It Is I ... Yunus Emre - Stillness Speaks

It is I: “… I am the infinite, the eternal … I am the gardener who sculpts the land … It is not Yunus saying all this. The One is speaking with my lips …” ~ Yunus Emre

“… The Sufi seeks to remember the Divine Being, the Beloved, in every moment and to dispel the illusion of separateness …” ~ Jennifer Farraro with Latif Bolat

“… The supreme vision of Sufism is to see God everywhere, to view every part of creation as a reflection of God’s glory …” ~ Jonathan Star

These words – from the Introductions of two different books on Sufi poetry – offer a glimpse into the essence of Sufism: Divine Human Unity

The Turkish Sufi poet Yunus’ excerpt above is quite explicit – and clear – about this unity! … whereas, in contrast, one of Rumi’s expression of such unity is (as translated by Jonathan): “… Why look for God ? …. Look for the one looking for God … but then Why look at all ? … He is not lost … He is right here … Closer than your own breath!” … Of course, Rumi has {almost} countless expressions of such unity in his vast – and unparalleled – “poem-scape” 🙂

Yunus may not be as well known as Rumi but he’s covering the same territory.

Back in 2019, we started “mining” some of these lesser known Turkish Sufi poets through Jennifer and Latif’s book Quarreling with God: Mystic Rebel Poems of the Dervishes of Turkey : The Sufi path in Aksarayi Seyh Ibrahim Efendi’s: The Sufi Way … and the Divine Human unity via Asik Veysel’s: There You Are and Kaygusuz Abdal’s The Hidden Treasure Is In Me …

Turns out, “… Yunus Emre, a contemporary of Rumi, is Turkey’s best-known mystic poet …” whose “… verses … have been previously translated in book form and available in America …”

So, … pause … take in Yunus’ words … reflect … pause … reflect deeper … and be nourished … 🙂

Who Can Know My Mysteries? : It Is I …

I am the infinite, the eternal.

I am the one who gives life to the soul.
For those bewildered I am a cure.
The rescuer and remedy—it is me.

I am the one who stands solid as a tree
Who can know my mysteries?
How can those without soul-eyes see?
The one who enters souls— is me.

At the creation of the earth I appeared
With just one glance I brought perfect order.
I built an inn of welcome from His power
and laid the foundation for love. It was me.

I made the flatness of the plains
and pressed the earthen mountains into forms.
Like a tent flap I stretched the skies
and the whole earth became beauty.
It was me.

It is I who created harmony among men.
It is I who wrote the scriptures with my pen.
Black letters on white paper and then
even the Book which He wrote—it is me, me.

It is I who reached union with the Friend.
It is I who followed His orders to the end.
I am the gardener who sculpts the land
and puts the world in perfect order—I.

It is I who comes when the Light arrives
Illuminating the earth and the soul’s eye.
When the sea is rough and surf is high
It is I who guides the ships to safety, I.
It is not Yunus saying all this.
The One is speaking with my lips.
For the faithless, ignorance is bliss.
Where time begins and ends—I.

~~ Yunus Emre

Divine Human unity : what does that mean in our everyday life navigation? well, one possibility is to dissolve boundaries by being compassionate and kind… so, to that end let us do our part in dissolving or minimizing the current humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine … by helping in whatever way we can … so here are some options:

1) NPR: Want to support the people in Ukraine? Here’s how you can help

2) Washington Post: Here’s how Americans can donate to help people in Ukraine.

3) Go Fund Me: How to Help: Donate to Ukraine Relief Efforts.

4) USA Today: Want to support the people of Ukraine? These apps and websites can help you send money.

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We are all facing financial challenges but IF your situation allows you to donate and help then please do so …

THANK YOU!