Return to the Root of Your Self

Don't go, come near!
Don't be faithless, be faithful!
Find the antidote in the venom.
Come to the root of the root of your Self.

Molded of clay, yet kneaded
from the substance of certainty,
a guard at the Treasury of Holy Light--
come, return to the root of the root of your Self.

Once you get a hold of selflessness,
you'll be dragged from your ego,
and freed from many traps--
come, return to the root of the root of your Self.

You are born from the children of God's creation,
but you've fixed your sight too low.
How can you be happy?
Come, return to the root of the root of your Self.

Though you are a talisman protecting a great treasure,
you are also the mine.
Open your hidden eyes
and come to the root of the root of your Self.

You were born from a ray of God's majesty
and have the blessings of a good star.
Why suffer at the hands of things that don't exist?
Come, return to the root of the root of your Self.

You came here from the prescence of that fine Friend,
a little drunk, but gentle, stealing our hearts
with that look so full of fire, so
come, return to the root of the root of your Self.

Our master and host, Shamsi Tabriz,
has put the eternal cup before you.
Glory be to God, what a rare wine!
So come, return to the root of the root of your Self.


 - Jalaludin Rumi, Divani Shamsi Tabriz #120 -

You have scattered your awareness in all directions,

and your vanities are not worth a bit of cabbage.

The root of every thorn

draws the water of your attention toward itself.

How will the water of your attention reach the fruit?

Cut through the evil roots, cut them away,

Direct the Bounty of God to spirit and to insight,

not to the knotted and broken world outside.

 - Rumi, Mathnawi, V, 1084-86 -