title: Love,Soul&Freedom:DancingWithRumiOntheMysticPathauthor: Breton,Denise.;Largent,Christopher.

publisher: HazeldenPublishingisbn10|asin: 1568382073printisbn13: 9781568382074

ebookisbn13: 9780585351636language: Englishsubject Mysticism,Spirituallife,Jalalal-DinRumi,Maulana,--1207-1273.

publicationdate: 1998lcc: BL625.6771998ebddc: 291.4/22

subject: Mysticism,Spirituallife,Jalalal-DinRumi,Maulana,--1207-1273.

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Love,Soul&FreedomDancingwithRumiontheMysticPath

DeniseBreton&

ChristopherLargent

FeaturingtranslationsofRumibyColemanBarks

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HazeldenCenterCity,Minnesota55012-0176

1-800-328-0094(TollFreeU.S.,Canada,andtheVirginIslands)http://www.hazelden.org

1998DeniseBreton&ChristopherLargentTranslationscopyright1998byColemanBarksPrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaNoportionofthispublicationmaybereproducedinanymannerwithoutthewrittenpermissionofthepublisher

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData

Breton,Denise.Love,soul&freedom:dancingwithRumionthemysticpath/DeniseBreton&ChristopherLargent;featuringtranslationsofRumibyColemanBarks.p.cm.Includesbibliographicalreferences.ISBN1-56838-207-31.Mysticism.2.Spirituallife.3.Jalalal-DinRumi,*Maulana,12071273.I.Largent,Christopher.II.Title.BL625.B6771998291.4'22dc219748972CIP

01009998654321

BookdesignbyWillPowersTypesettingbyStantonPublicationServices,Inc.CoverdesignbyDavidSpohn

Editor'snoteHazeldenoffersavarietyofinformationonchemicaldependencyandrelatedareas.OurpublicationsdonotnecessarilyrepresentHazelden'sprograms,nordotheyofficiallyspeakforanyTwelveSteporganization.

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DEDICATEDTOJudyDelaney&tothememoryofWillisHarman&tomysticslurkingeverywhereintheemergingculture

Contents

"Atlast,you'veshakenyourwings"

ANoteonTranslations

ANoteonOurUseofRumi'sPoetry

Acknowledgments

Introduction:TheQuestforInvisiblesLove,Soul,andFreedom

1Restless,Hungry,andDissatisfiedSeekerTheCall

2LoveandMadnessLonerCrossingtheThreshold

3FreeHelpWantedCompanionAcceptingHelp

4GoingWithinSoulSearcherEnteringtheSoul'sDarkNight

5BreathingOutReleaserLettingGo

6ATreasurebeneaththeHouseHealerSurrenderingtoOurInnerAuthority

7EmptinessMusicLoverTheSacredMarriage

8PassionateSeeingVisionaryDyingAsaMethodofRegeneration

9CreatingNoPlaceWandererTravelingintheWorldAsLoversandVisionaries

10CookingupTrueHumanBeingsAlchemistGoingthroughtheRefiningFire

11ConversingOceantoOceanContemplativetheReturn:ComingHometoOurOrigins

12DamnFoolMysticsWiseFoolRollingaroundAnywhere

Notes

AbouttheAuthors

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Atlast,you'veshakenyourwingsandbrokenthecageapartandflownoffintotheunseen.

Youwerethefavoritepetfalconkeptbyanoldearth-woman.

Thenyouheardtheking'sdrum,andnothingcouldkeepyoufromtheopensky-void.

Youwerealovesicknightingaleputinwithowls.

ThentheSpringrose-gardenfragrancecame,andyouleft.You,

withthesoresthangoverfromthisfermentedbitterness,enteredanewkindoftavern,thecompanyofeternalecstatics,whodrinkNothing.

Trueasanarrowintotheheartofthesun,youthatweresoul-gazingbecamesoul.

Likesomeheraldicshield-birdopeningitswingstoaspearpoint,

likearosestrangelyloiteringintheDecemberwind,

likeroof-rainescapingdowneverydrainpipe,

likethepainofspeakingdissolvinginsilence,notsleep,youtakerefugeintheFriend.

JelaluddinRumiReworkedfromR.A.Nicholson'sDivani,XLVIIIByColemanBarks

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ANoteonTranslations

Formanycenturies,theworkofthefamousPersianSufisage,mystic,andpoetJelaluddinRumi(12071273C.E.)wassimplynotavailableinEnglish.Eventoday,ofhistwomammothworksthesix-volume,25,632-verseMathnawi,knownastheQur'aninPahlavi(Persian),andtheevenmorevoluminouscollectionofhispoems,theDivan-iShamsiTabrizonlythefirstisfullytranslated.This1926translationoftheMathnawiwasdonebyReynoldA.Nicholson,whostayedascloseaspossibletotheoriginalPersian,thoughcastingthetranslationinVictorian,Bible-eseEnglish.ConsideringthatmedievalPersianisfloweryanditspoetryrigidlymetered,Nicholson'stranslationisabeartoread.Hedidamonumentaljob,butthejobwasn'tfinishedasfarascurrentreadersareconcerned.

Fortunately,thankstopoetandtranslatorColemanBarks,Rumi'sworkhasbeenemerginginapoeticformthatmakesRumi'sideasjumpoffthepage.Manyothertranslationshaveappearedaswell.KabirandCamilleHelminskiwhoseVermontpublishingcompany,ThresholdBooks,specializesinSufiliteraturehavepublishedfourofColemanBarks'scollectionsaswellasseveralexcellentcollectionsonRumioftheirown,includingTheRuinsoftheHeart,Daylight,andJewelsofRemembrance(ThresholdBooks,139MainStreet,Room701,Brattleboro,VT05301;phone:802-254-8300;e-mail:threshld@sover.net).

OtherhighlyrespectedtranslatorsincludeA.J.Arberry,AnnemarieSchimmel,E.H.Whinfield,WilliamC.Chittick,JamesG.Cowan,AfzalIqbal,NevitOguzErgin,EvadeVitray-Meyerovitch,AndrewHarvey,and,incollaborationwithColemanBarks,RobertBly.Weadmireall

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thesetranslators,whoseintellectualandaestheticsensitivitiesapproachthesuperhuman.

OurownintroductiontoRumi'spoetry,though,camethroughtheremarkabletranslationsofColemanBarks.Hisbeautifullypoeticandatthesametimedown-to-earthtranslationsgrabbedusandhaveneverletgo.WemarvelathowhecapturesRumi'sbrilliance.Hisrenditionsgobeyondclear,lucid,orevenbeautiful,thoughthey'realwaysthat:thepoetryisvibrantpureSufienergyandinspiration.Weheartilyrecommendthefollowingcollectionsofhis,availabledirectlyfromMaypopBooks(196WestviewDrive,Athens,GA30606;phone:800-682-8637;e-mail:rudra@ccnet.com),ThresholdBooks,orbookstores:

OpenSecret.withJohnMoyne.Threshold,1984.Odes,quatrains,andresettingsoftheMathnawi.

UnseenRain.withJohnMoyne.Threshold,1986.Quatrains.

WeAreThree.Maypop,1987.Odes,quatrains,andsectionsoftheMathnawi.

ThisLonging.withJohnMoyne.Threshold,1988.SectionsoftheMathnawiandletters.

TheseBranchingMoments.withJohnMoyne.CopperBeech,1988.Fortyodes.

LikeThis.Maypop,1990.Additionalodes.

DeliciousLaughter.Maypop,1990.RambunctiousteachingstoriesfromtheMathnawi.

One-HandedBasketWeaving.Maypop,1991.Poemsonthethemeofwork.

FeelingtheShoulderoftheLion.Threshold,1991.Teachingstories.

Birdsong.Maypop,1993.Fifty-threeshortpoems.

TheHandofPoetry:FiveMysticPoetsofPersia.withInayatKhan.OmegaPublications,1993.Poemsandcommentary.

SayIAmYou.withJohnMoyne.Maypop,1994.PoetryandstoriesofRumiandShams.

TheEssentialRumi.HarperCollins,1996.Acompendiumofpoetryandstorieswithshortsection-commentaries.

TheIlluminatedRumi.withMichaelGreen.BroadwayBooks,1997.PoetryillustratedbyMichaelGreen'simages,aworkofart.

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ANoteonOurUseofRumi'sPoetry

Poetryingeneral,mysticalpoetryinparticular,andRumi'spoetrymostespeciallyconveymeaningonmanylevels.UsingRumi'spoetryaswedointhecontextofthemysticpathbynomeanssuggeststhatthisistheonlyoreventherightinterpretationofthesepoems,ifindeedthereissuchathing.

Whilewedon'tbelieveanypoemcanmeananything,wedobelievethatonepoemcanspeaktomanyissues.That'swhatmakespoetrysorich.It'sconstructedtosaythemostwiththeleast,bypassingouranalyticmindstospeakdirectlytoourwhole-andmeaning-orientedsouls.Themeaningwederivefrompoetry,therefore,isneverfinalanddependsonthequestionsweputtoit.Whereweareininnerdevelopmentdetermineswhatweseeevenwhatwe'recapableofseeinginpoetry.Inafewyearsordecades,wemayreadthesamepoemandseesomethingquitedifferent.

Thenthere'stheculturalcontext.WereweSufisourselvesorsteepedinthebackgroundthatRumihad,wewouldsurelyseeotherdimensionsofmeaning.Onesectionofapoemonlove,forinstance,didn'tclickuntilwereaditinlightofPlato'sSymposium,whichsuddenlymadesenseofthepoemforus.Howmanyotherancientandmedievalresourcesshedlightonhispoetry?

Acknowledgingourlimitsinknowledge,wemustsaywehavebeenoverwhelmedbytherelevanceofRumi'sideasfortheinnerjourneysthatpeopleareexperiencingtoday.Yethowcoulditbeotherwise?Technologyhaschanged,buthastheinnerlife?Rumi'swisdomistoovaluabletoohelpfulforsheddinglightonthemysticpathnottouse

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itintheserviceofconnectingwithoursouls,evenifweonlyscratchthesurfaceofthewisdomthathispoetryoffers.Ourpurpose,therefore,isnottopresentadefinitiveinterpretationofRumi'spoetryevenifitwerepossible,wearenottheonestodoitbutrathertoexplorethemysticjourneyandtoengageRumialongthewayasafriendandguide.

Havingastructureforthisbookseekingtheunityofsoul,love,andfreedomthroughthemysticpathwe'venaturallyapproachedeachchapterwithourownideasofwhattoexplore.Yetwitheverychapter,Rumihas,sotospeak,hadhisownideasofwhatwantstobesaid,andit'salwaysasurprise.

Wehopethat,asforus,youthereaderwillexperiencethisbookasthebeginningorperhapsasacontinuationofaromancewithRumi.Thismuchweknowofhim:asalover,he'sneverboring,nevershortonsurprises,alwaysfun,andalwaysleadingyouon,whatevertheheckhereallymeans.

Finally,forthoseabitleeryofpoetry,youhaveasympatheticear.Oneofusinparticularcouldn'tfigureoutwhypoetswouldn'tjusttelluswhattheymeaninsteadofmakingusworksohardtofigureitout.Indeed,earlyoninourmarriage,wehada''discussion"ofthispoint:isn'tprosebetter?Overtheyearsitwasn'tashortdiscussionwe'vefinallyconcludedthatschoolingfailedus,killingenjoymentofthemediumwiththecurseofhavingtogivethe"rightanswer"andthethreatoffailingifwedidn't.Howcouldpoetrybecomeafriendundersuchcircumstances?Itisperhapspoeticjusticethatonesoannoyedatpoetrytwenty-plusyearsagoshouldfallinlovewithRuminow.Soevenifpoetryisn'tyourpassion,giveRumiatry.

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Acknowledgments

Thisprojectstartedin1993duringaconversationwithJudyDelaney,oureditoratHazeldenatthetime.ShelovedthepoetryofRumithatweusedatthebeginningofeachchapterofTheParadigmConspiracy,andwesaid,"Youhaven'tseenafractionofit."Herenthusiasmgotusgoingand,throughdifficulttimes,keptusgoing.Findingtherightframework,though,wasaprocess.Intheend,tradepublisherDanOdegard'suncannyabilitytoseethroughourearlydraftssetusfreetowritewhatwasmostinourhearts.Thankstohisurgings,thisbookmarksakindofturningpointforus.SteveLehman,oureditorwithwhomwefeelaunityofmindandspiritthat'samosttreasuredgiftgaveustheprofessionalandpersonalsupportthatnotonlyinspiredusbutalsomadeusbetterwriters.Steveisalwaysgroundingus,yethe'sequallypassionateabouttheheightssomeonewho'dforsake"athousandhalf-loves...totakeonewholehearthome."Whatbettercompanionsonthemysticpathcouldwehave?

Onceagain,it'sbeenajoytoworkwiththeentirestaffofHazelden.Inparticular,CathyBrobergandWillPowersofStantonPublicationServiceshavegoneuntoldextramilesinmakingthetextandlayoutbothbeautifulandtransparenttothebook'sideas,ashasDavidSpohnindesigningamagnificentcover,afourteenth-centuryUzbeki-stancarpetdesign.GordonThomashas,togetherwithSteve,certainlygonethedistanceinhelpingthebookfinditsmarketniche.TothemandDanweowetheLove,Soul&Freedomtitle,ratherthantheSoul,Love&Freedomoriginal.Thoughtheoriginalreflectstheorderofthemysticpathasweunderstandit,theirinclinationtohavethetitleleadwithlove

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resonatesbothwithhowpeoplefirstexperiencethesethreeandwithloveascentraltothemysticpath,especiallyRumi'ssenseofit.WeconsiderourselvesmostfortunatetocollaboratewitheveryoneatHazeldeninthesharedendeavortoexploretransformingideasandtakethemtothepublic.

Onthehomefront,ourpartnerandcolleagueMaryJoyBretonwas,asalways,asourceofunendinghelp,encouragement,andsupport,whileMickeyRobertaccio'senthusiasmforthesubject,LindaBrackin'sheartfeltinsights,KaylaEvan'sexpertise,andHelenWoodhull'swiseandgenerousfeedbackcamejustwhenweneededthem.

WearedeeplygratefultoeveryoneatThresholdBooksfortheirkindnessinworkingwithusandfortheirinvaluablecontributionstotheRumirenaissance.WealsowishtothankCopperBeechPressandOmegaPublicationsfortheirpermissiontoreprintColemanBarks'swork.

WhenitcomestoColemanBarks,thankheavensformysticineffability,forwecannotputinwordshowhistranslationshavetouchedus.Perhapsthisbookgivessomeindication.Ontopofthat,he'sbeenextraordinarilygenerouswithhisworkandsupportiveofours.We'vefoundhimtobeasremarkableapersonasheisapoet.OurownpersonaltheoryisthatthismanmusthavesomeweavingsorcurrentsofRumi'ssoulinhim,forwecouldswearthatit'sRumi'svoicewehearinthepoetryandRumi'sspiritwefeelwhenwereadit.Whoeverheisandhoweveritcametobethat"theOceansplashesinsidehischest"soclearly,thisisonecasewhereit'struethatwithouthim,thisbookwouldnotexist.

Finally,there'sRumi.Onfinishingthismanuscript,wesatdownandreadthroughTheEssentialRumiandfelt,withThomasAquinas,thatallourwordsseemasstraw.Yetwecouldn'tnotwritethisbook,anddoingsohasbeenoneofthehappiesttimesofourlives.Workingwithhispoetry,wefeellikeantsinthegranary:

I'mlikeanantthat'sgottenintothegranary,ludicrouslyhappy,andtryingtolugoutagrainthat'swaytoobig.*

*Barks,One-HandedBasketWeaving,110.

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IntroductionTheQuestforInvisibles:Love,Soul,andFreedom

Love,soul,andfreedom:thesethreeweavethestoriesofourlives.Thewho,what,when,andwherefillinthedetailsandgivevariationtotheplots,butthethemesdon'tgetmorebasic.

Loveiswhatweallwantinlifeandwhatwelookforfirst.It'sourpassionforliving,formingtheseainwhichoursoulsswim.Likethesea,lovenurturesandsustainsus,butitalsooffersussomewheretogowithourlives.Lovecreatestheworldsthatoursoulsexplore.Whoandwhatwelovechannelourenergies,drawingustothispersonorthat,downonepathoranother.Ledbyourloves,weconnectwiththeworldsaroundus.Wecreateplaceswherewebelong,whereoursoulsarenourishedwithmeaningandpurpose,aswellaswherewerelax,play,andhavefun.Throughtheintimacyofrelationships,wecometoknowbothothersandourselvesinlove'smirror.Lovebringsoursoulsintofocus.

Soulisourguidingcenter,ourtouchstoneforwhatfeelsrightinlifeandwhat'sourstodo.Soulisourreasonforcominghereaswellasourreasonforstaying.Soultellsusaboutusnotasotherswant,expect,orimagineustobe,butasweareinourinnermostbeing.Whenwegotothedepthsofsorrow,confusion,ordespair,it'soursoulsthattakeusthereandseeusthrough.Orifweexperienceexhilaratingjoy,it'soursoulsthatliftusupwithabigger-than-lifeknowing:"Sothat'swhatitallmeans!"Soulisourcore,ouressence,thegroundofwhoweare,evenifwe'renotatallsurewhothissoulofoursisorwhatheorshehasinmindforus.

Freedomgivesoursoulsandlovesairtobreathe.Liketheair,freedomisagiven,atleastasfarasoursoulsareconcerned.It'snotgranted

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bypeople,institutions,orgovernments,orelseit'dbetheirstowithhold.Freedomisairtous,becauseitgivesusthespaceweneedtofollowoursoulsandpursueourloves.Withoutfreedom,oursoulssuffocate.Withit,theytakeoff;wecreate,experiment,fumble,andlearn.Freedomsaysthatanythingispossibleandthatit'sourbirthrighttoexplorepossibilitieswhereveroursoulsandlovestakeus.Sometimesoursoulstakeusdownthepathoflosingeverythingaterminaldisease,divorce,bankruptcy,orscandaltoshowushowfreewearebeyondexternals.With"nothinglefttolose,"weabandonshouldsandoughtsandgoforourdreams.

Love,soul,andfreedomarenaturalcompanions,togethercreatingthefireinthemind,heart,chest,belly,orwhereverthatmakesushappytogetupinthemorning.United,love,soul,andfreedomaretheForceincarnate,guidingusandpermeatingourliveswithmeaningandpurpose,eveniftheirpresenceisn'tevidentuntilhindsight.Love,soul,andfreedomareinseparable,andonthedeepestlevelsofourbeing,that'showweexperiencethem.Whenwe'reonvacation,forinstance,wegetatasteofthesethreelivinghappilytogether:wesurroundourselveswithwhoandwhatwelove,letdownourhair,anddoaswechoose.

BargainingwithLove,Soul,andFreedom

It'stherestofthetimethatteststheirunion.Somethingaboutbeinginfamilies,schools,religions,businesses,andgovernmentsmakesusthinkthesethreeareseparateandthatjoiningthemcomesataprice.Beforeweknowit,wefindourselvesusingoneasabargainingchiptosecureourstockoftheotheroursoulsforlove,ourlovesforfreedom,orourfreedomforloves.

Mostly,though,it'slovewebargainfor.Whenwe'regrowingupinfamiliesandschools,wewantacceptanceandneedittosurvive.Pluswe'retrainedtoseekit:smilesandAsmeanapproval,rewards,andacceptance;frownsandFsmeandisapproval,punishments,andrejection.Ifparentsorteachersfindoursoulsunacceptable,we'restuck.Oursoulsandthefreedomtolivethemareallwehave.Ifoursoulsmeetdisapproval"whoyouareisunacceptable;becomewhatItellyoutobe"we'reintrouble.

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Sowetrade.Wesetasidewhowearetogainlove.Ifwegetthemessagethatoursoulsdon'tmeasureup,webecomesomeoneelse.Wemakeourselvesintowhatotherswantustobe,ifthat'stheconditionfortheiracceptance.Tofindaplaceforoursouls,wesurrenderoursouls.

Notthatwehavemuchchoiceaschildren.Oursoulsmayregardfreedomasagiven,butthesocialsystemswe'rebornintogenerallydon't.Notonlylovebutalsofreedomcomeataprice.Themorewebecomewhatfamilies,schools,religions,andpeersdemand,themoretheyleaveusalonetodowhatwewant.Butbythen,"whatwewant"doesn'tmeanmuch.We'refreetoexpresssystem-conformingimages,notoursouls.Thatis,we'refreetobestraight-Astudents,submissivebelievers,andobedientchildren,notdreamers,skeptics,orindependentthinkers.

Thesamechoicesconfrontusasadults,whenwe'rebetterequippedtomakethem.Yeteventhen,thestakesarehigh,andthedecisionstough.Makingmoneymeanswe'reacceptedbysociety;somesegmentofitapprovedofusenoughtoletitflowourway.Nothavingmoneyandtheconsumeristperksthatgowithitmeanswe'relessacceptable.

Buthowmuchdoessociety'sapprovalmean?Ononehand,ifwechuckapprovalandexerciseourfreedomtobewhoweare,chancesarewe'llhavetoliveonair.Institutionspayustodotheirbidding;wecanbewhoweareonourowntime.Ontheotherhand,ifwechoosetobondwithpolitical,professional,orreligioussystems,thebondluresusintopresetroles.RetiredAdmiralGeneLaRocque,directoroftheCenterforDefenseInformation,summedupthetermsforsuccess:"AjournalistonceaskedmehowIbecameanadmiral.Isaid,'It'sverysimple.Idideverythingmybossesaskedmetodo.'"1

Bargainingsoulandfreedomforlovebecomesawayoflife,andweabandonthehopeofkeepingthemtogether.

NotaGoodDeal

Yetnomatterhowgreatthepressurestobargain,we'renotconvincedthatit'sworthit.Notonlywillthememoryofwhatit'sliketohavelove,soul,andfreedomunitednotleaveus,butalsobargainingthem

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provesunsatisfying.Therewards,onceobtained,aren'tworthwhatwesacrificedtogetthem.

Whenwelosetouchwithlife'sessentials,hopeandenthusiasmleavetoo.Ourinnerfiregoesout.Ifwe'renotpermittedtolivewhoweare,what'slefttolive?What'sfreedom,ifonlyourimagespossessit?Whatwesacrificetoconnectwithfamily,school,business,religious,andpoliticalsystemsleavesusshortoftheintangiblesthatmakelifeworthliving.Trade-offsonsoullevelsdon'twork.

Howcouldthey?Whenwesacrificeoursoulstoconnect,who'slefttobebonded?Who'slefttoenjoythebenefitsthatwesacrificedsomuchtoget?There'snoonehometoconnectorbeconnected.

Whatdowegetfrombargaining?Notwhatwewanted.Loveboughtwithoursoulsisn'tforusbutforanimagewedevised.Ourmasksaretheonesapprovedandaccepted.They'rethe"success";we'renot.Oursoulsdon'tfeelloved,whichwastheoriginalreasonformakingthesacrifice.Quitethereverse,oursoulsfeelrejected,whichinfacttheyare.

Norcanusingsoulandfreedomorevenourlovesasbargainingchipsbegoodforsociety.Whenwetradethemtojoinsocialsystems,there'snoonehomeinourschools,businesses,andgovernmentstobecreativeortomakewise,humanedecisions.Obeyingrulesandperformingroles,we'rereducedtoprogrammedshells.Howcanoursocialsystemsthriveifwe'reunpluggedfromwithin?

Societiesneedus,notshadowsofus.Theyneedourvision,courage,andpersistence,buttheshellsleftafterbargainingdon'thavethesetogive.Whenwe'redeprivedofsoulandfreedomandloseloveintheprocesswepassourlossontooursystems,andfragmented,soulless,enslavingpatternssettleintooursharedsocialbones.

Giventhehighcostsofbargaining,isitnecessary?Iflove,soul,andfreedomthriveinunison,wheredothetrade-offscomefrom,andwhydotheypersistasaculturalhabit?

RealityorOurParadigm?

Eitherthetrade-offsareourresponsetoreality,orthey'reourresponsetothewayweseereality.Thatis,eitherlove,soul,andfreedomareac-

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tuallyinconflict,trappingusinno-wincontestsamongthem,orourconceptsofthemareconfused,forcingusintodeadlybutunnecessarytrade-offs.

Iflove,soul,andfreedomdon'tgotogetherifmutualexclusionistheirrealitythenwe'restuck.Wecan'tescapebargaining.Ifconnectingwithanyperson,group,orsystemnecessarilymeansabandoningourrealloves,settingasideoursouls,orsurrenderingourfreedom,thenthere'snowayaroundit.

Thisisaconvenientviewforkeepingestablishedordersinplace.Systemsdon'tchange;wedo.Theydon'taccommodateus;weaccommodatethem.Theysettheprice,andwepay"that'sjustthewayitis."Withthisview,whatwecallthecontrolparadigminTheParadigmConspiracygoesunchallenged.Controlmechanismsremaininforce,andweobeythem,gratefulifwecancomeawaywithadegreeorapaycheck.

Butifthisweretherealityoflove,soul,andfreedom,whywouldn'tbargainingsystemsworkbetterthantheydo?Whywouldn'tweadjustmoreeasilytotheterms?DavidKorten,authorofWhenCorporationsRuletheWorld,arguesthatthecorporatecultureofcontrolisdying,becauseit'snotsustainable.Toomuchislostbybargaining.Whenemployeestradelove,soul,andfreedomformaximizingprofits,corporationslosetheirhumancenter,andthat'sasdeadlyforcorporationsasitisforus.

Theveryfailuresofbargainingtheunhappinessandsufferingthattrade-offscreatesuggestthattheparadigmistheculprit.We'reusingbadsoftware,andit'sdistortingourconceptsofwhat'sgoingon.

Ifoursoulsneedbothloveandfreedomtothriveifthat'soursouls'realitythenit'snosurprisethatweandoursystemsgrowself-destructivewhenwe'redeprivedofthem.Weneedallthreetogethertobecreative.Whenwe'redestructive,it'snotbecauseournatureisdestructivebutbecausethetrade-offparadigmisdestructivetous,makingustradeawaymorethanwecanaffordtolose.Notrealitybutaparadigmisplayingfastandloosewithus.

Nordowereceiverealityinreturn.The"love"thatdemandslossofsoulorfreedomisn'tlovebutaperversionofitmanipulation,domination,andabuse.Ifoursoulsneedreallove,thiscounterfeit

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won'tsatisfyus.We'llstillbeconnectedness-hungry,nomatterhowmanyfakenot-us,not-love,not-freeunionswenegotiate.

Thisisgoodnews.Ifourparadigmistheproblem,thenthere'shope.Tradingsoulandfreedomforloveisanecessitycreatedbyoursoftware,notbyreality.Fortunately,theplanet'sspiritualheritageoffersmorethanonesoftwareprogram.Exploringparadigmsthathonorlove,soul,andfreedomunited,wecanexplorerealitiesdifferentfromthosecreatedbyno-wintrade-offs.

SufiWisdom

That'swhereSufisingeneralandmystic,sage,andpoetJelaluddinRumi(12071273C.E.)inparticularcomein.We'reneitherSufisnorexpertsinSufism,butasfaraswecantell,love,soul,andfreedomlieattheheartofSufiinspirationandofRumi's.

Sufisareafunnylot.NoonereallyknowswhenSufismstarted.SomeSufistracetheirwisdomtraditionbacktothemysticalperceptionsofthemostancientseers.Canwereallyfixadate,theyask,whentheperceptionoftheunityofallbeingtheessenceofSufismfirstdawned?MostSufis,however,tracetheiroriginstotheseventhcenturyjustafterMuhammad.

NorisanyonesurewhatreligionSufisbelongto,sincethey'redeadsetagainstsectarianism.Rumi'spoetry,forinstance,borrowsfromthegreatmysticalstrainsinHinduism,Buddhism,Zen,ConfucianandTaoistphilosophies,Judaism,Christianity,Zoroastrianism,andindigenousspiritualities.HisadoptedcityofKonya,nowinTurkey,wassmackdabonthetraderoutefromtheOrientandAfricatoEurope,andideasfromallovertheworldcrossedRumi'spath.However,sinceSufisadheretotheFivePillarsofIslam,quotetheQur'anandMuhammadthemost,andcametofullbloominMuslimcultures,they'reclassedwithIslam.

Andtheyarefunny.Sufiscanclothethemostsublimeinsightsinthemostordinaryimages,frommiceandgnatstosexandbathroomhabits.Rumiisfamousforthis,aswellasforbeingthegreatestmysticpoetofalltime.Notallimagesclick,sincewe'renotfamiliarwiththedetailsoflifeinPersiaeightcenturiesago.Butmostimagesarefamil-

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iar.Withthem,Rumiexplorestheheightsofmysticalinspirationwithaneverydaygroundednessthat'suniqueinmysticalliterature.

WhateverimagesRumiuses,theeffectistobringlove,soul,andfreedomintoapracticalunitynotbecausewewantthemtogetherbutbecauseinrealitytheyaretogether,andwe'remadeupofthatreality.Infact,forRumi,theunityoflove,soul,andfreedomisourlife.Eachneedstheotherstofunctionasthegenuinearticleinourlives.Clearlyoursoulssufferwhenwe'redeprivedofloveandfreedomandthrivewhenwekeepthemtogetherbutloveandfreedomfarejustasbadlyaloneandjustaspowerfullyunited.

LoveNeedsFreedomandSoultoBeLove

Withoutfreedom,forexample,loveisn'tlovebutdutyandobligation.That'swhyclassicalliteraturevaluedlovebetweenfriendsmorethanfamilylove,sincewomenandchildrenwereconsideredpossessions,notfreeagents.Lovebetweenfriends,however,isfreefreelygiven,freelyreceived.Oncewegetatasteoflovethat'snotladenwithobligations,ourexperienceoflovechanges.Relationshipsaren'taboutgainingleveragebutaboutlettingloveflowfreely.AsRumisaid,"Lovehasnocalculatinginit."2

That'spowerfulandrevolutionary.Rumilovedhistwowives(thefirstdiedyoungandheremarried)andhischildren,buthisloveforhisfriend,thewanderingdervishShamsofTabriz,revolutionizedhislife.Rumi'sloveforShamssethimfreetodiscoverhisownsoul'sexpression,whichfoundvoicethroughhispoetry.Love,soul,andfreedomunited.

Butastheydid,theyturnedRumi'slifeupsidedown.Claiminghisfreedomtolovefromhissoul,Rumistoppedbehavingthewaygoodsheikhsbehavedandnolongercaredaboutmeetingconventionalexpectations.Connectednesswasnolongerabouttrade-offsabout"walkingaway"fromwhohewas.Hebecameradicallyfree,answeringonlytohisownsoulanditsfreeloveforGod.Rumisays(andunlesswenoteotherwise,everythingwequoteisfromRumi):

Again,I'mwithinmyself.Iwalkedaway,buthereIcomesailingback,

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feetintheair,upsidedown,asasaintwhenheopenshiseyesfromprayer:Now.Theroom,thetablecloth,familiarfaces.3

Hisnewlovetransformedhisrelationbothtohimselfandtotheworld.RumisawtheFriendandBelovedeverywhere.Ifloveisn'ttobetradedforifit'strulyfreethenit'sallaroundus,likesunlightoroxygen:

There'sastrangefrenzyinmyhead,ofbirdsflying,eachparticlecirculatingonitsown.IstheoneIloveeverywhere?4

Needlesstosay,Rumi'sbreakwithtraditionruffledfeathers.Intheend,itcostShamshislife,forhewasmurderedbysomeofRumi'sjealousstudents,oneofRumi'sownsonsbeingamongtheconspirators.ButRumicouldn'tgoback.Hecouldn'tsurrenderhisfreedomforhowpeoplethoughtheasaholypersonandpillarofthecommunityoughttobehave.His''newlove"didn'tcallforbargainingsoulorfreedom,andhewasn'tgoingbacktothebargainvariety:

Don'tthinkofgoodadviceforme.I'vetastedtheworstthatcanhappen.Sotheylockmeupsomewhere,boundandgagged,theycan'ttieupthisnewloveIhave.5

Lovewithoutsouldoesn'tworkeither.Twomasks,twoshellscan'tlove.Theymakehabitsofbeinginthesamevicinity,andthehabitsmayevenheatup.Yethowevercaughtinintenseemotionswebecome,withoutoursoulstogroundtherelation,bothsideshaveahollowring.

Trueloveengagesthesouland,asitdoes,itopensustoourselves.Ourloveforanothercallsourownsoulsforth,aswetaptherealityinusthat'stheretoconnectwithanother.Rumi'sloveforShamsputhimintouchwithhisowninner"Presence"and"Beloved,"whichhecame

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toknowashis"Friend."Loveinvitesustodiscoverthesametofindwithinourselvesarichanddiversekingdom,infact,"hundredsofthousandsofkingdoms":

TheworkofloveistoopenthatwindowinthechestandtolookincessantlyontheBeloved.Youcandothis.

Listen.Makeawayforyourselfinsideyourself.Stoplookingintheotherwayoflooking.

Youalreadyhavethepreciousmixturethatwillmakeyouwell.Useit.

Oldenemieswillbecomefriends.YourbeautywillbeGod'sbeauty.

Yourfriendlessnesswillchangetomoistureandnourishmentforyourfriends.

It'snotakingdomlikeanyyouknow,thekingdomofGodthat'swithinyou,buthundredsofthousandsofkingdoms.6

FreedomNeedsSoulandLovetoBeFreedom

Howcanthese"hundredsofthousandsofkingdoms"withinfindexpression,though,ifsocialsystemshavenotoleranceforthem?Yetwithouttheseinnerkingdoms,howcanwebefree?Whenoursoulcentersgetbrushedaside,ourfreedomdoesn'texpresswhowearebutwhowe'renot.Weactfromshellsandmasks,approvedimages.That'snotfree,becausethere'snotmuchsoulnotmuchofusintheacting.Whereassoulwithoutfreedommeanswe'retrappedinroles,freedomwithoutsculmeanswe'renotthereanymore;thetrapshavetakenover.They'redoingtheliving;oursoulsaresomewhereelse:

There'sakindofpersonwhoseexpertiseisdisplay,subtlytoholdandcatch

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theeye,builderoflovelytraps,notthinkingwhatconstanttrap-buildingdoes.Youmakeyourfriendsaffectionateforamoment,thenleave.Thishasbeenyourhabit,nowyourcareer,sinceyouwereborn.Touchtheclothyou'vewovenofapplauseandcompliments.Stretchthewarpandwoof.Isitthere?Yourlifeismorethanhalfgonewithyoustillworkingthesecharmingtraps.Catchoneperson,letanothergo,noreasonfordecidinganything,likechildrenfeelingmean,inagamewithnorules.Night.Theemptytrapsfollowyoubacktoyourhouse.Youhavelockedyourselfinsidedisappointment.Noactualhunterwouldtraphimself.You'veseenamanchasingawildpig.Hislifeisfatigue,andwhathefinallygetshecan'teat.OnlyOneisworthchasingwithyourliving.Hecan'tbetrapped.Youmustthrowawayyourlove-trapsandwalkintoHis.7

Iffreedommeanslivingoursouls,these"puppetshowsofourselves"arenosubstitute:

TheysayItellthetruth.Thentheyaskmetodoapuppetshowofmyselfinthebazaar.

I'mnotsomethingtosell.Ihavealreadybeenbought!8

Withoutoursouls,what'scalledfreedombecomeslicense.Itgoeswild.Freedomwithoutsoulisaddictionpersonified,likepoliticiansaddictedtoraisingmoneyandsellingtheirsouls,thenation,andtheearthastheygo.Becausetheyhavepower,itseemsasifthey'refree,

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yetthey'renot.Controlledbyopinionpollsandcorporatefunders,theyplayatfreedomandmakeamessofit:

...Withoutpurityofspirit,ifyou'restillinthemiddleoflustandgreedandotherwantings,you'relikechildrenplayingatsexualintercourse.Theywrestleandrubtogether,butit'snotsex!

Thesamewiththefightingsofmankind.It'sachildren'squarrelwithplay-swords.Nopurpose,totallyfutile.

Likekidsonhobbyhorses,soldiersclaimtoberidingBoraq,Muhammed'snight-horse,orDuldul,hismule.

Youractionsmeannothing,thesexandwarthatyoudo.You'reholdingpartofyourpantsandprancingaround,Dun-da-dun,dun-da-dun.9

Freedomwithoutloveisequallypointless.It'sliketravelingaroundbutneverfindingmeaningnevergoing"home":

Lateandstartingtorain,it'stimetogohome.We'vewanderedlongenoughinemptybuildings.Iknowit'stemptingtostayandmeetthosenewpeople.Iknowit'sevenmoresensibletospendthenightherewiththem,butIwanttobehome.10

Withoutlove,freedomisactuallydangerous,becauseitmeansactingunconnectedtowhat'saroundus.Blindtothewebsinwhichouractionsoccur,freedomwithoutlovesayswe'renotresponsibleforwhathappens.Wejustdoourthing,andadisconnectedthingatthat.

Unfortunately,there'salotoffreedomwithoutlovearound.When,forinstance,weaskedourcollegestudentswhetherthey'ddumptoxic

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wasteillegallytosaveabusiness,athirdoftheclasssaidtheywould.That'sfreedomwithoutlove:actingoblivioustotheconnectednessofactions.Butthenwedon'tcallthatfreedom.Ifitkillspeople,it'safelony.

Splittinglove,soul,andfreedomdoesn'twork.Neitherwenorsocietyprosperbydividingthem.

AMystic'sResponse:GototheUnseen

Sufisaremystics,andwhenmysticsseethingsfallingapart,theydon'ttrytopatchthem.Theyseekadeeperlevelofrealitywherethingsaren'tsplit.Theygototheinvisibleworlds,whereconnectednessisn'tbroken.Fromthere,theyforgeanewunderstandingofunityofhowthingshangtogether.

Thestrategyhasitslogic.Whatgenerallygoeswrongarerelationshipsrelationshipsthatarebynatureunseen.Whentherelationshipsamonglove,soul,andfreedombreakdown,allourrelationshipsflounder.Yetlookingatthingsoutwardly,wedon'tunderstandwhat'shappening.

Knowingtheinvisiblesortsitout.Ifwetookfiftymarriedcouplesofthesamerace,age,andstyleofdressandputthehusbandsononesideofaroomandwivesontheother,thecouplescouldrematchthemselvesimmediatelywithoutamistake.Ifscientiststriedtodothesameusingonlyphysicalobservation(size,haircolor,bloodtype,DNA),they'dbeluckytogetanyright.

Ofcourse,weseeevidenceofrelationships(hugsandkisses,children,contracts,paychecks),andweseeevidenceoftheirnotworking(divorces,wars,courtcases,defectiveproducts),buttheconnectionsthemselvesremainunseen.Theirqualitysurpassesoutwardforms.Nothingexternalcancapturethebondbetweenfriends,colleagues,orspouses,norcananythingcapturethepainofrelationshipslostorgonebad.

Iftheinvisiblequalityofconnectednesshasgoneawry,moreoftheoutwardcan'tputitright.Patchingthevisibledoesn'twork.Weneedtorecapturetheinvisiblequality,andwedothisbycultivatingtheinvisibleinourselves.Wegototheinnerplacewherenothingissplit,

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whereconnectednessexistswithinanunbrokenwhole.Thatway,wecalltheinvisibleconnectednessintoourexperience,andbeforeweknowit,whatwassplitisn'tanymore.

Historically,thismethodhasgivenmysticsabadname:they'vebeenconsideredinscrutable,sincethey'realwayspointingtoarealitybeyondwords,impractical,sincetheydon'tjumpinandfixthingsrightoff,andelitist,sincemostpeopledon'thavetimetositinacaveandhaveteawiththeunseen.

FortunatelyforRumiandothermystics,thisimageischanging.Millionsofpeoplearenowfindingstrength,insight,healing,andpeacethroughmeditationandcontemplationexactlywhatmysticshavedoneforages.We'respendingtimewiththeinvisibleinhospitals,homes,schools,andworkplaces,becauseit'sanaturalmethod.Wedrawtheinvisiblerealmintoourlives,andsuddenlyweseetheeverydayvisibleinanewlight.

Indeedwe'reseeingmanythingsinanewlight,asinvisiblesreceiveanattentionandrespecttheydidn'thaveafewdecadesago.

Muchofthisrespectcomesfromphysics,whichforthelastcenturyhasplungedintoinvisibles.Wecan'tseethelawofgravity.Weseeitseffectsbutnotthelawitself,whichdescribesrelationshipsamongphysicalbodies.Thenthere'stheissueofhard-corevisiblesbeingnotsohardcore.Tables,bodies,rocks,andmountainsare99.9percentspace.Suddenly99.9percentofourvisibleworldissomethinginvisible:theemptyspaceinatoms.Butthat'snottheendofit.Quantummechanicshasdiscoverednotonlyahostofinvisiblesubatomicparticlesbutalsotheconceptofnonlocality:theideathatparticlesmovingtowardoppositeendsoftheuniversearesimultaneouslylinkedbyanunseenandunbrokenconnectivity.Somethinginvisibleisgoingonbetweenparticlesthatvisible-onlytheoriescan'texplain.

PhysicianLarryDosseyappliesthenonlocalityconcepttoconsciousnessandfindsevidenceofa"nonlocalmind"operatinginprayer,healing,andtelepathyinvisibleprocessesthatcanhavevisibleeffects.Accordingtoanonlocalconceptofconsciousness,ourmindsaren'tconfinedtoourbrainsbutcansendthoughtsaroundtheglobe,andsomeoneouttherecanpickthemup.

Ecologyisanotherconceptthatdescribessomethinginvisible.We

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seeforests,lakes,insects,birds,andanimals,buthowtheyallworktogetherisunseenanetworkofrelationships.Theirtotalityasoneecosystemisinvisible,butit'snolessrealforthat.Weknowwhenitbreaksdown.

Orconsiderourbodies.Fewdoctorswouldnowdenythatmentalstatesaffectphysicalhealth.Thingsasinvisibleasattitudes,emotions,andpersonalphilosophiescaneithercauseheartdiseaseorassistinhealingit.That'swhypsychiatristsandpsychologistsinvestigatetheunseenordersembeddedinthesoulaninvisiblethat'sreceivingrenewedattentionthesedays.Eventraditionalpsychology,though,dealsheavilywithinvisibles:theunseenfacetsofourpersonalitiesandthestoriestheytellaboutwhoweare.

Recoveryfromaddictionalsoturnstoinvisibles.Alcoholism,drugabuse,andotheraddictionsareobservableforms,butwhat'sbehindthem?Whataretheinvisibledynamicsthatleadtoaddiction,andhowcanwechangethem?InTwelveSteprecoveryprograms,shiftingthedynamicsinvolvescomingtotrustaHigherPoweratworkinchange.Sincetheinvisibleconstructcalledanegoispartofthedynamicsthatneedstoshift,theideaistogroundtheshiftinsomethingdeeperinaPowerthatbringstransformationandhealing.ThefactthatthisPowerisinvisibleisn'taproblem.

MysticYearnings

Theinvisibleissuddenlyeverywhereinourlives,andlikegoodmystics,we'reinvestigatingit.Indeed,theremaywellbeamystichiddenineveryone,manifestedinyearningsfortheinvisibleonthedeepestlevelsofmeaninglevelsthatspeaktowhoweareandhowwefeelaboutbeinghere.

First,weyearnforinnerpeace,forasenseofeverythingcomingtogetherinameaningfulway.Separatenessandfragmentationwearusout.It'sexhaustingtokeepupacompetingegothat'salwaysoncalltoeitherdefenditselforprotectitsturf.Weyearnforlovesoultosoullove,yes,butevenmoreforloveasaqualityofreality,asasensethattheuniverseisagenerous,supportiveplacetobe,aplacethatneedsushereandcareswhetherwestayornot.Romanticlovedoesn'tworkout

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foreveryone,buteveryonecanliveinauniverseoflove,atleastweyearnforittobeso.WedreamofShangri-la,"aplacewherethere[is]peaceandsecurity,whereliving[is]notastrugglebutalastingdelight."11Thevisibleworldsayssuchyearningsarenaiveandimpossible,yetwestillfeelthem.

Second,yearningforsuchauniverse,plentyofnormal-lookingpeoplefeelthattheydon'tquitefitinherethatthey'reonthewrongplanetnomatterhowhardtheytrytoadjust.Theirtruehome,theyfeel,iselsewhere,andtheyyearnforhome.InStevenSpielberg'sfilm,E.T.'sstrandedpredicamentstruckachord.Peoplewanttojourneybacktoaplacewheretheybelong.FormysticslikeRumi,thatplacelieswithin,andthelongingforhomeisreallyayearningtocomehometowhoweare.

Third,richandpoor,youngandold,workerandbossyearnforliberation:atimewhentheycancalltheirlivestheirown.Today'seconomicslaveryisstillslavery,stilldevouringlivesandfamilieswithbills,debts,demands,schedules;leavingthemwithnotime,norest,nothingbeingenough.Thetrapishalfinternal,halfexternal,andwe'dliketoridourselvesofbothhalves.Theother-worldlypeaceofwatchingsnowfallorthetimelessfeelingoflyinginafieldandlookingatcloudsmakesusyearnforfreedomasmorethanfleetingmoments.

Theseareclassicyearningsofamystic,signsoftheinvisiblelove,soul,andfreedompullingus.Wefeelcalledinwaysthatdon'tcomefromthevisibleworld.Theinvisibleweavesitselfthroughourthoughts,dreams,andpassions,anditspresencewon'tbebrushedaside.Iftheinvisibleiscomingafterus,insteadofrunningfromit,Rumisuggestsweturnandembraceit.

SeekingtheInvisibleSoulOurLostCamel

Embracingthequestforinvisibles,though,shiftstheorderforseekingthem.Ifwestartwithlove,we'retemptedtosacrificewhowearetogetit.Oursoulsgetlostinthebargain.Moreover,thankstoallthesoulbargainingwe'vehadtodo,whoweareisn'tclearanymore.Wedon'tfeelgroundedinoursoulsbutscatteredinpieces.Iflovecomesourway,whichpieceisitfor?

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Tohavethelovewewantandneed,wemustfirstfindoursoulsandgroundourselvesinthemandoursoulsknowit.Whenwe'vebargainedoursoulsforlove,they'retheonestotugatusfirst.Oursoulsknowwhenlove-dealsaren'tworking,sincethey'retheonestopaytheprice.Thelossofoursoulsandouryearningstogetthembackstartusonthemysticpath.

Rumi'spoetryisfilledwithmetaphorsforseekingtheinvisiblesoul,andwhat'swaitingthereisasurprise.Rumisaysthat"aperson'spresenceismoretolearnfromthanabook."12We'relivinglibrariesof"wisdomandbeauty"that"cannotbecontainedbyanyskin."Theinvisiblehasstoriestotellthatwe'dneverguessfromthevisiblenotonlyaboutusbutalsoabout"everyobjectandbeingintheuniverse'':

Everyobjectandbeingintheuniverseisajaroverfilledwithwisdomandbeauty,adropoftheTigristhatcannotbecontainedbyanyskin.Everyjarfulspillsandmakestheearthmoreshining,asthoughcoveredinsatin.13

Givenyearsofbargaining,though,suchtreasuresseemlosttous.OneofRumi'sstoriesusestheimageofalostcamelandeffortstofindit.Somesetaboutthesearchimmediately,whileothersaren'tsosure:Whybotherwithinvisiblestuff?Whatdowegetoutofit?Howdoweknowwehadacamelinthefirstplace?Nonetheless,lookingforsoulcamelsseemsthethingtodo,andthere'sapromiseofareward.Sowebegin,sometimesinearnest,othertimesinimitation.Mysticsaren'tpicky.Whatgetsusgoingonthesoulquestdoesn'tmatter:

You'velostyourcamel,myfriend,andeveryone'sgivingyouadvice.

Youdon'tknowwhereyourcamelis,butyoudoknowthesecasualdirectionsarewrong.Evensomeonewhohasn'tlostacamel,who'sneverevenownedacamel,getsinontheexcitement,"Yes,I'velostmycameltoo.Abigrewardforwhoeverfindsit."

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Hesaysthisinordertobepart-ownerofyourcamelwhenyoufindit.Ifyousaytoanyone'ssuggestion,"Idon'tthinkso,"theimitatorsaysthesamethingimmediately.Whengoodinformationcomes,youknowitrightaway,butnottheimitator.Thatbitofinformationismedicinetoyou.Itgivescolortoyourfaceandstrengthtoyourbody.Youreyesbrighten.Yourfeetgetlivelyandagile.Yousay,"ThankYou,myFriend,thisTruthyougivefeelslikefreedomtome.Pleasegoinfront.Betheleader!YouhavethescentofmycamelbetterthanIdo."Buttheimitatordoesn'tfeeltheintensityofthoseclues.Hehearsyourwildoutcries,though,andgetssomeinklingofwhatitmightbeliketobeclosetofindingalostcamel.

Hehas,indeed,lostacamel,buthedoesn'tknowit!

Wantingandimitatingsomeoneelse'swantinghasblindedhim.Butashefollowsalonginthesearching,callingoutwhattheotherscallout,suddenlyheseeshisowncamelbrowsingthere,theonehedidn'tknowhe'dlost.

Onlythen,doeshebecomeaseeker.Heturnsasideandgoesbyhimselftowardhiscamel.

Thesincereoneasks,"Whyhaveyouleftmysearch?"

"UpuntilnowIwasafake.Iwasflatteringyou,becauseIwantedtobepartofyourglory.NowthatI'veseparatedmyselffromyou,Iammoretrulyconnectedtoyou.

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Iknowwhatyou'redoing.Before,Iwasstealingcamel-descriptionsfromyou.

Whenmyspiritsawitsowncamel,thatseeingfilledeverything.Nowallmyinsincerityandcopycatwordshavechangedtovirtues.Theybroughtmehere!Iwassowingmyownseed,thoughIthoughtIwasworkingfornothing.

LikeathiefIcreptandenteredahouse,anditwasmyownhome!"

Befiery,coldone,soheatcancome.Endureroughsurfacesthatsmoothyou.

Thesubjectofallthisisnottwocamels.There'sonlyonelostcamel,butlanguagehasdifficultysayingthat.14

SeekingLove'sUniverse

Seekingtheinvisiblesoulwhenwereallydidn'tintendtosuggeststhatinvisiblesdrawustothemselvesinwaysweweren'timagining,butwhichgotustherejustthesame.Goingtotheunseenisn'tawaywe"decidetogo."We'rebroughttoitbyguideswhoareresourcefulaboutgettingaroundourobstacleswho"drinkfromanundammedstream":

Youthoughtunionwasawayyoucoulddecidetogo.

Buttheworldofthesoulfollowsthingsrejectedandalmostforgotten.

Yourtrueguidedrinksfromanundammedstream.15

Findingourcamel,oursoulthe"thingrejectedandalmostforgotten"putssomethingaliveandrealbackatthecenterofus,andfrom

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thatcenteredalivenessweconnectwithothers.Lovefollows,sincenowthere'ssomeoneinustoloveandbeloved.Ourtrueconnectednesswithpeople,otherbeings,aswellastheuniversebeginstoemerge.

Throughoursouls'eyes,weseetheuniverseandwhoweareinitdifferently.We'renotalonehere,disconnected.Infact,we'renotthesortofcreaturesthatcanbealone.Welookasifwe'reseparateandselfcontainedentities,butthat'sthevisibleside.Theinvisiblesayswe'rethewholeincarnatethe"macrocosm"focusedandmadespecific:

Informyou'rethemicrocosm,butinrealityyou'rethemacrocosm.16

Rumiusesideasthatwenowassociatewithholismorholography.Thewholeisencodedineachpart,justaseachdotofholographicfilmcontainsthetotalimageoreachDNAstrandcontainsinformationabouttheentirebody.Partsaren'tparts;they'rethewholemanifestedinspecificways.Thediversitywithinthewholeismirroredin"onewheat-grain""manybeingsinonebeing":

Thismomentthislovecomestorestinme,manybeingsinonebeing.Inonewheat-grainathousandsheafstacks.Insidetheneedle'seye,aturningnightofstars.17

Wovenintothewholeasweare,loveisn'tsomethingwehavetobargainfor.It'stheessentialnatureoftheuniverseandofwhoweareinit.AsfarasRumiisconcerned,theinvisibleconnectednesswehavewiththewholeislove.Thekindofuniverseweyearnformaywellturnouttobethewayitis.Granted,thevisiblehidesitwell,especiallyifwe'reusingaparadigmthatconstruestheuniverseinsurvival-of-the-fittestterms.Butjustovertheborderintheinvisible,realityhasadifferentcharacter.Visibly,weseemsmallandonourown,butinvisibly,a"greatlove"aconnectednesswithallthatislivesinsideus:

IamsosmallIcanbarelybeseen.Howcanthisgreatlovebeinsideme?

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Lookatyoureyes.Theyaresmall,buttheyseeenormousthings.18

Ifanything,thisunseenloveisthegreaterreality,greaterthanitsvisibleexpressions.Whereasthevisiblehasallsortsofboundariesandlimits,theinvisiblehasnosuchdivisions.It'sthe"undiscoveredcountry."Shamssaid:

Peoplesaythathumanbeingsaremicrocosmsandthisouteruniverseamacrocosm,butforustheouterisatinywholenessandtheinnerlifethevastreality.19

Greaterthoughitmaybe,ourunseenconnectednessisbynomeansupintheclouds.Loveissomethingwe'regoodatmakingvisible.Thoughinvisiblywe'reconnectedtoallthatis,wechoosewhichconnectionstomakevisible.Choosingonthebasisofinnerqualities"theinnermostnature"createsrelationshipsthataregroundedinthevisiblebutdrawnfromtheinvisible.

Wedon'tmarrysomeoneforhisorherbodyorpossessions,forinstance,butforhisorhercharacterandsoul.Naturally,bodiescomeinhandy,butinvisiblequalitiesmakerelationshipsworkmakevisibleinteractionspassionate,meaningful,andfun.Webuildon"arealconnectionbetweenpeople,""theinmostnature,"andvisibleformsfollow:

Whatisarealconnectionbetweenpeople?Whenthesameknowledgeopensadoorbetweenthem.Whenthesameinnersightexistsinyouasinanother,youaredrawntobecompanions.Whenamanfeelsinhimselftheinmostnatureofawoman,heisdrawntohersexually.Whenawomanfeelsthemasculineselfofamanwithinher,shewantshimphysicallyinher.

WhenyoufeelthequalitiesofGabrielinyou,youflyupquicklylikeafledglingnotthinkingoftheground.Whenyoufeelasininequalitiesinyou,nomatterhowyoutrytodootherwise,youwillheadtowardthestable....

Alwayssearchforyourinnermostnatureinthoseyouarewith.20

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Romanticrelationshipsaren'ttheonlywayswemakelovevisible,though.Everythingwedoisanactoflove.We'realwaysdrawingonthe"greatlove"ofconnectednessthat'sinsideusandbringingitoutinnewformsofexpression:

Inaskysorestlessandchangingthemoonwearsasilverbelt.Everydetail,everyfeatureofeverything,showshowthatoneisinlove.21

Throughthediversityofwhoandwhatwelove,theintangiblebecomesconcrete,theunseenexperiential.Theinvisibleisn'tremotebutpresentintheloveswepursueeachmoment.Ourlovesguidewhatwedowithourconnectednesshowwerespondtotheuniverseinawaythat'suniquelyours:

Travelingisasrefreshingforsomeasstayingathomeisforothers.

Solitudeinamountainplacefillswithcompanionshipforthisone,anddeadwearinessforthatone.Thispersonlovesbeinginchargeoftheworkingsofacomrnunity.Thisonelovesthewaysthatheatedironcanbeshapedwithahammer.Eachhasbeengivenastrongdesireforcertainwork.

Aloveforthosemotions,andallmotionislove.

Thewaysticksandpiecesofdeadgrassandleavesshiftaboutinthewind

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andwiththedirectionsofrainandpuddle-waterontheground,thosemotionsareallafollowingofthelovethey'vebeengiven.22

ReclaimingFreedom

Seekingtheinvisiblesofsoulandlove,wecreateaspacewherefreedomisonceagainagiven.First,attunedtooursouls,wedon'ttradethem.Whateverwedo,wedofromourinnercompass.That'sfree:

Takesomeonewhodoesn'tkeepscore,who'snotlookingtobericher,orafraidoflosing,whohasnottheslightestinteresteveninhisownpersonality:He'sfree.23

Second,linkedinvisiblywitheveryoneandeverything,weexploreconnectednessinwhateverwaysoursoulsdirect.Wetastethefreedomofreallove,thekindthatdoesn'texactapricebut"becomesonespiritualthing...lovemixingwithspirit":

Whenyourlovereachesthecore,earth-heavalsandbrightirruptionsspewintheair.

Theuniversebecomesonespiritualthing,thatsimple,lovemixingwithspirit.24

Thechallenge,ofcourse,istostayfreewhenwe'relivinginsystemsthatpressureustobargain.Wehavetoprotectourlinktotheinvisibleour"jewel"inthefaceofsystemsthatjudgeusonlyintermsofwhat'svisible.Inaletter,Rumiwrites:

Thestoryistoldofawarriorwhosehorsewaswoundedinbattle.Thekinggavehimoneofhisownhorses,anArabianthatthekingwasparticularlyfondof.Thathorsewasalsowounded.Thekingshoweddispleasure.

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Thewarriordismountedandrefusedfurtherservicetotheking."IdidnotshowdispleasurewhenIriskedmylifethatyoumighthaveavictory,butyouareirritatedthattheanimalyougavemeishurt!IwillserveaKingwhoappreciatesmysoul.IshalltakemyjeweltoOnewhoknowsjewels."25

OneFlow:TheHolomovement

Movingbetweenthevisibleandtheinvisibleisthemystic'smethod,thetrickbeingtofindabalance.Toomuchfocusontheinvisible,andweloseourgroundedness,ourlinktodailylife.Toomuchfocusonthevisible,andwelosetheinvisiblematrixofmeaningthatmakeslifeworthliving.

Yetthemoremysticsconnectwiththeinvisible,thelesstheyperceiveitasseparatefromthevisible.Theunseenisn'totherthanwhereweare.Bydefinitionit'snotboundbytimeorspace,whichmeanswedon'thavetoleavethevisibletofeelit.Whereistheinvisible,ifnothere?Mysticsseethetwotogether,converginginoneflowofmeaning:

It'ssweetnottolookattwoworlds,tomeltinmeaningassugarmeltsinwater.26

OneofthebestmodelsfordiscussingthevisibleandinvisibleasoneflowofmeaningcomesfromthelateDavidBohm,aprotgofEinstein'sandapioneerinquantummechanics.Hisholographicmodelofphysics,designedtounifyquantummechanicsandrelativitytheory,qualifiesasafull-bloodedmysticalmodel.27NotonlyarehisideasNeoplatonic,butalsohislanguageborrowsdirectlyfromthefifteenth-centurychurchman,philosopher,mathematician,andmysticNicholasofCusa.

Themodelstartsfromthepremiseofholism.InBohm'sterms,the"holomovement"includesallthatis,visibleandinvisible,matterandmind,inoneorderedtotalityofmeaning.Butthewholeisn'tstatic.Reality'sinvisiblesideisalways"unfolding"itsembeddedorderand

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meaningintothevisible,whichinturnisalwaysbeing"enfolded"bytheholomovementbackintotheinvisiblecontext,whichisitssource.

Asaresult,everyaspectofthevisiblefromsubatomicparticlestolivingbeingstogalaxieshastheenergy,quality,andmeaningofthewholebuiltintoit.Invisibleandvisiblearen'tseparate.There'soneprocessofwhole-meaninggoingonthatcanbelookedattwowaysallalongthespectrum,fromthemostinclusivetothemostspecific,themostinvisibletothemostvisible.

Onthismodel,theholomovementiswhatreally"exists,"eventhoughit's"hidden"likethewindortheocean,whichwecan'tseeasawhole."Whatdoesnotexist"arethesurfaceformscomingandgoing.They'reshadowyappearances,havingallthepermanencyofapassingbreeze,notthebottom-linereality.Evenso,wegetfooledbyappearances:

Whatdoesnotexistlookssohandsome.Whatdoesexist,whereisit?Anoceanishidden.Allweseeisfoam,shapesofdust,spinning,tallasminarets,butIwantwind.Dustcan'triseupwithoutwind,Iknow,butcan'tIunderstandthisbysomewayotherthaninduction.28

LivingtheCoincidenceofInvisibleandVisible

Themysticalurgeistoliveinbetweenvisibleandinvisibletoseebothmovingtogether.Butthat'snoteasy.We'refooledbecausethevisiblesideofthingshasamesmericholdonourattention.Ifsomethingisn'tvisible,theoldconditioningkicksintellingusnottobelieveit,thatonlyvisiblescount.Thevisiblefunctionslikeahypnotist'spendulum,lullingusintoatrancethatseesnofarther:ifwecan'tseesomething,wecan'ttrustthatit'sthere.

Mysticsturnoffthependulumregularly.Sometimesthatmeansliterallyclosingtheireyes,butmoreoftenitmeansengaginginaconsciousnessandwayofbeingthatkeepsthevisibleandinvisibleinbalance.Whenmysticsseemtooother-worldly,it'sbecausetheirinner

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scalestellthemthattheircultureshavebecometooworldly,tooentrancedbyvisibles.Mysticsthrowtheirweightontheinvisiblesidetooffsettheirculture'sone-sidedfocus.

Asmysticsseeit,it'sonlynaturaltomoveclosertotheinvisible."Tooother-worldly"isarelativeterm.Lifeasanadultseemsother-worldlytoachild,andachild'sworldseemsother-worldlybeyondimaginingstoanembryo:

Littlebylittle,weanyourself.

ThisisthegistofwhatIhavetosay.

Fromanembryo,whosenourishmentcomesintheblood,movetoaninfantdrinkingmilk,toachildonsolidfood,toasearcherafterwisdom,toahunterofmoreinvisiblegame.29

RumiisaninterestingmysticbecausehegrewupinaSufisociety.Comparedwithmodernculture,thiswasaspirituallyorientedenvironment.Notallmysticshavehadthis.Toseekthespiritual,manyhadtostepoutsideculturalinstitutionsandgoitalone,sometimesliterallylivingoutsidetowninthewoods.Thatwasn'tnecessaryforRumi.HewasheldinthebosomofSufiinstitutionsandcontinuedtoplayaroleinthemuntilhisdeath.Insteadofretreatingtoacloisterorcave,RumistartedthefamousSufiOrderofWhirlingDervishes.Hecreatednotonlyanewcommunitybutonethatgroundsmeditationindanceandmusictheinvisibleandvisibleunited.Infact,whenHamza,Rumi'sfavoritefluteplayerdied,Rumiwenttohishouseandtoldhimtogetup:

AndimmediatelyHamzasatupsaying,"I'mhere!"Hereachedforhisflute,andforthreedaysandnightssweetmusiccamefromthathouse.WhenRumileft,lifewentfromthecorpseagain,andhewasburied.30

Thisisnotthebehaviorofsomeonewhohasnotimeforthevisible.Rumitookthevisibleseriouslybecause,inhisview,thevisibleispartoftheholomovementtoo.Onlyoureyesgiveustheimpressionthatthevisibleconstitutesitsownseparaterealm.Becausemysticscultivate

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aneyefortheinvisible,theyseethingsdifferently:everythinghasthemantleoftheinvisibleoverit,andnothingisseparatefromitanymore.AnotherstoryaboutmusicexpressesthiscoincidenceofvisibleandinvisibleinRumi'smind:

Rumisaid,''Asecretishiddenintherhythmsofmusic.IfIrevealedit,itwouldupsettheworld."OneafternoonamusicianwasplayingtheviolinandRumiwaslisteningwithgreatpleasure.Afriendenteredandsaid,"Stopthis.Theyareannouncingtheafternoonprayer.""No,"saidRumi,"Thisisalsotheafternoonprayer.BothtalktoGod.Hewantstheoneexternallyforhisserviceandtheotherforhisloveandknowledge."31

Visibleandinvisible:Rumiseemsmoreinterestedintheflowbetweenthemandlessinclinedtotakeflighttounseenrealmsandfromtheretodisdainoreventothrowstonesatthevisible.Rumiwas,afterall,calledtothedeepestmysticalinsightsbythingsthathappenedinavisibleway:firstmeetingShamsandbeingwithhimforseveralyears,secondhavingtorecoverfromthegriefanddespairheexperiencedatShams'ssuddendeath.Thevisibleforcedhimtogototheinvisibleashe'dneverdonebefore,butheseemedalwaysgratefultothevisibleforspurringhimtodoso:

Invisible,visible,theworlddoesnotworkwithoutboth.32

TheMysticPath:ArchetypesandJourney

Rumiis,therefore,asingularmodelforexploringthemysticpathhowtoliveattunedtobothinvisibleandvisible,howtojourneybackandforth.Fromhimwecanlearnwhatit'sliketobeonthemysticpath,borrowingthemodernconceptofarchetypestohelpfocusstepsalongtheway.

Archetypesaremodelsorpatternsinconsciousnessthatinvisiblyshapehowconsciousnessflows.They'relikethebanksofariver,toborrowoneofDavidBohm'simages:ifthey'renarrowandrocky,theycreatefastcurrents;ifthey'rewide,thewaterspreadsoutinacalm,steadyflow.Whatevertheirform,archetypessetthecourse.

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Notthatconsciousnessispassiveintheprocess.Riverbanksareformedbyallthewaterthat'spassedthrough.So,too,witharchetypes:theirpatternsemergefromhowconsciousnesshasoperatedbefore.BiologistRupertSheldrakebelievesthatwhenindividualsengageinsomebehavior,theycreate"morphogeneticfields"fortheirspecies,patternsincollectiveconsciousnessthatsubsequentindividualscanpickupandfollow.Tousecomputerimages,thenewpatternsbecomepartofthespecies'database.Oncecreated,thepatternsareonline,andanyonecantapintothemwithouthavingtogothroughthelaborioustaskofinventingthemalloveragain.

Likethelawofgravity,archetypesareinvisible,thoughwecanseeexamplesofthem.Theymapanunseenprocess:howtheholo-movementunfoldsitshiddenorderandhowpeoplehaveconnectedwiththatordereitherwhatthey'vedonewithitorwhatit'sdonewiththem.Allmystics,andcertainlyinnovativeoneslikeRumi,contributetoshapingarchetypesthatinturnshapethemystic'spath.LookingatRumi'slifeandwork,wecandetectthesearchetypalpatternsandusethemasguides.

Themysticjourneybeginswithsomememoryoftheinvisibleamemorythatcallsustoconfrontwhat'samissinthevisible.Mysticsaren'timmunefromwhathappensaroundthem.Rumiwasn'timmunefromGenghisKhan'shorrificinvasions,norareweimmunefromphysicalills,financialworries,family,school,andbusinessconcerns,pollution,orsocialinjustice.Theinvisibleandvisiblecollaborateincallingourinnermysticstothepath.Rememberingtheinvisiblecallsustoturnoffthependulum,whileseeingthevisiblecallsustoconfrontthelossofsoul,love,andfreedomwheneverbargainingprevails.

Inthesecondphaseofthemysticpath,weturnwithintofindourinvisibleFriend,oursoul,whichprovidesthegroundofchange.What's"outthere"won'tshiftaslongas"inhere"iscutofthesamecloth.Onlyfromsoulcanwefindtrueloveandfreedom.Forhealingandtransformation,mysticsworldwideemphasizesoulseekingandsoulpurification.Wecleanseourselvesofallthestuffthemasks,roles,andimages,thebrokeredrelationships,andtheexternal-only,money-basedfreedomthat'scometostandinforsoul,love,andfreedombutisn'tthegenuinearticle.

Thethirdphaseexploresthe"greatlove"ofconnectedness.Spending

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timewiththeinvisibleinspiresustoreconnectwiththevisibleinwayswehadn'timagined.Ourmysticsdreamnewpatternsofbeingtogetherofcreatingcommunitiesthathonortheinvisibleandvisibleunited,asRumidid.

Inthelastphase,ourinnermysticslivefromtheinvisibleand,bysodoing,returntoouroriginalfreedom.Returningtowhoweare,tothegreatloveinsideus,andtoourinnatefreedom,webecomeaforcefortransformation,thoughaninconspicuousone.InTaoistphilosophy,thesagedoesnothingdoesn'tmeddle,doesn'tforcethingsyetnothingisleftundone.Cultivatingtheinvisiblewithinoneselfencouragesthecultivationofitinothers.Itstrengthensthemysticarchetypeinconsciousness,and,asnotonlyeverymysticbutalsoeveryfanofStarWarsknows,theinvisibleisthegreatestforceforchange.

Rumihasmorethanalittletosayaboutallofthis.Heevengivessomesuggestionsabouthowtotakewhathesaysthemethodoflookingbeyondvisibleformsto"What'sInside":

Listentopresencesinsidepoems.Letthemtakeyouwheretheywill.

Followthoseprivatehints,andneverleavethepremises.33

*

ListentoWhat'sInsideanythingIsay.34

Andwhilewe'relisteningto"What'sInside,"wedon'thavetostophavingfun.Wewouldn'tbemysticsifwedidn'thaveafewloosescrews.Havingfunispartofthepath:

Jokingisteaching.Don'tbefooledbythelightness,orthevulgarity.Jokesareserious.35

Soul,Love&FreedomComingTogetherthroughtheMysticPathSOUL:cominghometowhoweare(GROUND)

LOVE:connectingfromoursouls'passions(PATH)

FREEDOM:findingafreedomthatisfreedom(FRUITION)

1.Confrontingtheabsenceofsoul,love&freedom

Rememberingtheunseenandgrievingthecostsofforgettingit

Leavinglovelesshabitsandfollow-ingourlovesasthewaytosanity

Confrontingbar-gainingrelationsandenteringafreeflowofneedandhelp

Archetypesthatconfrontloss

1.SEEKER 2.LONER 3.COMPANION

Journey:separation

Thecall:beingcalledtotheinnerjourney

Crossingthethreshold Acceptinghelp

2.Gettingoursouls,loves&freedomback

Exploringourinnerfiltersandhowtheygiverisetoexperience

Movingwithre-ality'stwo-sidedprocess:intoformsandoutofthem

Healingsoulsicknessbycominghometowhoweare

Archetypesthatengagethesoul

4.SOULSEARCHER 5.RELEASER 6.HEALER

Journey:purification

Enteringthesoul'sdarknight:goingwithin

Learningtheartandpracticeoflettinggo

Surrenderingtoourinnerauthority

3.Soul,love&freedomaliveincommunity

Becomingtheemptyplacewheretheinvisiblecomesthrough

SeeingwiththeFriend'seyesandsharingthevision-arymethod

Buildingcommuni-tiesonourinnerlivesandresolvingconflictsonthatbasis

Archetypesthathonorlove

7.LOVER 8.VISIONARY 9.WANDERER

Journey:reconnectingwiththevisible

Thesacredmarriage:weddingtheBeloved

DyingtoregenerateTravelingintheworldasLoversandVisionaries

4.Soul,love&freedomopennewrealms

Movingwiththeuniversalprincipleoftransmutation

Movingwiththeuniversalprincipleofattraction

Freeasbeingsofbothtimeandeternity

Archetypesthatmodelfreedom

10.ALCHEMIST 11.CONTEMPLATIVE 12.WISEFOOL

Journey:livingfromtheinvisible

Goingthroughtherefiningfire

Thereturn:cominghometoourorigins

Rollingaroundanywhere

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1Restless,Hungry,andDissatisfied

ARCHETYPESeekerMYSTICJOURNEYTheCall

MysticswithanAttitude

Whenwethinkofmystics,wetendtothinkofpeoplelostinblissfulreverie,abovetheworldandoblivioustoproblems.Butaswe'veseen,Rumiisn'tthatkindofmystic:

Howwillyouknowthedifficultiesofbeinghuman,ifyou'realwaysflyingofftoblueperfection?

Wherewillyouplantyourgrief-seeds?Workersneedgroundtoscrapeandhoe,nottheskyofunspecifieddesire.1

Naturally,mysticsexistwhoprefertheclouds,andwhocanblamethem?"Beinghuman"isdifficultongooddays.Butothermystics,likeRumi,provethemselvestobeatough-minded,down-to-earthlot.Theydon'tglossoverthevisible.Ifit'snotworking,theysayso,asRumidoes:

Thingsarereversedfromwhattheyshouldbeinthisplaceyoulivenow.Onewhoshouldbehungonthescaffoldismadeemperor.Peoplestandandclap.Tombswithornamentalplaster,self-conceiteverywhere.Palmtreesmadeofwax,waxleavesandfruit,waxdirt.2

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ThankstoMuhammed'slifeandcharacter,Muslimspossessastrongstreakofsocialjustice,andSufisevenmoreso.Sincedervishesliveoutsideestablishedinstitutions,theydon'thesitatetosaywhattheythink.InSufiliterature,"thedervishismadethemouthpieceofsocialcriticism:heputshisfingeronthewoundofsocietyandpointstothecorruptstateofaffairs."3

Mysticsmakeparticularlypotentsocialcritics,becausetheircritiquesdon'tstopwithvisibleills.Straddlingvisibleandinvisible,mysticstraceoutwardcrisestoinwardhabits."Outwardactsaredifferentfrominwardfeelings,"Rumisays,"andtheirpurposeistoshowuswhat'shiddenwithin."4Thevisibledoesn'tjusthappen;itcomesfromsomethinginvisibleourphilosophyandparadigmandthatcanbeasdeadlyasanyphysicalpoison:

Muhammedsaid,...

"Iseeyourprosperityandyourfalling.Iseeyoueatingthepoisonthatwillkillyou.

Icametowakeneveryonetoaction!Youhurrylikemothstowardthefire,whileI'mwavingwildlytokeepyoufromit.

Thingsyouthinkaretriumphsarethebeginningsofunconsciousness."5

TheSeeker:LongingforSoul

Mysticsmanifestthisrestlessdissatisfactionwiththings,visibleandinvisible,personalandcollective,becausethat'swhatstartsmysticsonthepath.Somethingisn'tright,something'smissing,andthemysticinuswantstofindoutwhat.ThoughwemaynothaveaclearsenseoftheunseenPresenceofwhichRumispeaks,themysticinusdoesenoughatleasttoletusknowwhenit'snotthere,tohungerforit,andtoseekit:

Everythingstartedwiththecryofthecravingsoul:NourishmeforIamhungryandhurryfortimeisasword.6

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With"thecryofthecravingsoul,"thearchetypeoftheSeekercallsustothemysticpath.Torespondistoembarkonajourneythattakesuswhoknowswhere?Forsure,it'snotdirectedtowardsuccess,rewards,orevenself-improvement.It'srathertodowithbecomingmorereal,moretruetowhoweare,eventhoughwehavenoideawhatthismeans.Attheleast,thepathcallsustostepoutsideconventions.We'relookingforsoulandmeaningoursandsomethingthat'suniquetoeachoneofusisn'tfoundinoff-the-rackplaces:

Forawhilewelivedwithpeople,butwesawnosigninthemofthefaithfulnesswewanted.It'sbettertohidecompletelywithinaswaterhidesinmetal,asfirehidesinarock.7

"Hidingcompletelywithin"tofind"faithfulness"tothesoulleadstheSeekertoinnerworlds,whereourmysticslive.They'rehiding,becausewe'retrainedtobeanythingbutmystics.FromWesternsciencetophilosophy,schoolstoreligionsandbusinesses,Westernvaluesplacetheoutwardbeforetheinward,wordsandnumbersbeforeideasandqualities.Ifwecan'tobserveormeasuresomething,it'sassumednottoexist.Grades,bottomlines,salaries,bills,schedules,technologies,andconsumergoods:everythinggearsustotheoutwardandmeasurablesideoflife.Toachievetherighteffects,we'veevenlearnedwhattothink,sothatwhatgoesoninsideconformstowhat'soutwardlyacceptedwhat'sreligiously,academically,socially,financially,orpolitically"correct."

Thisisn'teasyonourinnermystics,whogettiredofexternalsandboredwithoutercorrectness.Muchenergyfocusedontheoutwardandlittleontheinwardleavesourmystics'livesinshambles,likeamagnificentoldmansionthat'sbeenneglected,lefttotherainandsnow,miceandspiders.

WhentheSeekerfirstopensthedoortothisdilapidatedhouse,it'sashock,asifwe'vebeenrobbedofalegacyweforgotwehad.Whatstartsasrestlessdissatisfactionbuildstoangerangeratourselvesforneglectingsomethingsovaluable,angeratthepeopleandsocialsystemsthatdroveustoabandonourinnerhomes,angeratGodforletting

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thishappen,angeratthemysticpathformakingusconfrontourpredicament,angerevenatoursoulsforcomplicatingourliveswithintangibleyearnings.Weknowthemansionisourstoreinhabitthatnoonecanreinhabititbutusyetthejobseemsoverwhelming.Maybeweshouldjustlettheinvisiblestaythatway:

Ablackskyhatesthemoon.Iamthatdarknothing.Ihatethoseinpower.I'minvitedinfromtheroadtothehouse,butIinventsomeexcuse.NowI'mangryattheroad.

Idon'tneedlove.Letsomethingbreakme.Idon'twanttohearanyone'strouble.I'vehadmychanceforwealthandposition.Idon'twantthose.

Iamiron,resistingthemostenormousMagnetthereis.Amberpullsstrawtoit.Thatmakesmeangry.We'remoleculesspinninghere,four,five,sixofus.Whatdoesthatmean,five,six?IamangryatGod.

Youdon'tunderstand,beingoutofwater.Youresemblethesun?Ihatelikenesses.8

Inspirationalinsightsaren'thelpfulatthispoint.Theinnermansionisn'trestoredwithmetaphysicalstatements.Allmaybeonewhatelsewoulditbe?yetthat'snotthepoint.We'renot"interestedinhowthingslookdifferentinmoonlight";wewantourhousethe"artist"insideusbackinourlives:

Tomorrowyou'llseewhatyou'vebrokenandtorntonight,thrashinginthedark.Insideyouthere'sanartistyoudon'tknowabout.He'snotinterestedinhowthingslookdifferentinmoonlight.9

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Clearly,thispathisneitherupinthecloudsnorforthefaintofheart.Itchallengesustograpplewithoutwardlyorientedvaluesandhowwe'veinternalizedtheminwaysthatcutusofffromourinnerexperience.Beneathourculturallyadaptedpersonalities,there'ssomethingmorerealthatwantsout:

Thehumanshapeisaghostmadeofdistractionandpain.Sometimespurelight,sometimescruel,tryingwildlytoopen,thisimagetightlyheldwithinitself.10

Oursouls'"image"is"tightlyheldwithin,"becauseitfindsnoplaceinvisiblesystems,giventheirdemands.Unchallenged,avisible-onlyparadigmfunctionslikeasleepingpill,dullingustotheinvisibleandrenderingusunconsciousofourinnermansions.Yetwakingupfromaculture-wideparadigmonewe'vebeeninductedintosincebirthtakestime:

IrunaroundlookingfortheFriend.Mylifeisalmostover,butI'mstillasleep!

Whenithappens,ifithappens,thatImeettheFriend,willIgetthelostyearsback?11

Italsotakescourageandperseverance.Seekingourinnerlivescanbepainful,moresothelongerwe'vebeenawayfromthem.It'spainfultorecallwhatcausedustoboardupoursouls'homes,toseewhat'sbecomeofourinnerworldsasaresult,andtoconsiderwhatittakestoreinhabitthem.Willoutwardpressuresonceagaindriveusaway?

NowonderSeekersoftenfeelconfused.Oldanswersdon'twork,nordoexistingpatternssatisfy.It'sasifwehavetorebuildourlivesfrom

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scratchthemidlifecrisisthatpeopleofallagesarenowexperiencing.Ononehand,wefeelasifwe'relosingourminds;ontheother,wefeelasifsomethingmoresanethananythingwe'veeverexperiencedisgoingoninsideus:

Thismirrorinsidemeshows...Ican'tsaywhat,butIcan'tnotknow!

Irunfrombody.Irunfromspirit.Idonotbelonganywhere.

I'mnotalive!Yousmellthedecay?

Youtalkaboutmycraziness.Listenrathertothehoned-bladesanityIsay.12

It'snofailuretoacknowledgepainandhelplessness.Infact,theseareappropriateresponsestoencounteringdimensionsofmeaningthatgobeyondtheordinaryandvisible.Ifwefeelthatwe'reinoverourheads,thatonlymeanswe'rereconnectingwithoursouls'viewofthingssomethinglonglostandforgottenandwe'reonourway."Searchinglikethatdoesnotfail":

Whenactsofhelplessnessbecomehabitual,thosearethesigns.

Butyourunbackandforthlisteningforunusualevents,peeringintothefacesoftravelers."Whyareyoulookingatmelikeamadman?"IhavelostaFriend.Pleaseforgiveme.

Searchinglikethatdoesnotfail.13

Searchingwithourmystics'passiondoesn'tfail,becauseourinnermysticsknowwhat'satstake.Forallthepainanduncertainty,there'snogoingback.Todosowouldhurtusmore:

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Whathurtsthesoul?Tolivewithouttastingthewaterofitsownessence.14

Evenso,painthatcutsbothwayspainifwestayonthepathandpainifweleaveitteststhemystic'syearnings:

Longingisthecoreofmystery.Longingitselfbringsthecure.Theonlyruleis,Sufferthepain.15

TrappedinsideVisibleForms

Thistestinghasnothingtodowithjudgments,passingorfailing.Painarisesbecausethemysticpathgoesagainstthegrainofoutwardlydrivencultures.Scholarsoftendescribemysticalmovementsas''truecountercultures,"democraticandegalitarian.Everyonehasaninnerexperience,andthisinnerlifetranscends"sex,age,socialclass,educationandheresy,"16race,andevenspecies.Rumihonoredslave,beggar,sheikh,king,cow,dog,andparrotwithequalrespectandkindness,valuingeachaccordingtotheinnerqualitiesexpressed.Veryoften,theanimalsinhispoetryprovewiserthanthehumans;they'renotsolockedintotheculturalparadigm.

Foroutwardlydrivencultures,however,theoutwardisabigdeal,andwe'retosparenoeffortsinsecuringourplaceinoutwardworlds.Visibleformsdetermineourstandinginsocietyandhowwe'retobetreated.Therich,theexpert,andthepowerfulareemulated,whilethepoorandcommonfolkaredismissed.Ifweknowwhat'sgoodforus,we'llplaceoutwardconcernsfirst.

Turningtoaninwardpathputsusatoddswiththisculturalpriority.Wefeelcaughtbetweenarockandahardplace.Theyearningformeaningiscompellingbutsoistheneedtopaybills,supportfamilies,andmaintainanimageofsanityinasocietythathaslittleregardformysticallongings.Themoretheyearningsintensify,themorewefeeltrapped.Rumiusesimagesofnobleanimalscaged.Inthefollowing

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story,afalconwandersawayfromthekinghissoul'srealmonlytohavehiswingsclippedandtalonscutbyanoldwomanwhotieshimup,claimingthat'sthewayheshouldbetreated:

Thekinghadanoblefalcon,whowanderedawayoneday,andintothetentofanoldwoman,whowasmakingdumplingstewforherchildren."Who'sbeentakingcareofyou?"sheasked,quicklytyingthefalcon'sfoot.Sheclippedhismagnificentwingsandcuthisfiercetalonsandfedhimstraw."Someonewhodoesn'tknowhowtotreatfalcons,"sheansweredherself,"butyourmotherknows!''Friend,thiskindoftalkisaprison.Don'tlisten!Thekingspentalldaylookingforhisfalcon,andcameatlasttothattentandsawhisfineraptorstandingonashelfinthesmokysteamoftheoldwoman'scooking."Youleftmeforthis?"

Thefalconrubbedhiswingsagainsttheking'shand,feelingwordlesslywhatwasalmostlost.17

"Youleftmeforthis?"Weleftourinnermansionstodowhat?tobewhat?tohavewhat?Thefalconescaped,butagazellewasn'tsolucky:

Ahuntercapturesagazelleandputsitinthestablewiththecowsanddonkeys.

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Thegazellerunsaboutwildwithfearandconfusion.Everynightthemanpoursoutchopped-upstrawforthebarnanimals.Theyloveit,butthegazelleshiesquicklyfromsidetosideinthebigstall,tryingtogetawayfromthesmokeydustofthestrawandfromtheanimalsmillingtoeatit....

Formanydaysthispreciousanimalwriggleslikeafishthrownupondryground.Likedungandrareincenseclosedsidebysideinabox.

Onedonkeysayssarcastically,"Thisguyiswild!Hemustbesomebodyspecial!"

Another,"Withallhisebbandflow,hemustbemakingapearl.Probablyacheapone."

Another,"Whycan'theeatwhatweeat?"

Anotherdonkeygetsindigestionandoffersthegazellehisfodderwithaformalinvitation.

"Nothankyou.Iamunwelltoo."

Thedonkeyisoffended."Don'tbesoaloof.Areyouafraidofwhatpeoplewillsayifyou'reseeneatingwithme?''

Thegazelledoesn'tanswer,buthethinks,"Yourfoodisforyou.Itrevivesyourstrength.ButIhaveknownapasturebyacreekwherehyacinthsandanemonesandsweetbasilgrow.Myfoodisthere.Somedestinyputmehere,butIcan'tforgettheother.Ifmybodygetsoldandsick,stillmyspiritcanstaynew."18

Oursoulsfeellikethefalconandgazelle.They'reconvincedthatwecamefromsomewhereelseaplacewheretheinwardtakesthelead,

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wherequalitiesofsoulandcharactermatterandourinnermysticslongtoreturn:

AlldayIthinkaboutit,thenatnightIsayit.WheredidIcomefrom,andwhatamIsupposedtobedoing?Ihavenoidea.Mysoulisfromelsewhere,I'msureofthat,andIintendtoendupthere.19

Accountsofnear-deathexperiencessupportthisview.Wherewecamefromandwherewe'regoingfocusoncultivatinginvisibles:soul,spirit,wisdom,andcompassion.Thesecomefirst,andmanifestationsofthemfollow.Outwardformsaren'tthefocus,astheyareinourculturaldonkeystables.

Whenwecomehere,becausewe've"knownapasturebyacreekwherehyacinthsandanemonesandsweetbasilgrow,"theoutwardfocusseemsalienandhardtoswallow.Ourinnermysticsfeelasifwe'vebeenputin"anarrowstall"wherewecan't"getuportakeabreath."Livinginthecageofexternalsismorethanourmysticscanendure.Aslongaswe'retrappedthere,it'simpossibletomeetourBeloved,oursouls:

Don'tpunishtheoldguy....

He'striedtomeettheBeloved,butheneverhas.

That'swhyheactsashedoes.That'swhyhiseyesaresopainfultolookinto.

HekeepscomplainingtoGod,'Alltheotherscanfly.Whyhaveyoucutmywings?'

Wherehelivesisanarrowstallthatacamelmightliedowninatnight.

Hecannotgetup,ortakeadeepbreathinthere,inhislife.

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Neverhandsuchapersonaknife.He'lleventuallyturnhishatredonhimselfandripopenhisstomach.20

AndMyNameIs...?

Whatkeepsusinthestallisourlossofmemory.Werecallneitherourmysticsnorourinnermansions.Atfirstit'stoopainfultoremember,butthenwegetusedtojugglingexternals,andwhatmemoriesremainfallbytheway.Rememberingsoulandmeaningdoesn'trelatetothejobathand.Afterawhile,ourinnerexperiencesseemtohoverjustbeyondourconsciousawareness,likedreamswecan'tquitegetback.WhoareWe,andwhatarewedoinghere?ourSeekersdon'trecall:

Wholooksoutwithmyeyes?Whatisthesoul?Icannotstopasking.IfIcouldtasteonesipofananswer,Icouldbreakoutofthisprisonfordrunks.Ididn'tcomehereofmyownaccord,andIcan'tleavethatway.Whoeverbroughtmeherewillhavetotakemeback.21

Lackingclearrecollectionsofsoulandmeaning,webuytheculture'soutwarddefinitions.Visible,measurableimagesstandinasour"bestguess"ofwhoweare:

You'refromacountrybeyondthisuniverse,yetyourbestguessisyou'remadeofearthandashes!

Youengravethisphysicalimageeverywhereasasignthatyou'veforgottenwhereyou'refrom!22

Thiswillneverdoformystics.Wecan'taffordtobelike"theoldguy"who'snevermethisBeloved.Thecostistoohigh.Withoutourinnerlives,wemayaswellbedead:

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Nomoremuffleddrums!Uncoverthedrumheads!

Plantyourflaginanopenfield!Nomoretimidpeekingaround.

EitheryouseetheBeloved,oryouloseyourhead!23

GrievingWhat'sHappened

Perhapsthemostcompellingwaytorememberwhat'sbeenlostistogrieveit.Grievingopenstheinnerdoors,allowingustofeelwhatoursoulsfeel.Weconnectwithsomethingreal,somethingdeepwithinus.It'sasifwewalkintoourinnermansion,sitdownonthefloor,andletthehousetellitsstory.Grievingawakensoursouls'passionswhatwe'vebeenawayfromsolong.Rumiquotes"theAndalusianpoet,Adial-Riga":

Iwassleeping,andbeingcomfortedbyacoolbreeze,whensuddenlyagreydovefromathicketsangandsobbedwithlonging,andremindedmeofmyownpassion.

Ihadbeenawayfrommyownsoulsolong,solate-sleeping,butthatdove'scryingwokemeandmademecry.Praisetoallearly-wakinggrievers!24

Grievingconnectsuswithoursoulsontheoldrulethat"thecureforpainisinthepain."25Ifwefleefrompainanesthetizeitwedon'thearitsmessage.Whateveriswronggetsworse.Butifweallowpaintosurface,we"gobeyondtheveil"thatseparatesouterandinner,andwehearthedialoguebetweenthem:

Painariseswhenyoulookwithin,andthispainmakesyougobeyondtheveil.26

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Beingstuckinpainislikebeingstuckinariver'swhirlpooltheimageinEdgarAllanPoe'sshortstory"ADescentintotheMaelstrm"(1841).Thosewhostruggletokeeptheirheadsabovewaterexhaustthemselvesanddrown.Onlythosewhoallowthemselvestobecarriedtothedepthssurvive,forthewhirlpool'scurrentsshootthemoutdownstream.Notfightingpainbutgrievingtothedepthsofoursoulsworksthesameway.Wecomeouttheothersideandrememberoursouls'story."Downinthathole,"we"findsomethingshining"andfeelourselvesbeing''pulledupthedarkway"intolight:

It'stheoldrulethatdrunkshavetoargueandgetintofights.Theloverisjustasbad:Hefallsintoahole.Butdowninthatholehefindssomethingshining,worthmorethananyamountofmoneyorpower.27

*

Somenights,stayuptilldawn,asthemoonsometimesdoesforthesun.Beafullbucketpulledupthedarkwayofawell,thenliftedoutintolight.28

Understandingwhatgriefandpaindoforus,ourinnermysticsdon'tfearthem.Bylisteningtothestoriesthatpainandgrieftell,wegroundourselvesinoursouls,andthat's"ablessing":

TheminuteI'mdisappointed,Ifeelencouraged.WhenI'mruined,I'mhealed.WhenI'mquietandsolidastheground,thenItalkthelowtonesofthunderforeveryone.29

*

Isawgriefdrinkingacupofsorrowandcalledout,"Ittastessweet,doesitnot?"

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"You'vecaughtme,"griefanswered,"andyou'veruinedmybusiness.HowcanIsellsorrow,whenyouknowit'sablessing?"30

Asaresult,thecalltoreturnto"theFriend"mayleadusintoa"night[that]extendsintoeternity,"butatthesametime,knowingthatwe'reonthequestforoursouls"iswhatjoyis."Grievingforoursoulssparesusthegreatergriefofforgettingoursouls:

Thisnightextendsintoeternity,likeafireburninginsidetheFriend.Trulyknowingthisiswhatjoyis.Forgettingitisgrief,andalackofcourage.31

CalledbyOurSouls

Whatwerememberthroughgrievingisthatourmystics'senseofdiseaseinoutwardlyfocusedworldsisnotunfounded.Our"deepestsoul-instincts"aretowardtheholomovement,wherevisibleandinvisibleuniteinoneprocess.Giventhistotalityasthegroundofourexistence,itmakesnosensetofocusexclusivelyonvisibles,cutofffromtheunseendynamicsthatgiverisetothem.Halfthepicturedoesn'tsatisfyourdesireformeaning,justashalfofus,theoutwardhalf,doesn'tmakeushappy.Thehalf-viewisasmystifyingastryingtoreadabookwitheveryotherwordblackedout.Ifoursourceisthewholeif"theOcean"makesourexistencepossiblemomenttomomentthenit'sournaturetorememberwholeness.Onewayoranother,ourwholenaturecallsus.

RumisaysournatureistomovewiththeOceanlike"awildOcean-Duck,"yetwe'velearnedtoliveonlandasifwe'rechickens.Oursoulscallustobeducksagain,torememberwhatit'sliketohavetheOceantouchourchests:

You'reawildOcean-Duckthathasbeenraisedwithchickens!

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YourtruemotherlivedontheOcean,butyournursewasadomesticland-bird.

Yourdeepestsoul-instinctsaretowardtheOcean.Whateverland-movesyouhaveyoulearnedfromyournurse,thehen.It'stimenowtojointheducks!32

*

Aducklingmayhaveonlyjustbeenborn,buttheOceantouchesitschest.33

Beingducksatheart,wedon'tmakeconvincingchickens.WekeeplookingfortheOcean,andafewmudpuddlesdon'tdothetrick.Therestlessseeking,dissatisfaction,andhungeringformorecomesfromournature,origin,andessence.Howcouldwenotexperiencepainandgriefatbeingstrandedonstrangeland?Wewouldn'tbewhoweareifwecouldliveonlyinexternalsandbehappy:

Wearethemirroraswellasthefaceinit.Wearetastingthetastethisminuteofeternity.Wearepainandwhatcurespain.Wearethesweet,coldwaterandthejarthatpours.34

Inotherwords,theFriendwho'slostisalsowhaturgesustoseek.Ourownsoulscalltousandmakeusyearnforoursouls'home,untilultimatelythere'sno"distinctionofcallerandcalled":

RememberGodsomuchthatyouareforgotten,untilyouarelostintheCall,withoutdistinctionofcallerandcalled.35

Becauseourinnermostnaturemovesustothemysticpath,webecomeSeekersandrespondtothecallasnaturallyasfishrespondtothesoundofwavesorfalconstothefalconer'sdrum.Embarkingonthemysticpathsimplymeansfollowingourdeepestnatureandtakingtheleap:

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Whydoesn'tthesoulflywhenithearsthecall?

Afishonthebeachalwaysmovestowardwave-sound.

Afalconhearsthedrumandbringsitsquarryhome.

Whydoesn'teverydervishdanceinthesun?

You'veescapedthecage.Yourwingsarestretchedout.Now,fly!36

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2LoveandMadness

ARCHETYPELonerMYSTICJOURNEYCrossingtheThreshold

FlyWhere?

TheSeekercallsustofly,butwhere?Wheredowegowithourmystics'restlesshunger?Theoldansweristoflytovisibleworldstochannelouryearningsintobargainingsystems,thosethataskustocheckoursoulsatthedoorandthentakeourlovesaswell.Innerhungeringsgetreplacedwithahungerforamaterialmore.Rumicomparesbargainingforvisiblestowanting"asmallfigfromarandomtree"butendingupdetainedby"anoldcrone,""stinking-mouthed,withahundredtalons"notabadportraitofbargainingsystemsthatpromisetohelpusbutinsteadholdus"tightbythebelt'':

Youmissthegarden,becauseyouwantasmallfigfromarandomtree.Youdon'tmeetthebeautifulwoman.You'rejokingwithanoldcrone.Itmakesmewanttocryhowshedetainsyou,stinking-mouthed,withahundredtalons,puttingherheadovertheroofedgetocalldown,tastelessfig,foldoverfold,emptyasdry-rottengarlic.

Shehasyoutightbythebelt,eventhoughthere'snoflowerandnomilkinsideherbody.Deathwillopenyoureyestowhatherfaceis:Leatherspineofablacklizard.Nomoreadvice.

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Letyourselfbesilentlydrawnbythestrongerpullofwhatyoureallylove.1

Drawnbytheinvisible,ourinnermysticstakethatlastverseasacredo.Ifwedon'tfollowwhatwereallylove,thenwedon'tfollowoursoulseither,sincethey'rethesourceofourloves.Yethowcanourlivesbefunmuchlessberightforusif"whatwereallylove"hasnoplaceinthem?

Rumidoesn'tmincewordsaboutwhatit'sliketolivecutofffromourloves.Notonlydowelosewhathasmeaningforustimeforourselvesandthosewecareabout,timeforwhatmakesushappybutworse,inreturnforthatsacrifice,"wefeelaropearoundourneck."Concernsforvisiblesdominate:

Alreadytightlybound,wearewrappedwithyetanotherchain.We'velosteverything,buthere'sanotherdisaster.Heldinthecurlsofyourhair,wefeelaropearoundourneck.2

ReasonThat's"DeathtoOurSouls"

Howdowegetintosuchafix?Byawayofthinkingthatthecultureinstillsthroughallitsinstitutions.It'scalled"reason,"butwhat'smeantisathoughtprocessthatlimitsustoobservablesandcountables.Thisversionofrationalitysizesupthevisiblesideofthingsandmakesdecisionsonthatbasisalone.Thevisibletellsusallweneedtoknow,indeedallwecanknow.

Anyotherwayofthinkingisconsideredirrational.Usinginvisiblevaluestodecideaboutvisibles?Spendingmoreonashirtorrug,forinstance,becauseit'snotmadebyforcedlabor,orleavingahigh-payingjobbecauseyoudon'tagreewiththevaluesthatgowithit?Theseresponsesareconsideredimprudent,emotional,unscientific,andpotentiallydangerous.

Why?Becausereasonsayswedon'tmoveupintheworldbyfollowingourloves,andsocietymightfallapartifwealldid.Nothingwouldgetdone.Weneedexternalrewardsandpunishmentstokeepusinline

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doingwhatsystemsrequire.Ifweknowwhat'sgoodforus,we'llbrushasidethe"lovestories"thatoursoulswrite,evenifthatcausesuspain:

Everyday,thispain.Eitheryou'renumboryoudon'tunderstandlove.Iwriteoutmylovestory.Youseethewriting,butyoudon'treadit.3

Ourmysticsdoreadit,painfulthoughitis.Theydon'tagreewithvisible-onlythinking.Rationalized"answers"aboutwheretoflydon'tfly.We'remadeunhappy(addictive,numb,crazy,depressed,compulsive),andthemorewe'reunhappy,themoreoursystemsreflectourunhappiness.The"wine"symbolizinglife-givingmeaningdoesn'tgointoaglassbutslipsthroughourfingers:

Thisworldhurtsmyheadwithitsanswers,winefillingmyhand,notmyglass.IfIcouldwakecompletely,IwouldsaywithoutspeakingwhyI'mashamedofusingwords.4

Ifwe'renumbfrombargaining,notwebutthenotionofreasonhasgoneawry.Bydismissinginnerforouter,visible-onlyreasoningfactorsouthalfourbeing,andthemostmeaningfulhalf."Conventionalknowledgeisdeathtooursouls,anditisnotreallyours.It'slaidon"laidonbyaculturalwayofthinkingthatsayswe'rehereto"takelittlestepsandpeckattheground":

Therearemanyguisesforintelligence.Onepartofyouisglidinginahighwindstream,whileyourmoreordinarynotionstakelittlestepsandpeckattheground.

Conventionalknowledgeisdeathtooursouls,anditisnotreallyours.

It'slaidon.Yetwekeepsayingthatwefind"rest"inthese"beliefs."5

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What'smissingfromground-peckingreasonisthebigpicture.Confinedtotangibles,itmissestheintangibles,thebiggestonebeing"whetherwe'reinharmonywiththatwhichhasnodefinition."Areweinsyncwiththeholomovement,sothatwe'rebeingwhowecameheretobe?Ground-peckingreasoncan'ttouchthisquestion.It'sgoodatclevernessandmanipulatingfigures,butitcanalsowasteourmindstryingtountiesacksthatturnouttobeempty:

Apeacefulfacetwistswiththepoisonousnailofthinking.Agoldenspadesinksintoapileofshit.

Supposeyouloosenanintellectualknot.Thesackisempty.You'vegrownoldtryingtountiesuchdifficulties.Soloosenafewmore,whyknot!

Thereisabigonefastenedatyourthroat,theproblemofwhetheryou'reinharmonywiththatwhichhasnodefinition.Trysolvingthat.6

CrossingtheThresholdandBecomingLoners

Becausevisible-onlythinkingdoesn'tworkforourinnermystics,wefaceachoice.Everyjourneybeginswithcrossingathreshold,andthischoicemarksthemystic's.Eitherweabandonourlongingsformeaning,thatis,abandonthejourneybeforewestart,orweabandontheculture'sconceptofwhat'srational.

Choosingthefirstisn'tanoptionforourinnermystics.Withoutaquestformeaning,we'dseeonlytheoutwardside:worldsofinjustice,aneconomicsurvivalofthefittest,therichgettingricherandthepoorpoorer,bureaucraciesgrindingoutboughtdecisions,peopledoingthingsonlyifthey'rerewarded,andeverywherethehauntingfearofnotmakingitapicturethatleavesusfeelingdisillusionedandcynicalabouttheworld.Ontopofthat,withoutourmystics'connectednessto

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meaning,we'dbargainawayourdestiniesinexchangeforexternalrewards.We'dendupusingthesamecynicalanddisillusioningmethodsthatcreatetheworldswedespise,leavinguscynicalanddisillusionedaboutourselvesaswell.

Thischoicewillneverdoforourinnermystics.Withoutoursoulsandourquestsformeaning,whoarewe?AsRumiseesit,weneedouryearningsfortheunseenourinnermysticsto"continuebeinghuman":

There'snoloveinmewithoutyourbeing,nobreathwithoutthat.Ioncethought

Icouldgiveupthislonging,thenthoughtagain,ButIcouldn'tcontinuebeinghuman.7

Nonetheless,thesecondchoicechoosingtoabandontheculturalconceptofwhat'srational,ofwhoweshouldbeandwhatweshoulddowithourlivesisabigone.Crossingthisthresholdtakesusoutonourown.Othersmaynotunderstandourchoiceand,forthatmatter,wemaynotunderstanditourselves.OurmysticLonerisprofoundlythataloneintheholo-ocean:

Late,bymyself,intheboatofmyself,nolightandnolandanywhere,cloudcoverthick.Itrytostayjustabovethesurface,yetI'malreadyunderandlivingwithintheocean.8

Theholo-oceanisn'tsuchabadplacetobe,though,sinceinit,wehaveafreedomthatwedon'thaveinbargainingsystems.Ifwhatwewantmostisn't"outthere"butwithin,thenwedon'thavetobargaintogetit.Wehaveitalreadyinwhoweare"alreadyunderandlivingwithintheocean"andwejustneedtolearnhowtoaccessit.Ourinnermysticsfireapassioninustodothistocrossthisthresholdandifthepassiondoesn'tfitinbothworlds,''Nomatter":

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Thereisapassioninmethatdoesn'tlongforanythingfromanotherhumanbeing.

Iwasgivensomethingelse,acaptowearinbothworlds.Itfelloff.Nomatter.9

LovesConnectUswiththeMystery

Choosingtoabandonnotoursoulsbutnot-us,bargaining-systemconceptsaboutwhattodo,wecannowreturntotheoriginalquestion:wheredowegowithourmysticyearnings?AsLoners,we'renotfollowingofficialreasonnotledbyvisiblesandcountables.Yetwhatguidesusintheirplace?Rumi'sansweristhatoftheclassicmystic:ourlovesdo.Ourlovespossessawisdomaboutwhywe'reherethatnothingelsehas.

Nexttooursouls,ourlovesareourgreatesttreasures.Notonlydotheyholdthesecrettoourreasonforbeing,butmore,they'reourlinktothewholehowweconnectwiththebigpictureandhowitconnectswithus.BothRumiandPlatoclaimthatwhatwelongforinourheartofheartsconnectsuswithGod:

MuhammedrelatedthatGodsaid,"Iamnotintheatmosphere,orinthevoidofspace,orinthemostbrilliantintelligences.Ilivemoreclearlyandbrightlyasaguestinahumbleworker'sheart.

ThereIam,withoutqualification,ordefinition,ordescription.Iamthere,inthatperson'sloving,sothatmyqualitiesandpowerscanflowoutintoeverythingelse.

Insuchamirror,timeandmattercanbearmybeauty.Suchapersonis

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avastmirror,withinwhich,everysecond,fiftyweddingbanquetsappear!

Don'taskmetodescribeit!"10

Howdoesthiswork?RumisaysthatourlovesareactuallyGodmovinginustheholomovementunfoldingthroughthelanguageofourdeepestlongings:

Loveisthewaymessengersfromthemysterytellusthings.11

InPlato'sterms,theGoodoperatesinusasourlongingsforthegood.Whatwelovebeneathallwe'velearnedtowantissomethingdivine."Godlivesbetweenahumanbeingandtheobjectofhisorherdesire,"Rumisays."It'sallamysticaljourneytotheFriend."12

InPlato'sSymposium,awisewomannamedDiotimatellsSocratesthat"Love"isthego-betweenfromignorancetoknowledge,sinceit'stheloveofwisdomthatleadsusfromonetotheother.Inthesameway,"Love"isthe"envoy''and"interpreter"betweenheavenandearth,"weldingbothsidestogetherandmergingthemintoonegreatwhole."13Ourloveforthegooddrawsustoit,ormore,istheGooddrawingustoitself"loverandBelovedpullthemselvesintoeachother."Eitherway,loveconnects"whatlivesintime"with"whatlivesineternity"anddirectsusonthemysticpath:

WhatcharacteristicsdoGodandhumanbeingshaveincommon?Whatistheconnectionbetweenwhatlivesintimeandwhatlivesineternity?

IfIkepttalkingaboutLove,ahundrednewcombiningswouldhappen,andstillIwouldnotsaytheMystery.

Thefearfulasceticrunsonfoot,alongthesurface.Loversmovelikelightningandwind.

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Nocontest.Theologiansmumble,rumble-dumble,necessityandfreewill,whileloverandBelovedpullthemselvesintoeachother.14

Nowondermysticsacrossculturesgonutsoverloveintheirwritings;it'sthemystic'selement,theexactpointofinterfacebetweentheseenandtheunseen.Loveishowthevisibleandinvisibleconverseinus,andtofollowourlovesistopursuethedialoguebetweenvisibleandinvisiblethroughourlives.

Love'sdialogueturnsfirsttowhoweare.Ouressenceisinvisibleandineffable,notsomethingwecanpindown.Yetinspiteofoursouls'elusivequality,ourlovesconnectuswiththem.We,wholiveintime,andoursouls,wholiveineternity,areloverandBeloved,drawingeachothercloser.Followingourloves,wemovewithouressence,justasaflowermoveswiththewind:

Godonlyknows,Idon't,whatkeepsmelaughing.

Thestemofaflowermoveswhentheairmoves.15

PsychologistJamesHillmansuggeststhatour"soul'scode"isseededinusfromthebeginningandthatourinterestsandinclinationsrevealwhowe'llbe.Whatwe'redrawntofromourearliestyearsindicatesoursouls'handinourlivesfromthestart.16Farfrombeingtrivialorinsignificant,then,ourlovesguideustoourdestinies.Oursoulsareourburiedtreasuresandourlovesthemapstofindthem.Ourlovessortoutwhich"calls"areoursandwhicharen't.''Everycallthatexcitesyourspirit"isfromourloveshenceoursoulswhereas"thosethatmakeyoufearfulandsad"arenotourstofollow:

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Bepatient.Respondtoeverycallthatexcitesyourspirit.

Ignorethosethatmakeyoufearfulandsad,thatdegradeyoubacktowarddiseaseanddeath.17