The wine which is forbidden to the body
is served freely to the soul of the one
who is free from attachments to this world.
Pour us more, O Cupbearer. Never say, “This is the end.”
Who knows where our beginning is? Or, our end?
The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations, Volume 4, rubai 1401, page 14.
How long do you think you can escape death
by watching the purple color of the Judas tree, by listening to the sound of the organ?
Look and see: They’re pulling and dragging you away,
Although really, we are returning to Him. Continue reading “Death (1/25/2026)”
Troubles for me are cooking
in my Beloved’s kitchen of grief.
Every moment hundreds of different meals of sorrow
are being served to my table.
The scent of a burning heart
surrounds my table all the time.
I wonder. Where is this scent coming from?
The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations, Volume 3, rubai 1387, page 240.
I merged so completely with Love, was so fused with Love
that I became Love and Love became me.
That way, I was saved from instigations, from trials and tribulations. Continue reading “From Out of That Silence (1/11/2026)”
Upon leaving Your house, I start weeping and wailing,
like a candle shedding tears because of the flame.
But, in order to gain something,
we must learn to weep and wail like a harp.
The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations, Volume 3, rubai 1386, page 239.
If the rose with its beauty and the jasmine with its fine three petals
see Your face,
if they reach You,
they all grow so big, so beautiful. Continue reading “If They Reach You… (12/28/2025)”
Since I can no longer bear the heaviness of my heart,
I might as well give my heart to my longing for You.
What can I do with a heart
which doesn’t burn with the sorrow of Love?
What is its use to me? What should I save it for?
The Rubiayat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations, Volume 3, rubai 1382, page 237.
Look at Love. It is joined to and merged with lovers.
Look at the soul become one with the land of soil.
How long will you be seeing this and that, good and bad?
Look and see that this and that are joined and merged together. Continue reading “Look at Water and Fire (12/14/2025)”
The secret of Truth cannot be understood
by asking questions, gathering information,
or spending all your wealth and belongings.
If you haven’t cried for fifty years with bloody tears,
if you haven’t burned your heart out,
you will not find the way from words to ecstasy.
The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations, Volume 3, rubai 1377, page 235.
O gardener, autumn has come, autumn has come.
See the signs of the heart’s sorrow on the leaves and branches.
O gardener, listen carefully. Hear the cries of the trees.
There are hundreds of souls, hundreds of souls
wailing silently everywhere. Continue reading “Hundreds of Gifts (11/30/2025)”