Ruins and Seekers: A Poem Unveiling the Spiritual Wisdom of the Desert
Click Here to Watch the Poem Reading and Spiritual Teaching
The Poem
Only the wind —
only the wind
can shape the desert…
one grain at a time.
I have lost myself
in these dunes;
building and building,
but all
in ruins.
Ruin me, O Shaper of sand!
That this heap
may be shaped again
into the trail
of seekers.
Let them
tread on top my ruins,
and in their love for You,
become ruined.
For this endless desert
we call our dear life
is only here to reveal
what you concealed in the night.
Carry me, my sweet Wind —
carry me anywhere.
Only on your wings of Love…
does this grain escape despair.
~ Najim Mostamand
The Desert’s Call
There’s something captivating about the desert that takes me to another world.
A world that is enchanting, mystical, and even divine.
Although I haven’t spent much time in the desert myself, its vast and seemingly endless landscape speaks to me, like it spoke to so many poets and sages throughout history.
At first glance, the desert may seem like a barren wasteland, devoid of any real life.
Yet beneath its surface, there’s this captivating allure, with sandstorms and mirages that challenge and disorient travelers. In this unforgiving terrain, we often find ourselves unsure of where to go next.
And that’s why I see the desert as a powerful analogy for life’s journey.
Like the desert, life is filled with mirages and illusions that lure us with false promises of happiness.
We may think we are building something substantial, only to realize that it all rests upon a foundation of sand, ready to crumble at any moment.
So, I invite you to join me as we delve into this beautiful poem and uncover its spiritual wisdom.
Together, we will embark on a transformative journey where we can find solace, guidance, and illumination as we navigate the shifting sands of our own existence.
Embracing the Divine Influence
We’ll start with the first stanza, which talks about the wind shaping the desert…one grain at a time.
Now, this may seem like a beautiful and relaxing image, but there is actually a very deep and symbolic meaning here.
The wind is an incredible force, powerful enough to brew storms, erode canyons, and shape entire deserts.
But as strong as it is, it can also be quiet and imperceptible.
Sometimes, we might not even feel the wind at all, yet it’s silently shaping the desert of our life…one grain at a time.
In this poem, the wind represents none other than God Himself.
God is the one shaping our life, even when we least expect it.
Sometimes, this influence is revealed in small, subtle ways; and other times, it manifests in big and drastic ways, like getting married, having children, or succeeding in our career.
Every day, the sands of our life shift in ways we can never imagine, ensuring that no two days are ever the same.
That is, the desert is never the same.
It changes each day.
And with each change, it takes on a new shape and meaning.
When we acknowledge and accept God’s presence in our life, we surrender ourselves to His wisdom and grace. We unlock true peace, joy, and understanding.
So, the next time you feel the wind gently caressing your skin, don’t ignore or dismiss it.
Embrace it, and recognize it for what it truly is: the breath of God whispering life’s deepest secrets.
As Rumi beautifully said, “the breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.”
It’s a divine message that only a true seeker can hear.
When you are deeply connected with your heart and soul, you can truly understand what God is trying to convey.
The Challenges of Living a Spiritual Life
But you know what?
Sometimes, living this spiritual life is easier said than done.
We all get caught up in the joys and pleasures of life.
We want to achieve greatness and be loved and appreciated by others.
And we often get entangled in material things, like money, status, and external recognition, gradually drifting away from our spiritual essence and becoming disconnected from God.
This is where the second stanza of the poem comes into play.
It reflects the reality that many of us simply lose ourselves in the endless pursuits of life.
We keep building ourselves up, but only on a foundation of sand. It’s just simply not sustainable.
In fact, when you think of ruins in general, you think of something that has been destroyed, dilapidated, and forgotten.
Even the greatest empires and civilizations eventually ended in ruins, so who’s to say that our own life won’t meet a similar fate if we’re unaware of its true purpose?
That’s why it’s crucial to be mindful of the life we’re living, and to question the true source of our happiness and fulfillment.
Will our thoughts, plans, and endeavors contribute to our spiritual journey and withstand the test of time?
Or, will it crumble into ruins, leaving us with nothing?
Let’s take a moment to consider this.
Even the tallest and strongest buildings in the world can collapse in the face of an earthquake or storm.
So, it’s important that what we build can never collapse.
We need to invest our time and energy in pursuits that have lasting significance, both in the material world and the spiritual world.
In doing so, we align ourselves with a profound truth: the wind of divine influence.
By spending our time in ways that serve our spiritual growth, we become friends of the wind rather than its enemies.
We cultivate resilience and inner strength to resist the allure of distractions.
And we nurture a mindset that is aligned with God’s wisdom and guidance, helping us navigate life’s challenges with grace and purpose.
So, I encourage you to pause for a moment and reflect on the life you are living.
Are you constructing your existence on a foundation that will endure, or are you merely building upon shifting sands?
If it’s the latter, then redirect your focus toward pursuits that actually contribute to your spiritual journey and connect you with the divine.
Embrace the gentle whispers of the wind, which are guiding you toward true purpose and fulfillment.
In this way, you will never lose yourself in the dunes.
Become Nothing to Become Everything
Now, let’s explore the third and fourth stanzas of the poem, where the true secret to our peace and happiness is revealed.
Throughout our lives, we’re constantly told to build, acquire, and possess.
We’re taught to chase success, find love, and follow our passions relentlessly.
However, the real secret to our peace and happiness lies in none of these.
The real secret lies in becoming nothing.
That’s right, nothing.
Now, this may be the part where some of you start scratching your heads, but bear with me for a moment.
When we have a need or desire in life, it implies that something is lacking.
For example, if we chase after money, our mind is telling us that what we have is not enough.
And when that feeling of lack seeps into our heart, we become sad and hopeless.
Think about it — ask almost anyone what their deepest fear is, and it often boils down to the fear of becoming nothing in life.
The fear of wasting our years and not achieving true success, love or happiness.
So, we constantly feed ourselves with the illusion that what we have is not enough.
And so, our entire life revolves around this insatiable need for more.
But here’s the catch — once we fulfill one desire, another one pops up. It’s just an endless cycle.
So, let me tell you a profound truth: true fulfillment isn’t found in chasing after external desires. True fulfillment lies in recognizing our essence as nothingness — recognizing that we ourselves are nothing.
Now, I don’t mean this in a negative or demeaning way. I mean it in a deeply spiritual and mystical way.
As Rumi wisely said, “you are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”
You see, at our core, we are not a “thing.” We are, in essence, “no” “thing.” That is, we are “nothing”
Even if we identify ourselves with our mind and body, we are still far from the truth.
Our true essence, just like the wind, can’t be seen with our physical eyes.
It can only be felt and experienced when we turn our attention inward.
The challenge is that we’ve become so accustomed to the material world — the world of things and forms — that we find it difficult to connect with something that transcends it.
We struggle to connect with God or our true selves, because they transcend the realm of words, objects and forms.
But this is what separates a true seeker from the rest.
True seekers can connect with God and their deepest selves because they have turned away from building a pointless life on shifting sands.
Through their experiences and wisdom, they’ve come to realize that true peace and happiness are not found in this external world, but rather within our inner world — within our soul.
So, instead of asking for more things, true seekers ask to be ruined.
They seek to become empty.
And this emptiness extends beyond material possessions — it also encompasses pointless thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that no longer serve them.
Their mission is to unlearn and reverse the wasteful patterns they have been adopted, allowing them to truly grasp the meaning of their lives.
They work hard to break down the illusions they have built, until eventually everything collapses, and in that collapse, they gain clarity.
Because only when the illusion collapses can we truly see ourselves. Only when the ego collapses, can we truly see God.
The best part about this transformation is that it doesn’t just benefit us — it also touches everyone around us.
It’s like being in a dark room where everyone is holding an unlit candle.
When we find a match and light our own candle, we can use its flame to help ignite everyone else’s candles.
And as each candle shines, the entire room is illuminated.
It’s the same with our inner transformation.
When we let go of our ego and embrace nothingness, we become like a trail in the desert that others can follow. We have found the path to spiritual enlightenment, and now we are inviting others to do the same.
So, while it may seem counterintuitive, it’s in the act of becoming nothing that we truly become everything.
We experience the fullness of life, because we are intimately connected with the divine presence that lives within everything and everyone.
Love’s Transformative Power
Building upon our exploration of the poem’s deeper meanings, let’s now delve into the practical steps for attaining true peace and happiness.
How can we become nothing and everything at the same time?
The answer lies in the fifth stanza and it’s reiterated in the final stanza as well.
It all starts with cultivating love in our hearts.
Not just love for God, but love that extends to all aspects of life — both living and non-living.
When we truly love God, how can we not love all His creations?
It’s a feeling and state of being that goes beyond words; it must be experienced directly to be fully appreciated.
But let me tell you, this love and devotion will change you for the better.
You will no longer be under the control of your selfish ego.
Instead, you will be at peace, knowing you have nothing to lose, because you are nothing to begin with.
Fear no longer dominates you, because only someone who has something to lose lives in fear.
When you realize that everything belongs to God, you understand that you can never lose anything.
Even if a loved one passes away, you did not lose them. Their soul lives on, and you are still connected to it.
Even if a goal or ambition slips away, you did not lose it. A better opportunity is around the corner.
As Rumi says, “anything you lose comes around in a different form.”
So, in truth, you don’t really have anything to lose.
By understanding this, you become a guiding light not only for yourself but also for others.
And as they reach the same level of understanding as you do, they will also become ruins, and pave the path for others to follow.
Eventually, everyone who truly seeks to reunite with God becomes ruined and at the same time becomes complete.
It’s a realization that goes beyond the illusions of the ego.
We often think we need more and more, but the key lies in having less.
As they say, less is more.
And nowhere is this truer than on the spiritual path.
The act of humbling ourselves before God elevates us to a level that few can only dream of.
In this state of being nothing, we paradoxically discover our true completeness.
From Emptiness to Illumination
This life is but a desert, the beauty of which is found in its emptiness.
It is both empty and full at the same time.
That’s why in Sufism, so many practitioners embrace the word “Hech” or “nothing.”
Their ultimate aim is to dissolve into nothingness, shedding every trace of ego, to immerse themselves fully in the presence of God.
God, in His infinite wisdom, doesn’t openly reveal this truth.
It is something we must actively search for, work for, and devote ourselves to.
The spiritual journey is not only one of peace and joy, but also one of hard work, dedication and sacrifice.
Because the secrets of existence, as we learn, are concealed in the night.
They are concealed in darkness, and require us to bring them to light.
We bring these secrets to light through constant self-work, spiritual growth, and purification.
It is through these transformative processes that we shed the layers that hinder our progress.
Simply put, without this purification, we cannot go very far.
Whether we call it healing, self-discovery, or purification, the key lies in embarking on our own unique spiritual path.
This is an intimate and personal voyage that no one else can undertake on our behalf.
With deep devotion to God, we explore realms and insights that few dare to venture, often in the darkness or the unknown.
For it is in the dark that we understand the light.
Fly on the Wings of Love
Finally, we gain a glimpse of what it truly means to be free, like the wind gracefully moving through the open sky.
When we resist connecting with God, our hearts become hardened, and we find ourselves unable to venture far in our spiritual journey.
However, when we surrender and empty ourselves, becoming as light as a grain of sand, we open ourselves to the transformative power of the “wings of love.”
These wings carry us to new places and states of being that we couldn’t have imagined before.
In this state, anywhere becomes a sacred space as long as we are connected to God. It’s about having unwavering faith and trust in God and surrendering to His will.
When we surrender, God takes us on a journey beyond our wildest dreams.
He guides us back to our true home, enveloping us in His loving embrace.
And in His presence, all our despair and suffering fade away, making room for endless hope, love, joy, and peace.
But here lies the biggest question: are you willing to become that grain of sand, ready to soar with the wind?
Are you ready to release your attachment to worldly identities and embrace the divine essence within?
If so, then you are on the right path, and I have no doubt you will become one of the seekers who discovers the truth in these ruins.
The Journey Continues
So, I hope you’ve enjoyed this deep, mystical poem and the layers of wisdom and meaning it contains.
I’m grateful for the time you’ve dedicated to reading this post and exploring the depths of spirituality with me.
If this resonate with you, I invite you to take a moment to reflect on your own personal experience with the poem.
Share your comment about which parts touched you the most, the insights you gained, or any reflections that came up.
Let’s engage in a meaningful dialogue and support one another’s spiritual journeys.
Until then, keep seeking, keep exploring, and keep flying on the wings of love.
