Ruminating On Rumi

As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears.

~ M. Rumi

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Waltzing With Wisdom

Who takes the lead when we waltz with wisdom? Is it the brain or is it the heart? Does wisdom come at a cost? The price of innocence lost. Defining wisdom is difficult. Difficult because wisdom cannot be worded, truly. Yes, we are a world that loves words of wisdom, quotes from the wise.  Quotes cannot confer wisdom, quotes can only act as pointers. Words of wisdom are often just words upon the ear that knows all. Yet at times wise words can open hearts, stop time, awaken to true self. We speak/quote wise words but it is in the deeds that wisdom is expressed. These deeds are nourished by humility, a longing to serve others and in the "knowing" that each life has its place.

Difficult or near impossible to define, people generally recognize wisdom when they encounter it. Some of the attributes of wisdom may be tolerance in the uncertainties of life, introspection, a sense of balance and calmness in facing difficulties. From a space of wisdom, we offer spaciousness to others, forgiveness to self and others; wisdom awakens us to the preciousness of this very moment, this very breath.

How is wisdom different then knowledge? Thinking cannot make it so; wisdom is not an attainment of knowledge.  Nor intelligence gained by study or research. It can not be found in books or on the computer. It is not an achievement. Perhaps it can not even be in response to time although aging and its experiences may be fertile grounds for wisdom.

It is only in the experience of living and of learning from life's lessons that true wisdom is embodied. Wisdom is fluid, adaptable. This is the essence of wisdom.

What have I learned? We can aspire to wisdom with an open and true heart, a kind and loving nature, and the humility in waking up to all that is. This.

With these words, I fall short of explaining that which can not be worded.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Over and over and over

And then over and over and over again in this moment
I am gifted with this breath
This fragrance so subtly sweet
This (feel)
This (sound) of (bird)
This ray of sunshine rising over the hill setting over the field
This terrible news
This sorrow
This kindness
This laughter
This shoulder to lean on
This I love you in the ear
This thought of how could I make up anything greater then this already...

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

April Phoolish

There's a fool born every minute.  Thus we all have the potential to play the fool.  Be it the trickster fool who tricks and teases in a harmless way or the malevolent trickster who means to guide us astray by tomfoolery. Or as an archetype, the shadow side of the fool has a bright side.  One of waking us up to alternatives to the same-old-same.

The fool imparts wisdom with social satire and shows us that we don't always have to take the narrow, culturally/socially/politically defined path.  Fools may think out of the box and at the same time mock those who are boxed in by tradition. "Little boxes on the hillside, little boxes just the same." The Fool On The Hill looks down, not necessarily on us, but above us with compassion that we have been mesmerized into believing that the socially accepted ways are the only way.

The jester jests us with gestures of freedom. We can shake off the cloak of illusion and choose to live in a way of kindness and harmony with all beings.