May 2020: A Plunge into the Unknown
/هر کجا ویران بود آن جا امید گنج هست
Wherever there is a ruin, there is the hope of finding a treasure.
~Rumi
Source: Ghazal 141 Divane Shams
Reflection on the Quote:
A message from Dr. Fariba Enteshari, Founder & Executive Director:
Rumi’s school of love is built on his optimism concerning the jewels of wisdom.
The mystical path of not knowing was the life many lived in the 13th century. Konya, where Rumi resided most of his life, was sandwiched between crusaders and Mongol’s attacks.
Still, the falcon of Rumi’s spirit was able to journey between heaven and earth—spinning gracefully from the density and tension on the earth, ascending to the lightness of heaven, and giving birth to 60,000 verses of poetry that describe this journey.
Slowly, we are becoming aware that life as we knew it is a matter of the past and a new version of life is in formation. Rumi’s core teaching is the road map to a better version of who we are regardless of our circumstances.
In the middle of this mess, I was struck by the sharpness of Rumi’s words:
ناامیدی را خدا گردن زدست
God has severed the neck of hopelessness!
Mathnawi I, verse 3835
In essence, in this verse Rumi invites us to keep heart and to know that we need not fall into the pit of hopelessness in dire situations.He is reaching out to tell us to be hopeful where we feel the heaviness of our time. With hope and wisdom, we can learn from our past to build a better future together with better awareness of our abilities and our limitations.
Rumi believes that we should take responsibility for each step we take in life.
با اینکه خداوند کریم و است و رحیم
گندم ندهد بار چو جو میکاری
Although God is kind and merciful—
You may not harvest wheat if you plant the seeds of barley!
Quadrant #1796
-Dr. Fariba Enteshari