Category: Rumi

Rumi poem interpretation – A Just Finishing Candle
Poem · Poetry · Rumi · Spiritual

Rumi poem interpretation – A Just Finishing Candle

radhikab

Here is my interpretation of Rumi’s poem ‘A Just Finishing Candle’

A candle is made to become entirely flame.

Here candle is a metaphor for a human life. Humans are put through a lot of pain.

In that annihilating moment it has no shadow.

Through this pain there comes a point of enlightenment where the ego completely disappears. We become one with consciousness again. We become our true self.

It is nothing but a tongue of light

describing a refuge.

We become simply love and light. Which is where our soul wants to be. In love and light.

Look at this

just-finishing candle stub

As someone who is finally safe

From virtue and vice,

The pride and the shame

We claim from those.

Rumi says that even though we might be going through very difficult times, we can see this as a positive. Because soon we will reach a safe heaven where we will not experience any duality, where there is no judgement. We will be whole again. In our true state, in our soul.

Taken from The Essential Rumi

translated by Coleman Barks

Image credit : https://www.housingunits.co.uk/accessories/candles/candle-holders

Rumi poem interpretation – The Lame Goat
Poem · Poetry · Rumi · Spiritual

Rumi poem interpretation – The Lame Goat

radhikab

Here is my interpretation of Rumi’s poem ‘The Lame Goat’.

You’ve seen a herd of goats

going down to the water. 

The lame and dreamy goat

brings up the rear.

Here Rumi compares humans in society to a herd of goats. He says in society the dreamers, philosophers, poets and other creatively inclined people are considered as lame. These folks do not climb the social ladder much and are often at the bottom of the society.

There are worried faces about that one,

but now they’re laughing,

because look, as they return,

that goat is leading!

Family, friends and well wishers often worry about such creative people, wondering what are they going to amount to? Sometimes though, someone who is creative will turn the tables and become very successful in their field. They may lead the others in the society towards happiness and bliss through their art or just their demeanor.

There are many different kinds of knowing.

The lame goat’s kind is a branch

that traces back to the roots of presence.

We all know and believe different things. Ambitious people know goals. While the dreamers know what lies beyond. They are more in touch with their soul, Universe or the true self.

Learn from the lame goat,

and lead the herd home.

Rumi urges creative people to learn from the lame goat and be who you are and be indifferent to what society thinks of you. Because it is these dreamers who have the power to bring about a revolution and lead the others to their ultimate home, i.e., to their source, soul, universe, consciousness.

Taken from The Essential Rumi

translated by Coleman Barks

Image credit : Google Images

Rumi poem interpretation – Quietness
Poem · Poetry · Rumi · Spiritual

Rumi poem interpretation – Quietness

radhikab

Here is my interpretation of Rumi’s poem called ‘Quietness’

Inside this new love, die.

Your way begins only on the other side. 

Become the sky.

Take an axe to the prison wall.

Escape.

This poem is for someone who has had a spiritual awakening. Rumi says that in this love that you have for your true self, die. Because only after dying i.e., killing your ego will your journey truly begin. You have to become a new you, the ‘real’ you. Your real self is limitless like the Cosmos. Break down all the barriers and the conditioning that you have. Let go of who you are. Run away.

Walk out like someone suddenly born into color.

Do it now.

You’re covered with thick cloud.

Slide out the side. Die,

Now that you are in the state of awareness, try to do the needful right away. All our beliefs and ideas are conditioned to us since our birth. They make us hazy as if we are covered by a cloud, going through life aimless – following them. Slip through this haze of society and escape.

and be quiet. Quietness is the surest sign

that you’ve died.

Your old running was a frantic running

from silence.

Kill your old ‘ego’ or ‘conditioned’ self. And remain still. Remain in that state of bliss, wisdom and silence. As that is the best way to get more wisdom and clarity. The old ego-self was just an attempt of avoiding what our true nature holds.

The speechless full moon

comes out now.

The real soul will come out now after the awakening.

Taken from The Essential Rumi
translated by Coleman Barks

Image credit : me 🙂

Rumi poem interpretation- Enough Words
love · Poem · Poetry · Rumi · Spiritual

Rumi poem interpretation- Enough Words

radhikab

Here is my interpretation of Rumi’s poem called ‘Enough Words’

How does a part of the world leave the world?
How can wetness leave water?

Wholeness cannot be broken. Not everything can be divided. Emphasizes on the non-duality, wholeness, completeness of everything. Can positivity be removed from negativity?

Don’t try to put out a fire
by throwing on more fire!
Don’t wash a wound with blood!

Negativity cannot be fought with negativity. If you want to change something, you cannot keep doing the same thing and wish that thing to go away.

No matter how fast you run,
your shadow more than keeps up.
Sometimes, it’s in front!

You can try to stay away from negativity or keep it away from you. But it is going to show up sooner or later. This is because a part of negativity is inside of you. Mainly because you have not understood the wholeness of things. You will still judge things as negative or positive.

Only full, overhead sun
diminishes your shadow.

When you get enlightened, you will see the clear picture. You will see the wholeness of things. You will see that all is one. Negative and positive. It’s just the same.

But that shadow has been serving you!
What hurts you, blesses you.
Darkness is your candle.
Your boundaries are your quest.

So until then, understand this – every bad thing, negative thing teaches you, serves a great purpose in your life. You will get the amount of pain that is necessary for you to get this perspective on life.

I can explain this, but it would break
the glass cover on your heart,
and there’s no fixing that.

This is a harsh truth. The only way to reach knowledge is through darkness. The only way to peace or real happiness is through great pain. You have to go through it and it will break a part of your heart. The ego-heart. He wants to avoid talking about this, as everyone has to experience it anyways.

You must have shadow and light source both.
Listen, and lay your head under the tree of awe.

Creation is impartial and will give everyone both the good and the bad. Simply observe and try to understand what life is giving you with wonder.

When from that tree, feathers and wings sprout
on you, be quieter than a dove.
Don’t open your mouth for even a cooooooo.

When after observing and understanding these patterns of life, you get some wisdom or some supernatural powers – be quiet.

When a frog slips into the water, the snake
cannot get it. Then the frog climbs back out
and croaks, and the snake moves toward him again.

When you dip into this wisdom/knowledge stay there. Don’t come out because, the negativity might get you again. This is basically telling us to stay in the blissful state of knowing.

Even if the frog learned to hiss, still the snake
would hear through the hiss the information
he needed, the frog voice underneath.

Though we might try to conquer negative behavior by the neutrality/positivity of our behavior. We might still be called out and attacked again. Because this is only the awakening, beginning on the path of enlightenment.

But if the frog could be completely silent,
then the snake would go back to sleeping,
and the frog could reach the barley.

Rumi suggests to remain silent, hold your peace in your blissful state and the negativity shall go away by itself. Once you are through the suffering and the dark night of your soul is over go inside your inner peace again.

The soul lives there in the silent breath.

Silence, i.e., non-explanation, non-confrontation, non-argument – will get to to that state of inner-peace. Where our soul resides.

And that grain of barley is such that,
when you put it in the ground,
it grows.

Here is where you find that one true piece of yourself i.e., your soul, your consciousness – which if you preserve is what will fill your whole existence.

Are these enough words,
or shall I squeeze more juice from this?
Who am I, my friend?

Is this good enough? Or should I explain some more? Who am I? My soul. One soul. Knowing. Entire consciousness.

Taken from The Essential Rumi
translated by Coleman Barks

Image credit : me 🙂