Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī
Widely known as Rumi, this incredible Persian poet, Islamic scholar, Hanafi jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic of the 13th-century was truly a wonder man of his time and remains so today. His works, primarily written in Persian, have had a profound impact on literature and spirituality across many cultures and languages. He is most commonly called Rumi in English. I was listening to Gregg Braden discuss Rumi and lavish him with admiration and wisdom. It is obvious through his poetry he is a man who understands mastery of self and excelled to capture our attention proving his ability to make us think more deeply. For me, it is easy to recognize that he is a dot connector and displays this aptitude within his poetry in a profound way. Although I knew of Rumi, I have never really made it a point to look into his life accomplishments or poetry until recently. After even brief research, I too have become a fan. I am offering a few poems I like and you too can choose to read more of his poetry and discover deeper insights into this incredible man.
It is noteworthy to add that when we are functioning consciously and become aware that we are on a sacred journey, albeit adventure, we discover the importance of understanding the lives of the saints and sages (truly our brothers and sisters) who have gone before us.
In choosing these three poems, I hope they will have the same deep effect on you that they have on me.
~ Diane Renee
Unfold Your Own Path
by Rumi
Who gets up early
to discover the moment light begins?
Who finds us here circling, bewildered, like atoms?
Who comes to a spring thirsty
and sees the moon reflected in it?
Who, like Jacob blind with grief and age,
smells the shirt of his lost son
and can see again?
Who lets a bucket down and brings up
a flowing prophet?
Or like Moses goes for fire
and finds what burns inside the sunrise?Jesus slips into a house to escape enemies,
and opens a door to the other world.
Soloman cuts open a fish, and there’s a gold ring.
Omar storms in to kill the prophet
and leaves with blessings.
Chase a deer and end up everywhere!
An oyster opens his mouth to swallow on drop.
Now there’s a pearl.
A vagrant wanders empty ruins.
Suddenly he’s wealthy.But don’t be satisfied with stories, how things
have gone with others. Unfold
your own myth, without complicated explanation,
so everyone will understand the passage,
We have opened you.Start walking toward Shams. Your legs will get heavy
and tired. Then comes a moment
of feeling the wings you’ve grown,
lifting.
Love Sounds the Music of the Spheres
by Rumi
O soul, if thou, too, wouldst be free,
Then love the Love that shuts thee in.
‘Tis Love that twisteth every snare;
‘Tis Love that snaps the bond of sin;
Love sounds the Music of the Spheres;
Love echoes through Earth’s harshest din.
The world is God’s pure mirror clear,
To eyes when free from clouds within.
With Love’s own eyes the Mirror view,
And there see God to self akin.
Passion Makes the Old Medicine New
by Rumi
Passion makes the old medicine new:
Passion lops off the bough of weariness.
Passion is the elixir that renews:
how can there be weariness
when passion is present?
Oh, don't sigh heavily from fatigue:
seek passion, seek passion, seek passion!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi#Name
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