The Guest House

Hello,

This is davidji,

And I'd like to share with you this beautiful translation of the great Rumi poem,

The Guesthouse.

This translation is by Coleman Barks,

Who left this earth plane recently.

So let's take a long,

Slow,

Deep breath in,

And ever so gently let that go.

Let's do this one more time,

And allow your eyelids to ever so gently float closed.

Deep breath in,

And now just settle in,

And allow these words to wash over you.

This being human is a guesthouse.

Every day,

A new arrival,

A joy,

A depression,

A meanness,

A momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome,

And entertain them all,

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture.

Still,

Treat each guest honorably.

They 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.