This artist rendering is from Rumi On Fire.
One of the things about boxing up hundreds of books for the painters to get to the house's interior walls is that when you unbox them, a whole new world opens back up. Damn! When you obsessively collect books, particularly on certain topics, it is mind-blowing to know that you "own" these things. It's like living by the ocean, which I do. In the first years I was totally enamored with the ocean, and then like a long-term marriage, I began to take my beloved ocean for granted. It's that way with books that I own. In the same light, however, I want to make sure my kids don't willy-nilly get rid of my Thomas Merton collection, poetry collection, spiritual direction collection, or writing and journal keeping collection. I want these books to ultimately go where others can enjoy and appreciate them.
Cracking any Rumi book is always, always the perfect message for the day. I've been longing to be more patient with my higher self--and to feel the presence of my inner male energy. I have been thinking a lot of the Wise Old Man Archetype, so tell me how this strikes you!
We Are Three
by Rumi
translated by Coleman Barks
Recognize that you imagination and your thinking
and your sense-perception are reed canes
that children cut and pretend are horsies.
The Knowing of mystic Lovers is different.
The empirical, sensory, sciences
are like a donkey loaded with books,
or like the makeup woman's makeup.
It washes off.
But if you lift the baggage rightly, it will give you joy.
Don't carry your knowledge-load for some selfish reason.
Deny your desires and willfulness,
and a real mount may appear under you.
Don't be satisfied with the name of HU,
with just words about it.
Experience That Drunkenness.
From books and words come fantasy,
and sometimes, from fantasy
comes UNION.
