M6:2388 — در تن خود بنگر این اجزای تن / از کجاها گرد آمد در بدن

Translation: Look in your own body at these parts of the body, From where they gathered in the body.

Meaning: This verse invites us to contemplate the origin and source of the body's constituent parts, implicitly suggesting that every component will ultimately return to its root; this serves as a parable for the destiny of the soul and its motivations.

This verse is nestled within Rumi's delightful narration of the story of the three travelers—the Jew, the Christian, and the Muslim. After Rumi recounts how diverse travelers, even those from East and West, temporarily reside together in the caravanserai of the world, and how, once the path opens, each one spreads its wings towards its own destination and essence, he introduces this verse for further elucidation. The aim is to explain the profound link between longing and destiny.

I perceive that Rumi, with this verse, builds a bridge from a natural, physiological truth to a spiritual one. In ancient natural philosophy, which was based on the four primary elements (earth, wind, water, fire), it was believed that the human body was also composed of these very elements. Rumi invites us to examine our own bodies: to look at the blood, which has a watery aspect; to the breath, which has an airy aspect; and to the physical form, which decomposes into earth and is flammable like fire. Each of these components, he states, originated from its 'mine' or source. And undoubtedly, when the soul takes flight from the body and life is withdrawn, each part returns to its own origin: earth to earth, water to water, and wind to wind. This is an undeniable law of nature.

However, the significance of this verse does not lie merely in its articulation of an ancient natural law. No, Rumi always constructs a bridge from the world of bodies and nature to the realm of spirits and truths. The law of return, where every part reverts to its origin, which is evident and active within the body, is a universal and pervasive law in existence, and it undoubtedly includes the soul and its motivations. Just as the body's elements return to their source, our wills, ideals, and longings also return to their source and origin.

Here, I must draw attention to a profound psychological insight of Rumi. Elsewhere, he states: 'O brother, you are entirely thought / The rest is merely bone and root.' And he employs 'thought' (andisheh) not in the sense of mere intellection and reason, but rather as 'motivation' (angizeh), 'will' (iradeh), and 'ideal' (ārmān). William James, the great Western philosopher and psychologist, later arrived at the same truth: that what constitutes our humanity is more than mere thought; it is our emotions, motivations, and ideals. Rumi intends to convey that these motivations and yearnings are what determine our ultimate path. We are, in essence, 'disciples' (murid) of our own longings and motivations, not merely 'students' (ṭālib-i ʿilm) who merely gather information.

Thus, the 'tears and sighs' mentioned in earlier verses—'That direction where his tears and sighs were / When he found opportunity, that will be his path'—find their meaning here. We live in this world with various longings and aspirations. If our longing is towards light, our path is towards light. If it is towards darkness, our destiny will be darkness. This parable of the body's parts returning to their source is not merely an anatomical image, but a roadmap for spiritual journeying and self-knowledge. Everyone must look within themselves to discern from which 'wheres' they have gathered, and ultimately, to which 'where' they are heading; for each person's destination is their ancient, abiding longing.

Key takeaways

• Every component of existence, including the parts of the human body, originates from a source and ultimately returns to that same source.
• This law of returning to one's origin is not merely physical, but also profoundly applicable to the human soul and its motivations.
• What fundamentally constitutes a person and dictates their path is less their thoughts and more their motivations, will, and ideals.
• Our deepest inner longings and yearnings determine our ultimate 'mine' or 'source,' thereby shaping our destiny.