Lovedrunk

~ by Samir Selmanovic

Rumi (Jelaluddin Mevlana Rumi), arguably the greatest mystical poet of any age, was born in 1207 C.E. on the Eastern shores of the Persian Empire, then Afghanistan, and settled in present day Turkey. Over a period of 25 years, he composed over 70,000 verses of poetry about divine love, mystic passion and ecstatic illumination. In recent times, Rumi's work has experienced a renaissance across the globe, and is the most widely read poet in America today. The Year 2007 has been designated by Unesco as the International Year of Rumi. Although Rumi was a Sufi and a great scholar of the Qu’ran, his words reach across religious and social divisions. Even in his own time, he was known as a cosmopolitan. His funeral, which lasted 40 days, was attended by Christians, Muslims, Jews, Persians, and Greeks.

Last week I attended a short meditation class by a wonderful guide (Thank you Michelle!).  She taught us Square Breath, a Sufi practice. It was unlike anything else I have experienced before, centering first on one’s breathing, then on one’s heartbeat, bringing them in sync, one's own person becoming an expression of gratitude for the gift of life and love of God. Sufi's would say, "stain your prayer rug with wine." I did just that this week. I got lovedrunk with God.

After coming home, I resolved that it is time for Faith House to join other peacemakers around the world in honoring Rumi and his legacy at the 800th year anniversary of his birth.  And not only Rumi, but also all the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim mystics who stayed sane at the times when "rational" people lost their mind and warred with one another. I have to admit that my attempt to summarize Rumi's work for you has been frustrating. After years of spotty reading and now hours of collecting material about Rumi's extraordinary life, I threw up my hands and said with Attar, a Sufi master, who commented about Rumi: "There goes a river dragging an ocean behind it."

One of the most brilliant translators of Rumi into English is Coleman Barks.  With his “good ol' boy” soft Southern voice, he can, paradoxically, transport you to Persia, Afghanistan, and Turkey of the Middle Ages. This connection between contemporary American South and ancient Middle East has been one of the most fitting global matches of spirit I have ever experienced. Author Robert Bly says of Coleman: "One of the greatest pieces of good luck that has happened recently in American poetry is Coleman Barks' agreement to translate poem after poem of Rumi. Coleman's exquisite sensitivity to the flavor and turns of ordinary American speech has produced marvelous lines, full of flavor and Sufi humor, as well as the intimacy that is carried inside American speech at its best."

Here are the readings of three Rumi's poems, by Coleman.  These might lead you to the threshold between two worlds. And you will emerge on the other side of this experience first crawling, then walking, then "spreading great silent wings."

"ONLY BREATH"


"CITY OF SABA"


"I HAVE NO NAME FOR YOU"

Get lovedrunk with the mystics. Explore. There are hundreds of poems like these on the internet and in a bookstore near you. May Rumi's whole, provocative, dangling, passionate words never give you peace.   

Comments

[Abdur Rahman]

Salaams Samir,

Thank you for this beautiful post on Mevlana Rumi (God sanctify his secret). You're right, we need to celebrate all people who stayed sane (though others thought them mad).

God strengthen you in your work: it is important and necessary.

Abdur Rahman

[Samir Selmanovic]

Salaam Abdur,

Thank you for your encouragement. I love your words "God sanctify his secret." I wonder, where is this saying coming from?

Samir

[kel]

thanx Samir for sharing these beautiful translations and visuals