Peaceful wisdom for turbulent times.
They say that the same book can be many books; it all depends on the eyes that look at it.
And it is true because the same text can provoke one thought or another depending on the person who reads it.
And on top of that, readers only read the same book once.
I remember reading The Little Prince at 14, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years old (a book I like very much), and I never read the same book.
There are magic books that change with you, that need the reader for the magic of transmutation to happen.
And that happens to me with the books of the great Sufi poet Rumi.
And recently, these three little poems have blown my mind and changed how I see the world.
Let me share Rumi’s phrases and my reflections with you.
Let’s begin.
On false prophets
“The Sufi who unveils the secrets of the cosmos is giving away a new kingdom every moment. He begs no clothing, bread, alms or shelter, but grants life to those who listen to him.”- Rumi
Rumi is clear that reality changes every moment in the same way that you cannot see the same river twice.
It is, therefore, necessary for the constant evolution of consciousness. And to have it aligned with the universe. And it takes work.
A person has to flow with life, not be obsessed with commercializing his wisdom.
That’s why the true messages from the universe are often embodied in the most humble people,
- The little old man who tells you, “Don’t run,” when he sees you cross the red light. And reminds you that the death line implies just that “death.”
- The little boy asks you, “Why are you so sad?” while you wait at the dentist’s office. And makes you rethink your life completely.
- The cleaner you apologize to for having to step on the floor she’s mopping and says, “Never mind, the footprints will clean up in a moment.” And it makes you wonder why you care so much about what people think about your life if, in the end, not even your footprints will remain in this world.
Valuable spiritual lessons that you learn without paying 3000 dollars to go to a spiritual retreat in Peru and take Ayahuasca 🙂
On materialism and reason
“He who has in his breast an atom for heart will long suffer for living without your Love. He who among your curls keeps his sanity is that he has irretrievably lost his mind.” — Rumi
As the Bible says, “You cannot serve two masters” If you seek money, you will not find God, the meaning of life, or your purpose.
Many monks dress in a certain way to let the world know that they are searching for the eternal and are not interested in the mundane.
In Buddhism, for example, they dress in orange, considered the color of enlightenment and the search for knowledge.
But you must be careful because the search for knowledge must not become 100% intellectual, or you will return to serve another master: reason.
And pure and hard rationalism leaves no room for the mysterious, for the unknown, for faith, for transcending.
You are a tripartite being: mind, body, and spirit.
And crazy is the one who does not understand that there is something mystical in this existence called life.
Because it is a person obsessed with understanding everything, the obsession for control leads irremediably to suffering.
Don’t stop believing in magic 🙂
On life
“Have the ambition and pride of hawks and leopards. Be graceful in the hunt, victorious in war. With the peacock or the nightingale alternate not: one is only words, colors only the other.” — Rumi
Hunt what you will eat: nothing more, nothing less.
Weigh your needs and satisfy them. But don’t spend your life chasing the next prey for the pleasure of accomplishing things.
Be professional in meeting your goals, and don’t forget that the best lesson is by example. Fight hard and strong for what you want, but don’t strut your accomplishments in front of others.
Stay away from people addicted to applause: approval is the most addictive of all drugs, and for it, you will always be betrayed.
Please stay away from those who only talk and talk, but at the moment of truth, they are so afraid of failure that they never try to go for their dreams.
Because inaction also sticks like yawning, and if you allow laziness to enter your life, all your dreams will die with you long before your real death because laziness is a silent killer that turns you into a living dead.
Don’t let it 🙂
A virtual hug
AG