The Guest House by Rumi
The Guest House, often recited in mindfulness courses and retreats, is a beautiful poem with a powerful message.
When we experience difficult thoughts, feelings or emotions, the natural tendency is to reject them—to want them to go away. The trouble with this approach is that the more we resist them, the power we empower them to disturb our peace—what you resist persists.
Rejecting them adds fuel to the fire. It only serves to make them stronger.
In the Guest House, Rumi suggests another approach. If these ‘unexpected visitors’ are there anyway, it is better to work with them rather than make enemies out of them.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honourably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
— Jalaluddin Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks (The Essential Rumi)
Unpacking The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
We have little or no control over the thoughts, feelings and emotions that appear in our experience. But, importantly, they are not who we are. You are the guest house and your feelings are temporary visitors passing through.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honourably.
It doesn’t matter whether your thoughts or emotions are pleasant or unpleasant—treat them all with open arms. This doesn’t mean you have to like them. It stems from the wisdom that to reject them simply gives them more power. The more you can accept whatever arises in your experience, the more peace you will feel.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Every experience in life is an invitation to mature as a person—to grow our spiritual muscles. Life’s difficulties are often catalysts for making us stronger and should therefore be looked upon with an attitude of gratitude.
