Wherever there is a spring of fresh water, men and bees and ants will gather. _ Jalaluddin Rumi

 

Rumi, Jalal al-Din Muhammad (1207-1273), Persian mystic and poet, who left a profound impact on (Sufism) Islamic mysticism. He was born in Balkh, Afghanistan. In 1247 Rumi's friend and religious guide Shams al-Din, a Sufi dervish, disappeared mysteriously. Over the years Rumi composed nearly 30,000 verses expressing his feelings at this loss. Rumi's epic poem Spiritual Couplets (mid-13th century) had an enormous influence on Islamic literature and thought. Rumi's followers organized a Sufi sect called Mawlawiyah, or Mevlevi, also known as the whirling dervishes.

 
The Music We Are -- Rumi

(From "The Music We Are", found in the book, "Rumi -- The Book of Love -- Poems of Ecstacy and Longing", Coleman Barks, Harper SanFrancisco)

Last year's miracles will soon be
forgotten. New creatures whirl in

from nonexistence, galaxies scattered
around their feet. Have you met them?

Do you hear the bud of Jesus crooning
in the cradle? A single narcissus

flower has been appointed Inspector
of Kingdoms. A feast is set. Listen.

The wind is pouring wine! Love
used to hide inside images. No more!

The orchard hangs out its lanterns.
The dead come stumbling by in shrouds.

Nothing can stay bound or be imprisoned.
You say, "End this poem here and

wait for what's next." I will. Poems
are rough notations for the music we are.
 

Philosophers have said that we love music
because it resembles the sphere-sounds

of union. We've been part of a harmony
before, so these moments of treble and bass.....

Hearing the sound, we gather
strength. Love kindles with melody. Music

feeds a lover composure, and provides form
for the imagination.......

-----------

Thus shall ye think of this fleeting world: 

A star at dawn. a bubble in a stream. 
A flash of lightning in a summer cloud. 
A flickering lamp. a phantom of a dream.
A shadow in the day.

Blessed is he who meditates on the reality
Of his passing identity…

Rumi

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