December 08, 2005
Rumi on science and madness:
An untitled poem on transformation, science and insanity by the 13th century Persian poet Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi:
I have lived on the lip
of insanity, wanting to know reasons,
knocking on a door. It opens.
I've been knocking on the inside!
Real value comes with madness
matzub below, scientist above.
Whoever finds love
beneath hurt and grief
disappears into emptiness
with a thousand new disguises.
Apparently, matzub is the name for people who become ecstatic with holy enlightenment. From Rumi: Selected Poems (p281, ISBN 0140449531).
Link to wikipedia article on Rumi.
