The Guest House by Rumi

The Guest House by Rumi

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

as an unexpected visitor.

 Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

~ Rumi ~
  (The Essential Rumi, versions by Coleman Barks)

 I like to have a conversation with Rumi. The universality of his message is important to me, especially in our comtemporary society!!! Rumi's moderate attitude provides many aswers to the social and psychological problems of our time.

In this modern world, we are facing depression, irritation, hateful thoughts, anxiety, worry, ....all this "stuff" get on our way and we do not know how to deal with them (most of the time...)

In order to get rid of all these stuff, Rumi suggests that we must climb a spiritual ladder of love! Rumi understood that the cause of every religious conflict is ignorance.Real belief is apparent only on the inside of a person, which is not visible. Therefore, it is clear for Rumi that the religion of love involves loving the eternal and invisible source of existence. 

Religious insight and the spiritual search for a safe haven are a part of faith in all religions. Rumi said, "Whether love be from this side or that side, wordly / Or heavenly, in the end it leads us yonder." Rumi's spiritual ladder is LOVE. Climbing the steps of this spiritual ladder, Rumi attains wisdom. 

He realizes that music is an inseparable part of life and he says, "We are as a harp, you are playing us; / We are as a flute, and this is your voice breathed into us." Rumi said that" God is so generous that He may accept the counterfeit coin of me." 

Rumi believed in a type of universal faith belonging to all religions. A real believer may only be recognized by his inner state, which is not observable to anyone else. The religion of love involves loving the eternal and invisible source of existence...

He wrote, "Every prophet and every saint has a way of religious practice / But, as all those ways lead us to God, they are one." Rumi believes in the unity or religions. Rumi says, "If there was a man of esoteric knowledge, a man of hundred languages, there wouldn't be any disagreement." 

"If there had been a candle in each one's hand, / The difference would have gone out of their words." The cause of religious conflict and terrorism is ignorance! Therefore, in our comtemporary society, Rumi's message is even more important to fight malfeasance. 

According to Rumi, "someone who does not keep score / who is not looking to be richer, or afraid of losing / who has not the slightest interest even / in his own personality. He is FREE"