Discourses of Rumi

discourse 5The Amir, surprised by an unexpected visit fromRumi, said: “Master, how gracious of you tohonor me in this way. I never expected this. Itnever even entered my mind that I could be worthyof such an honor. By rights I should be standingnight and day in the ranks and company ofyour servants and attendants. I’m not even worthyof that. How gracious this is!”Rumi said: It is all because of your lofty spiritualaspirations. The higher and greater your rankand the more you become occupied with important,exalted worldly affairs, the more you consideryourself to have fallen short of your spiritualpurpose. You are not satisfied with what youhave achieved, thinking that you have too manyobligations. Since none of these attainments canblind you from that divine attainment, my heart ismoved to serving you. And yet for all that, still, Iwanted to pay you formal honor as well.Form too possesses great importance. No,much more than importance—it is of true sub-