A good friend recently had a dis-appointing experience. This is for him.
"..... This is true of all world pleasures.
They look delightful before you test them out.
The world looks like a delicate bride,
but be more patient than Faraj!
The eminence you think you want, the power
over others, let all that go.
It's better not to ride on other people's backs.
That's how we arrive at the grave.
Tend to just what is yours.
If you drop your whip, dismount and pick it up.
Don't ask someone else to do your work.
Ask within, and when that Presence directs you,
whatever you do will be right, even though
externally it may seem wrong. Don't curse the oyster
for having an ugly encrusted shell. Inside
it's all pearl. There's no way to say
how we are with phenomena.
Like a moth with a candle, we singe our wings
and then forget and come back to do the same thing.
Like children, we spill the salt,
and then we spill it again.
Like Faraj, we put up both our hands and say, "No!
Your face is very lovely, but in bed
you're something totally different.
I won't be fooled again!"
But he will. We make resolutions,
and we forget. Paper flares up,
and then goes out.
RUMI ~
Excerpt from: Mathnawi, VI,
Peace my darling friend,
L
ANONYMOUS COMMENT:
HI this is very nice poem. I was wondering if you were able to grasp
what he means by: like children we spill the salt and then we spill it
again" ? Thanks on.....
Dear Anonymous:
You asked if I was "able to grasp" the meaning of this line. If you are having difficulty grasping it yourself. I suggest you fill a cup of with salt, place it near the edge of a table then swipe it with your hand so it falls to the floor, then do the same again a few days, weeks or months later and observe what happens. Between the spilling of salt see how you do something repetitive like that in your life. Keep doing this until you understand what " like children we spill the salt and then we spill it
again" means. Let me know if still have trouble "grasping" the meaning.
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