Windows of the Heart

So far I have chosen a reading from Mohammed, and one from the Qu'ran, to give you a taste of the kind of choices I am making for my book "Flowers From Gardens of Faith."

Today I want to share a beautiful poem written by Rumi, who is loved and read by Muslims more than any other Islamic writer. Though the Qu'ran is always first for Muslims, ( and always in Arabic, preferably recited out loud, ) Rumi's voluminous writings have been called the Persian Qu'ran. Those of you who have read him will understand why this might be so. He was truly a lover of God, of others, of learning, and of the spiritual life. And he was a consummate poet.

Notice Rumi's skillful use of images like the window and the rose garden in this poem, which the pictures I have posted with this blog point to also.

Surely there is a window from heart to heart.

They are not separate and far from each other.

Though two earthenware lamps are not joined, their light mingles...

When the lightening of love for the Beloved

has shot into this heart

know that there is love

in that Heart.

When love for God has been doubled in your heart,

there is no doubt that God has love for you.

The Beloved's water washes all illness away.

The Beloved's rose garden of Union has no thorns.

I've heard it said there's a window that opens

between heart and heart

but if there are no walls

there's no need even for a window.

Rumi

There is a wonderful CD by Robert Gass and Wings of Song which contains an extended chant called a Sufi Song of Love. The combination of listening to and even chanting with this music, and reading poems by Rumi, the great Sufi teacher, can truly open your heart and take you into the Rose Garden of Union with The Beloved.

Here is the prayer of response to Rumi's poem which I wrote. You could write one too.

Beloved God, you have enlightened my heart with the lightening of Your Love.

It lights a fire of love for You in my heart

that burns away the walls that were between us,

so that I may gaze upon your Face, which is Beauty Itself.

Then the whole world becomes for me

the Rose Garden of your Beauty,

shining from countless eyes,

reflected in all You have created.

And I know

our hearts are One.