شاه احول کرد در راه خدا

آن دو دمساز خدایی را جدا

“The cross eyed King severed the path to

GOD by separating Moses from Jesus.”

~Rumi

Source: Mathnawi I, 326

Reflection on the Quote:

A message from Dr. Fariba Enteshari, Founder & Executive Director

We live in a time that the norms that we know are falling part. This makes many people feel anxious. This anxiety has increased due to the current pandemic. Some of us are starting to feel more freedom since being vaccinated. Some still feel anxious because of the times that we are living in. Our societal systems continue to be challenged. We all have had to deal with an unknown phenomenon that depends on human behavior. Adding to pandemic anxiety, environmental stress is happening in every corner of the earth. For example, the recent heat waves in the American Northwest have caused more deaths in a part of the world that is not accustomed to such high temperatures. The problems that we experience today are huge. We must make educating ourselves about the world situation a personal priority to tackle these pressing concerns. We cannot evaluate the problems of today with the worldview of yesterday. We need to adapt a new paradigm that contains solutions we need now.

In book one of the Mathnawi, Rumi tells us the story of the cross eyed king who lived at the time of Jesus. This cross eyed king loves Moses dearly and hates Jesus enormously. Among all Jewish kings in his time, he is the only king who is convinced that in order to show how much he loves Moses he needs to destroy the new faith and all who follow Jesus. Rumi explains that this king has double vision because he separates the path to GOD.

These verses are followed by another small story which may give us more insights to the time we live in. The story is about a master and his cross eyed apprentice. One day the master asks this student to give him a particular bottle from the corner of the shop. The cross eyed student returns to the master empty handed and asks him, “Which one of the bottles do you need?” To which the master replied, “There is only one bottle at this spot— bring it to me.” Confused, the cross eyed student thinks that this is a bizarre test and begs his master not tease him. The wise master understood the dilemma that the double visioned student was in, “ Go break one bottle and bring me the other.”

Rumi understands the common bond between Moses and Jesus. They are both the messenger of the Divine. As leaders and teachers, they faced real responsibilities. Their messages show their love of a more balanced life for their people. They both stood up to the oppressors of their times and defended the oppressed. They also show that there are multiple paths to the same goal. We need the diversity of creative ideas to find solutions and not to foster more hatred and illusions.

The struggle of big changes in life, while they feel destructive, can offer an opportunity of a new vision. The old paradigm is falling apart creating doubts and anxiety. Still, we have a chance to learn from our past mistakes and change the behaviors that no longer serve us. Maybe the love for our beliefs teaches us to honor and respect others’ beliefs. New norms are formed when we agree collectively to what lead us to solutions.

Rumi passed on to us so many years ago this message to leave aside the double vision and seek the oneness among many.

I see one, I seek one.

All I see is the Union.

Oneness not segregated manyness.

-Dr. Fariba Enteshari

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