Rumi - I was inspired by leftladyfrom mo

[JuniperLea]

Rumi - Guest House

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

[ananda]

1. Marvelous. Here's another...

459
Don’t set your eyes on common beggars, we’ve reserved you for our hold,
Don’t sell yourself too light, your worth is prized above great hordes of gold.

Cast your staff and split the ocean, you’re the Moses of our time,
Tear the garments of the moon, O Mustafa of light sublime.

Let the gorgeous ones despair, O Joseph of the fairest face,
Like Messiah breathe the breath which is the essence of your grace.

Strut before the throng of warriors, O Isfandyar of our age,
Rip the Khaybar’s massive gate, O Ali, in your furious rage.

Seize the magic seal from demons, Solomon stirs in your heart,
Crush the host of stars in war, the will of the sun upholds your part.

Like Abraham embrace the flames, for you are faultless in the strife,
And Khizir-like imbibe the waters of the spring of endless life.

Leave the ones of base begetting, pay no heed to ghoulish lies,
You have sprung from noble stalks and are descended from the skies.

Everlasting is your spirit, from your depths your beauty gleams,
You dwell with the Lord of Splendor and in God’s resplendent beams.

Have you seen your own sweet glory that our eager eyes you shun?
At the dawning of a new day rise from your self like a sun.

Shame it is to be thus hidden, like the moon behind a cloud,
Tear the cloud of your own body, you are lordly and right proud.

You are the blade of Zulfaqar , your body is the wooden sheath,
Now if the scabbard breaks, why should your spirit slump and pine beneath?

You’re a falcon strapped by cords, and in your body you are caged,
By the sharpness of your talons can your bonds be disengaged.

How brightly glitters unalloyed gold when laid within a flame,
For only then it proves immaculate and quite devoid of blame.

Wherefore, brother, fly away now from the fury of these pyres?
Why not simply walk into the flames as your ordeal requires?

I swear to God, you shall not burn. Your face shall glow like purest gold,
For you’re the seed of Abraham, a privy friend from days of old.

Lift your head out of the dust now, for you’re a strong and lofty tree,
Noble Homa , soar above the Summit of Affinity.

Unsheathe yourself out of the scabbard, brandish high your well-honed brand,
Exit the bowels of the earth, you finest metal of the land.

Sweet is your accent. Scatter sweetness in the air where music floats.
Play on the reed of stately pomp melodious strains of honeyed notes.

=============
Isfandyar = Persian epic hero, invulnerable in the flesh except his eyes (which is his Achilles’ heel, so to speak). Famous for man to man combat.
Khaybar’s massive gate = Name of a fortress that had resisted Islam the early wars of expansion. Legend has it that Ali, prophet Mummad’s cousin, had lost his shield and ran to the fort’s massive gate and ripped it out of its hinges and used it as shield.
Khizir = Considered a prophet in Islam, he is a “green man” of ancient Arab mythology who had drunk from the waters of the spring of immortality.
Zulfaqar = Name of Ali’s (look # ii above) famous forked sword.
Homa = Name of a fantastic bird in Persian mythology who symbolizes royalty. Whenever her shadow sould fall on a man, who would be known the King.

[CTyankee]

2. Rumi's poetry is stunning

I read him in a Mysticism course in Grad School where I was getting a Masters in Liberal Studies. I bought a CD of Rumi translator, Coleman Barks, reading his poetry. It was very moving but kinda funny to listen to. Barks is a professor at the University of Georgia and has a soft Southern accent. When you hear this 13th century Sufi mystic's poetry through that accent it is an experience!

Here's a favorite:

Dance, when you're broken open.
Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you're perfectly free.

[f-bush]

3. We use Rumi alot

During our worship, our lay leader at First United Methodist Church in Tacoma, Washington will incorporate Rumi in her prayers for the congregation quite often.

[f-bush]

4. We quote often

During our worship services at First United Methodist Church in Tacoma, Washington, our congregational lay leader, will incorporate the words of Rumi in her prayers quite often.

Peace-Mike Collier

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Here's one that is sung

in Kansas City during the Urs of Rumi (Dec 17)-let's see how much I remember:

Harken to this reed forlorn
Weeping ever since 'twas torn
From its rushy bed of flame
Of compassion's joy and pain

The secret of my song so near
None can see and none can hear-
Oh for a friend who knows the sign
Who'll mingle all their soul with mine.....

There's more, but that last line quoted always gets me, for it is quite true.

[Silent3]

6. I've just started studying Arabic.

I can barely say "hello" and "good evening" after only two classes, and I doubt I'll have the time to devote to come anywhere close to fluency, but at least I hope I'll be able to read some of Rumi's work one day in the original Arabic. I'm sure I'll need an English translation along side as a crutch, but it would be nice even so to get a feel for the original sounds and words, even if only dimly so.