The Guest House

A Poem by Rumi: A Persian Poet, Theologian, and Scholar (1207-1273 A.D.)

This being human is a guest house. 
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture, still,
treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Always check your inner state
with the lord of your heart.

Copper doesn’t know it’s copper,
until it’s changing to gold.

Your loving doesn’t know majesty,
until it knows its helplessness.