Become the Truth (Rumi)

There's courage involved if you want

to become truth.  There is a broken-

open place in a lover.  Where are

those qualities of bravery and sharp

compassion in this group?  What's the

use of old and frozen thought?  I want

a howling hurt.  This is not a treasury

where gold is stored; this is for copper.

We alchemists look for talent that

can heat up and change.  Lukewarm

won't do. Halfhearted holding back,

well-enough getting by?  Not here.

From Soul of Rumi

by Coleman Barks

 

It takes courage to walk the path, to be your own being. It takes bravery to let-go, to stumble openly and get up and continue. It takes determination and confidence to identify and dissolve your attachments. It takes courage to learn what spiritual, unselfish love is. Freedom is absolute steering by the spiritual heart-compass. Surrendering to the Truth, not your rationalization, wish or expectation thereof is the only way to live in alignment with reality. The ultimate bravery is facing the unknown openness of each present moment clear-eyed, liberated from the baggage of desire or expectation.

 

We cannot transform without walking our path, we cannot walk the path without transforming. The evolution of consciousness is a process of clarifying or refinement. Only the fire of zeal and consistent practice through all experience can show us what lies beyond the world of form. It doesn't take any worldly strength, power or beauty to do this. It is by being in the world but not of it,  that we transcend the mundane veneer and live in the raw and wildly beautiful effervescence of each simple moment.

 

Keep up gently but firmly striving,

and step by step we progress.

 

The only failure is to give up 

and go back to sleep...

Vow never to go back to sleep.