Jalaluddin Rumi

Every morning joy, depression, meanness, some momentary awareness, come as unexpected visitors....Welcome and entertain them all. Treat each guest honourably. Invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

Jalaluddin Rumi

Above observations are profound in nature. As beautiful as they have been mentioned, I am tempted to decode their meaning for my contemplation.

Above understanding or revelation is regarding the nature of our mind. Mind means all ‘kinds’ of thoughts – good to the worst. And there is a potential to create, entertain (i.e. “pursue” consciously or sub consciously) any kind of thoughts. We have a choice – what thoughts need to be seen, observed, encouraged? Can we really command each and every single thought that comes from nowhere? And what happens when a thought comes ‘in’.....what really happens? How does it affect us? How does it lead to other series of thoughts? How does it generate a ‘feeling’ (stress or jealousy or happiness or anything) and how does it compel one to respond? The concern is that because of these thoughts, are we reacting or are we responding? 

Thus, above revelation indicates a subtle power of a continuous creation and flow of thoughts within us. An attitude of mindful observation and non judgemental acceptance is indicated towards the entry and exit of thoughts. Notice that thoughts are personified as “guests of honour” (temporary/ changing but to be regarded with due respect). It means that our identification with thoughts is not required – we need not react or we need not get too involved with them. Encouragement/ pursuance of thoughts or suppression of thoughts – both possibilities are to be suspended. Thoughts need not be “fixed”, neither they need to be locked up or brushed within the carpet, no matter how unpleasant they might seem. They cannot be contained at all. They are beyond absolute control. We can hope to have limited or relative control once we understand what we are dealing with. We may realize that we are actually dealing with something ephemeral as the wind or sea – these phenomenons can’t be caught but they are certainly ‘felt’. Just as we accept our environment in “as is” condition, we need to accept our thoughts that shape us/ our mind/ our character/ our actions and our future. 

Another idea that has been portrayed here – is the realization of detachment (‘you’ as an entity of existence is different from summation of all thoughts put together) – or you are not defined by thoughts alone. Your real definition is beyond the identity perceived by you and others because of the thoughts you subconsciously and consciously choose to entertain. Thus thoughts give a manifested picture of the phenomenon – they are what they are. Thus, the idea of meaning of life is dependent on thoughts you create and entertain. 

As we realize the characteristics of our thoughts, we understand how little we seem to control them in an absolute sense. Thus, each thought , although is generated ‘in us’, is NOT in our command to ‘listen’ to us. Herein comes the idea of being grateful to thoughts and the tendencies/ actions they generate. One needs to be grateful to ALL tendencies – the good and the bad, since there nothing incomplete in that sense – tendencies change, convert, alter, flow....like the wind or the river. Thus something happens eventually despite our wishes and something may happen by our choice. Several ideas are embedded here, prominent among them is the idea of beyond or Unmanifested Potential or Void or Space or Neutral or Pure Light. 

In the Indian mysticism, what is ‘Avataar’ after all? It is manifestation of a particular tendency. From where does it come? What is the source and what is its destination? Avataar is just created and transformed. As long as it is there, it can be regarded as real, otherwise, it is not real in absolute sense. 

And that is the reason, that behind ALL tendencies/ manifestations, there is a need to paying gratitude to them – be it Durga, or Kali or Mahishasur or Laxmi or Saraswati. 

In fact, what is fearful, ugly is also given an expression of gratitude. Because, fear compliments faith. Ugly leads to realization of beauty. Thus, each tendency is not an ‘end’ in itself, it is just a process in the making. 

Process.