Discourses of Rumi

204 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIsubject I know many things and see many things,for I have worked and studied, turning night intoday, and I have found the treasures.”“Did We not expand your breast out of lovefor you?”The expansion of the breast is infinite. Oncethat expansive truth has been tasted, we understandmuch from even one hint. But beginnerswill only understand, from a word, the meaningof that one word. What inner knowledge andecstasy can they possess?Words are spoken according to the capacity ofthe listeners. If beginners do not know how todraw wisdom out, how can it come forth? Oncethey breathe in, then wisdom will fill their hearts.But they say, “For heaven’s sake, why aren’t thewords spoken?” The answer is, “For heaven’ssake, why don’t you draw this wisdom in?”Whoever withholds the power to listen also withholdsfrom the speaker the impulse to speak.In the time of the Prophet, a certain unbelieverhad a Muslim slave who was a man of true substance.One morning the unbeliever ordered hisslave, “Fetch basins. I am going to the baths.” On