October 2020: The Web of Unity, In Honor of Rumi's 813th Birthday

مثنوی ما دکان وحدتست 

      غیر واحد هرچه بینی آن بتست 

“Our Mathnawi is the shop of Unity

Anything outside the web of One is fake.”

~Rumi

Source: Mathnawi VI, 1528

Translated by Dr. Fariba Enteshari
 ©Rumi Educational Center

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Reflection on the Quote:

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

After two decades of teaching Mathnawi, I am still astonished at the collective knowledge and the depth that Rumi brings forth in his master epic. In his constructive way, Rumi composes every note of being a human being— in his display of characters described in the verses of his poetry. At times his words are disorienting and yet still speak to a part of our hearts that compels us to look for more. Witnessing the transformative effects of Rumi’s teachings has convinced me that knowingly or unknowingly, we want to know more about the complexity of our emotions, “the secret within the note”. 

In Rumi’s view, once we experience longing, we become a seeker, a diver, a wandering spinning dervish, who is secretly always searching for deeper meaning. A hidden treasure wrapped in harmonious couplets, called the book of Mathnawi, is waiting patiently to be unwrapped and its meaning rediscovered in every generation. Mathnawi is a treasure of a wisdom that arises in its potential and blossoms in our collaborative understanding that we are all evolved from the same Spirit. It allows to uncover layers of a truth already hidden deep within every one of us.

The roots of Rumi’s vision illuminate a web of oneness that unfolds the belief in the perpetuation of creation. In our coming together, we each play a role to co-create the next moment. Therefore, our collective responsibility is to understand the web of our connectivity and its direction.

In seeking to align with each other, we need to make space for our individual growth not only for our sake but also for the sake of the future generations.

This is why Rumi encourages us to look deep within for talents and gifts and bring them forth to thrive where we are strong and to find support where we fall too short. 

This universe is the secret book and our work is to uncover each note within.

حاصل از این سه سخنم بیش نیست

سوختم و سوختم و سوختم

“Manyness is having sixty different emotions. 

Unity is peace, and silence. ”

~Rumi

Source Mathnawi IV, 3340

Translated by C. Barks

-Dr. Fariba Enteshari