Breath and Existence: A Journey to the Source of Love
Rumi attributes great importance to breath in his works. Breath is not only an element that keeps the body alive, but also a gateway to existence. The continuity of one breath with the disappearance of another actually expresses the perpetuity of love and the universal connection. Love is that deep sigh within our weak and mortal bodies that allows us to meet eternal existence; this breath represents a hidden point of contact connecting us to God.
The Unknown Paths of Love: The Conflict Between Reason and Heart
According to Rumi, love is an occurrence that cannot be comprehended or surpassed by reason. While reason may know logical paths, it remains helpless in finding the mysterious path of love; for love is a divine experience that transcends rational thought. To understand love, one must ask the nights, sense the suffering on faces and the thirst on lips. This experiential learning is too deep and personal to be obtained with knowledge gained in schools. Love causes the individual to be bewildered by reason and turn towards their heart during their inner journey; this pushes the person toward a kind of unknown.
Inner Paradise: Hidden Treasures in the Lover’s Heart
Love is not only an emotional passion, but also brings with it an inner richness. Rumi likens the lover’s heart to Damascus, stating that it is filled with angels and houris; this emphasizes the elevating and maturing effect of love. This inner paradise hidden in the lover’s heart is full of beauty that inspires awe. This shows that a heart seasoned with love contains endless happiness within itself, independent of the external world; that is, a heart full of love and compassion is the source of true peace.