Sunday 3 February 2008

Rumi

I was travelling in the masjetic land that is Istanbul,Turkey in the summer 2007 with my friends.What an amazing country, steeped rich in tradition and history. From beautiful minarets decorating the skyline, to friendly Turks giving you apple tea as you pass, and old men playing chess and praying on prayer beads, just watching the world go by.While in the Hagia Sophi/St Sophia, once an Orthodox church turned amazing Ottoman Mosque then turned into a boring meseaum. I came across a poem by J. Rumi, the great spritual Muslim Sufi master, I was istantly struck by its amazing beauty.

The poem is as follows :


In compassion and grace be like the sun.

In concealing other faults be like the night.

In anger and fury be like the dead.

In modesty and humility be like the earth.

In tolerance be like the sea.

Either appear as you are or be as you appear.

(Jalalududin Rumi)

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