February 2023: The Art of Living in Tough Times
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Reflection on the Quote:
A message from Dr. Fariba Enteshari, Founder & Executive Director
A look at today’s world and turbulent unrest, just within the last few years, seems to indicate that we live in a universe rushing to change on a daily basis— and not in a good way. A global pandemic, war and uncertainty in different parts of the world, interruptions of our food chain and other necessities all together have become a burden to our collective psyche as we mourn the loss of the loved ones.
Reading this verse of Mathnawi, made me wonder even more about the state we are in today. Rumi uttered these words many centuries ago, living in another turbulent time. The direction of all particles of the universe is toward the Whole— the whole solution, this wholly solution is nothing but love.
Challenged by Rumi’s words and their meanings, I open my eyes to the world that nightingale lives in, always being drawn to the smell of roses and journey of love, always singing no matter what day it is.
Is it a good day or is it bad day?
In the world of nightingale, it is the day that she will seek the beauty of the garden and search to live in the company of the rose. Singing, nightingale continues on throughout life.
As I was tracing the journey of nightingale I could feel the waves of love taking over my being.
“What would love want me do?”
Does love prompt me the attachment to everlasting fears and dark thoughts or does love urge me to find the seeds of courage.
Tough times need bold actions.
Like Nightingale, we can be drawn to a Wholly Answer.
Like rose, love does not exclude its fragrance from any one. The waves of love embrace all, creating a stream of beauty within the complexity of all avenues of life. Rumi teaches us “The Art of Living!”
-Dr. Fariba Enteshari
جزوها را رويها سوى كل است
بلبلان را عشق با روى گل است
“The flow of particles of the universe is toward Love;
like the nightingale’s being drawn to the presence of flowers.”
~Rumi
Source: Mathnawi I,763
Translated by Dr. Fariba Enteshari
© Rumi Educational Center