Discourses of Rumi

164 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIis indifferent to all stokers.” What joy would sucha miserable stoker feel with the thought that theking was indifferent to them? No, the right wordsfor the stoker to speak would be: “I was on theroof of the baths. The Sultan passed by. I hailedhim. He looked well at me and then passed me by,still looking at me.” Such words might well givejoy to that stoker. As for saying, “The king isindifferent to stokers,” what sort of praise for theking is that, and what joy can it give the stoker?No matter what our ranging thoughtWithin its compass may be brought,Oh poet, what indeed will pass within the compassof your thought when you find that it is peoplewho are independent of you, they are bored ofyour thoughts and run away? God’s independenceis certain, oh poet, but if you have a spiritual stateworth anything at all, He will not be independentof you. God’s closeness to you establishes thedegree of your greatness.Sheikh Mahalla used to say, “First see, thenconverse. Everyone sees the Sultan, but it is hisfavorite who enjoys his conversation.” This too is