Wisdom of Rumi - The Mystic Devoted to Love

“Here is a relationship booster that is guaranteed to work: Every time your spouse or lover says something stupid make your eyes light up as if you just heard something brilliant.”
― Rumi

It is likely that you are already familiar with this remarkable, 13th century Muslim spiritual master, but I bet you didn't know that he was also a comedian. If you did, that is great. I invite you to read further for more quotes of his timeless wisdom and inspiration.

“You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”

"If you want what visible reality can give, you're an employee.
If you want the unseen world, you're not living your truth.
Both wishes are foolish,
but you'll be forgiven for forgetting that
what you really want is love's confusing joy."

From 'Essential Rumi' by Coleman Barks

“Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.”

Not Here

There's courage involved if you want to become truth.
There is a broken-open place in a lover. 
Where are those qualities of bravery and sharp compassion in this group?
What's the use of old and frozen thought?
I want a howling hurt.
This is not a treasury where gold is stored; this is for copper.
We alchemists look for talent that can heat up and change.
Lukewarm won't do.
Halfhearted holding back, well-enough getting by?
Not here.

From 'Soul of Rumi' by Coleman Barks

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”

Only Breath
 
Not Christian or Jew or Muslim,
not Hindu Buddhist, sufi, or zen.
Not any religion or cultural system.
I am not from the East or the West,
not out of the ocean or up from the ground,
not natural or ethereal, not composed of elements at all.
I do not exist, am not an entity in this world or in the next,
did not descend from Adam and Eve or any origin story.
My place is placeless, a trace of the traceless. Neither body or soul.
I belong to the beloved, have seen the two worlds as one
and that one call to and know, first, last, outer, inner,
only that breath breathing human being.
 
From 'Essential Rumi' by Coleman Barks

“Live life as if everything is rigged in your favor.”

Light Breeze

As regards feeling pain, like a hand cut in battle,
consider the body a robe you wear.
When you meet someone you love,
do you kiss their clothes?
Search out who's inside.
Union with God is sweeter than body comforts.
We have hands and feet different from these.
Sometimes in dream we see them.
That is not illusion. It's seeing truly.
You do have a spirit body;
don't dread leaving the physical one.
Sometimes someone feels this truth so strongly that
he or she can live in mountain solitude totally refreshed.
The worried, heroic doings of men and women seem weary
and futile to dervishes enjoying the light breeze of spirit.
 
From 'Soul of Rumi' by Coleman Barks

“Be empty of worrying. Think of who created thought! Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?”

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