guest house
Posted on Mar 28th, 2006
by
Karuna

this human being is a guest house.
every morning a new arrival.
a joy, a depression, a meanness.
some 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 all its furniture.
still treat each guest honorably,
each 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.
-rumi
every morning a new arrival.
a joy, a depression, a meanness.
some 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 all its furniture.
still treat each guest honorably,
each 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.
-rumi
Tagged with: awareness, depression, gratitude, guidance, joy, laughter, laughing, morning, cleaning house, invitation, human being, guest house, welcome, clearing out, unexpected visitor, all, every morning, arrival, momentary, crowd of sorrows, sweep your house, clearing you out, dark thought, the door, grateful, guide from beyond

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I like this! I really do appreciate the “guests” that have been visiting! :) Thanks for sharing this poem to remind…
Ahhhh Rumi? I love this..
Beautiful poem Karuna!!! Rumi and Hafiz are my favorites!
Some spring haiku by Basho…
By the old temple,
peach blossoms;
a man treading rice. With every gust of wind,
the butterfly changes its place
on the willow. All the day long-
yet not long enough for the skylark,
singing, singing.