On Poetry I love - Part 1

Jalal ad-Dīn Muhammad Rumi, popularly known as Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet. When I was fairly new to poetry, my teacher introduced me to one of his poems, "The Guest House".

I haven't explored Rumi's works beyond this poem. What touched my heart weren't the words or the writing style, but the message in the poem, which I’ve carried with me ever since.

The poem revolves around a simple metaphor comparing humans to a guest house. Each emotion we experience is a 'guest', a visitor to the guest house.

In my culture there's a saying, "The guest is God." Rumi extends the idea of hospitality being a sacred tradition, to our emotions. As he says, welcome all kinds of emotions, even if sorrow wipes out the peace in your life or anger burns your house, and treat them with honor.

The poem was originally the part of a fifty-thousand-line long poem [yes, 50,000 lines long], "Masnavi". Some Muslims regard the Masnavi as one of the most important works of Islamic literature, falling behind only the Quran. (Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature. (2013))

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Acceptance

One of the central themes in the poem is Acceptance. Rumi treats happiness and depression alike — accept the reaction caused and feel it. 'Feeling' does not mean reveling in our emotions. It refers to embracing and acknowledging our emotions. This reveals a hidden sense of meditation.

There's a beautiful way to interpret the poem. Perhaps the purpose of acceptance is purification. Purification from the dark thoughts that lie dormant within our mind.

Until next time,

— C.G.