The Persian Mystics: Jalálu'd-dín Rúmí

Rumi · en
The sea itself is one thing, the foam another;
    Neglect the foam, and regard the sea with your eyes.
    Waves of foam rise from the sea night and day.
    You look at the foam ripples and not at the mighty sea.
    We, like boats, are tossed hither and thither,
    We are blind though we are on the bright ocean.
    Ah! you who are asleep in the boat of the body,
    You see the water; behold the Water of waters!
    Under the water you see there is another Water moving it.
    Within the spirit is a Spirit that calls it.
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    When you have accepted the Light, O beloved,
    When you behold what is veiled without a veil,
    Like a star you will walk upon the heavens.




    WHERE LOVE IS

    A damsel said to her lover, "O fond youth,
    You have visited many cities in your travels;
    Which of those cities seems most delightful to you?"
    He made answer, "The city wherein my love dwells,
    In whatever nook my queen alights;
    Though it be as the eye of a needle, 'tis a wide plain;
    Wherever her Yusuf-like[4] face shines as a moon,
    Though it be the bottom of a well, 'tis Paradise.
    With thee, my love, hell itself were heaven.
    With thee a prison would be a rose-garden.
    With thee hell would be a mansion of delight,
    Without thee lilies and roses would be as flames of fire!"




    THE LOVE OF THE BELOVED

    No lover ever seeks union with his beloved,
    But his beloved is also seeking union with him.
    But the lover's love[5] makes his body lean,
    While the Beloved's love makes her fair and lusty.
    When in _this_ heart the lightning spark of love arises,
    Be sure this Love is reciprocated in _that_ heart.
    When the Love of God arises in thy heart,
    Without doubt God also feels love for thee.




    THE LOVE OF THE SOUL AND THE LOVE OF THE BODY

    The Love of the soul is for Life and the Living One,
    Because its origin is the Soul not bound to place.
    The Love of the soul is for wisdom and knowledge,
    That of the body for houses, gardens, and vine-yards;
    The love of the soul is for things exalted on high,
    That of the body for acquisition of goods and food.
    The Love, too, of Him on high is directed to the soul:
    Know this, for "He loves them that love Him."[6]
    The sum is this: that whoso seeks another,
    The soul of that other who is sought inclines to him.




    "O LOVE, LOVE, AND HEART'S DESIRE OF LOVE!"