make them drunk and
feed them sugar.
Your lips will be freed from the odor of the lips of "others"
and your love will be made transcendent, pure and one.
The lips that kiss the ass's arse - how should the Messiah
bless them with his sugar kiss?
Know that everything other than the eternal light has
newly come into existence - why do you sit upon a heap of new
dung and ask for contemplation?
When the manure has been annihilated in the heart of the
vegetable patch, then it will be freed from its dungness and add
savor to food.
As long as you are excrement, how will you know the joy
of sanctification? Pass beyond your dung-nature and go to the
Blessed and Transcendent!
When Moses washed his hands and lips of Pharoah's
bounty, the Ocean of Generosity gave him the White Hand.*
If you want to escape the stomach and lips of all the
unripe, be full of pearls but bitter on the surface like the ocean.
Take heed! Turn your eyes away from others, for that Eye
is jealous. Take heed! Keep your stomach empty, for He has set
for you a table.
If a dog has eaten its fill, it will not catch any game,
for the running and racing of aspiration derives from hunger's
fire.
Where are a pure heart and pure lips to receive a pure
cup? Where is an agile Sufi to run after the halva?
Display the Realities in these words of mine, oh He who
passes us the wine and cup!

-- Ghazal (Ode) 96
Translation by William C. Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983

* (Koran VII 108)

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

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

[Sunlight] "Haven’t I told you?" – Ghazal 1725

Sunlight offers Ghazal 1725, from the Diwan, in five renderings:

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

Didn't I tell you
Do not leave me for I am your only Friend,
I am the spring of life.
Even if you leave in anger for thousands of years
You will come back to me for I am your goal and your end.
Didn't I tell you
not to be seduced by this colorful world
for I am the Ultimate Painter.
Didn't I tell you
you are a fish do not go to dry land
for I am the deep Sea.
Didn't I tell you
not to fall in the net like birds
for I am your wings and the power of light.
Didn't I tell you
not to let them change your mind and turn you to ice
for I am your fire and warmth.
Didn't I tell you
they will corrupt you and make you forget
that I am the Spring of all virtues.
Didn't I tell you
not to question my actions
for everything falls into order, I am the Creator.
Didn't I tell you
your heart can guide you home
because it knows that I am your Master.

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

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

"Didn't I Say?"

Didn't I say, "Don't go there; I am your friend.
In this mirage of existence, I am the fountain of life."
Even if your anger takes you a hundred thousand years away,
in the end you will return, for I am your goal.
Didn't I say, "Don't be content with earthly forms;
I am the designer of the intimate chamber of your contentment."
Didn't I say, "I am the sea, and you are a single fish;
don't strand yourself on dry land; I am your clear sea."
Didn't I say, "Don't get caught in the trap like a helpless bird;
I am the power of flight – your feet and your wings."
Didn't I say, "They will waylay you and make you cold;
I am the fire and your warm desire."
Didn't I say, "They will implant their qualities in you
until you forget that the best qualities are here."
Didn't I say, "You do not know from what direction
your affairs are put in order."
I am the Creator beyond directions.
If light is in your heart, find your way home.
If you are of God, know your Benefactor.

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

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

Did I not say to you, friend:
"Don't go, for I am your Friend?
I am the Water of Life
in the mirage of decay!
And if in anger you go
thousands of miles, far from me:
Finally you will return –
I am your goal and your end!"
Did I not say to you, friend:
"I am the sea, you're a fish.
Do not go to the dry land –
I am the Attributes' sea!"
Did I not say to you, friend:
"Don't fly like birds to the snare!
Come, I am strength for your flight,
and I am strength for your wings!"
Did I not say to you, friend:
"They'll block your road, make you cold!
But I am fire and heat,
warmth of your heart and your love!"
Did I not say to you, friend:
"Bad qualities, that's your share!
But you can lose them! I am
the fountain of qualities pure."
Did I not say to you, friend:
"Don't grieve: 'From which side my work
Will be arranged?' For I am
He who creates, without sides!"

-- Translation by Annemarie Schimmel
"Look! This Is Love"
Shambhala, 1996

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

Remember what I said . . .
I said, Don't leave, for I am your Friend.
In the mirage of this world
I am the fountain of life.
Even if you leave in anger
and stay away for a thousand years
You will return to me,
for I am your goal.

I said, Don't be content with worldly promises
for I am the tabernacle of your contentment.

I said, Do not go upon the dry land
for I am the Sea without a shore.

I said, O bird, do not fly into the hunter's net;
come toward me, for I am the power
that moves your wings
that lifts you through the sky.

I said, They'll capture you and put you on ice;
I am the fire and the warmth
of your true yearning.

I said, They will cover you with water and clay;
You will forget that I am your taintless beginning.

I said, No one can tell how my work will manifest
for I create the world from all sides.

Let your heart's light guide you to my house.
Let your heart's light show you that we are one.

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

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

haven't I told you
don't run away from me
you'll find me like a fountainhead
wherever you go in this mirage
even if you leave me
with anger for a hundred thousand years
you'll finally return
since i'm your final home
haven't i told you
don't be fooled with
the spangles in life
i'm your final fulfillment
haven't i told you
that i'm the sea and you're a small fish
you're better off staying with me
than venturing the dry shores
haven't i told you
don't go towards the trap
like a bird enticed by bait
come back to me i'm your endless strength
haven't i told you
others will kill your fire
stay with me who will set you
on flame and warm your soul
haven't i told you
others will disillusion you
you'll lose the fountainhead of
the solace i've found for you
if you're enlightened by
the lantern of your heart
guiding you to God's house
look at me i may be the path

-- Translation by Nader Khalili
"RUMI: Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1994

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

~"Haven't I told you?" – Ghazal 1725

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

[Sunlight] "Be a circling star"

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

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)

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

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/

Monday, October 11, 2010

[Sunlight] Dissolver of Sugar -- Ghazal 3019

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal 3019, from the Diwan-e Shams,
in a version by Coleman Barks, and in translation by A.J. Arberry:

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

Dissolver of Sugar

Dissolver of sugar, dissolve me, if this is the time.
Do it gently with a touch of a hand, or a look.
Every morning I wait at dawn; that's when it's happened before.
Or do it suddenly like an execution.
How else can I get ready for death?
You breathe without a body like a spark.
You grieve, and I begin to feel lighter.
You keep me away with your arm,
but the keeping away is pulling me in.

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

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

You who slay like sugar the lovers, slay my soul sweetly this
moment, if you are slaying.
To slay sweetly and gently is the property of your hand,
because you slay with a glance he who seeks a glance.
Every morning continuously I am waiting, waiting, because
you generally slay me a dawn.
Your cruelty to us is candy; do not close the way to assistance.
Is it not the case that at the end you will slay me in front of the gate?
You whose breath is without a belly, you whose sorrow repels
sorrow, you who slay us in a breath like a spark,
Every moment you proffer another repulse like a shield; you
have abandoned the sword and are slaying with the shield.

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

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

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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, October 08, 2010

[Sunlight] You who are in love with your intellect

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

You who are in love with your intellect—
considering yourself superior to worshipers of form—
that intellect is a beam
of Universal Intellect cast upon your senses;
regard it as gilded gold upon your copper.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ay keh to ham `âsheqe bar `aql-e khvish
khvish bar surat-parastân dideh bish
Partaw-e `Aqlast ân bar hess-e to
`âriyat-e maydân-e zahab bar mess-e to

-- Mathnawi II: 710-711
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)

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

Thursday, October 07, 2010

[Sunlight] "They were unwilling to listen"

Today, Sunlight offers two interpretations of Quatrain 367:

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

Like a thief
reason sneaked in and sat amongst the lovers
eager to give them advice.
They were unwilling to listen, so reason kissed their feet
and went on its way.

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

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

for awhile wisdom came
to advise the ones
who are in love
it sat by the wayside
to corrupt their way
since it found no room
within their minds
it kissed their feet
and went on its way

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

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

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

[Sunlight] "A new rule" – Ghazal 1861

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal (Ode) 1861, from the Diwan-e
Shams*, in versions by Coleman Barks and Kabir Helminski,
and in translation by A.J. Arberry:

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

The New Rule

It's the old rule that drunks have to argue
and get into fights.
The lover is just as bad. He falls into a hole.
But down in that hole he finds something shining,
worth more than any amount of money or power.

Last night the moon came dropping its clothes in the street.
I took it as a sign to start singing,
falling up into the bowl of sky.
The bowl breaks. Everywhere is falling everywhere.
Nothing else to do.

Here's the new rule: break the wineglass,
and fall toward the glassblower's breath.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
"The Essential Rumi"
Castle Books, 1997

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

A New Rule

It is the rule with drunkards to fall upon each other,
to quarrel, become violent, and make a scene.
The lover is even worse than a drunkard.
I will tell you what love is: to enter a mine of gold.
And what is that gold?

The lover is a king above all kings,
unafraid of death, not at all interested in a golden crown.
The dervish has a pearl concealed under his patched cloak.
Why should he go begging door to door?

Last night that moon came along,
drunk, dropping clothes in the street.
"Get up," I told my heart, "Give the soul a glass of wine.
The moment has come to join the nightingale in the garden,
to taste sugar with the soul-parrot."

I have fallen, with my heart shattered -
where else but on your path? And I
broke your bowl, drunk, my idol, so drunk,
don't let me be harmed, take my hand.

A new rule, a new law has been born:
break all the glasses and fall toward the glassblower.

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

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

It is the rule with drunkards to fall upon one another, to fight
and squabble and make tumult.
The lover is worse than the drunkard; the lover also belongs
to that party. I will tell what love is; it is to fall into a goldmine.
What may that gold be? The lover is the king of kings; it
means becoming secure from death and not caring for the
golden crown.
The darvish in his cloak, and in his pocket the pearl - why
should he be ashamed of begging from door to door?
Last night that moon came along, having flung his girdle on the road, so
drunken that he was not aware that his girdle had fallen.
I said, "Leap up, my heart, place wine in the hand of the soul;
for such a time has befallen, it is time to be roistering.
"To become hand in hand with the garden nightingale, to fall
into sugar with the spiritual parrot."
I, heart-forlorn and heart-yielded, fallen upon your way - by
Allah, I know of no other place to fall.
If I broke your bowl, I am drunk, my idol. I am drunk - leave
me not from you hand to fall into danger.
This is a newborn rule, a newly enacted decree - to shatter
glasses, and to fall upon the glassmaker!

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

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

*The "Divan-e Shams" is the "Collection of Shams", the collection
of Rumi's lyrical "Ghazals", named for his great friend, teacher, and
inspiration, Shams of Tabriz. -- Sunlight Ed.

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

[Sunlight] "All that beauty, power, virtue, and excellence"

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

The servant for whom the world lovingly wept
the world now rejects: what did he do wrong?
His crime was that he put on borrowed clothes
and pretended he owned them.
We take them back, in order that he may know for sure
that the stock is Ours and the well-dressed are only borrowers;
that he may know that those robes were a loan,
a ray from the Sun of Being.
All that beauty, power, virtue, and excellence
have arrived here from the Sun of Excellence.
They, the light of that Sun, turn back again,
like the stars, from these bodily walls.
When the Sunbeam has returned home,
every wall is left darkened and black.
That which amazed you in the faces of the fair
is the Light of the Sun reflected in the three-colored glass.
The glasses of diverse hue cause the Light to appear colored to us.
When the many-colored glasses are no more,
then the colorless Light amazes you.
Make it your habit to behold the Light without the glass,
so that when the glass is shattered you may not be left blind.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Shâhedi kaz `eshq-e u `âlam geryest
`âlamesh mi-rânad az khvod jorm chist
Jorm ânke zoyur-e `âriyeh bast
kard da`vâ kin holal melk-e manast
Vâ satânim ân keh tâ dânad yaqin
kharman ân-e Mâst khubân dâneh chin
Tâ be-dânad k-ân holal `âriyeh bud
partavi bud ân ze Khvorshid-e Vojud
n jamâl o qodrat o faazl o hona
ze ftâb-e Hosn kard in su safar
Bâz mi gardand chon estâr-hâ
nur-e ân Khvorshid zin divâr-hâ
Partaw-e khvorshid shod vâ jâyegâh
mând har divâr târik o siyâh
nke kard u dar rokh-e khubânet dang
Nur-e Khvorshidast az shisheh-ye seh rang
Chon na-mând shisheh-hâ-ye rang rang
Nur bi ranget konad ângâh dang
Khui kon bi shisheh didan Nur-râ
tâ cho shisheh be-shekanad na-bovad ghamâ

-- Mathnawi V: 981-991
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)

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

Monday, October 04, 2010

[Sunlight] "When the spirit sets its face toward the Beloved"

Today, Sunlight offers a selection from the Mathnawi, Book VI, Verses 117-128, in an interpretive version by Coleman Barks, and in translation by Reynold A. Nicholson:

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

When We Pray Alone

We are brought thick deserts, and we rarely refuse them.
We worship devoutly when we're with others.
Hours we sit, though we get up quickly
after a few minutes, when we pray alone.
We hurry down the gullet of our wantings.

But these qualities can change,
as minerals in the ground rise inside trees
and become tree, as plant faces an animal
and enters the animal, so a human
can put down the heavy
body baggage and
be light.

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But they (the mystics) use a comparison and illustration, in order that aloving feeble-minded man may apprehend (the truth).
'Tis not a simile, but 'tis a parable for the purpose of releasing (melting) the frozen intellect.
The intellect is strong in the head but weak in the legs,* because it is sick* of heart (spiritually decayed) though sound of body (materially flourishing).
Their (the unspiritual men's) intellect is deeply involved in the dessert (pleasures) of this world: never, never do they think of abandoning sensuality.
In the hour of pretension their breasts are (glowing) like the orient sun, (but) in the hour of pious devotion their endurance is (brief) as the lightning.
A learned man who shows self-conceit in (displaying) his talents is faithless as the world at the time for keeping faith.*
At the time when he regards himself (with pride) he is not contained in the world: he has become lost in the gullet and belly, like bread.
(Yet) all these (evil) qualities of theirs may become good: evil does not remain when it turns to seeking good.
If egoism is foul-smelling like semen, (yet) when it attains unto the spirit (spirituality) it gains light.
Every mineral that sets its face towards (aspires to evolve into) the plant (the vegetative state)-- life grows from the tree of its fortune.
Every plant that turns its face towards the (animal) spirit drinks, like
Khizr, from the Fountain of Life.
Once more, when the (animal) spirit sets its face towards the (Divine)
Beloved, it lays down its baggage (and passes) into the life without end.*

-- Mathnawi VI: 117-128
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"

----------------------------------------------------------------------
*weak in the legs: "I.e. it has no strength to search after spiritual things."
(Nicholson)
*sick: "Literelly, 'ruined.'" (Nicholson)
*keeping faith: "I.e. when the time comes for him to make good his pretensions."
(Nicholson)
*lines 125-28: "See the note on I 3165-3168" ["The corn-seed sown in the earth
becomes bread, which, when eaten, assimilated, and converted into sperm, produces the man endowed with spirit (vegetable, animal, and intellectual). The soul, as a mode of Divine Being, undergoes a similar evolution: in order that its inherent potentialities may be developed and exhibited, it descends into the world of matter, where from the lowest phases of soul-life it gradually rises to the
highest and, having traversed the whole circle of existence and thus attained to
the utmost perfection of which it is capable, gives itself up to God and realises
its essential unity with Him."] (Nicholson, Commentary)

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

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

<*> 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:
Sunlight-digest@yahoogroups.com
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, October 01, 2010

[Sunlight] "Preoccupied with the business of the world"

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

The lion of destiny is dragging our souls,
preoccupied with the business of the world,
into the jungles of death.
People fear poverty,
plunged as they are up to their necks in briny water.
If they feared the Creator of poverty,
treasures would reveal themselves.
Through fear of affliction,
they sink into the very essence of affliction:
in their quest for life in the world,
they have lost it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mi kashad shir-e qazâ dar bish-hâ
jân-e mâ mashghul-e kâr o pish-hâ
Ân chonân kaz faqr mi tarsand khalq
zir-e âb-e shur rafteh tâ halq
Gar be-tarsandi az ân Faqr-Âfarin
ganj-hâ-shân kashf gashti dar zamin
Jomleh-shân az khawf-e ghamm dar `ayn-e ghamm
dar pay-e hasti fotâdeh dar `adam

-- Mathnawi III:2204-2207
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)

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

Sunlight on Facebook

Followers

Popular Posts

Subscribe To

Search This Blog

Search by Google

Archive

Friday, October 29, 2010

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Monday, October 25, 2010

Friday, October 22, 2010

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Monday, October 18, 2010

Friday, October 15, 2010

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Monday, October 11, 2010

Friday, October 08, 2010

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Monday, October 04, 2010

Friday, October 01, 2010