Sunday, March 14, 2010

The Guest House


by Jelaluddin Rumi

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

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

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

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

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

4 comments:

merry said...

This is a beautiful lesson, but oh, so hard to follow. May it help as a reminder when we have those moments, hours, days when we feel we've been taken over by something (someone?) more powerful than we. It's not easy to welcome anger, jealousy, depression, but to think that by welcoming those feelings we might be opening ourselves to something beautiful might make it all worth while! Thanks for sharing.

kelly said...

Hello!

Just to say that your parcel is on it's way!

Super late (can I blame lots of illness?) BUT On it's way! Yay!

Stephanie said...

I almost picked up Rumi today - I've been thinking a lot of my favorite brother Hafiz, and will be taking him into the sunshine with me, tomorrow. :)
Thanks for the reminder!

Dan said...

I'm looking at those feet and thinking about the many houses we have shared...