The Spiritual Journey

Rumi implores the reader to go on a spiritual journey. Enlightenment cannot be gained by reading or studying. Enlightenment can only be gained by going on one's own journey into the self and discovering the truth in one's own soul. The reward for this journey is of immense value and brings the joining of the soul with other beings in a place of pure spirituality outside the world. This spiritual place is a place of love; however, the journey itself is long and difficult.

The self must be torn down to complete the spiritual journey. Rumi compares it to tilling the soil so plants may grow. He also compares it to tearing down a house to find the gem that is buried underneath, a gem whose worth is that of many, many houses. Rumi believes the real work of human beings on Earth is this spiritual...