Poetry Spotlight: Rumi

A rose on an old book.

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, known as Rumi, lived in Persia in the 13th Century. Besides being a poet, he was also a jurist, theologian and Sufi mystic. His poems have been translated into many languages all over the world. Rumi’s original work was mostly written in Persian, but occasionally he also used Turkish, Arabic and Greek. His works are widely read today in their original language across Greater Iran and in the Persian-speaking world, and translations of his works are very popular, most notably in Turkey, Azerbaijan, the United States and South Asia.

Rumi was an evolutionary thinker. He had an open mind and an open heart. He shared his wisdom with the world. Spiritual poetry, like Rumi’s, can offer wisdom in beautifully drawn images made of words. Here are a few possible thoughts that they can inspire:

“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”

The higher (or deeper and more meaningful) the topic we talk about, the more we “raise our words.” And in the same fashion, the more we can enlighten, teach and inspire others, the more we’ll be growing those flowers of wisdom around us and spread awareness, happiness, joy and respect for all creatures, growing a garden of peace around us.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.
Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

Changing the world from within, starting from ourselves, often has a stronger impact on the world around us than trying to initiate change from the outside. We can’t expect things to change when we’re not willing to change ourselves. By starting with our own lives, our own personal change will inspire others, which in turn will spread. The more people changing their lives and inspiring others, the bigger the wave and the deeper their influence will be in the world. Changing the world one person at a time, is to change it one million at a time.

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

Worrying is the best way to invite problems and fears into our lives, and yet, it’s such a common habit. We often stay “in prison”—the prison of our own fears, worries and inner blocks—when the door is actually open and there’s nothing that’s keeping us from being free, other than our own mental barriers. Those prisons and chains, are made out of thin air.

“If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?”

Oh, this one could apply so very well to our current society, so easily offended, so often defensive, and… so stuck, as a result. No learning can come of this attitude. Evolving requires openness, and in the process of being open, we must accept that there will be some things on our journey that won’t be so easy or comfortable. Stepping out of our comfort zone is essential to our spiritual and personal growth.

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

We were born with infinite potential, but so many people waste it. They crawl through life instead of flying. They don’t even try to be their best selves, to manifest their full potential, and make their lives the best lives possible. Instead, the mediocre kind of existence is the most common on this Earth, ever since Rumi’s times, or probably for even longer. It’s time we do something about it.

So if you’ve been inspired by Rumi’s thoughts, leave us a comment below and tell us about your favourite poem or quote by this very interesting author!

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