The Soul of Goodness in Things Evil (by Rumi)
The Soul of Goodness in Things Evil
by Jalālu'l-Dīn Rūmī
Fools take false coins because they are like the true.
If in the world no genuine minted coin
Were current, how would forgers pass the false?
Falsehood were nothing unless truth were there,
To make it specious. 'Tis the love of right
Lures men to wrong. Let poison but be mixed
With sugar, they will cram it into their mouths.
Oh, cry not that all creeds are vain! Some scent
Of truth they have, else they would not beguile.
Say not, "How utterly fantastical!"
No fancy in the world is all untrue.
Amidst the crowd of dervishes hides one,
One true fakir. Search well and thou wilt find!
[Mathnawī II, 2928]
English translation by Reynold A. Nicholson
Taken from Selected Poems of Rūmī, published by Dover in 2001
* * *
A fakir is often defined as a "holy man."
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Thanks for posting the amazon link for the illustrated Rumi... very cool. One I don't have. But from being able to peek at it just now on amazon.. looks like something I really want...
And here I thought I was going to tame my book budget this year... *sigh*
I like this one you've chosen... there are of course tons of other good ones to pick as well. I hope you post more Rumi in time.
But the idea that you can't throw out everything because you find falsehood somewhere is a very important point.
People do it not just with religion, politics, etc... but also with things like love , people, hope.. etc...
They have one bad experience or several and decide to give up on everything thinking there is nothing good left to search for or fight for... and that isn't really true. There is even truth IN falsehood.. sort of like the idea that if "God" is good.... then where did Satan originate from? Well from "God" of course...
the world is never wholly one thing or another... ever. I think it is a way of saying there are no absolutes...
Sorry for rambling... but it stimulated a short train of thought.
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Thanks, Chris! I will definitely post more Rumi.
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From poems by Rumi this one speaks to me!
Look! This is Love
Come, come whoever you are.
Wonderer, worshipper, lover of leaving.
It doesn't matter.
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, even if you have broken your vow
a thousand times
Come, yet again, come come.
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