The reality of patience

“Patience does not mean to passively endure. It means to be farsighted enough to trust the end result of a process. It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, to look at the night and see the dawn. Impatience means to be shortsighted as to not able to see the outcome. The lovers of God never runs out of patience, for they know that time is needed for the crescent moon to become full.”

— Rumi
[from The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi by Elif Shafak] 

Ghazal 119 from Rumi`s Fountain of Fire

Photo Courtesy:Generationbass.com

If you pass your night

and merge it with dawn

for the sake of heart

what do you think will happen

if the entire world

is covered with the blossoms

you have labored to plant

what do you think will happen

if the elixir of life

that has been hidden in the dark

fills the desert and towns

what do you think will happen

if because of

your generosity and love

a few humans find their lives

what do you think will happen

if you pour an entire jar

filled with joyous wine

on the head of those already drunk

what do you think will happen

go my friend

bestow your love

even on your enemies

if you touch their hearts

what do you think will happen

Translated by Nader Khalili

Ghazal No: 119

Rumi, Fountain of Fire

Cal-Earth, September 1994

Reflections

Jalaluddin Rumi (1207 – 1273)

Know that the world of created beings

is like pure and clear water, reflecting

the attributes of God.

Their knowledge, justice and kindness

reflects God’s like a heavenly star is

reflected in running water.

Earthly kings reflect God’s kingship.

Scholars mirror the wisdom of God.

People and nations may change as

one generation replaces another;

but the divine attributes are eternal.

The water flowing in the stream

changes many times, but the

reflection of the moon and stars

in the water remains the same.

(Masnavi 6: 3172-8)

image: philip arnold

Words of Wisdom by the great Jalaluddin Rumi

image: famouspeople

From the great Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273), a Persian sufi mystic poet once said:

• "People of the world don`t look at themselves, and so they blame one another."

• "Don`t grieve, anything you loose comes back round in another form."

• "That which is false troubles the heart, but truth brings joyous tranquility."

• "Since in order to speak, one must first listen - learn to speak by listening."

• "When we are dead, seek not our tomb in the earth, but find it in the hearts of men" - Rumi`s epitaph

• If your guidance is your ego, don't rely on luck for help. you sleep during the day and the nights are short. By the time you wake up your life may be over.

• The intelligent want self-control; children want candy.

• No mirror ever became iron again; No bread ever became wheat; No ripened grape ever became sour fruit. Mature yourself and be secure from a change for the worse. Become the light.