Discourses of Rumi

discourse 6Rumi said: These words are for the sake of thosewho need words to understand. But as for thosewho understand without words, what use havethey for speech? The heavens and earth are wordsto them, sent forth themselves from the Word ofGod. Whoever hears a whisper, what need havethey for shouting and screaming?An Arabic speaking poet once came into thepresence of a king. Now the king was a Turk, anddid not even know Persian. The poet had composedin his honor some brilliant verses in Arabic,and had brought these with him. When the kinghad taken his seat on the throne and the courtierswere all present and duly stationed, commandersand ministers each in their place, the poet rose tohis feet and began to recite his poem. At everypassage deserving applause the king nodded hishead, while at every passage provoking astonishmenthe looked amazed. Similarly, he respondedto every passage expressing submission. Thecourtiers were astounded.