Be hospitable - a poem
I just came across this in my treasure trove of saved delights - now growing so large that I fear my computer may crash one day from their enormity. I have no idea of when or where I came by it; I should make it a practice of recording such details at the time.
Anyway, here it is for you to savour...
BE HOSPITABLE
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-- Rumi in The Essential Rumi, translation by Coleman
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
-- Rumi in The Essential Rumi, translation by Coleman
Very existensialist I must say
Posted by: Tabor | January 19, 2007 at 09:49 PM
That was a short run Jude. Pablo asked a while back if blogging was being placed on the back burner in lives of many people.
I find it a bit of a "publish or perish" game. If there isn't something new to read nearly every day then people stop stopping by.
Posted by: Tjilpi | January 25, 2007 at 09:06 AM
Happy Australia Day, Jude!
Posted by: Sonia | January 27, 2007 at 01:34 AM
Jude are you still paying TypePad a monthly fee? I wonder if Rumi was the Persian/Iranian Sufi poet I heard about on Radio National yesterday?
Posted by: Tjilpi | April 09, 2007 at 07:57 AM
Hi Jude, how are you?
I miss you!
All my best to you!
Sonia.
Posted by: Sonia | April 19, 2007 at 12:43 PM
So you have given us up for another additive hobby? Maybe living on the edge?
Posted by: Tabor | May 08, 2007 at 05:34 PM
I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!
(((Many hugs)))
Posted by: Sonia | May 14, 2007 at 07:46 AM
Talk about synchronicity! Came upon the great Rumi poem this evening just when I was wondering how to cope with the weird emotions that assail me from day to day -- no, sometimes moment to moment, chasing the thoughts that flit through my mind...
Posted by: Kati | May 30, 2007 at 01:34 PM
This is womderful! I love Rumi but I hadn't read this one! What wonderful food for thought!
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Posted by: Anton | December 13, 2007 at 04:41 AM