We are blind, though we float on bright water.

What it means

We bump into each other like boats in the dark while the water under us is full of light. The problem is our sight, not the sea. Open your eyes to what is already holding you up.

The source

"We are blind, though we float on bright water." Rumi said it in Masnavi III, The Elephant in the Dark. Translated by E. H. Whinfield, 1898.

"We, like boats, are tossed hither and thither, We are blind though we are on the bright ocean."

E. H. Whinfield, 1898, Masnavi III, The Elephant in the Dark. Text read at archive.org.

Who said it

Rumi (1207–1273). Persian poet and Sufi teacher, born near Balkh and settled in Konya. His Masnavi, six books of rhyming couplets, opens with the song of a reed flute.

Questions

What does "We are blind, though we float on bright water." mean?

We bump into each other like boats in the dark while the water under us is full of light. The problem is our sight, not the sea. Open your eyes to what is already holding you up.

Who said "We are blind, though we float on bright water."?

Rumi (1207–1273). Source: Masnavi III, The Elephant in the Dark.

What is the original wording?

We, like boats, are tossed hither and thither, We are blind though we are on the bright ocean (E. H. Whinfield, 1898). Translated by E. H. Whinfield, 1898.

Is "We are blind, though we float on bright water." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"We are blind, though we float on bright water." (Rumi, Masnavi III, The Elephant in the Dark, trans. E. H. Whinfield, 1898). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/we-are-blind-though-we-float-on-bright