Give up excessive wealth, and you will be sweet and fragrant and wild and fresh and thankful for any small event.

"Once in the city of Saba, there was a glut of wealth.  Everyone had more than enough.  Even the bath-stokers wore gold belts . . . Everyone was fat and satiated with all the extra.  There were no robbers.  There was no energy for crime, or for gratitude.  And no one wondered about the unseen world.  The people of Saba felt bored with just the mention of prophecy.  They had no desire of any kind . . . This over-richness is a subtle disease . . . The city of Saba can not be understood from within itself!  But there is a cure, an individual medicine, not a social remedy: Sit quietly, and listen for a voice within that will say, 'Be more silent.'  As that happens, your soul starts to revive.  Give up talking, and your positions of power.  Give up the excessive money.  Turn toward the teachers and the prophets who don't live in Saba.  They can help you grow sweet again, and fragrant and wild and fresh and thankful for any small event."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Tiger lilies at sunset, Redwood National Park, CA, August 1, 2011.  This rich lighting lasted only about one minute.

Be melting snow; wash yourself of yourself

 

" 'Lo, I am with you always,' means when you look for God,

God is in the look of your eyes,

in the thought of looking, nearer to you than your self,

or things that have happened to you.

There's no need to go outside.

Be melting snow.

Wash yourself of yourself."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Lichen-covered rock in a snowstorm just before dusk, Lory State Park, CO, February 3, 2012

Without ignorance, there could be no learning

 

"The Beloved needs both good and evil, but only welcomes and blesses the good . . . God is like a teacher who wants to teach; what can he teach if the pupil is not ignorant?  To desire something is also to desire what makes it possible. The teacher does not, however, bless the pupil's ignorance, otherwise he would not teach him.  Doesn't a doctor need people to be ill for him to be able to heal them?  Yet he doesn't bless the fact that people are ill, otherwise he wouldn't attend to them with such care.  A baker requires people to be hungry, otherwise how would she sell her bread and support her family?  But she doesn't bless hunger and want it to continue, otherwise why would she sell bread at all?"

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: A spot of sunlight illuminates a dark mountainside, Mummy Range, CO, September 16, 2011

The prophet's duty is to concentrate and condense a divine Splendor which is invisibly diffused throughout the world

 

"Everything visible is visible because of concentration.  The breath in hot weather cannot be seen; in cold it can.  Cold concentrates it.  A prophet's duty is to concentrate and so manifest the splendor of God."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Concentrated water vapor appearing as snow on Mills Lake; Long's Peak, Keyboard of the Winds and Pagoda Peak in the background, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, February 5, 2012

Quit being sad; hear blessings dropping their blossoms all around you!

"Don't ask questions about longing.  Look in my face.  Soul drunk, body ruined, these two sit helpless in a wrecked wagon.  Neither knows how to fix it.  And my heart, I'd say it was more like a donkey sunk in a mudhole, struggling and miring deeper.  But listen to me: for one moment, quit being sad.  Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you.  God."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Wild Plum Blossoms against a backdrop of red rock, Lory State Park, CO, May 9, 2011

Don't say "Yes" or "No"; let bewilderment guide you

 
                                     "Have you seen beyond duality what is before and behind?
                                      How could a clay bird soar into the heaven of Vision?
                                      The highest place it can soar is still only air . . .
                                      Stay, then, astounded and bewildered; don't say 'yes' or 'no.'
                                      Then Mercy can stretch out Its hands to help you.
                                      How could you begin to understand His wonders?
                                      If you said 'yes' glibly you would be lying,
                                      And if you say 'no,' that 'no' will behead you
                                      And force severity to slam shut your soul's window.
                                      So stay in bewilderment, in wonder, so God' succor
                                      Can run to you from every side and direction.
                                      When you are really bewildered, maddened and annihilated,
                                      Then your whole being prays, without words, 'Guide me!' "

                                      Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Limber Pine and a finger of rock in the mist pointing to the sky, beyond "yes" and "no"; Emerald Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, January 28, 2012

The body is a just a shadow of a shadow, yet it somehow contains the entire Universe!

 

"An invisible bird flies over, but casts a quick shadow.  What is the body?  The shadow of a shadow of your Beloved, that somehow contains the entire universe."

"The heavens cannot contain Me, or the void,

Or winged exalted intelligences, or souls;

Yet I am contained, as a guest, in the heart of the true believer.

And without any qualification, definition, or description,
From this blazing mirror, every second spring
Fifty wedding feasts for the spirit."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Tree shadows on frozen Zimmerman Lake, Mummy Range, CO, December 16, 2011

We can only find true salvation by giving up our own personal salvation!

"Really to experience the day of Resurrection
You have to die first, for 'resurrection' means
'Making the dead come back to life.'
The whole world is racing in the wrong direction
For everyone is terrified of non-existence
That is, in reality, the only certain refuge
How should we try to win real awareness?
By renouncing all knowing.
How should we look for salvation?
By giving up our personal salvation.
How should we search for real existence?
By giving up our existence.
How should we search for the fruit of the spirit?
By not always greedily stretching out our hands."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Oregon Holly-grape poking up through the snow, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, January 20, 2012

Self-Death in exchange for the Divine Kiss; what a bargain!

I would love to kiss You.
"THE PRICE OF KISSING IS YOUR LIFE!"

Now my loving is running toward my life shouting,
"What a bargain, let's buy it!"

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Dead Bristlecone Pine, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, White Mountains, CA, July 25, 2011

God is a servant: he will appear within whatever images we form of him!

"It is essential to make as rich and beautiful and comprehensive as possible whatever inner image you may have of God; for God comes to you in whatever image you have been able to form of Him.  The wiser and broader and more gorgeous the image, the more the grace and power can flow down from the Throne into your heart.  God says to all of us: 'I am where My servant thinks of Me.  Every servant has an image of Me; whatever image my servant forms of Me, there I will be.  I am the servant of My servant's image of Me.  Be careful then, My servants, and purify, attune, and expand your thoughts about Me, for they are My House.'"

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Wildflowers on the trail up Medicine Bow Peak at sunrise, Lookout Lake in the background, Snowy Range, WY, August 28, 2011

When you dwell in a space that feels like non-existence, the Creator of Existence can truly work!

 

 "The Absolute Being creates out of non-existence; what other workshop but non-existence could the Creator of Existence have?  Do you write over what is already written?  Do you plant a sapling where there's one growing already?  No!  So look for a piece of paper no one has written on; search for a place where nothing has ever been sown.  Be a place unsown, a white paper no writing has stained, so the Pen of Mercy can ennoble you, and the Merciful One can sow in your blindness the seed of Pure Vision."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: A Snow Buttercup blooms from within a snowfield, Never Summer Range, CO, June 30, 2010

Whoever walks into the fire appears suddenly in the stream!

 

                        "God’s presence is there in front of me, a fire on the left,

                        a lovely stream on the right.

                        One group walks toward the fire, into the fire, another

                        toward the sweet flowing water.

                        No one knows which are blessed and which not.

                        Whoever walks into the fire appears suddenly in the stream.

                        A head goes under on the water surface, that head

                        pokes out of the fire.

                        Most people guard against going into the fire,

                        and so end up in it.

                        Those who love the water of pleasure and make it their devotion

                        are cheated with this reversal.

                        The trickery goes further.

                        The voice of the fire tells the truth, saying I am not fire.

                        I am fountainhead.  Come into me and don’t mind the sparks.

                        If you are a friend of God, fire is your water.

                        You should wish to have a hundred thousand sets of mothwings,

                        so you could burn them away, one set a night.

                        The moth sees light and goes into fire.  You should see fire

                        and go toward light.  Fire is what of God is world-consuming.

                        Water, world-protecting.

                        Somehow each gives the appearance of the other.  To these eyes

                                    you have now

                        what looks like water burns.  What looks like

                        fire is a great relief to be inside.

                        You’ve seen a magician . . .

How much more amazing [are] God’s tricks . . .

One molecule-mote-second thinking of God’s reversal of comfort

            and pain

is better than attending any ritual.  That splinter

of intelligence is substance.

The fire and water themselves:

Accidental, done with mirrors."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Midway Geyser Basin at sunset, Yellowstone National Park, WY, September 3, 2011

If God revealed himself a hundred thousand times, not one revelation would resemble another!

 

"What I know is this: if God revealed himself a hundred thousand times, not one of them would resemble another.  In God, everything is always new-minted, fresh-born.  You are actually seeing God this moment; every moment you are seeing God's thousand colors displayed in His works and acts.  Not one of God's acts resembles any other.  Joy is one of His epiphanies, so is grieving, so is fear, so is hope.  Just as the acts of God and the epiphany of His acts and works are infinitely varied, so the epiphany of His Essences is also infinitely varied . . . The real work of religion is permanent astonishment . . . I mean: blazing in blind ecstasy, drowned in God and drunk on Love."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: A meadow overflows with Rosy Paintbrush, yellow Senecio, purple Erigeron and yellow Parrot-Beak Lousewort, Silver Creek Basin, Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness, CO, August 13, 2011

You are not a single "you," but a Sky and an Ocean, a nine hundred times huge drowning place for all of your hundreds of you's

 

"You came from Non-existence into being.  How did that happen?  Tell me about it!  You were a little drunk when you arrived, so you can't remember exactly? I'll give you some hints.  Let your mind go, and be mindful.  Close your ears, and listen.  But maybe I shouldn't tell, if you're not ripe.  You're still in early Spring.  July hasn't happened yet in you. This world is a tree, and we are green, half-ripe fruit on it.  We hold tight to the limbs, because we know we're not ready to be taken into the palace.  When we mature and sweeten, we'll feel ashamed at having clung so clingingly.  To hold fast is a sure sign of unripeness . . . More needs to be said on this, but the Holy Spirit will tell it to you when I'm not here . . . You are not a single You, good Friend, you are a Sky and an Ocean, a tremendous YHUUUUUU, a nine hundred times huge drowning place for all your hundreds of you's.  What are these terms 'wakefulness' and 'sleep'?  Don't answer.  Let God answer.  Don't speak, so the Speakers can.  Not a word, so Sun-Light can say what has never been in a book, or said.  Don't try to put it into words, and the Spirit will do that through you, in spite of you, beside you, among you."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Gold Bluffs Beach at sunset, Redwood National Park, CA, August 2, 2011

Sorrow furiously sweeps your house clean in order that a new joy may appear from the Source

 

"Every day, and every moment a thought comes like an honored guest into your heart.  My soul, regard each thought as a person . . . If a sorrowful thought stands in the way, it is also preparing the way for joy.  It furiously sweeps your house clean in order that some new joy may appear from the Source.  It scatters the withered leaves from the bough of the heart, in order that fresh green leaves might grow.  It uproots the old joy that a new joy may enter from Beyond.  Sorrow pulls up the rotten root that was veiled from sight.  Whatever sorrow takes away or causes the heart to shed, it puts something better in its place - especially for one who is certain that sorrow is servant of the intuitive.  Without the frown of clouds and lightning, the vines would be burned by the smiling sun.  Both good and bad luck become guests in your heart . . . Adapt yourself . . ."

Jelaluddin Rumi

Photo: Shootingstar blooms proliferating after a forest fire, Wind Cave National Park, SD, May 22, 2010