2007 is the 800th anniversary of the birth of Rumi, the mystic Islamic poet, who by all accounts was a most remarkable figure.

I bought two collections of English translations of his love poems about a month ago and this passage from Coleman Barks’ “Rumi: Bridge To The Soul” struck me:

Rumi’s place in the history of religions is as a bridge between faiths. The story of his funderal in 12273 is well known. Representatives came from every religion – Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus. When questioned about this, they responded, “He deepens us wherever we are.” Rumi lives in the heart, the core (he might call it friendship) of our impulse to praise, to worship, to explore the mystery of union. Even his name is a bridge word.

But his meeting with Shams Tabriz is the key to his inclusivity. Shams operated beyond form and doctrine. He once said that if the Kaaba were suddenly lifted up out of the world, we would see that each person is really bowing (five times a day) to every other person. In other words, if the icons of religions could dissolve, we would be left with the radiance of each other, the one honoring the other as the same glory. Friendship. Namaste.

I dedicate the passage above to all my friends, past, present and to be, in this life, in the lives before and the lives to come. I raise a toast to tolerance and goodwill among all.