A Poem That Isn’t: Buddhist Mindfulness and Rumi's 'Guest House'

The Persian poet Rumi is credited with a poem called "The Guest House" that's often used in the context of Buddhist mindfulness practice. We'll look at that poem and why it isn't really by Rumi. We'll then look at Rumi's original poetry to find where it comes from. Finally we'll turn to early Buddhism for an oddly similar simile.

✅ Sutta mentioned:

✅ Other materials:

00:00 Intro
01:52 Coleman Barks’s translation
03:08 Problems with the translation
07:06 A look at Rumi’s original poem
14:12 Find inspiration where you like
15:48 Buddhist Guest House
18:06 Speculations about historical links
19:40 Coleman Barks’s similarity to another recent "translator"

❤️ Thanks to Patreon Patrons:
Anonymous (1)
Scarlett Farrow
Carlos Gutierrez
Matthew Smith
Bob Snead
JC
Shantha Wengappuli
Karma_CAC
Johan Thelander
Michael Roe
Jorge Seguel
Christopher Apostolof
GailJM
Steven Kopp
Brett Merritt
David Bell
T Pham
VCR
Upayadhi
Andi and Erik
ATGuerrero686
Michael Scherrer
Michael Seefeld
khobe schofield
Alex Perdomo
Benji Forsyth
Kaine Usher
Cookie Forthecookie
Blaze Way
Adam
Andrew Posner
Jessica Sauter
Sonny Flink
Steve Marlor
David W
Joy L Lee
Andrew Tom
Anthony Tucker
Karlee R
Rob Parisien
Ethan M
Billy in Singapore
Steve Marlor

Disclaimer: Amazon links are affiliate links where I will earn a very small commission on purchases you make, at no additional cost to you. This goes a tiny way towards defraying the costs of making these videos. Thank you!

[betube]

I've seen several quotations from "Rumi" and always wondered how they came from a devout Muslim. This makes it so clear. I especially enjoyed your side-by-side presentation. It's something I couldn't have spent the time to do, but now I am richer because of your doing it.

[SoyElta]

Feelings coming to move through; In Spanish when you ask a child what is wrong or what they are feeling you say "que te pasa" literally "what is passing you." It implies that whatever is happening to you is temporary.

I live in the U.S. and I am teaching my daughter to speak the four big Western European Latin Languages. It makes me think about the nature and limitations of translations like never before.

[galdikla]

What a gem this channel is for me. Thank you!

[BNSFGuy]

As a Buddhist descended of Albanian Sufis, I always enjoy reading Rumi and his poetry. Sufi Islam honestly brought me to Buddhism and I really do think there are many religions out there who practice the Dharma without even knowing it

[bijanbahmani]

As an Iranian I am so happy the word is getting out on this. I was puzzled when I first saw "Rumi" poems in english. I feel same has been done to some extent with Hafiz in English. It feels like opertunism and Orientalism as Edward Saeed theorized.

[denizekener]

Rumi was born in Afghanistan and moved to Anatolia. The Persian language was the common language of the scholars artists at that era in history. His father was a great scholar as was himself so we know that he was a very well educated person. I think it is very possible that he knew a great deal about buddhism as well. In Masnawi there are many references to myths and stories from all over the known world. One thing to keep in mind is that, he lived along the silk road. Travelers and merchants from China to Europe was very common. The 'guest house' is a very common anology in our part of the world. Therefore I think the similarities are coincidences. However as with all great spiritual traditions sufis and buddhists, share a great deal. For me, this is proof that all beings are created as one, regardless of how we define ourselves. Thank you for the great video Doug...

[darlenevelez]

Thank you so much for this wonderful talk. I have long admired these "translations" by Coleman Barks. It is good to have this background information. Could you recommend any books I could read on the subject of translations. I've also read many "translations" of Hafiz. They are delightful, but I'd like to read them with this kind of perspective.

[alexakroma]

I appreciate you as always, Doug! Cheers!

[xiaomaozen]

Wonderful deconstruction, Doug! I agree with you: There's no problem with doing what Barks did. But one should not sell it as a translation. "Inspired by Rumi" would be, in my humble opinion, an absolutely clear and sincere way to mark works like Barks' ones.

Anyway, your "German thoroughness" is stunning, Doug! 😻😂😊🙏🏻

[Mevermore]

Doug - folks have probably pointed out, you added the word "the" before "beyond".
Having not yet listened to your translation explanation, I will say the addition "the" creates for me an extra presence to the "beyond" so as to locate it in a power, belief, or other externality as opposed to the simple "beyond" as in "beyond the pale" or comprehension. That is the realm of the unknown.
Make sense?

[Teeba_Syed]

THANK YOU SO MUCH DEAR. I was translating Guest House in Urdu but I was not feeling complete while doing so. After so many searches for persian script of this poem, I found nothing. Your video cleared me. Though I still like this poem. But Thank God I yet not post it with the name Rumi. Now I will post with facts your provided. Love and prayers from Pakistan.

[hfelippejr]

Thanks, Doug. I don't think I would have taken the time to research the history behind this particular poem. I still enjoy Barks's framing of it, but it's good to know that it's just that: a framing.

[richardbaez]

Hi, Doug I was wondering if you had any thoughts on social media as it relates to the path. I quit all social media recently and feel much better, maybe this is something we should all consider?

[lillpoetboy]

Love from Alaska, guess it's time to be a patreon member today

[sowmindful]

Hello, I’m new to your channel, and had a question if you don’t mind sharing insight. I’ve recently considered having a go, at trying to get a Bachelors of Science in Accounting. I find the art of keeping track of expenses to be mindful, and a nice challenge. But one challenge I’m struggling with, is how to overcome, or possibly avoid working with companies who sole purpose it to only grow at any cost? I’ve made myself more informed on the impact that we humans are having on the planet, and see that we sometimes don’t want nature/animals/insects to live next to us in a somewhat harmony. Do you have any thoughts on this matter? Thank you for much for your time. 🙏

[Flavouredairr]

Please make a video on Acting and Music(Entertainment industry).I read somewhere that the buddha said that Actors may get a bad rebirth. Is it that Acting is bad or is it the state of mind associated with it or what makes a profession as such bad?

Thank you for your help and guidance

[waitingforparts]

Thank you Doug for stepping outside the usually Buddhist boundaries to talk about Rumi. I have heard a few of his writings spoken in spiritual talks and do not know much about him otherwise. I will say I find many secular talks leave out references to spirits and afterlife when quoting the sayings of Buddhist writings.
It seems many people now a days do not want to talk about that part of Buddhist thought.
Stay safe and well

[nas]

Rumis work can be compared to that of Sufism an Islamic sect which focuses upon spirituality, great video! Wishing all the best for this YouTube channel!

[joem]

Yes just like all those so called Buddha quote memes that now exist some of which weren’t spoken by the Buddha, the wisdom in them may stand on its own but to attribute it to someone falsely makes discerning nuances between philosophies confusing to say the least!

[MundaSquire]

Thank you Doug. Translations, of course, are always in some way a kind of reinterpretation and the intention of that translator is something to consider. But I agree with you. It seems Coleman Barks should have some qualifier as to authorship and not use "Rumi" as the author. Maybe "a poem inspired by Rumi" would have been more accurate, and assuredly more honest.