Empty House — A Deep Poem for Transcending the Ego

Click Here to Watch the Video of the Poem Reading and Commentary

The house that is full
always welcomes
the hand of thieves.

They pillage and plunder
what you so dearly admire —
why bother putting on a lock anymore?

Only when the four walls
see nothing but themselves
can you ever declare peace and serenity.

For all that is gathered in desire
will surely be consumed by Love’s fire.

~ Najim Mostamand

We are always trying to fill our house (ego) with people and things we desire. But will this desire and attachment bring us true peace and happiness? Photo by Caio

This is one of my favorite original poems and one that I think so beautifully captures the goal of every spiritual journey: becoming empty.

Indeed, being empty is the greatest feeling, as you no longer feel anchored anymore and can instead let your Soul be free.

The house in this poem is a symbol for the body, or more aptly, our ego. The more “full” or enlarged our ego is, the more we will suffer. And this suffering destroys the fragile house we have built.

The more attached we are to the people and things in our life, the more we are prone to experience immense suffering when…