Sharing Poems and Meals
Enjoy this powerful poem at an IDP gathering. This poem could be a beautiful opening when people of different traditions come together to share a meal, or when people gather to share their favorite poems for peace.
One Song – A Rumi Poem
All these religions, all this singing
one song.
The differences are just illusion and vanity.
Sunlight looks different on this wall
than it does on this wall,
and a whole lot different
on this wall over here,
but it is still sunlight.
We have borrowed these clothes,
these time and space personalities,
from a light,
and, when we praise,
we put it back in.
Just as one man can be a father to you,
brother to another and uncle to yet another,
what you are searching for has many names
but one existence.
Stop looking for one of the names.
Move beyond attachment to names.
Every war and conflict between human beings
has happened because of some disagreement about
the names.
It's such unnecessary foolishness
because just beyond the arguing,
where we are all one people,
there is a long table of companionship
beautifully set
and just waiting for us to sit down.
-- Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks
About this series:
Each year, hundreds of URI Cooperation Circles participate in the International Day of Peace (IDP). As a global community, we put organized global spirit and energy into action! Here are some beloved ideas and inspirations for peacebuilding. You can expect two issues of this series each week until September 21. Hope you love them too and find them useful!
See more posts in this series for more ideas about how to celebrate the International Day of Peace.
May Peace Prevail,
Sally