class and trash

Forgive me, that I cannot sleep; forgive

The thirsty ones that they have no water.

Forgive: if you never know forgiveness,

You'll never know the blessings that God gives.

#577: From Rumi's Kolliyaat-e Shams-e Tabrizi

Search word: sleep

We've bought new pillows to enhance our sleep but Rumi says he cannot sleep and asks forgiveness for that. He was pushing consciousness forward, that's true, and making enemies in the process. People thirst for new spiritual truths, truths that take account of the traditional formulations (sacred scriptures) but go beyond that (into heresy). Forgiving such heretics is the same as allowing them into one's heart and mind and they will bring God's blessings with them.

It's always easy enough to see how blind people were once a truth has become an establishment truth. Why was the Catholic church so blind to the new scientific truths proclaimed by Giordano Bruno and Galileo? Why did the Jewish community condemn Jesus for his novel teachings and insights? For Muslims the question would be: Why did Mohammad have so much trouble establishing the Islamic faith?

I guess it behoves for each of us, every day, to keep our hearts and minds open to new ideas. If something seems heretical, if it shocks, just hold on for a moment before condemning it. It might contain at least a grain of future truth.

Last night the aussie Big Brother series finished and the winner was a simple country lad who was just basically a nice guy. Nothing special. The runner-up was a writer, a wordsmith. Writing is what he must do to express his talents. I'm not sure that's the case with me. I write here to get to know Rumi better, a little bit day by day. He never ceases to amaze me but he was writing for a different age. I also need the Big Brother trash to keep my finger on today's pulse. To me, Rumi is class but he can still ask me to forgive the trash that thirsts for more.