M6:379 — چون چنین رفتی بدیدی صد گشاد / چون شدی در ضد آن دیدی فساد

Translation: When you thus walked (without desire), you saw a hundred openings; / When you went against it (into desire), you saw corruption. Meaning: This couplet asserts that freedom from aspirations leads to expansion and relief, whereas succumbing to desires results in ruin and decay.

This pivotal couplet unveils one of Rumi's most profound teachings on liberation from the shackles of desire. Rumi unequivocally declares that releasing oneself from the trap of aspirations brings forth 'a hundred openings' (sad gushād). As he puts it, 'This world is a trap, and its bait is desire' (īn jahān dām ast va dānesh ārezū). This sentiment is deeply Buddhist and Sufi. The world, much like a snare, lays out the lure of desire before us to capture us. If we chase this bait, we are, without doubt, destined to fall into its grasp. Mowlana urges us to 'desire nothing.' This echoes Sa'di's anecdote of the dervish who, when asked what his heart desired, replied: 'That my heart may desire nothing.' This is the epitome of non-expectation and non-attachment, which frees the soul from the burden of worldly ties. The true Sufi is one who 'is not' (nabūd); meaning, one who harbors no desires, whose being is permeated by nothingness. Such a person is like one who does not exist, for no want or yearning has chained them to this world. When you let go of these desires and 'thus walked' (chon chonīn raftī), then you will see 'a hundred openings' (sad gushād)—a hundred open doors and illuminated paths spread before you. It is as if a heavy burden has been lifted from your shoulders, and you soar light-souled. This is precisely the lightness of spirit that Mowlana so deeply cherishes. Conversely, 'when you went against it' (chon shodī dar zedd-e ān), meaning when you allowed yourself to be enslaved by ambitions and demands, you 'saw corruption' (dīdī fasād). Corruption here signifies decay, disarray, and ruin. Desires scatter the soul and strip away human tranquility. This couplet teaches us that the path to purity and peace lies not in fulfilling our desires, but in forsaking and relinquishing them. This is the 'overpowering wrath' (qahr-e qahhār) that stands behind our wills, teaching us our inherent subjugation, so that we may abandon pride and selfishness, ultimately arriving at a state of desirelessness and non-attachment.

Key takeaways

• Freedom from desires is the key to spiritual openings.
• The world is a trap, with desires serving as its bait.
• A true Sufi resides in a state of desirelessness.
• Light-heartedness arises from detachment from worldly ties.
• Pursuit of desires leads to corruption and spiritual dissipation.