Discourses of Rumi

FIHI MA FIHI V 313who say, “No, this is all a tale,” they cannotbelieve. The day will come when they will realizetheir error.For instance, you are playing the rebec. Even ifyou can not see anyone, if you know people arebehind this wall listening, you will continue playing,for you are a rebec player. After all, the purposeof prayer is not standing, bowing and prostratingall day, for those moments of spiritualunion that possess you in prayer should always bewith you. Whether asleep or awake, writing orreading, in any moment, you should not be farfrom the remembrance of God.Speaking and keeping silent, sleeping and eating,being enraged and forgiving—all these attributesshould be like the turning of a water mill.Surely the mill revolves because of water, and itknows this, since it has tried to move withoutwater. Any mill that believes it is the source of itsown turning is the epitome of foolishness andignorance.Now this revolving occurs within a narrowspace, for that is the nature of this material world.Therefore, say to God, “O God, grant me anoth-