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Rumi — On Seeking Love
Your task is not to seek for love
The words of the 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, continue to resonate with profound spiritual truths that transcend time and culture. In one of his most famous quotes, Rumi states, “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” This statement challenges our common perception of love and invites us to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
The Misconception of Seeking Love:
Many of us spend our lives searching for love, believing it is something we must find externally. We seek love in relationships, material possessions, and the validation of others. However, Rumi’s words remind us that this pursuit is misguided. Love is not something we need to chase or acquire; it is an inherent part of our being, always present within us.
The Barriers We Build:
If love is already within us, why do we often feel disconnected from it? Rumi suggests that the answer lies in the barriers we construct within ourselves. These barriers can take many forms, such as fear, self-doubt, past traumas, prejudices, and ego-driven desires. They are the walls we build around our hearts, preventing us from fully experiencing and expressing love.
Fear is one of the most common barriers we face. We may fear vulnerability, rejection, or the unknown, causing us to close ourselves off from the possibility of love. Self-doubt can also hinder our ability to love, as we question our worthiness and struggle to accept ourselves fully. Past hurts and traumas can create deep-seated wounds that make it difficult to trust and open our hearts again.
Prejudices and judgments can also act as barriers to love. When we hold onto rigid beliefs about others or ourselves, we limit our capacity for compassion and understanding. Ego-driven desires, such as the need for control or the pursuit of external validation, can further distract us from the love that resides within.
