Living the life of a devotee: Rumi, Rabiya al-Basra and Narada

In Part 18 of his series, Shanti quotes under the section, Fragrances of human flowering, from more mystics

Rumi

poet, jurist and Sufi mystic

“I want to sing like the birds sing,
not worrying about who hears or what they think.”

“Whatever you are looking for can only be found inside of you.
The inspiration you seek is already within you.
Be silent and listen.”

“Whatever lifts the corners of your mouth, trust that.”

“When you do things from your soul,
you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”

“Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love.”

“Your heart knows the way.
Run in that direction.”

“You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”

“Try not to resist the changes that come your way.
Instead let life live through you.
And do not worry that your life is turning upside down.
How do you know that the side you are used to
is better than the one to come?”

“What you are seeking is also seeking you.”

“Listen with ears of tolerance.
See through the eyes of compassion.
Speak with the language of love.”

“Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.”

“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes.
Because for those who love with heart and soul
there is no such thing as separation.”

Rabiya al-Basra

Sufi mystic

“O God! If I worship Thee in fear of Hell, burn me in Hell; and if I worship Thee in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise; but if I worship Thee for Thine own sake, withhold not Thine everlasting beauty.”

“Since no one really knows anything about God,
those who think they do are just troublemakers.”

“I will not serve Allah like a laborer, in expectation of my wages.”