The quote:
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I will meet you there.”
is attributed to the Persian Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi. This profound statement encapsulates several layers of spiritual and philosophical meaning, emphasizing concepts of transcendence, unity, and love. Here’s an elaboration and explanation of the quote:
Transcending Dualities
1. Beyond Duality:
• Rumi’s field represents a spiritual realm that transcends the dualities of right and wrong, good and bad. In this context, “ideas of wrongdoing and right doing” refer to human judgments and moral distinctions that often create divisions and conflicts.
• In the field beyond these dualities, there is a state of pure being where the soul is free from the constraints of moral dichotomies. It’s a place of unity and oneness with the divine, where human concepts of right and wrong are irrelevant.
Spiritual Unity
2. Unity with the Divine:
• Rumi’s work often emphasizes the idea of union with the Divine. The field can be seen as a metaphor for this union, a place where the individual self merges with the universal spirit.
• This unity is beyond human understanding and cannot be comprehended by rational thought, which is bound by ideas of right and wrong. It’s a mystical state where one experiences a direct connection with the divine, free from earthly judgments.
Love and Compassion
3. Love as the Central Theme:
• In Sufi tradition, love is a central theme, often viewed as the path to God. Rumi’s field can also be interpreted as a place of unconditional love and compassion, where human flaws and mistakes are dissolved in the light of divine love.
• This love transcends all judgments, accepting everyone as they are. It’s a space of ultimate acceptance and understanding, where the soul experiences the true nature of divine love.
Inner Peace and Freedom
4. Inner Peace:
• The field represents a state of inner peace and freedom from the constant judgments and conflicts that arise from differentiating between right and wrong. It’s a place where the soul finds rest and contentment.
• This inner peace is achieved through spiritual practice and self-realization, moving beyond the ego and its attachments to moral distinctions.
Mystical Experience
5. Mystical Experience:
• For Rumi and many Sufis, the ultimate goal of the spiritual journey is to attain a direct, experiential knowledge of God. This field is symbolic of such mystical experiences where conventional notions of morality and rationality dissolve in the presence of divine truth.
• In this state, the soul experiences a profound sense of unity with all creation, transcending the ego and its limitations.
Practical Implications
6. Compassionate Living:
• Practically, Rumi’s quote encourages us to live with compassion, understanding, and love, rather than judgment and division. It calls for an approach to life that sees beyond surface-level distinctions and recognizes the inherent unity and divinity in all beings.
• It suggests that true peace and harmony come from transcending our limited views and embracing a more holistic, loving perspective.
Conclusion
Rumi’s quote “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” invites us to transcend our ordinary, judgmental ways of thinking and to enter a state of unity and pure being. This field is a metaphor for a higher spiritual plane where dualities dissolve, and one experiences the oneness of existence. It’s a call to embrace love, compassion, and unity, recognizing that true spiritual realization lies beyond human concepts of morality.
COMMENTS