Friday, March 04, 2011

Lazy Vacation: Rumi's Guest House

I am in love with this poem and have grown accustomed to reading it every day since Debbie Ford gave it to us in the Shadow Process Workshop last weekend.  I love thinking of joy, depression, meanness, jealousy, sadness, anger and each and every other feeling as a GUEST...


The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture, still,
treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks

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