An Invitation

"Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi

As with most of what Rumi said in his poetry, this is such a deeply beautiful and profound statement. Yet, at first glance, it may seem like Rumi is saying that we shouldn't have opinions, concern ourselves with social justice and environmental issues, etc. Perhaps, that is how mystics come across in general at times. However, from my experience, I don't think that this is the case at all. In fact, history tells us that many of the greatest activists the world has ever known have also been great mystics.

Lately, I have been deeply experiencing what I think and feel that Rumi meant when he said this. And here is what that feels like to me:
You and I may have vastly different opinions about certain specific issues such as environmental degradation, Black Lives Matter, veganism and animal rights, spiritual beliefs and practices or lack thereof, etc. Yet, despite our differences, there is a place where we can set those distinctions and differences aside. A place where we can meet together as One family of sentient beings and say "I may not agree with you 100%, or at all, but we are Family and I love you. " We may disagree about many important issues, but you are not my enemy. And even if you consider yourself my enemy, then my responsibility as a friend of God and all other sentient beings is to love my enemy, as Jesus taught us in word and deed. And many other great mystics and prophets taught and lived the same principle, such as the great Sufi mystic Abu Sa'id, who so beautifully said:
"As for he who puts thorns in my path for sheer spite; may roses bloom thornless in the garden of his life."

So, I want to invite you to that place. That place beyond the distinctions and differences that divide us. That place where we discover the truth of Dr King's words: "Hate cannot drive out hate. Only Love can do that." That place "Out beyond ideas..."

I'll meet you there!