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181 " I’ve made up so many love stories.Now I feel fictional. "
― Rumi , The Essential Rumi
182 " A True Man stares at his old shoesand sheepskin jacket. Every day he goes upto his attic to look at his work-shoes and worn-out coat.This is his wisdom, to remember the original clayand not get drunk with ego and arrogance. "
183 " Be empty of worrying.Think of who created thought! "
184 " Do you think I know what I’m doing?That for one breath or half-breath I belong to myself?As much as a pen knows what it’s writing,or the ball can guess where it’s going next. "
185 " In your light I learn how to love.In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest,where no one sees you, but sometimes I do,and that sight becomes this art. "
186 " martyred plants from their shrouds. Their mouths "
187 " Try and be a sheet of paper with nothing on it.Be a spot of ground where nothing is growing,where something might be planted,a seed, possibly, from the Absolute. "
188 " Any wine will get you high.Judge like a king, and choose the purest, the ones unadulterated with fear,or some urgency about “what’s needed. "
189 " There’s no need to go outside. Be melting snow.Wash yourself of yourself. "
190 " SPECIAL PLATES Notice how each particle moves.Notice how everyone has just arrived here from a journey.Notice how each wants a different food.Notice how the stars vanish as the sun comes up, and how all streams stream toward the ocean.Look at the chefs preparing special plates for everyone, according to what they need.Look at this cup that can hold the ocean.Look at those who see the face.Look through Shams’ eyes into the water that is entirely jewels. "
191 " The whole worldis a form for truth. When someone does not feel gratefulto that, the forms appear to be as he feels.They mirror his anger, his greed, and his fear.Make peace with the universe. Take joy in it. "
192 " But listen to me: for one moment,quit being sad. Hear blessingsdropping their blossomsaround you. God. "
193 " What is the body? That shadow of a shadowof your love, that somehow containsthe entire universe. "
194 " who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?Who says words with my mouth? "
195 " A candle is made to become entirely flame.In that annihilating momentit has no shadow. "
196 " My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that,and I intend to end up there. "
197 " Ignorance is God’s prison.Knowing is God’s palace. We sleep in God’s unconsciousness.We wake in God’s open hand. We weep God’s rain.We laugh God’s lightning. Fighting and peacefulnessboth take place within God. "
198 " No one who really loves,loves existence. "
199 " A lover’s food is the love of bread,not the bread. No one who really loves,loves existence. Lovers have nothing to do with existence.They collect the interest without the capital. No wings, yet they fly all over the world. No hands, but they carry the polo ball from the field. That dervish got a sniff of reality.Now he weaves baskets of pure vision. "
200 " Lovers pitch tents on a field of nowhere. "