THE 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’re 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.”

I Saw Goodness Getting Drunk

“I am gone,

lost any sense of wanting the wine

of the nowhereness ask me,

I don’t know where I am.

At times I plunge

to the bottom of the sea,

at times, rise up

like the Sun.
•

At times, the universe is pregnant by me,

at times I give birth to it.

The milestone in my life

is the nowhereness,

I don’t fit anywhere else.

This is me:

a rogue and a drunkard,

easy to spot

in the tavern of Lovers.

I am the one shouting hey ha.
 •

They ask me why I don’t

behave myself.

I say, when you

reveal your true nature,

then I will act my age.
 •

Last night, I saw Goodness getting drunk.

He growled and said,

I am a nuisance, a nuisance.

A hundred souls cried out, but

we are yours, we are yours, we are yours.

 •

You are the light

that spoke to Moses and said

I am God, I am God, I am God.

I said Shams-e Tabrizi, who are you?

He said, I am you, I am you, I am you.”

•••

rumi in the mid-night

“Love is from the infinite,
and will remain until eternity.
The seeker of love escapes
the chains of birth and death.
Tomorrow, when resurrection comes,
The heart that is not in love
will for certain fail the test.”

12:20 A.M. “The Place Where Two Lovers Meet…”

“The place where two lovers meet…
It is there
that’s where I’ll be

The place where two lovers meet…
It is there
where you lover,
you shall find Me”

rumi in the day-light

“LOVE desires that this secret should be revealed,

For if a mirror reflects not, of what use is it?

Knowest thou why thy mirror reflects not?

Because the rust has not been scoured from its face.

If it were purified from all rust and defilement,

It would reflect the shining of the SUN Of GOD.

O friends, ye have now heard this tale,

Which sets forth the very essence of my case.”

rumi in the mid-night

“Ever since they tore me from my osier bed,
My plaintive notes have moved men and women to tears.
I burst my breast, striving to give vent to sighs,
And to express the pangs of my yearning for my home.
He who abides far away from his home
Is ever longing for the day he shall return.”

rumi in the mid-night

“No I am not roaming aimlessly
around the streets and bazaar
I am a lover searching for his beloved

God have mercy on me
I am walking around troubled

I have done wrong and sinned
and am walking around wounded

I have drunk the wine of desire
and am strolling around beloved

Though I may seem drunk
I am quite sober…” 

6:30 P.M. “Lovers Don’t Meet Somewhere”

“The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you
Not knowing how blind that was – Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere;
… they’re in each-other all along.”

-Rumi

11:14 A.M. “Look Within, and Seek That”

“There is a force within that gives you life—

Seek that.

In your body there lies a priceless jewel—

Seek that.

Oh wandering Sufi,

If you are in search of the greatest treasure,

Don’t look outside,

Look within, and seek that.”

–Rumi