Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī was a Sufi mystic, poet, philosopher and scholar of Persian descent. Rumi is regarded as one of the most inspirational poets of all time. Here are 10 of his quotes which reflect his views on work, love, success, education, actions, grief, pain, wealth and humanity.
1. Work and dedication: "Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart."
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There is work meant for every individual occupying the earth. This work may be having compassion for individuals or working hard to achieve one's dreams. The fact is, every single person on earth is important and has the ability to make a change that comes from within and reflects outwards to others.
2. Drive: “You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”
Rumi alludes to the idea that all humans are free spirited, almost like birds. With this free spirit that individuals have, it is important to fly or take an initiative towards making a difference, rather than crawl or not be dedicated or passionate enough to do so.
3. The importance of love: “Gamble everything for love, if you are a true human being. Halfheartedness does not reach into majesty."
Many people on earth are driven and passionate about something, whether it be an individual or a cause. When that spark of love is ignited, it is such a special thing worth holding onto. Being halfhearted will not get anyone to the places they would need to get to in regards to love.
4. Actions over words: “Words are a pretext. It is the inner bond that draws one person to another, not words.”
We all know the phrase "actions speak louder than words." This idea can be furthered by saying that words are a great way of communicating; however, an individual's actions are a stronger reflection of their thoughts and character.
5. Dealing with grief: “Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”
When there is a significant loss in an individuals life, whether it be temporary or permanent, this vacancy can be filled by something greater in the future. Therefore, it is important to not lose hope.
7. Pain: "The wound is the place where light enters you."
We only grow from our difficulties. We have calamities in our lives so that we can grow and understand ways of better coping with our problems or being enlightened and educated in a way that can be beneficial for ourselves.
8. Argument and coping mechanisms: "Out beyond the ideas of of wrongdoing and right-doing there is a field. I'll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass the world is too full to talk about."
Throughout life, we constantly worry about the mistakes we or others have made. We put so much emphasis on the wrongdoings and rightdoings in the world, and the utter chaos of it all, that we become numb to our own pain. During these times, it is good to take a break and realize that there is a strong force out there that unites us all, where all of our problems can evaporate and be resolved. In other words, there is always a silver lining.
9. Materialism and wealth: "You know the value of every article of merchandise, but if you don't know the value of your own soul, it's all foolishness."
Rumi was a Sufi poet, so many of his thoughts have roots in Sufism, which puts emphasis on letting go of worldly possessions and reaching deep into the soul to truly connect with oneself and what is really important. Your soul matters much more than all of the materialistic possessions you can gain in this world.
10. Coping mechanism: "Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom."
Being one with our own emotions can trigger positive reflections and having pain can serve a person with deep understanding.
