This simile offers a powerful spiritual lesson on detachment and selfless presence. It advises one to observe life without attachment or judgment, allowing experiences to pass through without clinging to them, fostering inner peace and objectivity.
Quote by Sultan Walad: “Be like a mirror, reflecting all, yet holding nothing.”
Be like a mirror, reflecting all, yet holding nothing.
Insight
Historical Context
This metaphor is deeply ingrained in Sufi philosophy, emphasizing the purification of the heart to become a clear receptacle for divine light. Sultan Walad, through his writings, encouraged this state of pure awareness and non-attachment.
About the Author
Persian Sufi poet born in 1226 in Larende, son of Rumi, who helped to systematise and spread his father's teachings and founded the Mevlevi Sufi order formally. His own poetry, though less celebrated than Rumi's, extends many of the same themes of divine love and spiritual longing.
View all quotes by Sultan Walad