Rumi Quotes

“you are a volume in the divine book
a mirror to the power that created the universe
whatever you want, ask it of yourself
whatever you're looking for can only be found
inside of you”
― Jalaluddin Rumi, The Poetry of Jalaluddin Rumi

“The lover visible, the Beloved invisible: whose crazy idea was this?”
― Rumi, Rumi

“BY HIS WILL Only by His will do atoms move The beat of every wing He must approve No one can explain this and none should try The infinite can never answer ‘why?’ Even though we strive to know the ‘how?’ Through science, before Him we have to bow And give ourselves, our lives and will to God With no thought of a blessing or reward In these our lives, my friend, nor in the next Does this simple truth leave your mind perplexed? Then know that contentment is part of bliss Don’t ask for love, and yet accept a kiss. O Sufi, do not long for paradise Be content with His love, this earth, these skies.”
― Farrukh Dhondy, Rumi: A New Translation

“The flame of love comes burning through the flute Those who cannot hear its song are mute And cannot of intoxication sing”
― Farrukh Dhondy, Rumi: A New Translation of Selected Poems

“THE BEYOND Sufi, seek not to understand The mind or will of he who planned This universe before which our Whole world is but a speck of sand.”
― Farrukh Dhondy, Rumi: A New Translation of Selected Poems

“MOSES AND THE SHEPHERD
(For Moin Khan) Moses once passed a shepherd at his prayer And paused to hear this simple man declare His love for God by promising to tend To the Almighty’s every need and lend Him all the comforts that he could afford Promising milk and honey to the Lord. Hearing which Moses flew into a rage He asked the shepherd, “How can you engage In idle bribes and chatter in this way With Him Infinite, and how dare you pray To God as though he were some needy friend? Stop offering these silly things and bend Your body and your mind in total awe And pray as you were taught to pray. No more Of babbling about baubles to the King Of all the heavens that infinite thing Which surpasses all our worlds and resides Beyond the light of a thousand suns, besides You must know that we mortals have no right To involve God in our miserable plight.” So saying, Moses left the shepherd and Went on to prophesy to all the land. Then God breathed these words into Moses’s ear “You know that shepherd? You were too severe With the poor man; he wanted to convey His love for me, so he began to pray And what he said came straight from his heart You must have heard, he was willing to part With anything he owned or thought would please What better worshippers are there than these? To tell the truth, Moses, prayer has no form Like inner lightning, shapeless as a storm In its sincerity resides its force No other value shapes this intercourse.’ Then Moses sought the shepherd out again To admit that he was in error when He interrupted him and specified How he should pray. Then on that same hillside Both Moses and that joyful Shepherd knelt And each offered a prayer that was heartfelt.”
― Farrukh Dhondy, Rumi: A New Translation of Selected Poems

“CAUSE AND EFFECT The branch exists only to bear the fruit The knowledge of which resides in the root Would a gardener plant and tend the vine Without the promise of the grape and wine? Before this truth let all your reason pause What you thought was effect, is but the cause.”
― Farrukh Dhondy, Rumi: A New Translation of Selected Poems