Discourses of Rumi

FIHI MA FIHI V 369left his first argument and Nimrod’s rejoinderunanswered, embarking upon another proof.”Rumi answered: Others have talked nonsenseabout this, and now you too are talking nonsense.Abraham gave one and the same argument in twodifferent forms. You have misunderstood, and sodid they. There are many meanings underlyingthis statement. One meaning is this; that Godbrought you out of the concealment of non-existencefrom your mother’s womb. Your “east” wasyour mother’s womb. From there you rose, andyou will go down into the “west” of your tomb.This is precisely the first statement, onlyexpressed in another way: “He gives life andbrings death. Now, if you are able, bring forth lifefrom the west of the tomb, and send it back to theeast of the womb.”That is one meaning—here is another:Through obedience, strenuous effort, and nobleactions the Gnostic attains illumination and spiritualintoxication, but through the abandonmentof obedience and effort their happiness goes downlike the sinking sun, therefore these two states aretheir “east” and “west.” “So, if you are able to