Discourses of Rumi

394 V DISCOURSES OF RUMIUmar said to that daughter, “There is no childalive today to compare with you in your dutifulnessto your father.” She replied, “What you sayis true, but there is a difference between what Igive and what my father gave me. I may not fallshort in service to my father, but when my fatherraised and served me he used to tremble for mysafety and concern, while I serve my father andpray night and day asking God that he may die,so the trouble he causes me may end. If I serve myfather, where can I get that same trembling he hasfor me?” Umar said, “This woman is wiser thanUmar.” He meant, “I have judged by externals,while she speaks of the core.”Those who are truly wise penetrate into thecore of a thing and diagnose the truth of it. Godforbid that Umar was not apprised of the truthand secrets of things, but such was the way of theCompanions, that they criticized themselves andcommended others.There are many who lack the strength for“presence.” They find “absence” more agreeable.In the same way, brightness comes from the sunand illuminates the world, but if people stare at