A bird flies with its wings towards its nest, the wings of a man are his aspiration and aim.

Excerpt

A bird flies with its wings towards its nest, The wings of a man are his aspiration and aim. If a lover be befouled with good and evil, Yet regard not these; regard rather his aspiration. Though a falcon be all white and unmatched in form, If he hunts mice he is contemptible and worthless. And if an owl fixes his affection on the king, He is a falcon in reality; regard not his outward form.

Source Masnavi, Book VI, Prologue, §4 · 📖 Read the full passage

✨ To meditate on today

According to Rumi, just as a bird flies toward its nest, a human being is carried by his aspirations: what counts in each person is neither appearance nor clumsiness, but the direction of the heart — a humble owl that loves the king is worth a falcon. Today, when someone’s flaw strikes you, look instead for what they aspire to, and say a word that encourages them in that direction.

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