Discourses of Rumi

FIHI MA FIHI V 217But none of them had the courage to take a furtherstep. They all said, “The steps we took up tohere were all easy. Yet this one step we cannotmake.”What Umar desired was that step, to take onestep in the presence of the lion towards the lion.That step is a great and rare matter, the concernof only the chosen and intimate of God. Yet thisis the true step—the rest are mere footprints. Suchfaith comes only to prophets who have washedtheir hands of their own life.A lover is a wonderful thing. We derivestrength, life and growth from even the thought ofour beloved. Why is this surprising? Laila’s spiritgave strength to Majnun and became his food. Ifher image had such power and influence overMajnun, then why should you marvel at thethought of God giving strength to Umar? Thatwas not a mere thought. That was the very soul ofall realities! It is just such a thought that maintainsthis world.You say “reality” is what you can see and perceivewith your senses, otherwise you call it“imagination.” The opposite it true! This world is