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The essential Rumi
First published 1995 · 388 pages
An intoxicating, timeless plunge into the depths of divine love, spiritual longing, and ecstatic joy.
What it feels like
Reading this collection feels like sitting with a wise, wildly passionate friend who is determined to crack your heart wide open. The pace is inherently leisurely; these are not words to be rushed, but rather savored, rolled over in the mind, and allowed to settle in the soul. The atmosphere is intoxicating and warm, shifting effortlessly between playful observations of daily life and profound, transcendent glimpses of the divine. It is a deeply emotional experience, tracing the universal ache of longing and the ecstatic joy of spiritual reunion. The language is musical, accessible, and rich with earthy metaphors that make ancient mysticism feel startlingly immediate. It will delight seekers, romantics, and anyone yearning to feel deeply connected to the pulse of the universe.
- Mood
- mystical
- transcendent
- contemplative
- intoxicating
- warm
- Tone
- ecstatic
- reverent
- playful
- passionate
- earnest
- Pace
- leisurely
- Themes
- divine love · spiritual awakening · the ache of longing · surrender to the unknown · finding the sacred in the mundane
- The writing
- Musical, metaphor-rich, and surprisingly conversational, bridging the gap between ancient mysticism and modern emotional sensibilities.
- The arc
- Begins in the deep ache of separation and longing, spiraling upward into an ecstatic, joyful surrender to universal love.
- Who it's for
- Spiritual seekers, lovers of lyrical poetry, and anyone craving a reminder of the profound beauty hidden in everyday existence.
Content notes
- existential longing
- grief
About the book
Jelaluddin Rumi was born in the year 1207 and until the age of thirty-seven was a brilliant scholar and popular teacher. But his life changed forever when he met the powerful wandering dervish, Shams of Tabriz, of whom Rumi said, "What I had thought of before as God, I met today in a human being." From this mysterious and esoteric friendship came a new height of spiritual enlightenment. When Shams disappeared, Rumi began his transformation from scholar to artist, and his poetry began to fly. Today, the ecstatic poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi is more popular than ever, and Coleman Barks, through his musical and magical translations, has been instrumental in bringing this exquisite literature to devoted followers. Now, for the first time, Barks has gathered the essential poems of Rumi and put them together in this wonderful comprehensive collection that delights with playful energy and unequaled passion. The Essential Rumi offers the most beautiful rendering of the primary poetry of Rumi to both devoted enthusiasts and novice readers. Poems about everything from bewilderment, emptiness, and silence to flirtation, elegance, and majesty are presented with love, humor, warmth, and tenderness. Take in the words of Jelaluddin Rumi and feel yourself transported to the magical, mystical place of a whirling, ecstatic poet.
Description from Open Library.
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