Sadness to me is the happiest time, When a shining city rises from the ruins of my drunken mind. Those times when I'm silent and still as the earth, The thunder of my roar is heard across the universe.
RumiThe world is like a courtroom, with God as our judge. We are called upon to fulfill our covenant with God, who asked, "Am I not your Lord?" To which we answered, "Yea." And since here on earth we are on trial, our every word and action form the witness to and the evidence of that agreement.
RumiWith passion pray. With passion make love. With passion eat and drink and dance and play. Why look like a dead fish in this ocean of God?
RumiJust as the heart becomes carefree in a place of green, growing plants, goodwill and kindness are born when our souls enter happiness.
RumiOn the way there is no harder pass than this: fortunate is he who does not carry envy as a companion.
RumiWisdom is like the rain. Its source is unlimited, but it comes down according to the season. Grocers put sugar in a bag, but their supply of sugar is not the amount in the bag. When you come to a grocer, he has sugar in abundance. But he sees how much money you have brought and gives accordingly. Your currency on this Path is resolution and faith, and you are taught according to your resolution and faith. When you come seeking sugar, they examine your bag to see what its capacity is; then they measure out accordingly.
RumiIf you wish to shine like day, burn up the night of self-existence. Dissolve in the Being who is everything.
RumiFor sixty years I have been forgetful every minute, but not for a second has this flowing toward me stopped or slowed.
RumiPoetry can be dangerous, especially beautiful poetry, because it gives the illusion of having had the experience without actually going through it.
RumiToday, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don't open the door to the study and begin reading. Take down the dulcimer. Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.
RumiWithout you the instruments would die. One sits close beside you. Another takes a long kiss. The tambourine begs, Touch my skin so I can be myself. Let me feel you enter each limb bone by bone, that what died last night can be whole today. Why live some soberer way, and feel you ebbing out? I won't do it. Either give me enough wine or leave me alone, now that I know how it is to be with you in constant conversation.
RumiLike a sculptor, if necessary, carve a friend out of stone. Realize that your inner sight is blind and try to see a treasure in everyone.
RumiWhen something goes wrong, accuse yourself first. Even the wisdom of Plato or Solomon can wobble and go blind
RumiThe core of the seen and unseen universe smiles, but remember smiles come best from those who weep. Lightning, then the rain-laughter.
RumiThe body's a mirror of heaven: Its energies make angels jealous. Our purity astounds seraphim. Devils shiver at our nerve.
RumiThere is no reality but God , says the completely surrendered sheik, who is an ocean for all beings.
RumiIts good to leave each day behind, like flowing water, free of sadness. Yesterday is gone and its tale told. Today new seeds are growing.
RumiFling me across the fabric of time and the seas of space. Make me nothing and from nothing-everything.
RumiLet yourself be loved, O Beloved, in the One. And from this One move out into the world, carrying within you the great potent energies of life to green your world, to create planets, suns, stars, stones, waves, oceans, to create new forms of life and expression - whether a friendship, a feeling or a new form of vocation.
RumiAnd don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous.
RumiWhen someone critises or disagrees with you, a small ant of hatred and antagonism is born in your heart. If you do not squash that ant at once, it might grow into a snake, or even a dragon.
RumiDo you pay regular visits to yourself? Don't argue or answer rationally. Let us die, and dying, reply.
RumiPeople 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.
RumiPut your thoughts to sleep, do not let them cast a shadow over the moon of your heart. Let go of thinking.
RumiThe intellectual quest is exquisite like pearls and coral, But it is not the same as the spiritual quest. The spiritual quest is on another level altogether, Spiritual wine has a subtler taste. The intellect and the senses investigate cause and effect. The spiritual seeker surrenders to the wonder.
Rumi