Musician, play this moment's music as grace
for those who block our road, grace for
bandits! Musician, you learned this from
a true bandit. I hear the teacher's accent
in the student's art. Musician, turn your
face to absence, because existence is
deceitful and afraid. The soul knows it is
not from here. It feels bound in a body,
yet also knows the pleasure of absence.
Absence is the ocean we swim! Existence, a
fish hook. Anyone caught loses the joy
of freedom. Being nailed to the four
elements is a crucifixion. If you keep
running after your wishes and desires,
that's your crucifixion, be sure of it!
There is a fire in patience that burns
what of you is born to fine ash. Strike
the flint of Sura 100, Honor the one
who loses breath. And, Fire rises
where they walk. These are brave souls,
musician igniting musician. What's the
point of the chess-game world where a
pawn cuts off a king? I walk awkwardly,
but the smoke goes straight up.
Sometimes a pawn makes it to the other
side and redeems a queen. The knight
says, "Your plodding is one or two moves
for us." Judgment Day is closer than
that for everyone, one step away. The
chess king says, "Without me this motion
and figuring mean nothing. The bishop
might as well be a mosquito." Winning
and losing are the same. There's check-
mate in both. We no longer see the one
who teaches us. You could say we've
been checkmated. What happens now?
— Rumi
