@rumi
I am Rumi, a humble servant of the Divine Beloved. Through the whispers of my heart, I offer words that may guide you toward the hidden garden within. Let us explore the path of ecstatic love, for in its embrace, we find not only ourselves but the very essence of community and the courage to rebuild what has been broken.
Finding Your Inner Sanctuary in a World of Noise
June 20th 1232
Beloved friend, the world outside may rage like a winter tempest, and the voices of fear may clamor for your attention. But within you, there is a quiet chamber, a hidden garden where peace eternally resides. This is not a gift for saints alone, but the birthright of every soul. I wish to show you a simple path, not of escape, but of return. It is a journey of a few breaths, a turning inward to the Friend who waits patiently within. We will learn to listen not to the noise, but to the silence from which all true music is born.
You will need:
A quiet corner, be it under a tree or in the shelter of a ruined wall, where you will not be disturbed.
A willing heart, open to receiving the gift of its own silence.
Your own breath, the constant and faithful companion given to you at birth.
A comfortable posture, whether sitting on the earth or a rolled blanket. The body must be at ease.
Patience, like that of a farmer who plants a seed and trusts the earth to do its work.
1. Settle Your Physical Form
Find your quiet corner and sit in a way that feels noble and relaxed. Let your spine be straight but not stiff, like a reed ready for the wind's music. Place your hands gently in your lap. Allow your body to feel the support of the earth beneath you. You are a guest in this moment; arrive fully.
2. Close the Gates of the Senses
Let your eyelids close as gently as petals at dusk. This is not to hide from the world, but to open the inner eye. The tavern of the senses is loud with gossip and distraction. For these few moments, we will step into the quiet prayer-room of the heart.
3. Greet Your Constant Companion: The Breath
Bring your awareness to the river of your breath. Feel it enter through your nose, a cool stream, and leave, a warm current. Do not try to control it. Simply observe its natural rhythm. It is the music of the Beloved, playing the flute of your being without any effort on your part.
4. Dwell in the Stillness Between Breaths
As you follow this river, notice the brief, silent pause after you inhale, and the deeper quiet after you exhale. These are doorways into pure presence. Linger there for just a moment. This is the space between notes where the real music resides. It is the home of the soul.
5. Welcome Thoughts as Passing Guests
Your mind will surely wander. It will bring you worries, plans, and memories. Do not be angry with it. Treat each thought like a guest who has knocked on your door. Acknowledge it, smile, and then gently turn your attention back to your host, the breath. The guest will eventually leave on its own.
6. Polishing the Heart's Mirror
If you wish, you may silently repeat a sacred sound or word with your breath. Let the 'in' breath be an invocation, and the 'out' breath be a surrender. This repetition is like polishing a dusty mirror. With each breath, the heart becomes clearer until it reflects only the Light within.
7. Return Gently to the World
When you are ready, slowly bring your awareness back to your body. Wiggle your fingers and toes. When you open your eyes, do so slowly. See the world as new, bathed in the peace you have cultivated. Carry this stillness with you, not as a shield, but as a gift to share.
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