Dear Lovers of Rumi,

It has been nearly 9 months since my last correspondence. As most of you are probably unaware, the tragic events of the September 11, personally affected my life. I live in downtown Manhattan, in an area approximately 2 square miles of perhaps the most densely concentrated pool of creative talent in the world. I call downtown Manhattan home and my home now happens to include a gaping hole of about 6 city blocks. Today, May 30, 2002, marks the end of more than eight months of recovery efforts at Ground Zero. Today felt like a good day to say hello to you all.

The messengers of hate, who are behind various global acts of destruction, do not belong only to one part of the world, nor do they collectively subscribe to the same religious belief. The root cause of what we popularly refer to as "evil" is fanaticism. Fanatics are Hindu, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Jain, Bahai, Sikh, Buddhist and native tribes of the world. They wear many colors of skin and often surprise us when we least expect them. Fanatics are often your own neighbors. Fanatics are those who cling to one of the two extremes in life and that includes the side of "good" as well. Throughout the history some of the most severe slaughter of innocent civilians have been motivated by what was thought of as an act of "good." Think religious, philosophical and political crusades and include in that the many failed and tragic so called missionary expeditions.

Can too much "good" be bad? Buddha is known to have coined this phrase: "to walk the middle path," and so right he is. This concept of being on the "middle path" is all you need to know to grow spiritually, intellectually and mentally in life. "Middle path" for me means the ability to embrace both light and dark, simple and complex, tranquil and intense, being for others and for yourself, listening and talking, love and allow love to be entered in your life, their way and your way, impassive and passionate, discipline and lax, live and let live…

Rumi is a prime example of how to be a spark in this vast universe. Rumi also represents what it means to be a complete human, but full of faults and that my friend is glorious. Rumi sets the standard for humanity at it's most evolved form. A human being tapping his or her full potential and lacking all pretension. In a world where most if not all of our moves are motivated by personal gain Rumi is a symbol of sacrifice through embracing his light as well as his shadow. Accepting the whole of who you are, not just a selective part of who you are, is the Holy Grail of any seeker on the path of love.

Love,

Shahram Shiva