King Solomon's Temple
Spiritual Sunday
Thanks to my father for steering me to this wonderful poem by Rumi, the 13th century Sufi poet. As always with Rumi, he moves between the earthly and the sacred, sometimes pointing to common objects (door knockers, doors, carpets, brooms), sometimes acknowledging language’s inability to describe the mystical heart sanctuary (“Why try!”). As a paradoxical result, he is able to show us how our everyday words and actions can become suffused with the divine. Princes in waiting, we claim our spiritual kingdoms when we engage in compassionate action.
The Far Mosque
By Rumi
The place that Solomon made to worship in,
called the Far Mosque, is not built of earth
and water and stone, but of intention and wisdom
and mystical conversation and compassionate action.
Every part of it is intelligence and responsive
to every other. The carpet bows down to the broom
The door knocker and the door swing together
like musicians. This heart sanctuary does
exist, but it can’t be described. Why try!
Solomon goes there every morning and gives guidance
with words, with musical harmonies, and in actions,
which are the deepest teaching. A prince is just
a conceit until he does something with generosity.
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