Why We Need To Revisit Rumi And Gandhiji
Standing at this juncture of sub-continental history, when two neighbouring countries, India and Pakistan, are looking at each other with aggersdrawn, it'll be instructive to member Jalaluddin Rumi and MK andthe whose birthdays fall on September 30 and October 2 respecvely. Coleman Barks wrote in his book Rumi ‘that humankind is in urgent need of re-reading Gandhi and Rumi's renic and pacifist philosophies. Gandhi first read Rumi at the age of 6and his poetry, translated by the English scholar Swanton, stayed with im till his last breath. Rumi's great nought, 'Choon yang Ashada ifnaaz aide hook-e-afraid' -'A battle is death's ance macabre'-moved Gandhi tensely. So too when he read Rumi's ords in 'Rams-e-Kanata'-'Passivity tany price. Suffer dishonour and is grace but never resort to arms. Be bullied, be outraged, be killed. But do not kill.'This line is sometimes (erroneously) attributed to the Buddha. We indeed need to read and understand these two completely non-violent and peace-loving men who changed the way we look at conflict. Gandhi wrote to Llama Iqbal in 1930, quoting Rumi, 'Why we shed blood of our brethren for a piece of land, religion and money? “Iqbal wrote back, quoting Rumi, 'This existence of mine on earth depends upon the lives of my fellow beings. I exist because of you and vice versa.' The interdependence of humankind was first proclaimed by Rumi and endorsed by Gandhi. Rumi's 'Go beyond your own needs and merge yourself into the ocean of compassion' brought tears to Gandhi's eyes. Elsewhere, Rumi writes, 'Put your swords back in the scabbards and embrace even your enemies, for, love conquers all.' Gandhi said thsame thing when he wrote to Nehru that the British must leave the country not as enemies but as friends. Such lofty philosophy is not difficult to follow, provided we elevate ourselves to higher levels. 'Farishat boodam munhir zaat, insaan ferazat aseet'-'Strive to become angels and spread love like fragrance wrote Rumi in Masnavi. We have all become too violent and blood-thirsty. The soothing philosophies of Gandhiand Rumi can uplift our souls and help make this world a place free of bloodshed and violence. When Maulana Abul Kalam Azad sent a sublime thought from Rumi's book, 'Parvaaze-ruhaniyat' (Flight of spirituality) Gandhi immediately jotted it down in his diary and called that his daily prayer. The thought was: The moment my sword was about to behead my "enemy", it dawned on methat he was my brother and the sword fell from my hand. Gandhi drew daily inspiration frorthe Bhagwad Gita, the 'Sermon on theMount'and Rumi's 'Guldasta'. Hе wondered, if war-mongers like Hitlerand Mussolini ever read and understoRumi, the world would never have witnessed the two horrific world warsand numerous other conflicts. Gandhwrote to his Scottish friend and Christimissionary in India 'Deenbandhu (friend of the poor) Charles Freer Andrews, 'The more I read Rumi, themore I believe inthe power and capасof human coexistence. It's a potential possibility, not a pipe-dream.' Let's rejoice in such sublime ideas of non-violence and believe that the pow of love overcomes violence. Finally, it's an irony of fate that Rumi was born in Balkh (Afghanistawhich is today a hotbed of violence, bloodshed and cruelty Let's all shunwar and work for peace through love.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Sumit Paul kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy : Sumit Paul Speaking Tree ,Times of India
Why We Need To Revisit Rumi And Gandhiji
Standing at this juncture of sub-continental history, when two neighbouring countries, India and Pakistan, are looking at each other with aggersdrawn, it'll be instructive to member Jalaluddin Rumi and MK andthe whose birthdays fall on September 30 and October 2 respecvely. Coleman Barks wrote in his book Rumi ‘that humankind is in urgent need of re-reading Gandhi and Rumi's renic and pacifist philosophies. Gandhi first read Rumi at the age of 6and his poetry, translated by the English scholar Swanton, stayed with im till his last breath. Rumi's great nought, 'Choon yang Ashada ifnaaz aide hook-e-afraid' -'A battle is death's ance macabre'-moved Gandhi tensely. So too when he read Rumi's ords in 'Rams-e-Kanata'-'Passivity tany price. Suffer dishonour and is grace but never resort to arms. Be bullied, be outraged, be killed. But do not kill.'This line is sometimes (erroneously) attributed to the Buddha. We indeed need to read and understand these two completely non-violent and peace-loving men who changed the way we look at conflict. Gandhi wrote to Llama Iqbal in 1930, quoting Rumi, 'Why we shed blood of our brethren for a piece of land, religion and money? “Iqbal wrote back, quoting Rumi, 'This existence of mine on earth depends upon the lives of my fellow beings. I exist because of you and vice versa.' The interdependence of humankind was first proclaimed by Rumi and endorsed by Gandhi. Rumi's 'Go beyond your own needs and merge yourself into the ocean of compassion' brought tears to Gandhi's eyes. Elsewhere, Rumi writes, 'Put your swords back in the scabbards and embrace even your enemies, for, love conquers all.' Gandhi said thsame thing when he wrote to Nehru that the British must leave the country not as enemies but as friends. Such lofty philosophy is not difficult to follow, provided we elevate ourselves to higher levels. 'Farishat boodam munhir zaat, insaan ferazat aseet'-'Strive to become angels and spread love like fragrance wrote Rumi in Masnavi. We have all become too violent and blood-thirsty. The soothing philosophies of Gandhiand Rumi can uplift our souls and help make this world a place free of bloodshed and violence. When Maulana Abul Kalam Azad sent a sublime thought from Rumi's book, 'Parvaaze-ruhaniyat' (Flight of spirituality) Gandhi immediately jotted it down in his diary and called that his daily prayer. The thought was: The moment my sword was about to behead my "enemy", it dawned on methat he was my brother and the sword fell from my hand. Gandhi drew daily inspiration frorthe Bhagwad Gita, the 'Sermon on theMount'and Rumi's 'Guldasta'. Hе wondered, if war-mongers like Hitlerand Mussolini ever read and understoRumi, the world would never have witnessed the two horrific world warsand numerous other conflicts. Gandhwrote to his Scottish friend and Christimissionary in India 'Deenbandhu (friend of the poor) Charles Freer Andrews, 'The more I read Rumi, themore I believe inthe power and capасof human coexistence. It's a potential possibility, not a pipe-dream.' Let's rejoice in such sublime ideas of non-violence and believe that the pow of love overcomes violence. Finally, it's an irony of fate that Rumi was born in Balkh (Afghanistawhich is today a hotbed of violence, bloodshed and cruelty Let's all shunwar and work for peace through love.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Sumit Paul kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy : Sumit Paul Speaking Tree ,Times of India