In the heart of every spiritual journey lies a profound truth: love is the guiding force that leads us to what is right. In this video, we explore the timeless wisdom of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, one of the most revered Sufi mystics, whose words on love transcend all barriers of religion, race, nationality, and gender. Rumi’s poetry reminds us that love is not just an emotion or a fleeting experience, but rather a vast, infinite sea in which we are all immersed, learning from its waves, guided by its light.
“Our school is Love,” writes Rumi. "Our teacher is the Wisdom of Greatness. We are students. We keep studying our lessons" (Divan 9:40). Love is our eternal school, a place where we are all students, constantly learning from its depth and beauty. Every soul, no matter where they are from, is invited to this school where the lessons of love are taught without prejudice. The mystic traditions of all faiths point to this truth—whether Sufism, Buddhism, Christianity, or Hinduism, the message remains the same: love is the teacher, the guide, and the path.
Rumi’s poetry often points to the idea that love dissolves all the boundaries we create between one another. “Some people worship golden calves. I, however, am a mangy calf who worships love” (Sr234). In these lines, Rumi humbly places love as the ultimate object of devotion, above all material idols. He teaches that love itself is the purest form of worship, the path to divine union. To love deeply is to see beyond surface differences—to embrace all people, all beings, as part of the same whole.
“Love is the whole thing. We are only pieces” (D1:3). This profound statement speaks to the nature of love as something universal and all-encompassing. We, as individuals, are fragments of a greater unity, and it is through love that we can catch a glimpse of this wholeness. "The sky turns only with Love. Without Love, even the stars are eclipsed, extinguished." Here, Rumi shows us that love is not just personal; it is cosmic, a force that animates the entire universe.
Love is colorless. It knows no race, no gender, no nationality. It flows like a river, purifying everything in its path. "Love is a light, exalted. A secret river to be drunk, purified and flowing forever. A fire burning, never extinguished" (D1:301). In this powerful metaphor, Rumi describes love as a purifying force, a light that never dims, and a fire that continuously burns, igniting our souls with its warmth.
In Sufi mysticism, love is often portrayed as the wine that intoxicates the soul, lifting it above worldly concerns. "There’s a wine that spreads the wings of soul’s bird, that never makes you tired or boring. Love is the cupbearer of that wine, lovers drink gladly from the cupbearer’s hand" (Rub:187). This wine, which Rumi speaks of, is not forbidden; it is the nectar of divine love, a gift to those who seek beyond the material world. In love’s embrace, the soul finds joy, freedom, and release from the burdens of the ego.
Rumi’s poetry invites us to cast aside the illusions of the material world and embrace the divine presence within ourselves. “If you want to see the Beloved’s Face, borrow the Beloved’s Eyes. Look through them and you’ll see the face everywhere” (r271). This speaks to a deeper spiritual truth—that love allows us to see beyond appearances, to recognize the divine in everyone and everything. To see the face of the Beloved is to see through the eyes of love, where every person becomes a reflection of the divine.
"Hold to the reins of love and don’t be afraid. Hold to the real behind the false and don’t be afraid. You must know that the Beloved you seek is none other than you" (rjs157). This profound message of self-realization speaks to the heart of Sufi philosophy. The love we seek is not external; it is already within us. The Beloved, or God, that we yearn for, is not separate from us but exists in our very essence. Through love, we come to know this truth and embrace the divine nature within ourselves.
As Rumi so beautifully puts it, love is the ultimate transformative force: “He gives me love. That love becomes my friend. My acquaintance. All sourness turns into wine” (D11:111). Through love, all bitterness in life is transformed into sweetness. Love turns sorrow into joy, fear into courage, and darkness into light. It is the alchemical force that purifies the soul and brings it closer to the divine.
In this video, we delve into these exquisite teachings of Rumi, learning that love is the true path to wisdom, joy, and enlightenment. As students in this "School of Love," we are constantly learning, growing, and evolving. Love is our teacher, and through its lessons, we come to understand the deeper truths of existence. Whether through joyous union or the bittersweet pain of longing, love is the force that propels us toward the divine, showing us that we are never separate, but always part of the infinite sea of love.
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