The Distinct Paths of Intellect and Love
Mawlānā Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, in the profound philosophy of his Dīvān-i Kabīr, treats intellect and love as two distinct modes of being. Intellect represents limitations and criteria; it is a marketplace, open to exchange, and is used to fulfill our worldly needs. However, according to Mawlānā, love points to an infinite journey into the unknown, transcending this marketplace. Love is a reality that surpasses the boundaries of intellect, one that reason cannot resolve, and it invites the individual to a universal experience.
The Sacrifices of Spiritual Ascent
Mawlānā presents striking examples of the kinds of sacrifices that those who surrender to the power of love may make. Like the hidden Mansūrs, some lovers have turned towards the path of enlightenment by abandoning their social status and worldly positions. Such surrender may even entail risking elevation on the gallows; for love strips the individual of their self and enables them to unite with the universe. This shows that spiritual ascent inevitably requires certain sacrifices.
Renunciation of the Nafs and the Discovery of Inner Beauty
Mawlānā’s counsel focuses on overcoming the obstacles of the nafs (the lower self) and discovering inner beauty. While intellect, by clinging to worldly troubles, pushes the individual onto a thorny path, love offers the opportunity to be cleansed of these thorns. Coming to oneself, remaining silent, and removing the thorn of existence from one’s foot directs the person to see and contemplate the rose gardens within. In this process, contemplation and surrender mark the beginning of a spiritual journey.