Pervading

There's a strange frenzy in my head, of birds flying, each particle circulating on its own. Is the one I love everywhere?
(The Essential Rumi, p. 4)

Lo, I am with you always means when you look for God, God is in the look of your eyes, in the thought of looking, nearer to you than your self, or things that have happened to you. There's no need to go outside. Be melting snow. Wash yourself of yourself.
(The Essential Rumi, p. 13)

What do we mean by saying that God is not in heaven? We do not mean that He is not in heaven, but that heaven cannot encompass Him. He encompasses heaven. He has an ineffable connection with heaven just as He has an ineffable connection with you. Everything is in His omnipotent hands; everything is a manifestation of Him and subject to His control. So, He is not outside the heavens and the universe but is not totally inside them either, that is, they do not encompass Him but He encompasses them totally.

Someone asked where God was before the earth, skies, and Divine Throne existed. We said that the question was invalid from the outset because God is by definition that which has no place.
(Signs of the Unseen: The Discourses of Jalaluddin Rumi, p. 221)

All creatures, day and night, make manifestation of God. Some of them know what they are doing and are aware of their manifesting, while others are unaware. However it may be, God's manifestation is confirmed.
(Signs of the Unseen: The Discourses of Jalaluddin Rumi, p. 184)

Moses said, "O Lord, are you close enough for me to whisper in your ear or so distant that I should shout?" And God said, "I am behind you, before you, at your right and your left. O Moses, I am sitting next to my servant whenever he remembers me, and I am with him when he calls me."
(Signs of the Unseen: The Discourses of Jalaluddin Rumi, Footnote 209, p. 193)

All pictured forms are reflections in the water of the stream; when you rub your eyes, indeed, all are He.
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, p. 43)

The unique God has manifested His sign in the six directions to those with illuminated eyes. Whatever animal or plant they behold, they contemplate the gardens of divine Beauty. That is why He said to them, Wheresoever you turn, there is His Face (Koran 2:115).
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, p. 306)

All of these are symbols -- I mean that the other world keeps coming into this world. Like cream hidden in the soul of milk, No-place keeps coming into place. Like intellect concealed in blood and skin, the Traceless keeps entering into traces. And from beyond the intellect, beautiful Love comes dragging its skirts, a cup of wine in its hand. And from beyond Love, that indescribable One who can only be called That keeps coming.
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, p. 197)

The earth has the external shape of dust, but inside are the luminous Attributes of God. It's outward has fallen into war with its inward; its inward is like a pearl and its outward a stone. Its outward says, "I am this and no more." Its inward says, "Look well, before and behind!" Its outward denies, saying, "The inward is nothing." The inward says, "We will show you. Wait!"
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, p. 21)

©1999 by Deb Platt