The quote,”Whenever they rebuild an old building,they must first of all destroy the old one” is a metaphorical expression emphasizing the necessity of letting go of the old to make way for the new. In essence, it suggests that in order to construct something fresh and innovative, we frequently enough need to deconstruct or remove what was previously there.
In terms of physical structures like buildings, this makes practical sense. You can’t erect a new structure without clearing away the remnants of the old one. However, Rumi extends this concept beyond physical constructs into areas such as personal growth and societal change.
in today’s world, we could apply this idea in various ways. For instance, if we want to adopt healthier habits or improve our skills in certain areas (rebuilding ourselves), we first need to let go or break down our existing unhealthy habits or unproductive practices (destroying the old building). It’s about acknowledging that progress often requires us to step out from our comfort zone and abandon outdated methods or beliefs.
This concept also holds relevance on larger scales such as societal changes and reforms. If society wants important change — say for example tackling systemic racism — it cannot merely plaster over existing problems with superficial solutions but must dismantle these deep-rooted issues before constructing more equitable systems.Moreover, in business contexts too – companies seeking innovation should be willing to challenge their pre-existing conventions and norms (destroying) before they can truly innovate (rebuild).
Thus Rumi’s quote resonates across multiple levels – from individual self-advancement journeys to societal transformations – underscoring how destruction is frequently enough a necessary precursor for meaningful reconstruction.
