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Sufi Quotes Collection: Rumi

10 Rumi Quotes

10 incredible Rumi Quotes that can transform your mind and heart

The human species has gradually evolved into a technologically advanced society. Today, it is possible to connect with people globally and access any kind of information with a few simple clicks.
Perhaps, a satisfactory knowledge of the world and its problems have been attained by man.
But, if the scene shifts from the world as a whole to each individual, there is a different set of challenges we encounter.
Humans inherently have a great sense of emotions in them as compared to other living organisms. And, emotions are complex to comprehend.
It is important for us to balance the ups and downs of our emotions. To be able to function properly, a certain level of emotional intelligence is a prerequisite for every human being.
Luckily for us, there have been many philosophers and poets whose words can guide us in times of emotional distress.
Jalal al-Din Rumi, a 13th-century poet, is one such popular name. Known for his spiritual knowledge, he observed real-life situations to understand spirituality.
Here are 10 quotes written by Rumi that when applied to our own lives give an in-depth understanding of our problems and help us find a way to solve them.
We have scarcely left any stone unturned in exploring the world around us, yet we know very little about ourselves.

Inside you there is an artist that you don’t know about

Every person is unique. We all have a different set of strengths and weaknesses in us. Thus, each person needs to explore themselves to bring out the best in them.
But this is not likely to happen in our society easily. Unfortunately, as we grow up, we are influenced by our immediate environment that includes parents and friends. The need to “fit in” arises. We observe the behavior of those around us and passively apply them in our actions. Gradually, we become nothing but a face in the crowd.
Rumi, therefore, tries to tell us that we are unaware of our hidden potential. There is something we are good at, and we must find it. And in this fast, competitive world, it becomes a necessity to stand out from the crowd and do what we actually are capable of doing.

“Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself.”

Have you ever found yourself complaining about everything?
It is a common observation that we tend to point out the faults in other people. We wish to change the world or the people around us for that matter.
Very rarely do we introspect and try to understand the bad in us.
We often forget to ask ourselves ‘Where did I go wrong?’ Rumi points out that everyone is clever enough to change the world. But only some of us are wise to change our drawbacks before confronting anyone else’s.

“Travel brings power and love back into your life.”

Boredom is not only experienced when we are idle but also when we lead a monotonous life. In consequence of which, we feel lonely and depressed, irritated at almost everything. The sudden urge to explore the world, or life for that matter, sets in. We constantly think of taking a break from our regular routine. Traveling adds zest to this monotonous life.
Rumi, in this quote, unraveled the benefits of traveling. Although, it seems like traveling has lost its real sense and serves as a source of photographs for social media. But according to Rumi, it has the power to break our inner barriers. While traveling, we acquire a new set of experience and knowledge that generates positivity in ourselves and energizes our souls.

“Do not feel lonely. The entire universe is inside you.”

Man is a social animal. The idea of expressing and exchanging ideas, feelings, and messages is inherent to all human beings. Usually, the urge to communicate increases while interacting with individuals on a regular basis. But time passes with the blink of an eye and we may get drifted from those people. As a result, we feel lonely and incomplete. Loneliness is something almost everybody has experienced. Rumi breaks this illusion by telling us that whatever we find outside of our body is already present within it. Every individual is capable of feeling whole even in solitude.

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”

Our actions are driven by motive. It is the motivation to do something that inspires us to act. But what if the motivation gradually fades? Most of our population today is highly unmotivated. Students are reluctantly opting for courses as their parents pressurize them. Half of the working force is not happy with their jobs. A strong motivation is imperative for a person to put his mind and heart in his work. Rumi clearly states that for a person to be happy, any work must be done wholeheartedly.

 “These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.”

The essence of life is in continuous growth. And to grow, we need to change ourselves at different stages. But change is a process easier said than done. There are generally two possible sources from which our problem arises; environmental and personal. Predominantly, it is the problems that originate from the lack of personal growth that acts as the supposed “messengers” Rumi talks about. If we fail to modify ourselves in response to these messengers, we experience pain in terms of stress, anxiety, depression, conflict and so on. It is, therefore, essential to analyze our problems carefully in order to maintain our personal growth.

“I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.”

Have you ever stepped back from doing something because you were embarrassed by what people might think and then regret it later? For many human beings, the approval of others seems more important than their own will. They restrain from implementing themselves as they think a certain group of people may disapprove of it. Rumi asks people to speak their heart out without worrying about how the world would perceive it.

“Ignore those that make you fearful and sad, that degrade you back towards disease and death.”

Criticism can help us improve. Our strengths have a tendency to get better with feedback. But condemnation that comes with the intent to destroy a person is unhealthy. Unhealthy criticism is a common phenomenon observed in spaces where people are in competition with each other. The criticism that lacks logic and credibility is worth ignoring. Rumi, through his quote, tells us that any negativity that hinders your development should not be given attention.

“I know you’re tired but come, this is the way.”

Discipline is not attained instantly. No matter what you aim to achieve, you will reach a point where giving up would seem like the only option. In this quote, “tired” refers to the surrendering stage of our mind. Rumi wants us to understand that the path to wisdom is hard to walk upon but what is important is that one must keep going.

 Rumi Quote | Artykite

“But, listen to me. For one moment, quit being sad. Hear blessings dropping their blossoms around you.” 

What would happen if you were to victimize yourself in every situation and portray your life as miserable? You might receive attention and sympathy for a while but that would inevitably cease. No human being is exempt from problems. It is the constructive view of those problems and a positive outlook on life that helps you maintain healthy relationships. Rumi thinks it is better to count what we have than moan about what we don’t possess.
Rumi keenly noticed the ailments of human life. His work provides us with an insight into our own misery and directs us the way to get out of it. These quotes by him keep us motivated enough to be free from anguish.

 
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About the Author

This article is written by Apoorva Goel. She believes that the art of expression is important for every human being. We use many different ways to express ourselves. For her, writing does that part.

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