Rumi Daylight

Rumi might be called the world’s ultimate jihad warrior.

But, only if we take a moment to appreciate the true, deeply spiritual nature of the concept of jihad—a concept distorted in modern times by both extreme Islam groups and Western views.

The root of jihad means “to strive” or “to exert oneself” and has two manifestations: one internal and one external. It’s interesting to note that the struggle to achieve perfection of the self has been called the greater struggle or greater “holy war” (al-jihad al-akbar) in contrast to the lesser struggle (al-jihad al-asghar), which is against injustice and oppressors in this world.

With that, let’s enjoy some of his beautiful and powerful thoughts that guide us in the “greater holy war” to achieve perfection of the self.

I don’t know about you, but I’d like the candy AND the self-control. :)

Seriously. (Well, actually I was being serious. :).

Self-mastery.

All the wise teachers profess its power.

Nietzsche (see Notes on Thus Spoke Zarathustra) likes to say: “He who cannot command himself should obey. And many can command themselves, but much is still lacking before they can obey themselves.”

And Leonardo da Vinci tells us: “One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.”

And, as we saw, another way Rumi says it: “The lion who breaks the enemy’s ranks is a minor hero compared to the lion who overcomes himself.”

How about you?

How’s your self-mastery?

Can you command yourself? And then obey?

What’s one thing that, if started doing it consistently, would have the greatest positive impact on your life?

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And, how about something that you are doing that you know you need to stop doing?!?

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Here’s to the pursuit of self-control (and the candy that comes as a result)!

What a beautiful way to help us remember to appreciate each step we take in the self-actualizing process.

Remember that once you‘ve evolved to a new stage of development, you simply cannot go back to the levels you were previously at!

Rejoice in that fact and appreciate your growth.

Become the light.

And remember to have:

Ahhhh… patience.

This is a virtue I am developing.

Patiently, of course. :)

I have this thought from Epictetus (see Notes on The Enchiridion) on my whiteboard whenever I used to feel my patience wane: “If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.”

How’s your patience?

Remember, it’s the key to joy.

How can we possibly grow without challenge and a bit of discomfort?

Do you run away from every obstacle? And/or complain about every challenge?

Next time you find yourself in a challenging situation, step back. Take a deep breath.

And remember Rumi’s beautiful words: “This discipline and rough treatment are a furnace to extract the silver from the dross. This testing purifies the gold by boiling the scum away.”

Not sold yet on the idea of embracing the reality of challenges as necessary for our evolution and perfection?

How about another metaphor? :)

I love that.

You want to shine like a polished mirror?

Then learn to dig the “rubs” of life—those times that challenge us and push and polish us to become our highest, purest selves.

Yah? Sweet.

Oh!

And don’t forget: “Burdens are the foundations of ease and bitter things the forerunners of pleasure.”

Are you spending time comparing yourself to others?

Why?

You’re here to express your highest self.

Get to work on that and quit worrying about what other people are up to!

Wow.

Amazing.

Are you burning?

Can your mere presence help people burn through their “rubbish” and become ablaze with a love of life?!?

May we be the light—and the flame—that sets the world on fire.

That’s genius.

Do you often say: “If this happens then I’ll...”

Or: “If that happens then I’ll...”

Um…

As Rumi so eloquently tells us: “One cannot lodge in ‘if.’”

And, to quote the Greek goddess Nike: “Just do it!” :)

Many ways to reflect on that gem.

On one hand, it makes me think of Aldous Huxley brilliant comment: “Facts do not cease to exist simply because they are ignored.”

It also reminds me of Robert Fritz’ thoughts in The Path of Least Resistance (see Notes) where he outlines the need to be honest about where we’re at in our lives in the process of holding the tension between our desired outcome and our current reality.

He stresses the fact that if we don’t have the courage to be honest about our current reality, it’s impossible (yes, impossible) to create our ideal.

It also makes me think about the deeper “reality” of our existence.

As Einstein says: “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”

Our belief that our deepest selves can ever die, that we are separate from one another and all other life is, as Einstein so eloquently says, an illusion.

The sword of reality protects the enlightened saint from these illusions.

Ever notice how we can bounce back and forth from one idea to its opposite? Equally convinced one was the right path/truth for us at the time?

Emerson shares some amazing wisdom on this as well.

In his brilliant essay Self-Reliance (which I’ve read dozens of times and have available for free in the members’ section), he says:

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said today. – ‘Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.’—Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.”

So, don’t beat yourself up when you find yourself exploring different perspectives.

Remember that God turns us from one feeling to another so that we may have two wings to fly and not one…

As you experience the often disorienting sensation that comes with clarifying your values, why not imagine the creation of your beautiful wings that’ll lift your consciousness higher and higher?!?

And, as we develop our sense of flight, may we remember:

That is so incredibly beautiful.

Are you stepping up and showing up fully in this precious hero’s journey of yours?!?

How can you more fully give yourself to the world?

My friend, I repeat Rumi’s wisdom: “During these brief days that you have strength, be quick and spare no effort of your wings.”

“Borrowed certainty”—whether it’s from our family or friends or church or country—is never a very good place to dwell…

We must discover our own truth.

As the Buddha (see Notes on The Dhammapada) says: “Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

Amen.

Time to get cookin’ in the truth, eh?!?

I’ll save a seat for you in the fire!! :)