Reflections on Rumi’s Masterwork of Immense Originality
Four wise quotes that continually endure
Rumi remains one of history’s most beloved and off-quoted thinkers. He was a Persian poet, mystic, and theologian born in 1207. Famous for his lyrical prose, which widely influenced mystical thought and literature throughout the Muslim world, Rumi’s works continue to enlighten and inspire spiritual seekers yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
The wisdom of Rumi presents a beautiful homage to the eternal dance of life and death, an eternal call for embracing uncertainty and living through questions — one of the wisest perspectives that a human being could live by, and which penetrates the psyche all the more deeply. His quotes are timeless treasure troves that can illuminate any situation.
I’ve selected four of Rumi’s quotes (but really there are thousands) and paired each one with an individual interpretation to motivate your own meditative muse.
Here are four eternally abiding Rumi quotes on life, love, and loss:
1. “The wound is the place where the light enters you.”
Emotional wounds are facets of life that we all share in common; no one escapes this life without experiencing them.
But there is a vast, wondrous upside to the unpredictable gauntlet of life, which is that growth, discernment, and vulnerability almost always arise from hardship. It is at these times that we are lovingly offered the opportunity to transform the cracks of our heart into fertile roots for growth.
Much like a prismatic window, light can spill through and radiate healing. Pain is not punishment, but a tool to expand our awareness and expand our consciousness.
Our wounds can help us be more present, receptive, and capable of feeling the joy of the present moment.
2. “If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished?”
Envision life as a mirror, or see us all as mirrors of one another reflecting the innate goodness, pain, love, and struggles that unite us in our humanity.
But imagine that everything in your life, whether the pain, promise, pitfalls, love, and loss, has smudged and soiled your reflection and surroundings, until you carefully start to cleanse your mirror, using the cloth of self-compassion and care.
We can slowly and gently remove the dirt to uncover the treasure beneath, until we begin to see ourselves again, only this time through the lens of kindness and awareness of growth.
This metaphorical polishing gives you clarity and purpose. Let’s face it: life gets messy, dusty, or distorted without routine self-examination.
3. “Do not be satisfied with the stories that come before you; unfold your own myth.”
Our experience of life is determined not only by the choices that we are consciously making right now, but also by the responses and reactions that are deeply embedded in our being from all that we have experienced in the past.
We move from one moment to the next, hypnotized by the illusion that we are in complete control of our decisions, and that each step leads to a brand new experience when the truth is that much of the time we are unconsciously reliving the same old stuff, over and over again.
But the truth is that, even though it requires conscious effort, we all have the power to change our story, no matter what it is or how long it has been going on.
Nothing is set in stone.
We each have unique goals, aspirations, dreams, and passions. Our lives are ours to craft and build, and we dictate the details that determine our journey. Really, no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve experienced, you can, right now, begin to unfold your own myth, truth, purpose, and legend.
Stop and think about what you're doing right now. Really think about the old beliefs and habits that both squeeze and smother your daily routine. Think about who or what is navigating your soul’s path. If it’s anything other than your authentic self, release it one moment of awareness at a time.
And know that this relinquishing is a long-effort practice. Release a little today, more tomorrow, until all that is left is the true, authentic you.
4. “You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
As one of more than seven billion people on the planet, it is no wonder that we sometimes feel lost amidst the chaos of the world.
But at the same time, your thoughts, experience, and view of the world is undeniably unique. Your story is complex, ever-shifting, and perfectly and purposefully weaved into the tapestry of life. Pull one thread and everything shifts, changing you, your surroundings, relationships, world, and experience of life. You are more capable than you realize, and always interconnected with the majestic mountain of mortality. Believe in yourself and what you have to offer. Know that you have a reason for being. There is a fundamental meaning to it all, not a destination but a purpose, borne out of pure love for our recognition that we are.
At the same time, all of our experiences, travels, and interpersonal encounters are in our hearts and souls.
We carry our world inside of us, making us all like the entire ocean in a drop. And to take it a little further, we all depend on the ocean, which is another aspect of life that interconnects us all; from the large bodies of water to the tributaries, lakes, rivers, and streams, we all depend on each other for life’s existence.
The wisdom of the past speaks to us. It implores us to reach beyond our intellect to awaken our souls and live with our hearts. Remember you are not just one possibility among many, but that all possibilities exist within you.
With love and gratitude, Aurora
