Review
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Rumi is sympathetically presented by these translators, who
it is clear, absolutely love him and desire nothing less than to
share him with you. The interesting introduction to their little
book gives solid if sometimes slightly out-of-date information
about the period. The framework of dramatic upheaval and invasion
they paint is currently questioned by scholars who think Rumi and
his family had left Samarkand some three years before the Mongols
destroyed it. They focus, quite correctly, on Rumi's relationship
with Shams of Tabriz, a key figure in Rumi's spiritual
development. Here he is romantically described as "although of
shabby appearance and rough manner ... a highly advanced Sufi
walking the spiritual path of love ...". However, Franklin Lewis
in his outstanding study, Rumi: Past and Present, East and West (
/exec/obidos/ASIN/1851682147/${0} ), shows that Shams was an
eloquent author and engaging speaker, well-versed in the
philosophical and theological discourse of his day.
Rumi is appropriately described as "the sun that warms and
transforms hearts, attracting people from all creeds, classes and
religions." At the end of the book there is a small section of
"Terms and Symbolism" that explain what Rumi meant when he used
the terms Lover, Beloved, Drunkenness, etc. Although this firmly
anchors Rumi's work in its origins, readers have not been invited
or guided to go any further. The translators unfortunately do not
clarify what their objectives were in producing this little work.
The "Roba'is" or quatrains presented here have been translated
from the respected Persian scholar Forouzanfar's critical edition
of Rumi's Divan--which Lewis regards as the closest we have to
the corpus of what Rumi originally wrote. These would have
benefited by being presented in some order, perhaps under subject
headings. As it is, the 100 quatrains are simply presented one
after the other without offering any time for "digestion". The
sometimes inelegant English also serves to interrupt the flow and
arouses , eg "First he tempted me with infinite
caresses. He burnt me in the end with pain and sorrow." "It is
time for prayer, time to find what is your real need." For all
this, Whispers of the Beloved, once one learns how to handle its
quirks, is crammed with enough profundities to keep one going for
a very long time. --Amar Hegedus
Synopsis
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A breathtaking new collection of translations of poems by
Rumi, one of the world's most loved mystical teachers.
Beautifully packages and illustrated with Persian calligraphy,
this is an ideal gift for every MBS reader. Jalal-uddin Rumi was
born in what is now Afghanistan in 1207. His poetry has inspired
generations of spiritual seekers, both from his own Sufi school
and well beyond. His poems speak to the seeker and the lover in
all of us. In recent years, interest in Rumi has skyrocketed,
with perrfomances, CDs by Deepak Chopra, and filmed versions of
his life all in the work. In these beautiful, simple new
translations -- 100 in all -- his timeless appeal is obvious.
Publication is timed not only because this is an ideal gift, but
also to coincide with Rumi's death day (the day he is celebrated)
17 December.