A poem by the Sufi poet Rumi best sums up the

idea of taking and breaking vows:

“Come, come, whoever you are.

“Come, come, whoever you are.

“Come, come, whoever you are.

“Come, come, whoever you are.

Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.

Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.

Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.

Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Come, it does not matter

Come, it does not matter

Come, it does not matter

Come, it does not matter

i

i

i

f you’ve broken

f you’ve broken

f you’ve broken

f you’ve broken

your vow a thousand times.

your vow a thousand times.

your vow a thousand times.

your vow a thousand times.

Still, come, and yet again come!”

Still, come, and yet again come!”

Still, come, and yet again come!”

Still, come, and yet again come!”

After the taking of sincere vows, we will be

amazed to find that it was only the weakness of our

doubt, our lack of invincible true faith, and our lack

of unalterable true commitment that obscured our

clear vision of Awakened Mind. These acted like the

dark clouds that block the bright sun from our view.

We have now been informed, educated, empowered,

initiated, ordained and set firmly upon the path to

enlightened, Awakened Mind.

We now can use the swords and blade as symbols

of discriminating awareness and skillful means,

methods by which to cut through any external

obstacles. We now can use the chalice as the symbol

of wisdom and compassion within, instrumental in

dissolving any internal obstacles. Our Awakened

Mind, our “true woman or man of no rank,” has

always been here waiting for us. Right here

…within us!

Awake AHO!

Awake AHO!

Awake AHO!

Awake AHO!

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