The open sky drinks from their circling cup.
The sun wears the gold of their generosity.
When two of them meet, they are no longer two.
They are one, and six hundred thousand.
The ocean waves are their closest likeness
when wind makes from unity the numerous.
This happened to the sun, and it broke into rays.
The disc of the sun does exist, but if you see
only the ray-bodies, you may have doubts.
The human-divine combination is a oneness.
Plurality, the apparent separation into rays.
Friends, we are traveling together.
Throw off your tiredness. Let me show you
one tiny spot of the beauty that cannot be spoken.
I am like an ant that has gotten into the granary,
ludicrously happy, and trying to lug out
a grain that is way too big.
Dear Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI often use Rumi's words to help illustrate a point in my work, where words can only point toward what is being intended. Rumi's poetry, through Coleman Barks's beautiful translations, is always playing in my mind, and sometimes the perfect stanza leaps into memory unbidden.
Recently I've been inquiring into the mystery of multiplicity in Oneness, and yesterday, as I was walking and listening to one of Barks's CDs, "Voice of Longing", I heard some words from the poem Sufi Masters, that perfectly illuminated the inquiry. They are these:
The ocean waves are their closest likeness
when wind makes from unity the numerous.
This happened to the sun, and it broke into rays.
The disc of the sun does exist, but if you see
only the ray-bodies, you may have doubts.
The human-divine combination is a oneness.
Plurality, the apparent separation into rays.
Now for the reason I am writing to you here. Rather than type out the words from the recording, or from memory, I will usually do a google search to see if some other Rumi lover has already placed them where others can find them. And so it was that I stumbled into your beautiful website. Thank you so much for this gift.
I have written a book called "The Not So Big Life" which you may enjoy. I use Rumi's words all the way through the book, and in the last chapter, include a word play that really embodies the deeper meaning of the book. Spell out Rumi's name letter by letter out loud--R-U-M-I. Now, Are You? Am I?
With deepest gratitude,
Sarah Susanka