"The Rose's Rarest Essence Lives in The Thorns"
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
22
September 2023
“The rose's rarest essence lives in the
thorns.”
― Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi
This is one
of my favourite quotes. This short, succinct and pithy aphorism speaks volumes.
What's often perceived as ugly, useless and apparently harmful can have far
greater and deeper significance. But that needs discernment. Zarre-Zarre
Mein Samandar Hai, Nazar Paida Kar (Every particle contains a sea. You need
to develop that kind of discernment and observation).
"Rose
is contextualised in its thorny existence, "wrote Nigerian novelist and
poet, Chinua Achebe. It's because of thorns, a rose is valued.
It's what
we call 'contradictory juxtaposition' or Fahzat in Persian. A day's
importance is valued because of the night. Japanese would say, ' thornier a
fish, tastier it is.'
The essence
of life lies in a number of tests, twists, turns, trials and tribulations.
They're the thorns of life. Gold becomes sterling when it passes through a
series of exacting tests.
Amrita
Pritam wrote of Sahir, "Unke Chehre Pe Kuchh Daagh Thay. Unhin Daaghon
Ki Vajah Se Sahir Mujhe Bahut Acchhe Lagte Thay" (There were a few
scars on the face of Sahir and I liked him because of them). Nothing is wasted
nothing is in vain/ The seas roll over but the rocks remain. What we often
reject as useless, often has the essence.
Coming back
to the thorns of a rose, its thorns lend a dash of uniqueness to it. To quote
poet-lyricist Aish 'Kanwal' (he wrote that immortal number 'Main Toh Tere
Haseen Khyalon Mein Kho Gaya', sung by Rafi, Film: Sangraam, 1965): 'Khaaron
Se Badha Hai Jamaal-e-Gulaab/Va Gar Na 'Kanwal' Bhi Kuchh Kam Na Tha'
(Thorns accentuated the beauty of a rose/ Otherwise, a lotus wasn't far
behind). The 'prickly beauty' (Keatsean phrase for a rose) of a rose is its
USP.
Remember,
anything in life is appreciated and valued in its totality. It's the
comprehensiveness that creates profundity. Totality accommodates beauty as well
as beasts and barbs. Thorns complete a rose and are completed by it.
------
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/rose-rarest-essence-thorns/d/130732
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