Lover whispers to my ear,
“Better to be a prey than a hunter.
Make yourself My fool.
Stop trying to be the sun and become a speck!
Dwell at My door and be homeless.
Don’t pretend to be a candle, be a moth,
so you may taste the savor of Life
and know the power hidden in serving.”

-Rumi, Masnavi translated by Kabir Helminski

Rumi was a Persian poet, mystic and Sufi, he is know for his lyrical poetry and his Masnavi. Masnavi is epic lyrical poetry and often called the Qur’an in Persian. One day poet Rumi was walking through the town marketplace when he heard the rhythmic hammering of the goldbeaters. It is believed that Rumi heard the dhikr (the song of God) in their rhythmic hammering. Dhikr was later translated as “la ilaha ilallah“. He was so entranced in happiness that he stretched out both of his arms and started spinning in a circle and thus Sama (Sufi whirling ) was born.
Sama became spiritual practice of dervishes of the Mevlevi order. Mevlevi Order of Sufis was created by Rumi himself. Sama is a Sufi ceremony performed as part of the meditation and prayer practice dhikr. Sama means “listening”, while dhikr means “remembrance”. These performances often include singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry and prayers, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals.

Here is one of the evocative and fiery version of the Sama dance.

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