Rumi

It is the 800th aniversary of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a mystic poet. More on this great poet and his philosophy and work, can be found here. Also I found this beautiful work of his from the new group blog which I have blogrolled.

"I Died as a Mineral" by Maulana Rumi

I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.

Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar
With angels blest; but even from angelhood
I must pass on: all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel-soul,
I shall become what no mind ever conceived.

Oh, let me not exist! for Non-existence
Proclaims in organ tones, 'To Him we shall return.'

Beautiful!