"When God calls and pulls you close, Going is like paradise – It's like a heavenly river to die" Rumi's Urs, December 17, 2011 , 7:30 pm

The Sweetest of All Things"
Ghazal 2037 from Rumi's "Diwan-e Shams"

Since you are the one who takes life
It is the sweetest of all things to die.
Life is sweet
But merging with you is far sweeter.

Come into the garden!
Join the Friend of the Truth!
In his garden you'll drink the Water of Life,
though it seems like fire to die.

In one moment someone dies,
In the next moment someone is born.
There is a lot of coming and going
no one really dies
nor will I ever die.

Forget the body, become pure spirit.
Dance from here to the other world.
Don't stop Don't try to escape,
even if you are afraid to die.

I swear were it not for His pure nature
The wheel of heaven would turn to dust.
Merge with Him now,
And you'll be sweeter than halva
when it comes time to die.

Why hold on to this life? –
True living comes by giving up this life.
Why cling to one piece of gold? –
it is a mine of gold to die.

Escape from this cage
and breathe the scented air of His garden.
Break this hard shell –
It's like a shining pearl to die.

When God calls and pulls you close,
Going is like paradise –
It's like a heavenly river to die.

Death is only a mirror
And your true nature is reflected there.
See what the mirror is saying –
it's quite a sight to die!

If you are kind and faithful
Your death will also be that way.
If you are cruel and faithless,
that is the way you will die.

If you are like Joseph,
full of goodness,
That's how your mirror will be.
If not, you will see
only fear and torment
when it comes time to die.

These words are sweet,
but they always fade.
Sh . . . The eternal Khezr
and the Water of Life
have no idea what it means to die.

-- Version by Jonathan Star
"A Garden Beyond Paradise: The Mystical Poetry of Rumi"
Bantam Books, 1992

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Rumi departed earthly life on 5 Jumadi II, 672 A.H (according to the Islamic lunar calendar), Dec 17, 1273 A.D. (according to the Christian calendar). His death is referred to by Persians as "vesal", meaning "union (with the Beloved)", while in the Mevlevi Sufi tradition,the expression "shab-i aroos" is used, a phrase meaning "the wedding night" -- the night of Rumi's marriage to the Beloved. (The Sufi tradition of referring to the death of a Sufi saint as "urs" -- a wedding -- predates Rumi, and is still used in Sufi circles.)

Please join the Columbus Sufi Circle on the 738th anniversary of the wedding night of this great teacher, who has inspired us all and many others from that time to this and into the future, inspired us to be seekers on the path that leads to God.

Location: Zawiyya al Mu'min, 1000 Urlin Ave., Apt. 1507
Time: Saturday, December 17, 2011, 7:30 pm

We will sing, dance, whirl, read poetry from our master, weep, eat sweets, talk, drink coffee and tea and juice. Feel free to bring any of those to the party.


Please contact Hilal at hilal1001@sbcglobal.net or call 61-446-3337 with questions