From Rumi’s Fihi Ma Fihi: Discourses 59, 60 and 64, Part 1 of 2

Today, it is a delight to present excerpts of Rumi’s teachings from the “Fihi Ma Fihi,” Discourse 59. Here, the venerated Master Rumi (vegetarian) explains the nature of God and the limitations of human understanding.

“All things are in the hand of God’s omnipotence, within His creation and under His control. Therefore, God is not outside the Heavens and the Universe, neither is He wholly in them. In other words, these things do not comprehend God, and yet God comprehends all.”

“Rumi said: You ask, ‘Where was God before all this?’ Have you discovered the place of all these things in you, that you are searching for His place? Since your moods and thoughts have no place, how can a place for God be conceivable? Surely, the Creator of thought is subtler than thought. For instance, those who build a house are subtler than that house, because they are able to make and plan a hundred other buildings, each different from the last. Therefore, they are subtler and more majestic than any fabric, but this subtlety can only be seen when they build a house and their work enters the visible world. […] For instance, your clemency exists, but it cannot be seen until you forgive an offender. Then your clemency becomes visible. […] Because of God’s extreme subtlety He cannot be seen. So He created Heaven and Earth, that His omnipotence and His handiwork would be visible.”

“If we knew all that there was to know, and all ignorance was eliminated, we would be consumed and cease to be. Therefore, ignorance is a good thing, since through it this world continues to exist. Knowledge is also desirable, for it leads to the awareness of God. Thus, each is a partner with the other, and all opposites are joined. Night is the opposite of day, yet they are partners and both do the same work. If night lasted forever, our eyes would become dazzled and our brains would go insane. Therefore, we rest and sleep at night, and the brain, thought, hand and foot, hearing and sight, all gather strength. By day they expend these powers. So all things appear in opposition, but to the wise they all work together and are not opposed. […]”