Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love...
We all possess a centered place of wisdom, accord and stability within us but the truth is that we all swing away from that place from time to time. It is essential that we acquire a path adjusting device for our centered navigation, that can guide us back to our balanced place. There are many models of faith, beliefs and convictions that offer different experiences in life and then there is the way of a man who has love for his Creator, and everything Created by Him. He finds everything around him to be an expression of that Love. One such model is the great mystic poet Mevlana Rumi, whose six-volume Masnavi is a collection of inspirational verses and one of the most influential works of Sufism.
The world is familiar with Rumi and his works but here I would like to share my own experience of being one of those who keenly wished to visit his city.
I remember visiting his tomb as a child while living in Turkey with my parents but at that time I had no idea of what the religion of love was really about. It wasn’t till I grew up and started reading about Rumi and his poetic verses that I realized the power of those words and the truth of living with love. These verses can only have an impact on you if you are in search of the truth and their experience flows through you like the light of knowledge. Every time I read his poetry, I would think of the time I had gone to his mausoleum as a child and wanted to experience that once again but this time fully aware of my presence at this respectable place. Reading through his poetry is like walking with a navigation of verses to guide us.
This time while visiting my parents I planned to visit Konya too and I was glad that life had given me this opportunity to pay homage to this great poet that I admire so much. I heard that once you visit the Mevlana’s tomb in Konya you are bound to go there seven times or as people say that Rumi calls you seven times if you go to visit him once. Well that’s definitely a fun saying made by his followers or something my brother makes sure everyone abides by, but I really enjoyed it because I would love to go there again and experience the presence of love.
Standing there I felt like it is not only the city that is dedicated to him, but you can see his influence throughout the country where the people are most polite and respectful. I had lived in Turkey as a child and still love going there due to the love and respect that people have, which is only a strong conviction of the fact that “the religion of love is beyond all faiths.” Rumi died on December 17, 1273. He had been a devout Muslim for all his life, praying five times every day and keeping all the required fasts while writing about belief in a “religion of love” that crosses over traditional boundaries of the faith system.
I reflected on how Rumi’s message of love and peace offers a life of love and purity while the faiths that enforce violence in the name of religion only to spread terror, have nothing to offer other than hate and fear.
One of the most beautiful expressions of love that I found in Turkey was the plantation of trees by the Turkish government in Kecioren Park memorial site at Kartaltepe. Trees are planted to honor the martyrs of Peshawar School (16th December 2014 terrorist act). I feel compelled to share this because it is merely unfortunate that there is no mention of this worthy forest on google or any other social network. At least not one that I could find easily while every other tiny jiff can be googled easily.
Rumi gave his followers instructions to treat the night of his death like a joyous night of union. For Rumi, the presence of the performers specified that the deceased was both a Muslim and a lover of his Creator. But there were also Jewish rabbis reciting psalms, and Christian priests reading from the Gospels at Rumi’s funeral. It was clear that Rumi had become a well-respected figure within other holy communities. Rumi’s poetry that is largely tolerant of all people and other faiths still continues to touch hearts across the world.
“When we are dead, seek not our tomb in the earth, but find it in the hearts of men.”
Allama Iqbal is not only our national poet but one of my favorites too and the inspiration that Iqbal derived from Rumi is mirrored in his work 'Pir o Mureed' (1935). It is a dialogue between Iqbal and Rumi written in both Urdu and Persian, and in one of the verses, Iqbal (mureed) says to Rumi (pir),
“You, the leader of the lovers of God; I do remember your exalted words.”
The earnest form of love for Rumi, as a Sufi, involves escape from the self-centered whims of the ego. His inspiring words remind us how poetry can be a nourishing part of everyday life.
For me Rumi’s divine literature is a strong testimony of the powerful impact that words and poetry can have in our lives and on our souls.
No matter where you are or what you are doing, you ARE making a difference in this world. So share "A HAPPY AWAKENING" with your friends and family to create a moment of awareness.
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