Look Inward Before Seeing Outward

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 16 December 2024 Turkey is celebrating Rumi week as December 17 is his birth anniversary. He was entombed in Konya in Turkey. Many quotes on the mausoleum are written in Ottoman Turkish based on Arabic script. Now modern Turkish follows Roman script which is frowned upon by the old timers and a lover of archaic Turkish like me. It's worthwhile to mention that Rumi wrote a few poems in old Turkish and three in Greek as well because Turkey is close to Greece. But his Greek was not much to write home about as he picked it up after the age of 60 and passed away at the age of 66. That said, my first introduction to Rumi's poetry was neither in Pahlavi nor in Persian, it was in Pashto. Rumi was born in Balkh (Eastern Persia or Northern Afghanistan, historically known as Bactria). The very first thought of Rumi that I read was: Yesterday, I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. Thus started my love affair with his sublime poetry and I'm still enamoured of it. Rumi's quote beautifully captures the transformative journey of personal growth and introspection. It highlights an evolution of perspective, transitioning from the naivety of youth, where one's sense of cleverness led them to strive for external change, to the wisdom of experience, where the focus shifts inward. Rumi recognizes that true change begins within oneself, acknowledging the power of self-reflection, inner healing, and personal development. By embracing this wisdom, we can cultivate a profound understanding that our ability to influence the world positively lies in our own evolution. This powerful message serves as a reminder to prioritize personal growth, as it is through changing ourselves that we can ultimately create a ripple effect of change and make a meaningful difference in the world. The world begins and ends with you has been beautifully delineated in Rumi's quote and a few English critics are of the view that the Nobel laureate T S Eliot got an inspiration from Rumi's thought to pen his famous line in the poem Four Quartets, "In my beginning is my end." An intellectual journey begins and ends with oneself. Life is a saga of introspection and self analysis. Persian poet Anwari says, "Look inward before seeing outward " (Bah Dron Negah Kon Ta Biron Ra Bebini ). Change in oneself is the first step to changing the world around. Rumi's quote teaches us to be humble. We all must imbibe its spirit for universal magnanimity and generosity. Indian English poet Professor Nissim Ezekiel (he taught Eng. Lit. at Bombay University) once said in a similar vein, "Let me tell you though I may sound blunt / So much is to be done on the home front." Professor Ezekiel departed before finishing his poem. By the way, December 16 is his 100th birth anniversary. ----- December 17 is Rumi's birth anniversary and December 16 is the 100th birth anniversary of Professor Nissim Ezekiel, arguably India's finest English poet. A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/look-inward-seeing-outward/d/134036 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism