Interpretations of Rumi's Poem - Delusion

Please go through the introductory article

https://www.astrosaxena.com/articles/InterpretationofRumiPoemsQuotesIntroduction to understand

the theme of these interpretations of Rumi’s literature.

Rumi’s Poem – Delusion .

1. “Thousands of fools pay gold to the devil unaware that what they buy is only pain.“

2. “The Tailor of Time does not make clothes without cutting the cloth first.”

3. “Beautiful flowers may feast the eyes, yet eating them will make you sick.”

4. “You hold a corpse in your arms, unaware that it will freeze your body and soul.”

5. “You throw the dice of time recklessly, unaware that your opponent is the Master of backgammon.”

6. “You stretch your legs comfortably on the sweet bed of this earth, unaware that it is only borrowed.”

7. “In the midst of the dust lift your eyes to Spirit and speak without words like the Angels whispering from the lapis lazuli roof of the world.” 

Important Words –

Backgammon – (Metaphor) Backgammon is a perfect metaphor for life: when you roll the dice and get lucky, maximise the result, and when good fortune turns its back on you, know how to limit the damage with cunning and skill.

Lapis Lazuli – It is a blue color rock composed primarily of the minerals Lazurite, Pyrite and Calcite.

My interpretation –

Although, I didn’t find the name of this Poem from the book but if I had to name it, I will call it “Delusion”. Let’s understand it –

This poem talks about the way, most of us are going through this life in a delusional state of mind and how we are making wrong choices in this life.

As per my understanding, Rumi is saying –

1. Many of us pay attention, time and most part of our life (Gold) in pursuing our materialistic worldly desires (Devil) not realizing that this is going to be a business of loss as the things which we are trying to gain is only going to bring us pain and suffering, eventually.

2. Life (Tailor of Time) brings people or things or events in our life and cuts away people or things or events from our life as per the requirement and need of life for further evolution.

3. Every worldly pursuit has some limit to it and going beyond that limit can backfire. Money (Beautiful Flower), which is useful for bringing convenience in life, can bring pain & suffering if we start clinging to it as the source of our life and happiness.

4. Most of the times, we cling on to the dead materialistic things (holding the dead corpse), conditionings from ancient past and dead relationships around us. This is only going to bring lifelessness. Our associations make us. If we are associated with people who are alive and happy in their life then sooner or later, we will become more alive in our lives and vice-versa.

5. We waste our time here in life carelessly (throw the dice of time recklessly) and try to run-away or escape from challenges of life by wasting our time in useless pursuits but our counterpart God (opponent) knows very well how to put us back into challenges for our own evolution (The Master of Backgammon).

6. We live as if we are never going to die. We don’t realize that we are given limited time in this body and we need to move for next destination when time arrives. In a delusional state, we consider this life as our final home.

7. In the middle of all this illusion, we need to go on search of Consciousness/Spirit/Soul/God and eventually guide others towards the same through omens and indications [speak without words like the Angels do from the Heavens/sky (the lapis lazuli roof of the world)]

Thanks,