The Blue City Sufi

Mohit Patel

खुसरो दरिया प्रेम का, उल्टी वा की धार।
जो उतरा सो डूब गया, जो डूबा सो पार।।

खुसरो बाजी प्रेम की मैं खेलूँ पी के संग।
जीत गयी तो पिया मोरे हारी पी के संग।

अपनी छवि बनाई के मैं तो पी के पास गई।
जब छवि देखी पीहू की सो अपनी भूल गई।।

“Listen, and lay your head under the tree of awe.
When from that tree, feathers and wings sprout
on you, be quieter than a dove.
Don’t open your mouth for even a cooooooo.”
-Rumi (Coleman Barks)

“My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there.”
-Rumi

Listen: this world is the lunatic's sphere,
Don't always agree it's real,
Even with my feet upon it
And the postman knowing my door
My address is somewhere else.
-Hafez

Not a believer in the mosque am I,
Nor a disbeliever with his rites am I.
I am not the pure amongst the impure,
I am neither Moses nor Pharaoh.
Bulleh, I know not who I am.

Not in the holy books am I,
Nor do I dwell in bhang or wine,
Nor do I live in a drunken haze,
Nor in sleep or waking known.
Bulleh, I know not who I am.

Not in happiness or in sorrow am I found.
I am neither pure nor mired in filthy ground.
Not of water nor of land,
Nor am I in air or fire to be found.
Bulleh, I know not who I am.

Not an Arab nor Lahori,
Not a Hindi or Nagouri,
Nor a Muslim or Peshawari,
Not a Buddhist or a Christian.
Bulleh, I know not who I am.

Secrets of religion have I not unravelled,
I am not of Eve and Adam.
Neither still nor moving on,
I have not chosen my own name!
Bulleh, I know not who I am.

From first to last, I searched myself.
None other did I succeed in knowing.
Not some great thinker am I.
Who is standing in my shoes, alone?

Bulleh, I know not who I am.
-Bulleh Shah