Rumi and interfaith wisdom

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There is a poem by the famous Sufi poet Rumi which has always yanked at me somewhere visceral, like a pointing out instruction. I actually got this poem tattooed on my body about 12-ish years ago; it is, quite literally, a part of me. Some of you may have come across it before. Here it is, as translated by Coleman Barks:

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are walking back and forth across the doorsill,
Where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open
Don’t go back to sleep.

Now, like Andrew, I believe no one (ie. no one faith) has a monopoly on enlightenment, or however he puts it- and Rumi was definitely WAY farther along the path than I currently am! Whether the fruition of any given religion is truly identical to another, that’s above my pay grade. However, from the first time I heard that poem I knew that it would carry me through this life. It wouldn’t “get old”. Sure enough, my understanding of its mysteries have shifted and deepened over time.

The reason I am sharing it with this group is that one meaning that has revealed itself to me since I began studying dream yoga is its application to, well, dream yoga and illusory form. The word “breeze” could quite possibly be a translation of a word in the original language that also means “wind” (which of course has a whole correlate in the Tibetan tradition)- I have been unable so far to find information to explore the translation more deeply. “Sleep” of course- as in “don’t go back to sleep”- the outer (sutra?) meaning of course is literal sleep, and the inner (tantra?) meaning would be the sleep of samsara… as Andrew says, if you see things as solid/lasting/independent, you’re dreaming. Don’t go back to sleep… wake up! wake up! (to your true nature) The reference to two worlds touching immediately evokes a liminal space between the bardos… regardless of what bardos we are talking about. I always interpreted it as between life and death, but now I am keen on the potential meaning of between waking and dreaming. And to “ask for what you really want”… well that is the million dollar question, now isn’t it.

I simply wanted to share all this. It is a potent one for me I hold close and don’t want to discuss/dialogue on it (although by all means if others want to do so feel free!!!) - I like to keep the hot potato in the oven. :slight_smile: But given my recent reflections on it from a dream yoga perspective, I thought it would be nice to offer up for others’ contemplation. <3

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“The Breeze at Dawn” by Rumi

LOVE this!

Thank you for this amazing offering. I am stealing this for the treasure chest. :star_struck:

I think you are on to something with this interpretation. Not sure if it originally had a title, but I included the one it goes by because I think it holds great significance, and the first 3 lines hold some of the greatest depth (its all really deep).

I interpreted the ‘breeze’ to be Ether/Consciousness/God, something beyond the winds of Buddhism, but the poet uses wind because it adds a ‘pulse’ or energy and personification to the Ether/Awareness(Consciousness), or is God manifest in a very subtle way. I think this may be supported by the following words [God] “has secrets to tell you”

“Dawn” I think greatly ties into this above interpretation. Have you heard of the term The Great Eastern Sun in Buddhism? The sun and light have long stood to symbolize God, or Awareness (Consciousness), or Truth, or all the above, in many different faiths.

If you have watched enough sunrises, you know there often a shift in the winds that takes place, as the sun light heats the earth, and creates pressure shifts. I think Rumi may be commenting on this phenomena, and saying the breeze is either God, or force driven by God (the words of God). Also in the Muslim faith, and many other faiths, sunrise is accompanied with a Call to Prayer, or a call to connect with God and listen deeply. If sunsets symbolize death, sunrises often symbolize birth, rebirth, and awakening.

Amen. I think this line is connected to line 1, and goes with the personification of the ‘breeze’ is stating that you can not only listen to God, but also communicate with this ‘Ether’ breeze, and ask God for the things you really need (‘want’).

You are spot on with your interpretation of this line I think Definitely referring to being blinded by samsara, or deeply unconscious.

People are dying and being born. Find enlightenment or a deep connection to God while you can.

Awaken
:sunny:

Happy Ramadan my friend, thank you for this precious gift
:green_heart:
:blue_heart:

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Very curious to know if anyone can provide the original text in the original language, with a detailed breakdown of the vocabulary used, and whether certain words in that language have multiple interpretations.

So much of the beauty of great art and language is lost in translation.

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I would like this too. One thing about poetry is there are often double meanings built into words; that is what creates some of the sense of joy and deeper meaning to it that prose often lacks.

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Most definitely, that is why I liked this one so much. Like any good artwork or song, there are many layers of depth.

I think the most straightforward interpretation is:
CARPE DIEM
(a line stollen from an ancient poem with hidden hedonistic ‘depth’)

Carpe Diem in todays language = Make the most of this precious human life.

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My original interpretation took this line at more face value. I think a deeper view might look at it as not only are souls moving across worlds, but also that your spirit can move between these worlds without having a physical death.

For seekers, the Kingdom of God is open to all. And we can access it here on earth, if we seek it out.

The more literal interpretation of this line could be Death does NOT discriminate.

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Shunia – “Breeze At Dawn” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

nice song

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@_NightHawk999. I don’t know the original text, but I do know that Rumi wrote mostly in Persian which is an Indo-European language. In many of these languages, the word for “wind”, “breath” and “spirit” are inter-changeable. For instance in Hebrew, “Ruach” means “spirit” and “wind” and “breath.” In Greek (the language of the New Testament) “Pneuma” means “wind” and “breath” and “spirit”. The “Holy Spirit” can also be translated “Holy Wind” and “Holy Breath.”
Then look at Sanscrit (also an Indo-European language) where the word “Prana” means both “breath” and “life energy” (and hear the connection to the Greek “pneuma”?
Also think of the Chinese concept of “Chi” - not an Indo-European language, but the concept of connecting breath and life energy is there. Think of “Chi Gong” where breathing practices are used to revitalize life energy.

Now that reminds me . . . I’m going to post a Prana song on the Sacred Music topic thread. Check it out.

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@fenwizard I stole these lines from @_Barry who posted a really awesome article:

" Tara represents chi and life energy

For Tara, who in life represents chi and wind and life and activity, Her Pureland is visualized as the most verdant — forests, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, birds, wildlife everywhere.

Other practitioners aspire to their personal Yidam’s Pureland. Vajrayogini practitioners aspire to Kechara. Others may aspire to Abhirati (Aksohobya’s Pureland), or the eastern Pureland of Medicine Buddha called Vaidūryanirbhāsa, the Lapis Lazuli Pure Land."

Brilliant! In latin the word:
Spiritus= Breath, life force, spirit

Inspiration and many other words take their root from Spiritus.

Its no wonder so many cultures linked breath to life force, and eternal life. When one stops breathing or loses their breath, death arises.

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@_NightHawk999. Yes indeed!

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st. francis of assisi
st. francis of assisi1073×1227 262 KB

st. francis of assisi1073×1227 262 KB

@Parhelion Borrowed this poem from @BlessingsDeers

I saw a parallel between the last line of this poem, and the first line of Rumi’s poem. ‘Breath’ & the ‘winds’.

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UAU! I was touched by your level of intimacy on this post. thank you so much for that.
I have found recently a video through @NightHawk999 and @Barry that might be interesting for you…

Among several delightful distinctions and the elements of water, fire and breath (air). In Tummo practice, which you can find about more here:
https://tulkulobsang.org/en/teachings/tummo
you have mental exercises, BREATHING exercises and physical exercises.
I know it’s a LONG video… and worth every second of it! I am listening to it now and taking notes. If you wish, I can share those with you, to make it more simple (and aligned with you reading better than listening). At the moment I am also writing an article:
“Eros, Sexuality and Dreams - cultivating sexual energy into lucid dreaming and real relationships”.
I will post it soon in that thread (of the first link in this message), which I think is in a more accessible language, understanding and practicality for modern times :star_struck:

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" “aNUma” comes from the term numadelic , coined by one of our co-founders, scientist, and media artist David Glowacki. The word is derived from the Greek words pneuma , meaning “breath,” “spirit,” or “soul,” and delein , meaning “to reveal” or “to manifest,” a result of the fact that numerous participants who have participated in our sessions commented how aNUma reminded them of “spirit” and aspects of subtle embodiment."

Just read this in @_Barry s article, great read.

Really looking forward to reading this

Its amazing how just 5 min of TWR channel cleansing breathing (alternating between nostrils) can be deelpy refeshing and healing. There is something sacred in the air…

Willl check out this video this weekend, thank you.

What is really interesting to me is how Breathing can be both an active and passive practice. Meaning in Yoga Nidra, when you flirt with sleep, you become just an observer of the breath, letting it take the wheel, like God is in full control.

You can see this when we pinch our noses in our dreams and try to breath.

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one of the magics of Lu Jong and Tummo Bliss is when you stop breathing and keep moving… it’s MAGIC!.. When I do it, besides opening the channels and strengthening the whole physical body, I feel like an animal in nature… since there is no noise from the breath, all around becomes even more alive and divinely silent :star_struck:

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Ah good catch, I forgot AH says in very deep meditation, people can stop breathing all together. I am still in a mild disbelief over this one, its so mindblowing!

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There is a film about the Kumbha Mela festival of yogis in India, and in it there is a female Japanese yogi you goes into a death-like state. They put her in a casket and bury her for several days, then they dig her up and she is still alive!

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@Parhelion

I think this may interest you, and any serious buddhist or spiritual practicer:

AL-WASI MEANING:

The Vast, The All-Embracing, The Boundless.

" Arabic Root:
From the root waw-sin-ayn (و س ع), which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to be sufficient in capacity or size, wide, spacious to be ample, plentiful, bountiful, rich to comprehend, embrace, include, take in, pervade, limitless capacity, and abundance.

His Omnipresence:
The name Al-Wasi has been mentioned nine times in the Qur’an and has a variety of meanings that we will uncover. The first refers to His vastness. Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is everywhere. Wherever you may be, He is with you. His vastness encompasses the entirety of the universe. He is not limited or bounded to one geographic location. He listens and responds to all who ask of Him because of the attribute of being Al-Wasi."

This hit me like a ton of bricks. Talk about a lighting strike of insight, it hit me big when I researched the 99 eternal names of God (Allah).

The words Boundlessness and Limitlessness appear in the text above and also appear in AH’s books when describing alternative translations for the work Nothing in Buddhism.

If you can find an Arabic text version of the Breeze at Dawn, and post it here before Friday, I will print it our and ask some Muslims about its essence on Friday night, and see if I can get you some insights on the individual words and possible double meanings.

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What are the 99 Names of Allah?

  1. الرَّحْمَنُ (Ar-Rahman) - The All-Compassionate
  2. الرَّحِيمُ (Ar-Rahim) - The All-Merciful
  3. الْمَلِكُ (Al-Malik) - The Absolute Ruler
  4. الْقُدُّوسُ (Al-Quddus) - The Pure One
  5. السَّلاَمُ (As-Salam) - The Source of Peace
  6. الْمُؤْمِنُ (Al-Mu’min) - The Inspirer of Faith
  7. الْمُهَيْمِنُ (Al-Muhaymin) - The Guardian
  8. الْعَزِيزُ (Al-Aziz) - The Victorious
  9. الْجَبَّارُ (Al-Jabbar) - The Compeller
  10. الْمُتَكَبِّرُ (Al-Mutakabbir) - The Greatest
  11. الْخَالِقُ (Al-Khaliq) - The Creator
  12. الْبَارِئُ (Al-Bari’) - The Maker of Order
  13. الْمُصَوِّرُ (Al-Musawwir) - The Shaper of Beauty
  14. الْغَفَّارُ (Al-Ghaffar) - The Forgiving
  15. الْقَهَّارُ (Al-Qahhar) - The Subduer
  16. الْوَهَّابُ (Al-Wahhab) - The Giver of All
  17. الرَّزَّاقُ (Ar-Razzaq) - The Sustainer
  18. الْفَتَّاحُ (Al-Fattah) - The Opener
  19. اَلْعَلِيْمُ (Al-'Alim) - The Knower of All
  20. الْقَابِضُ (Al-Qabid) - The Constrictor
  21. الْبَاسِطُ (Al-Basit) - The Reliever
  22. الْخَافِضُ (Al-Khafid) - The Abaser
  23. الرَّافِعُ (Ar-Rafi) - The Exalter
  24. الْمُعِزُّ (Al-Mu’izz) - The Bestower of Honors
  25. المُذِلُّ (Al-Mudhill) - The Humiliator
  26. السَّمِيعُ (As-Sami) - The Hearer of All
  27. الْبَصِيرُ (Al-Basir) - The Seer of All
  28. الْحَكَمُ (Al-Hakam) - The Judge
  29. الْعَدْلُ (Al-'Adl) - The Just
  30. اللَّطِيفُ (Al-Latif) - The Subtle One
  31. الْخَبِيرُ (Al-Khabir) - The All-Aware
  32. الْحَلِيمُ (Al-Halim) - The Forbearing
  33. الْعَظِيمُ (Al-Azim) - The Magnificent
  34. الْغَفُورُ (Al-Ghafur) - The Forgiver and Hider of Faults
  35. الشَّكُورُ (Ash-Shakur) - The Rewarder of Thankfulness
  36. الْعَلِيُّ (Al-Ali) - The Highest
  37. الْكَبِيرُ (Al-Kabir) - The Greatest
  38. الْحَفِيظُ (Al-Hafiz) - The Preserver
  39. الْمُقِيتُ (Al-Muqit) - The Nourisher
  40. الْحسِيبُ (Al-Hasib) - The Accounter
  41. الْجَلِيلُ (Al-Jalil) - The Mighty
  42. الْكَرِيمُ (Al-Karim) - The Generous
  43. الرَّقِيبُ (Ar-Raqib) - The Watchful One
  44. الْمُجِيبُ (Al-Mujib) - The Responder to Prayer
  45. الْوَاسِعُ (Al-Wasi) - The All-Comprehending
  46. الْحَكِيمُ (Al-Hakim) - The Perfectly Wise
  47. الْوَدُودُ (Al-Wadud) - The Loving One
  48. الْمَجِيدُ (Al-Majid) - The Majestic One
  49. الْبَاعِثُ (Al-Ba’ith) - The Resurrector
  50. الشَّهِيدُ (Ash-Shahid) - The Witness
  51. الْحَقُّ (Al-Haqq) - The Truth
  52. الْوَكِيلُ (Al-Wakil) - The Trustee
  53. الْقَوِيُّ (Al-Qawiyy) - The Possessor of All Strength
  54. الْمَتِينُ (Al-Matin) - The Forceful One
  55. الْوَلِيُّ (Al-Wali) - The Governor
  56. الْحَمِيدُ (Al-Hamid) - The Praised One
  57. الْمُحْصِي (Al-Muhsi) - The Appraiser
  58. الْمُبْدِئُ (Al-Mubdi) - The Originator
  59. الْمُعِيدُ (Al-Mu’id) - The Restorer
  60. الْمُحْيِي (Al-Muhyi) - The Giver of Life
  61. اَلْمُمِيتُ (Al-Mumit) - The Taker of Life
  62. الْحَيُّ (Al-Hayy) - The Ever Living One
  63. الْقَيُّومُ (Al-Qayyum) - The Self-Existing One
  64. الْوَاجِدُ (Al-Wajid) - The Finder
  65. الْمَاجِدُ (Al-Majid) - The Glorious
  66. الْواحِدُ (Al-Wahid) - The Only One
  67. اَلاَحَدُ (Al-Ahad) - The One
  68. الصَّمَدُ (As-Samad) - The Satisfier of All Needs
  69. الْقَادِرُ (Al-Qadir) - The All-Powerful
  70. الْمُقْتَدِرُ (Al-Muqtadir) - The Creator of All Power
  71. الْمُقَدِّمُ (Al-Muqaddim) - The Expediter
  72. الْمُؤَخِّرُ (Al-Mu’akhkhir) - The Delayer
  73. الأوَّلُ (Al-Awwal) - The First
  74. الآخِرُ (Al-Akhir) - The Last
  75. الظَّاهِرُ (Az-Zahir) - The Manifest One
  76. الْبَاطِنُ (Al-Batin) - The Hidden One
  77. الْوَالِي (Al-Wali) - The Protecting Friend
  78. الْمُتَعَالِي (Al-Muta’ali) - The Supreme One
  79. الْبَرُّ (Al-Barr) - The Doer of Good
  80. التَّوَابُ (At-Tawwab) - The Guide to Repentance
  81. الْمُنْتَقِمُ (Al-Muntaqim) - The Avenger
  82. العَفُوُّ (Al-'Afuww) - The Forgiver
  83. الرَّؤُوفُ (Ar-Ra’uf) - The Clement
  84. مَالِكُ الْمُلْكِ (Malik-ul-Mulk) - The Owner of All
  85. ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَ الإكْرَام (Dhu-al-Jalal wa al-Ikram) - The Lord of Majesty and Bounty
  86. الْمُقْسِطُ (Al-Muqsit) - The Equitable One
  87. الْجَامِعُ (Al-Jami’) - The Gatherer
  88. ٱلْغَنيُّ (Al-Ghaniyy) - The Self-Sufficient
  89. المُغْنِي - Al-Mughni - The Enricher
  90. المانِع - Al-Mani’ - The Preventer
  91. الضَّار - Adh-Dharr - The Afflicter
  92. النَّافِع - An-Nafi’ - The Benefactor
  93. النُّور - An-Nur - The Light
  94. الهادي - Al-Hadi - The Guide
  95. البديع - Al-Badee’ - The Originator
  96. الباقي - Al-Baqi - The Everlasting
  97. الوارث - Al-Warith - The Inheritor of All
  98. الرشيد - Ar-Rashid - The Rightly Guided
  99. الصبور - As-Sabur - The Patient

https://www.al-islam.org/allah-yasin-t-al-jibouri/ninety-nine-attributes-allah

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Great mind thinks alike my friend, you beat me to the punch:

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