The Heart Mirror

With all the distractions, noise, and activity of modern life, it’s easy to miss even the big signals; so the subtle whispers demand extra-special attention. And I’ve learned, particularly through lessons from our horse, that the early-warning signs may not feel pleasant and thus may be even easier to ignore. We’re at risk of missing out on the map to the hidden treasure. But even when the little breeze comes off the ocean, tinged with salty sadness or fear, certain vibrations are saying that direction from the soul is at hand. And for persons on the spirit path, these subtle and difficult direction markers are invaluable, and they can be discerned. For the way does not follow recipes, and it’s known by few, if any, clearcut answers.

   The path of Radical Love is like this. If I can trust my memory of the opening session from the Garrison event, I hear Seemi Ghazi making special emphasis on “polishing the mirror.” That focus comes not as a surprise because Rumi opens the Masnavi on the theme:

     The lover is a veil, All is Beloved …

     Do you know why your mirror tells of nothing?

     The rust has not been taken from its surface.

          (lines 30a & 34, Book 1 of Rumi’s Masnavi, p. 9

           in Alan Williams’ Rumi: Spiritual Verses)

The mirror and related images frequently enter Rumi’s works. Chittick’s index to Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi has over 50 citations under the terms mirror, veil, curtain, and reflection.

   As indicated in Rumi’s lines above, rust on the mirror signals separation from the Beloved. Rumi’s emphasis shows clearly in Book 4:

 … make a practice of polishing, polishing, polishing,/ That thy heart may become a mirror full of images…/In order that the forms of the Unseen may appear in it, and that the reflexion of houri and angel may dart into it . . . [Mathnawi, Book IV, lines 2469-, Nicholson's translation] 

Mojaddedi translates couplet 2475 on the purpose of burnishing the mirror: “To bring the Unseen’s forms to our perception,/ Such as the heavenly angels’ own reflection.”

   We might feel frustrated that guides for the pathway of Radical Love do not give straight-forward uncomplicated directions instead of using so many ambiguous metaphors and apparently contradictory statements. But it helps me to remember: This Is Love. Love reaches toward and from the Source, respecting the essence treasured in the heart of each individual as he and she changes in every heartbeat. True guidance has to allow for movement, for development, with infinite accommodation of care. The doctor of love, Ahmad Ghazzali, notes this amazing variation:

At times love is the sky and the spirit is the earth, and what it sends down depends on the dictates of Time. At times love is the seed and the spirit is the earth, producing whatever it will. At times love is the jewel in the mine and the spirit is the mine, be the jewel and the mine what they may. At times love is the sun in the sky of the spirit, shining as it will. At times it is aflame in the air of the spirit, burning what it may. There is a time when love is a saddle on the horse of the spirit, waiting for whosoever will mount it. At times love is a bridle’s bit in the mouth of the rebellious spirit and thus turns its head to whichever direction it wishes. At times it is the chains of violence (qahr) of the beloved’s glance that bind the spirit…” Sawanih, trans. Nasrollah Pourjavady, p. 21.

What a world of possibilities! Of course, I’m caught right away by the invitation to ride.

   Having been on and off a few spirited mounts, I’m aware of the advisability of preparation. For the ride of Radical Love, this might include exploration of questions such as:

     What meanings are given for the “heart”?

     How do we understand and engage the “mirror”? 

     How do we recognize and move through “veils”?

     What is the “rust”?

     How is polishing done?

   While dancing with these questions for awhile, several bases have emerged. These touch-points help me to avoid feeling lost in a maze. As noted above, I don’t expect clearcut answers to the important questions of the Way and wouldn’t want to be limited by dogmatic conclusions anyway. So having these bases steadies the course without forcing insensitive prescriptions.

     1. The path continually requires one to move beyond the surface/form toward the essence/heart.

     2. God’s Mercy is greater than God’s Wrath.

     3. All manifestation is God.

     4. Gratitude for each manifestation is the right and needed response.

Primary resources identified so far for exploring the questions include:

Omid Safi’s Radical Love.

Translations of Rumi’s Masnavi (by Mojaddedi, by Williams, and by Nicholson.

Translations of Rumi’s Fihi by Thackston (Signs of the Unseen) and by Arberry (Discourses).

William Chittick. Sufi Path of Love; Sufi Path of Knowledge; Self Disclosure of God; “Paradox of the Veil” in Sufism.

Ahmad Ghazzali, Sawanih, trans. Nasrollah Pourjavady.

Ibn al-Arabi on Adam in his Fusus especially translations by Austin and by Dagli.

Kabir Helminski on “Polishing the Mirror of Awareness” in Living Presence.

Michael Sells on “Ibn ‘Arabi’s Polished Mirror" in Mystical Languages of Unsaying.

Titus Burckhardt, Mirror of the Intellect.

Frithjof Schuon, “The Eye of the Heart,” in The Eye of the Heart.

Toshihiko Izutsu, Sufism & Taoism.

James Morris, The Reflective Heart.

This is an impressive list, too big to be encompassed, but incredibly rich.