Who is this Mevlana Rumi?

Mevlana is the title given to Jalaladdin Muhammad Rumi, a 13th-century Turkish poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic. He is a famous figure in the world of Sufism, and his poetry and teachings continue to be widely read and studied today. Mevlana’s poetry, written in the Persian language, is considered some of the greatest literary works in the Persian language. His teachings emphasize the importance of love, tolerance, and compassion, and he is often referred to as the “Islamic saint of love.” The Mevlevi Order, a Sufi order known for the “whirling” dance of its members, is named after Rumi and is known as “Whirling Dervishes.”

Mevlana’s teaching, which is often referred to as “Mevlevi teaching” or “Rumi’s teaching,” emphasizes the importance of love, tolerance, and compassion. He believed that the ultimate goal of human existence is to achieve a state of spiritual enlightenment, or “union with God.” To achieve this goal, Mevlana taught that individuals must let go of their ego and attachments to the material world, and instead focus on developing a deep, personal relationship with God through prayer, meditation, and other spiritual practices.

One of the critical concepts in Mevlana’s teaching is the idea of “fana,” which translates to “annihilation” or “extinction.” This refers to the notion that the individual ego must be “annihilated” for the individual to achieve union with God. He also promoted the idea of “shunya” or “nothingness” which refers to emptying the self of all preconceptions, prejudices, and attachments to the material world to become closer to the divine.

Mevlana’s teaching also emphasizes love and tolerance, he believed that love is the force that unites all things, including God and humanity. He taught that true love is not just a feeling, but also a state of being and a way of living. Mevlana also stressed the importance of tolerance and acceptance of others, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds, as a way of developing greater understanding and compassion for others.

The Mevlevi Order, also known as the “Whirling Dervishes,” is based on these teachings and is known for its distinctive “whirling” dance, which is seen as a form of spiritual practice and meditation.

Wrote several important books of poetry and prose, including:

“Masnavi” — a collection of poems that covers a wide range of spiritual and moral themes.

“Divan-e-Shams-e Tabrizi” — a collection of ghazals (lyric poems) that is considered to be Rumi’s masterpiece.

“Fihi ma Fihi” — a collection of Rumi’s talks and sermons, which offers insight into his spiritual teachings.

“Diwan-i Kabir” — a collection of Rumi’s poetry, including ghazals, quatrains, and rubaiyat.

“Discourses” — a collection of Rumi’s talks, sermons, and letters, which provides a glimpse into his teachings and spiritual philosophy.

“Letters” — a collection of Rumi’s letters to various people, including his disciples and friends.

“Masnavi-ye Ma’navi” — a collection of poems that covers a wide range of spiritual and moral themes and considered Rumi’s magnum opus.

Several of Rumi’s books have been translated into English, including:

“The Essential Rumi” — a collection of Rumi’s poems and prose, translated by Coleman Barks.

“Rumi: The Big Red Book” — a translation of Rumi’s “Masnavi” by William Chittick and Afifi al-Akiti.

“Rumi: The Book of Love” — a translation of Rumi’s “Divan-e-Shams-e Tabrizi” by Coleman Barks.

“Rumi: The Glance” — a translation of Rumi’s “Fihi ma Fihi” by Coleman Barks and John Moyne.

“Rumi: The Soul of Rumi” — a translation of Rumi’s “Divan-i Kabir” by Coleman Barks.

“Rumi: Discourses” — a translation of Rumi’s “Fih-e-Ma Fih” by A.J. Arberry.

“Rumi: Poems of Love and Ecstasy” — a translation of Rumi’s “Masnavi-ye Ma’navi” by Jawid Mojaddedi.

“Rumi: The Illuminated Rumi” — a translation of Rumi’s “Masnavi-ye Ma’navi” by Coleman Barks

These are some of the most famous and widespread translations, but there are many other translations of Rumi’s books available in English by other translators as well.

Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi is known for his profound and poetic teachings, many of which are still widely quoted and studied today. Some famous words of Mevlana include:

• “The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.”
• “Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”
• “The wound is the place where the light enters you.”
• “The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart.”
• “Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open? Move outside the tangle of fear-thinking. Live in silence.”
• “You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”
• “The whole universe is contained in a single human being on a single day.”
• “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.”
• “Let the beauty of what you love to be what you do.”

These quotes give a glimpse of the depth and richness of Rumi’s teachings, which continue to inspire people worldwide today.

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