This year the world celebrates the 800th anniversary of the birth of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, considered by millions around the world to be one of the greatest poets who ever lived, yet until recently little read in America. English translations of Rumi's poems have sold over half a million copies worldwide, but has your narrator ever read even one line of his verse? Oh, let's not nitpick the particulars of his fine education but graciously move on and enjoy the beauty of this singular poet.
Rumi, the 13th century Persian mystic poet, has been called the greatest mystical poet of any age. During a period of 25 years, he composed over 70,000 verses of poetry -- poetry of divine love, mystic passion and ecstatic illumination. Scholars of his work today believe that Rumi is one of the greatest poets of all time, and that his work is comparable to that of Dante and Shakespeare.
Barely known in the West as recently as 15 years ago, Rumi is now one of the most widely read poets in America. His is an exciting new literary and philosophical force. One reason for Rumi's popularity is that "Rumi is able to verbalize the highly personal and often confusing world of personal/spiritual growth and mysticism in a very forward and direct fashion. He does not offend anyone, and he includes everyone. The world of Rumi is neither exclusively the world of a Sufi, nor the world of a Hindu, nor a Jew, nor a Christian; it is the highest state of a human being--a fully evolved human. A complete human is not bound by cultural limitations; he touches every one of us.
For those interested in a more detailed look at Rumi, try this volume. Otherwise, enjoy the poems below. Read them slowly, preferably out loud in the presence of one (or more)who loves you, or loves life, or even just loves hearing something else besides the voices of talk show hosts blathering like a bunch of goats at Sunday brunch.
There is a life-force within your soul, seek that life.
There is a gem in the mountain of your body, seek that mine.
O traveler, if you are in search of That
Don't look outside, look inside yourself and seek That.
*******
Any soul that drank the nectar of your passion was lifted.
From that water of life he is in a state of elation.
Death came, smelled me, and sensed your fragrance instead.
From then on, death lost all hope of me.
******
How long will you think about this painful life?
How long will you think about this harmful world?
The only thing it can take from you is your body.
Don't say all this rubbish and stop thinking.
******
The grapes of my body can only become wine
After the winemaker tramples me.
I surrender my spirit like grapes to his trampling
So my inmost heart can blaze and dance with joy.
Although the grapes go on weeping blood and sobbing
"I cannot bear any more anguish, any more cruelty"
The trampler stuffs cotton in his ears: "I am not working in ignorance
You can deny me if you want, you have every excuse,
But it is I who am the Master of this Work.
And when through my Passion you reach Perfection,
You will never be done praising my name."
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