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3 Feb: "The Guest House" by Rumi

THE GUEST HOUSE
By Rumi
Translation by Coleman Barks
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 are 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 whatever comes.
Because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

2 comments:

  1. Should we tweet this one to Trump?

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  2. LMAO. Definitely.

    When I worked for the Indian wedding planner she used to tell me that whenever someone came to her house she would treat them like a god or a goddess with drinks and food and comfortable seating, etc. because she said that she never knew when a god was impersonating a human and testing her on her manners and social ethic.

    How does Rumi always say it so right...

    ReplyDelete