July 2020: Longing for Emptiness and Oneness
/باز شد قفل و در و شد ره پدید
“The path appears when we break through our separation.”
~Rumi
Source: Divane Kabir, Ghazal #2807
Reflection on the Quote:
A message from Dr. Fariba Enteshari, Founder & Executive Director
What makes our separation so difficult?
Our oneness!
To reach into our oneness we need to create calm—taking away layers of illusions, the fears, the panic and with them also the voice that blames us for everything that has happened in the past. We are where we are and we are who we are in this moment— with all our mistakes and imperfections. We made it this far to witness this time.
The choice is ours — to take steps that lead us to our unity or to deeper isolation and division frantically running with all the distractions we chose in our lives that did not escape the void we tried so desperately to fill. It is time to try something else.
Listen to Rumi who believes that separation is an illusion of our ego and mind.
In other words, if we feel separated from others, it is because we are willing to be fooled by repetitions of the mind patterns that make up our personality. Underneath it lies all shades of our ego.
It is the job of our mind and ego- the ‘I’ part of us- to make sure that we survive through life. When we are fearful, naturally we reach out to this part to tap into our survival tool box. Imagine nine billion ego - asserting, fearful people only looking out for what will happen to them!
It is almost comical to describe us this way because many of us know it is not true. If we are lucky, we know people who came to our paths as strangers only to leave us changed by their love, dignity and more importantly, their sacrifices.
People who cared for us more than they cared about themselves are the ones who taught us in their actions that we are saved by serving others.
Rumi rejects the illusion of separation because he knows in the path of life we are not going anywhere alone! Our every essence, our breath alone is the testimony that we are connected to the ‘Spirit’. Rumi calls this force “Jaanan” the plural form of the word ‘spirit’ in Farsi— Jaanan means ‘Spirits.’ If Jaanan is the source of all spirits …our spirits together create the Source, Jaanan! The power is in the Whole and is only activated in the part (you) when you have recognized it as your essence.
In his poetry and wisdom teachings, Rumi focuses on unity, understanding our duality as the fusion spirit and matter. He teaches about connection because only then there is no separation.
His powerful verse — “Come together as a ring even though you are crooked,
keep knocking and the door will open” describes that even an imperfect union can do the job of opening the doors to solutions. We can do this by just recognizing that the power is in coming together and taking actions based on understanding our oneness. And how do we practice that?
There I have nothing to say, I leave it to the Master to tell you.
Essence is emptiness
everything else
is accidental.
Emptiness brings peace
to loving.
Everything else, disease.
In this world of trickery
emptiness
is what your soul wants.
The Soul of Rumi, interpreted by Coleman Bark
Source: Divane Kabir, Rubaiyat
-Dr. Fariba Enteshari