Category Jalaluddin Rumi

Let your throat-songbe clear and strong enough to make an emperor fall full-length,suppliant, at the door.

The way of love is nota subtle argument.The door thereis devastation.Birds make great sky-circlesof their freedom.How do they learn it?They fall, and falling,they’re given wings.

Birdsong brings reliefto my longing. I am just as ecstatic as they are,but with nothing to say! Please, universal soul, practicesome song, or something, through me!

There was a long drought. Crops dried up.The vineyard leaves turned black. People were gasping and dying like fishthrown up on shore and left there.But one man was always laughing and smiling. A group came and asked,“Have you no compassion…

I used to be shy.You made me sing. I used to refuse things at table.Now I shout for more wine. In somber dignity, I used to siton my mat and pray. Now children run throughand make faces at me.

There was a king who had threeequally accomplished sons.Each was generous and wise, and fiercelydecisive when the need arose.They stood like three strongly burning candlesbefore their father, ready to set out on a journeyto distant parts of his kingdom to…

Do you know why your soul-mirror does not reflect as clearly as it might?Because rust has begun to cover it.It needs to be cleaned. Here’s a storyabout the inner state that’s meant by soul-mirror.In the old days there was a…

When Abu Bakr met Muhaminad, he said,“This is not a face that lies.” Abu Bakr was one whose bowlhas fallen from the roof. There’s no hiding the fragrance that comesfrom an ecstatic. A polished mirrorcannot help reflecting. Muhammad once was…

Listen to this, and hear the mystery inside:A snake-catcher went into the mountains to find a snake.He wanted a friendly pet, and one that would amaze audiences, but he was looking for a reptile, somethingthat has no knowledge of friendship.…