The Guest House

Reading t the Koloa Hong Wan JI 6/28/2010

This being human 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’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.

He 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
—translated by Coleman Barks

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Author | Paul Reynolds
This time 'round Paul is posing as Yogi, Illustrator, wacked-out Cartoon Wizard, Writer, Poet, Author, overseer of the "Living the Question" Blog, father, lover, prisoner of the wild Divine Crazy, and more stuff he hasn't even dreamed up yet.....


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