Four years ago today, Dhaka's notorious traffic -- among the worst in the world -- brought me a gift. In the midst of the dizzying motor madness, rendered immobile amongst the thousands of honking cars, clamoring rickshaws, and throngs of people scurrying in countless directions, an ancient verse of graffitied poetry unfurled itself into view. I focused in on it, and snapped a picture. Every day I would pass this vandalized wall -- now, claimed in the name of love -- and linger by it at a snail's pace until its message occupied a permanent place in my being.
The full script of the 13th century Persian philosopher-poet Rumi reads, "Gamble everything for love if you are a true human being. If not, leave this gathering. Half-heartedness doesn't reach into majesty." Almost half a decade later, I still think of it from time to time. The message to me is a clear one: Our heart is a source of intuition, and it knows the path to personal happiness. In our love; in our passions; in our work; and in our service to others, our heart serves as our internal compass guiding us towards our highest aspirations in life. It's up to us to quiet our minds, and still our lives just enough to hear that directional beat, and make out which direction the compass hands point. There are those who may tell us otherwise -- how irrational, unrealistic, and risky the path may be -- but what do they know of the mysterious organ that sits so comfortably in the center of our being? It speaks only to us, and softly at that.
It's up to us if we want to listen to its guidance or not; whether we want to be gamblers in love, or not. Because this is where we get to roll the die on what we know; on our sense of security and material comforts in the pursuit of our heart's deepest desires.
The choice is never easy, but here's a reassuring little secret that Rumi didn't mention: The game is always rigged in our favor -- for in the pursuit of our heart's desires we not only fulfill our own deepest aspirations in life, but the aspirations the world has for itself as well. The two are one and the same. If we listen and play by the rules of the heart, then our journey will inevitably lift us -- and all those around us -- into Majesty.
So, let this be a comfort to you. Happy gambling, lovers.