M6:349 — بار دیگر سوخت هم واپس بجست / باز کردش حرص دل ناسی و مست

Translation: Once more it burned, and once more it recoiled; but the heart's greed, forgetful and intoxicated, drew it back again. Meaning: This verse describes the wavering state of a seeker who repeatedly breaks vows of repentance, drawn back to error by forgetfulness and the insatiable greed of the heart.

This verse paints a vivid and poignant picture of seekers who, midway through their spiritual journey, have yet to reach a decisive resolve and are caught in a constant oscillation between repentance (tawbah) and breaking it. Rumi illustrates this state using the classic metaphor of the moth and the flame, an image deeply embedded in our mystical literature. The moth, mistaking fire for light, rushes towards it, burns its wings, recoils, and weeps. Yet, before long, greed and forgetfulness drag it back to the very same destructive fire.

I have often emphasized that in spiritual seeking, steadfastness and genuine commitment are indispensable. Those who are not yet "of our tribe," who are still in the nascent stages, their prayers, their pleas, and even their errors and regrets, all bear the mark of immaturity. These are precisely the individuals Rumi portrays in the story of Daqiqi in Book Three of the Masnavi; Daqiqi who still prays for the drowning from afar and still manifests human compassion, rather than the divine detachment and lack of human-like pity. This moth-like condition precisely captures that indecisiveness and incompleteness.

The moth sees the fire from a distance and perceives it as light. This itself is a sign of perceptual error. Just as in the realm of gnosis, many outward appearances are deceptive and require insight to distinguish truth from falsehood. The moth burns and recoils, becomes remorseful and sheds "salt" (tears), but the "heart's greed, forgetful and intoxicated" (ḥirṣ-i dil-i nāsī-o mast) pulls it back to the "fire" (nār). Nāsī means forgetful, and mast means intoxicated or oblivious. These states of forgetfulness and intoxication are precisely the veils that prevent true learning from experience. The seeker knows the path is burning, yet momentary greed and desire make them forget past experience and regret. This is an endless cycle unless an iron will and an awakened memory can break this vicious circle.

Be mindful, this "greed of the heart" is not merely worldly greed, but rather egoic greed: the greed for pleasure, for superiority, even the greed for mystical revelations and miracles, which sometimes lead immature mystics astray. Until the heart is purged of these greeds and freed from this heedless forgetfulness, the moth will continue in its futile cycle of burning, fleeing, and returning. Ultimately, if this moth attains reason and memory, only then will it truly "reject" the fire and recognize it for what it is. This, in itself, shows that the path of true knowing is the path of experience, not merely of argumentation.

Key takeaways

• Instability in Spiritual Seeking: The verse depicts the oscillation between repentance and breaking it.
• The Moth and Flame Metaphor: The moth's repeated return to the fire symbolizes the triumph of greed and forgetfulness over reason.
• The Role of Greed and Forgetfulness: The heart's greed (ḥirṣ) and its forgetful nature (nāsī) are primary obstacles to learning from painful experiences.
• Steadfastness and Sincerity: True progress in spiritual discipline requires firm resolve and unwavering commitment.
• Error in Perception: The moth mistakes fire for light, illustrating how deceptive appearances can lead to error and suffering.
• Knowing Through Experience: Realizing the true nature of fire (or error) necessitates repeated experience and an awakened memory.