Discourses of Rumi

362 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIin our eyes. When we think of them or their imageeven enters our thoughts, it is the same as snakesor scorpions, thorns or thistles appearing beforeus.Since you can have flowers, aromatic herbs andthe meadows of Iram, why do you choose to walkamong the brambles and thorns? Think well ofeveryone so that you always dwell amongst thefields and meadows. Once you become the enemyof everyone, the images of your foes surround youday and night like scorpions and snakes.This is why the saints have love for all peopleand think well of whomever they meet—not forthe sake of others, but solely for themselves.Since, in this world no one can escape talkingabout other people or encountering their images,the saints struggle to hold everything in theirmind and memory in an amiable and positivelight, so that hateful images will not block theirway.So, whatever you say of others returns to yourself.Mohammed said:“Whoever does good, it is to their own gain,And whoever does evil, it is to their own loss.