Discourses of Rumi

discourse 30There are heads that are adorned by crowns ofgold, and there are heads whose beautiful curlsare merely hidden by jewels and gold. The curls ofour heart’s beloved arouse love, and love is thethrone-room of the heart. But a crown is nothingbut metal and stones.We sought everywhere for Solomon’s ring. Wefound his wisdom far from riches. Abandoningwealth we found that beautiful treasure. In povertywe took our repose, and our Beloved waspleased with nothing so much as this.Well, I am a whoremonger. Since I was young,I have been a seller of love. I know this destroysbarriers and consumes the veils of the heart. Loveis the root of all obedience; all else is mere adornment.If you do not sacrifice, how can you gainyour heart’s desire? Giving up everything leads toannihilation, the source of all pleasures where noseparation exists.“And God is with the patient.”