A Quest Beyond Existence
These selections from the Dīvān-i Kabīr of Mawlānā Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī delve deeply into the yearning to reach the truth by transcending boundaries and through the annihilation of the self (fanāʾ, annihilation in God). In Mawlana’s teaching, love is not merely an emotion; it is the fundamental force of existence, an energy that envelops the universe, and a means by which the human being attains union with the Real (al-Ḥaqq). The saying addressed to lovers, “It is forbidden to remain even a single breath distant from the Beloved,” expresses the continuity and intensity of love, while also underlining that progress on this path requires sacrifice and selflessness; for it necessitates severing ties with the world and freeing oneself from the lower self (nafs, the lower self).
Liberation from the Traps of the Nafs
Mawlana states that the desires of the nafs and worldly passions can divert humankind from the path of truth. With the metaphor of even the Simurgh falling into a trap, it is emphasized that even the most distinguished beings can succumb to the games of the commanding self (nafs al-ammāra). The saying, “O aimless heart, do not come here, sit there; that is a fine abode,” expresses that succumbing to the allure of worldly pleasures distances a person from their true goals. For this reason, Mawlana advises seeking the wine and food (spiritual experience) that gives life to the soul and satisfies it; for the world is but a deception, it is transient, and the true path to salvation is not found here. This allegorical narrative expresses that true satisfaction is not found in worldly pleasures, but in divine love.
Return to Being through Love
The symbolic meaning of eating and drinking is highly significant in Mawlana’s poetry. The expressions, “I do not eat head; head is heavy… I eat light, for it is nourishment for the soul,” show that, contrary to being preoccupied with worldly desires and bodily needs, divine love nourishes the spirit and gives strength to the soul. The heart (qalb) nourished by love has now been purified of worldly ambitions and has attained an exalted station of love. The verses, “Shall I speak of words sweeter than sugar; let me plunge into the tale of the fountain of the water of life,” symbolize the sweetness and immortality of love, and express that through this love, the human being is reborn into existence; for love, in Mawlana’s teaching, is a means to reach the truth through the state of fanāʾ.