[Sunlight] Love for Certain Work

~

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

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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[Sunlight] Love for Certain Work

[Sunlight] Don't Sleep! -- Ghazal 312

~

Here, Sunlight offers two presentations of Ghazal (Ode) 312 - a
literal translation by Prof. William Chittick and a poetic version by Jonathan Star:

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

By your spirit, leave not the work at hand!
Sleep not! Subtract one night from your life and maintain the vigil:
Sleep not!

You have slept a thousand nights for the sake of your own
self-will: What of a single night? For the sake of the Friend,
sleep not!
For the sake of that Gentle Friend who sleeps
not by night, do the same! Entrust your heart to Him and
sleep not!
Fear that night of illness when, until daytime,
you lament and groan piteously, "Oh Lord! Oh Lord!" –
sleep not!
That night when Death comes and says,
"Welcome!" – by the bitterness of that night, oh traveler,
sleep not!
Stones melt before those chains of awesomeness:
If you are not a stone, then remember those chains and sleep
not!
Although night is a lovely black-skinned saki,
take not her cup and fear the morning after: Sleep not!
God said, "At night My friends do not sleep." If
you are embarrassed and ashamed at His words, sleep
not!
Fear that tremendously terrible night with no
refuge: Make night your provision on the way and
beware – sleep not!
You have heard that the saints find their desire
at night; for the love of that King who satisfies desires,
sleep not!
When your kernel dries out, He will give you a fresh
kernel – you will become all kernel, oh hopeful man,
so sleep not!
I have told you a thousand times: Be silent! But
you do not benefit. Bring one and take a hundred thousand
in return – sleep not!

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

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


"Don't Sleep"

O seeker,
Listen to your heart's true yearning –
Don't sleep!
Give up one night of your life to the vigil –
Don't sleep!

You have spent a thousand nights
in the cradle of sleep –
I ask for one night.
For the sake of the Friend,
Don't sleep!
The Loving Witness never sleeps by night,
Follow His ways:
Give yourself to Him –
Don't sleep!

Beware of that woeful night,
When you cry out in agony: "O God" –
Don't sleep!
That night when Death comes to welcome you –
By the dread of that night, O weary one,
Don't sleep!
Even stones will cry when bound
by the weight of those chains.
You are not a stone.
Remember those chains -
Don't sleep!

Though the night tempts you like a beautiful maiden,
do not drink from her cup.
Fear the morning after –
Don't sleep!

God says, "My dear ones will stay up with me at night."
If you hear these words,
Don't sleep!

Fear that horrible night
when no refuge can be found.
Store up your provisions tonight! Beware!
Don't sleep!

The Saints find their treasure
when the world is asleep;
For the sake of ever-giving love,
Don't sleep!

When your spirit is old and worn
He will give you a new one,
Then you will become the pure spirit of all.
O hopeful one, don't sleep!

I have told you again and again –
go to that inner silence!
But still you do not hear me.

Give me one night
And I will give you a thousand in return –
Don't sleep!

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

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

~


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[Sunlight] Don't Sleep! -- Ghazal 312

[Sunlight] Let's fall in love again

~

Here, Sunlight offers two translations of Ghazal (Ode) 1532,
from the Diwan-e Shams:

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

come
let's fall
in love
again

let's turn
all the dirt
in this world
to shiny gold

come
let's be
a new spring
a love reborn

find our aroma
from the essence
of all who
emit heavenly fragrance

like a fresh tree
bloom and spread
all the blessings
right from inside

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

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

Let us fall in love again
and scatter gold dust all over the world.
Let us become a new spring
and feel the breeze drift in the heavens' scent.
Let us dress the earth in green,
and like the sap of a young tree
let the grace from within sustain us.
Let us carve gems out of our stony hearts
and let them light our path to Love.
The glance of Love is crystal clear
and we are blessed by its light.

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

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

~




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[Sunlight] Let's fall in love again

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

~

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

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

[Sunlight] Empty Boat -- Ghazal 622

~

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal 622, from Rumi's Diwan-e Shams,
in a version by Coleman Barks, and in a translation by A.J. Arberry:

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

Empty Boat

Some huge work goes on growing. How
could one person's words matter? Where

you walk heads pop from the ground. What
is one seed head compared to yours? On

my death day I'll know the answer. I have
cleared this house, so that your work can,

when it comes, fill every room. I slide
like an empty boat pulled over water.

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

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

Every moment the Soul is decaying and growing before
you, and how should any man plead with you for the sake of a
single soul?
Wherever you set your foot a head springs from the earth;
for one head's sake how should anyone wash his hands of you?
On the day when the soul takes flight in joy at your scent,
the soul knows, the soul knows, what scent wafts from the
Beloved.
Once your crop-sickness diminishes from the brain, the
head raises a hundred laments, every hair is groaning.
I have emptied house, that I may be filled with your furni-
ture; I am waning, that your love may wax and increase.
My soul in the train of Shams al-Haqq-i Tabrizi is scudding
like a ship without feet over the sea.

-- Translation by A.J. Arberry
Mystical Poems of Rumi 1
The University of Chicago Press 1968/1991

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

~


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[Sunlight] Empty Boat -- Ghazal 622

[Sunlight] Seashell Toys

~

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

Seashell Toys

Go into God’s qualities
and God’s face.

Empty into those and be there,
and not there, as when letters elide
and disappear into each other
to make a smooth connection.

in the uniting
they are silent.

The words, You did not throw when you threw,
where spoken without Muhammed’s speaking them.

The words, God said,
spring from silence.

A medicine on the shelf is medicinal
only when it dissolves into a diseased body.

Even if every tree were cut and split
and every limb and splinter made into pens,
and even if the ocean were ink and every human being
joined in the work, there would still be no hope
for finishing this Mathnawi!

But as long as the brickmaker’s mould stays filled
with clay, this poetry will keep building.

When there’s no more clay, use water!
When there’s no more land-forests,
use ocean-forests!

Muhammed said, “Talk about the ocean for a while.
Then turn toward land, pick up a toy,
and talk about toys.”

Children love their seashell toys,
and with them they learn about the ocean,
because a little piece of ocean
inside the child, and inside the toy,
knows the whole ocean.

-- Mathnawi VI: 2239-2256
Version by Coleman Barks
"Feeling the Shoulder of the Lion"
Threshold Books, 1991

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

~


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[Sunlight] Seashell Toys

[Sunlight] Secrets bursting inside me -- Quatrain 1141

~

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

I can't let you know
all the secrets
I can't open to you
all the doors
there is something inside
that makes me happy
but I can't put my finger
on its source

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


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


The secrets are bursting inside me
but to give them away and
expose them to mockery, I cannot.
Something inside me is bursting with joy
but to put my finger on it, I cannot.

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

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

~



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[Sunlight] Secrets bursting inside me -- Quatrain 1141

[Sunlight] How much discernment the dark earth needs

~

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

The sky, so beautiful and glorious:
God said, "Then turn thy gaze toward it."
As regards this roof of light,
don't be content with just one look:
look many times; see:
"Are there any flaws?"
Since He has told you to look often
at this excellent roof, examining it for flaws,
know then, how much discernment the dark earth needs.

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

Asmâni keh bovad bâ zib o far
Haqq be-farmâyad keh "Thumma irji` basar"*
Yek nazar qâne` ma-shaw zir-e saqf-e nur
bâr-hâ be-negar be-bin "Hal min futûr"
Chonke goftet k-andarin saqf-e neku
bâr-hâ be-negar cho mard `ayb ju
Pas zamin-e tireh-râ dâni keh chand
didan va tamyiz bâyad dar pasand

-- Mathnawi II: 2946-2949
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

*al-Mulk, 4

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

~




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[Sunlight] How much discernment the dark earth needs

[Sunlight] Birds Nesting near the Coast -- Ghazal 2956

~

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

"Birds Nesting near the Coast"

Soul, if you want to learn secrets,
your heart must forget about shame

and dignity. You are God's lover,
yet you worry what people are saying.

The rope belt the early Christians
wore to show who they were, throw

it away! Inside, you are sweet
beyond telling, and the cathedral

there, so deeply tall. Evening now,
more your desire than a woman's hair.

And not knowledge: walk with those
innocent of that: faces inside fire,

birds nesting near the coast, earning
their beauty, servants to the ocean.

There is a sun within every person,
the you we call companion.

-- Ghazal (Ode) 2956
Version by Coleman Barks, with Nevit Ergin
"The Glance"
Viking-Penguin, 1999

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

~



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[Sunlight] Birds Nesting near the Coast -- Ghazal 2956

[Sunlight] Distracted by objects of desire

~

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

People are distracted by objects of desire,
and afterwards repent of the lust they've indulged,
because they have indulged with a phantom
and are left even farther from Reality than before.
Your desire for the illusory is a wing,
by means of which a seeker might ascend to Reality.
When you have indulged a lust, your wing drops off;
you become lame and that fantasy flees.
Preserve the wing and don't indulge such lust,
so that the wing of desire may bear you to Paradise.
People fancy they are enjoying themselves,
but they are really tearing out their wings
for the sake of an illusion.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Zin botân-e khalqân parishân mi shavand
shahvat rândeh pashimân mi shavand
Zânke shahvat bâ khayâli rândast
vaz Haqiqat dur-tar vâ mândast
Bâ khayâli mayl-e to chon par bovad
tâ bedân par bar Haqiqat bar shavad
Chon barândi shahvati paret berikht
lang gashti va ân khayâl az to gorikht
Par negah dâr va chonin shahvat ma-rân
tâ par-e maylet barad su-ye Jenân
Khalq pendârand `eshrat mi konand
bar khayâli par-e khvod bar mi konand

-- Mathnawi III: 2133-2138
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

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

~



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[Sunlight] Distracted by objects of desire

[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.

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

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

~






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

[Sunlight] Our drunkenness does not come from wine -- Quatrain 97

~

Today, Sunlight offers three interpretations of
Quatrain 97:

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

Our drunkenness does not come from wine.
The joy of our gathering
does not come from the harp or rubaab.
With no celestial beauty to fill our cup,
Without friends, without singing, without wine,
We burst out like madmen,
rolling drunk on the floor.

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

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


We don't need wine to get drunk,
or instruments and singing to feel ecstatic.
No poets, no leaders, no songs,
yet we jump around totally wild.

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


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

i don't really need wine
to get drunk
i don't really need music
to feel delight
without a wine pal
music and dance
i'm intoxicated
happy and gone

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

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

~




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[Sunlight] Our drunkenness does not come from wine -- Quatrain 97

[Sunlight] Bring forward that One who has Real Being

~

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

In discourse, negation is used in order to affirm:
stop negating and begin affirming.
Come, stop saying "this is not" and "that is not":
bring forward that One who has Real Being.
Put aside negation and worship only that Real Being.

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

Nafy bahr-e sabat bâshad dar sokhan
nafy bo-g'zâr va sabat âghâz kon
"Nist in" o "Nist ân" hin vâ gozâr
ânkeh ân Hastet Ân-râ pish âr
Nafy bo-g'zâr va ham ân Hasti parast
in dar âmuz ay pedar ze ân tark-e mast

-- Mathnawi VI: 640-642
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

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

~







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[Sunlight] Bring forward that One who has Real Being

[Sunlight] Empty Boat -- Ghazal 622

~&#8232;&#8232;

Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal 622, from Rumi's Diwan-e Shams, in &#8232;a version by Coleman Barks, and in a translation by A.J. Arberry:&#8232;&#8232;

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&#8232;&#8232;

Empty Boat&#8232;&#8232;

Some huge work goes on growing. How&#8232;
could one person's words matter? Where&#8232;&#8232;

you walk, heads pop from the ground. What&#8232;
is one seed head compared to yours? On&#8232;&#8232;

my death day I'll know the answer. I have&#8232;
cleared this house, so that your work can,&#8232;&#8232;

when it comes, fill every room. I slide&#8232;
like an empty boat pulled over water.&#8232;&#8232;

-- Version by Coleman Barks&#8232;
"The Soul of Rumi"&#8232;
HarperCollins, 2001&#8232;&#8232;

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&#8232;&#8232;

Every moment the Soul is decaying and growing before &#8232;
you, and how should any man plead with you for the sake of a &#8232;
single soul?&#8232;
Wherever you set your foot a head springs from the earth; &#8232;
for one head's sake how should anyone wash his hands of you?&#8232;
On the day when the soul takes flight in joy at your scent, &#8232;
the soul knows, the soul knows, what scent wafts from the &#8232;
Beloved.&#8232;
Once your crop-sickness diminishes from the brain, the &#8232;
head raises a hundred laments, every hair is groaning.&#8232;
I have emptied house, that I may be filled with your furni-
ture; I am waning, that your love may wax and increase.&#8232;
My soul in the train of Shams al-Haqq-i Tabrizi is scudding &#8232;
like a ship without feet over the sea.&#8232;&#8232;

-- Translation by A.J. Arberry&#8232;
"Mystical Poems of Rumi 1"&#8232;
The University of Chicago Press 1968/1991&#8232;&#8232;

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~&#8232;&#8232;

~&#8232;




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[Sunlight] Empty Boat -- Ghazal 622

[Sunlight] Know the true definition of yourself

~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suppose you know the definitions of all substances
and their derivatives,
what good is this to you?
Know the true definition of yourself.
That is indispensable.
Then, when you know your own definition, flee from it,
that you may attain to the One who cannot be defined,
O sifter of the dust.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hadd-e a`yân o `araz dânesteh gir
hadd-e khvod-râ dân keh na-bovad zin gozir
Chon be-dâni hadd-e khvod zin hadd goriz
tâ beh bi hadd dar resi ay khâk biz

-- Mathnawi V:564-565
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

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

~



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[Sunlight] Know the true definition of yourself

[Sunlight] "Tell me who" -- Chazal 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 knows 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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[Sunlight] "Tell me who" -- Chazal 528

[Sunlight] The heart's mirror has no limits

~

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

The saints have polished their breasts until cleansed of
greed, cupidity, avarice, and hatred.
Without doubt the pure mirror is the heart acting as a
receptacle for infinite pictures.
The Moses-like saint possesses within his breast, in his
heart's mirror, the infinite, formless Form of the Unseen.
What does it matter if that Form is not contained by the
heavens, the divine Throne, the Footstool, or the Fish
supporting the earth?
These things are all delimited and defined, but the
heart's mirror has no limits - Know that!
Here the intellect must remain silent, or else lead us
astray. For the heart is with Him - indeed, the heart is He.

-- Mathnawi I, 3484-89
Translation by William C. Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
State University of New York Press, Albany, 1983

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

~



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[Sunlight] The heart's mirror has no limits

[Sunlight] "I know very well who I am"

~

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

One day a roughneck said to a dervish,
"You're unknown to anyone here."
The dervish replied, "If the vulgar don't know me,
yet I know very well who I am."
What a pity, if the pain and spiritual illness had been reversed
and the bully had seen me as I really am,
while I was blind to myself.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Goft bâ darvish ruzi yek khasi
keh "Torâ injâ na-mi dânad kasi"
Goft u "Gar mi na-dânad `âmmiyam
khvish-râ man nik mi dânam kiyam"
Vây agar bar `aks budi dard o rish
u bodi binâ-ye man, man kur-e khvish

-- Mathnawi VI: 4331-4333
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

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

~



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[Sunlight] "I know very well who I am"

[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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[Sunlight] Choose A Suffering -- Ghazal 1246

[Sunlight] "That costly pearl!"

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

These shells of bodies in the world,
though they are all living
by grace of the Sea of the Soul—
yet there isn't a pearl in every shell.
Open your eyes and look
into the heart of each one.
Find out what is within each one,
for that costly pearl is rarely found.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

in sadaf-hâ qavâleb dar jahân
garcheh jomleh zendeh-'and az bahr-e jân
Layk andar har sadaf na-bovad gohar
chashm be-goshâ dar del-e har yak negar
Kân cheh dârad vin cheh dârad mi gozin
zânke kam yâbast ân dorr-e samin

-- Mathnawi II:1023-1025
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

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

~



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[Sunlight] "That costly pearl!"

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

[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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[Sunlight] Wake Up! -- Ghazal 2133