Fourty Eight Thousand Lines

The relationship between spiritual master and disciple depends much on the disciple's desiring greatly the secrets of the master. When a disciple is very intent on this, the master can respond accordingly. A good example would be Mevlana and Hüsameddin Çelebi; the way the writing of the Holy Mesnevi came about. Mevlana had written the first eighteen lines of what would be his Mesnevi and tucked the paper in his turban. To have something done or written on demand is one thing; for that same thing to be done voluntarily is something else. The second way can bring out more beautiful results. Çelebi always wanted Mevlana to express his thougts and when he saw the lines, asked Mevlana why he hadn't shown the lines earlier.
The answer was given with a smile; "I was waiting for the one who would be eager to serve. Now I'll speak and you'll write." Hüsameddin Çelebi took those eighteen lines and went on to write down forty-eight thousand lines of verses, never tiring, always on the alert. When Mevlana was ready, he wrote the words dawn immediately, days after days. He was a scribe writing with great love and pleasure...(to be continued) Discussions on Rumi...Hasan Dede's Own Words By Ayşe Özalp and Carole J. Douglas