Rumi's Little Book of Life

Love’s sorrow is no more than just one story and yet, amazingly, it is never the same from whoever I hear it.

Rumi’s God is not in the mosque, the monastery, or the fire-temple, but resides in the House of Intoxication, built in a lush Garden of Illumination, where a ladder of love leads to the divine.

The only “right commanded” by Rumi is that the mirror of the heart be polished of tarnish and the only “wrong forbidden” by him is that love should ever be conditional.

Why do you seek water when you are the stream? Have you forgotten? You are the king’s falcon, you are a ray of the Beloved, a divine wonder!

Man may tolerate the rain for awhile but soon he looks for shelter while ducks quack happily for rainwater is their sustenance.

The intellect is luminous and seeks justice so why does the dark ego prevail over it? Because the ego is at home in the body while the intellect is only a visitor, the ego-dog at his own door is like a lion.

If one were to tell an unborn child that outside the womb there is a glorious world with green fields and lush gardens high mountains and vast seas, with a sky lit by the sun and the moon, the unborn would not believe such absurdity. Still in the dark womb how could he imagine the indescribable majesty of this world? In the same way, when the mystics speak of worlds beyond scent and color, the common man deafened by greed and blinded by self-interest cannot grasp their reality.

Each time a thought enters your heart treat it as an honored guest, your worth is shown by the thoughts you entertain.

Do not be fooled, my friend, this world is not to be trusted. It will intoxicate you with its sweet drink and suddenly desert you and wrap its arms around another lover.

Once you express your sorrow from the bottom of your heart it will be washed away. Look at a flower it can never hide its scent nor its color.

Man is hidden behind his words his tongue is a curtain over the door of his soul. When a gust of wind lifts the curtain the secret of the interior is exposed, you can see if there is gold or snakes pearls or scorpions hidden inside. Thoughtless speech spills easily out of man while the wise ones keep silent.

“Give up the known, give up your life for the mystery of Love’s eternal wine.” “But before I die,” I said, “I would like to know you.” “Once you know me there will be no more dying.”