INTRODUCTION
Jellaludin Rumi's "The Guesthouse" is very popular among the mindfulness community, partly because it humorously illustrates how a spiritual master might interact with uncomfortable feelings that one would normally not want to entertain: depression, meanness, sorrow, dark thoughts, shame and malice. Rumi invites the reader to meet these visitors with full unflinching openness instead of defaulting to these two ways of responding - 1. struggling against them and 2. distracting to ignore them. The third way is the way of presence.
The community I serve in Behavioral Health know these visitors too well at a very intense level; but for the most part they would rather not see these visitors who to them are unwelcome guests that they want to kick out. To them, the visitors are more like frightening ghosts and demons that have come to haunt them like the scene on the right from Netflix's "Haunting of Hill House." Hence, the Ghost House is a retelling of Rumi's guesthouse story integrating the perspective of my patients, or perhaps the perspective of rest of us who are novice in the work of welcoming such visitors.
Jellaludin Rumi's "The Guesthouse" is very popular among the mindfulness community, partly because it humorously illustrates how a spiritual master might interact with uncomfortable feelings that one would normally not want to entertain: depression, meanness, sorrow, dark thoughts, shame and malice. Rumi invites the reader to meet these visitors with full unflinching openness instead of defaulting to these two ways of responding - 1. struggling against them and 2. distracting to ignore them. The third way is the way of presence.
The community I serve in Behavioral Health know these visitors too well at a very intense level; but for the most part they would rather not see these visitors who to them are unwelcome guests that they want to kick out. To them, the visitors are more like frightening ghosts and demons that have come to haunt them like the scene on the right from Netflix's "Haunting of Hill House." Hence, the Ghost House is a retelling of Rumi's guesthouse story integrating the perspective of my patients, or perhaps the perspective of rest of us who are novice in the work of welcoming such visitors.
The Guest (Ghost) House
(A retelling of Rumi's poem by Chaplain Donnel)
A wise teacher from Persia once said that this being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.
But sometimes this guest house can also feel like a haunted house visited by ghosts.
(A retelling of Rumi's poem by Chaplain Donnel)
A wise teacher from Persia once said that this being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.
But sometimes this guest house can also feel like a haunted house visited by ghosts.
When the ghost of sorrows comes, it violently sweeps your house empty of its furniture.
Then there’s the ghost of dark thoughts, the ghost of shame, the ghost of anger, the ghost of malice.
Then the ghost of fear, the ghost of anxiety, the ghost of grief. We suspect that if we welcome these guests - they might overstay. We suspect that if we welcome these guests, they might never leave.
Then there’s the ghost of dark thoughts, the ghost of shame, the ghost of anger, the ghost of malice.
Then the ghost of fear, the ghost of anxiety, the ghost of grief. We suspect that if we welcome these guests - they might overstay. We suspect that if we welcome these guests, they might never leave.
But sacred wisdom reminds us that like seasons, these visitors are impermanent and transitory. Just like stormy weather they too shall eventually pass.
A wise teacher also said these words about these visiting guests: “Still, treat each guest honorably. The guest may be clearing you out for some new delight. Welcome and entertain them all! Meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.”
A wise teacher also said these words about these visiting guests: “Still, treat each guest honorably. The guest may be clearing you out for some new delight. Welcome and entertain them all! Meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.”
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Which part of the story did you find the most important? Which part of the story resonated with you?
- What experiences have you had that is close to this story?
- Where do you find yourself in this story? Which part of the story is about you?
- What guests have been visiting you? And what was that like?
Guide for Facilitators of Spiritual Care Support Groups
Practice Spirit Play storytelling:
- STORY MATERIALS
- VIDEO
- SCRIPT
