Joy Is Your Essence

As translated by Coleman Barks, Rumi says:

In the last hour before morninglover and beloved awakeand take a drink of water. She asks, “Do you love me or yourself more?Really, tell the absolute truth.” He says, “There’s nothing left of me.I’m like a ruby held up to the sunrise. Is it still a stone, or a world made of redness?It has no resistance to sunlight.” This is how the ancient Sufi sage Hallaj said“I am God,” and told the truth. Therefore be courageous and discipline yourself.Completely become hearing and earand wear the sun ruby as an earring. Work, keep digging your well.Don’t think about getting off from work.Soul water is there somewhere. Submit to a daily practice. Your loyalty to that is like a ring upon the door.Eventually, the joy inside will open a windowand look out to see who’s there.

So Rumi teaches us that joy is our essence. Once we have learned that profound lesson, we can return to joy again and again.

Blessings to all readers!