Reflecting on Rumi

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Here are images inspired by Rumi's poems from the Masnavi. I hope you will also be inspired. 

Above is at least one quote from each of the Masnavi's six sections. There are three images for each quote because I want to encourage and model at least three levels of reflection on Rumi. I tried to choose quotations with obvious meanings. However, Rumi can be joyfully, playfully, seriously deep. He seeks to enlighten us with stories that awaken us to the full breadth, depth, and height of life! If at first the end of a quote seems like a mystery, sleep on it and maybe the meaning will come with the dawn.

I've been reflecting on Rumi for only a short time but have found his perspectives refreshing. Like jumping into a cool lake on a hot summer day, then swimming below the surface until your breath almost runs out. In each translation another voice, but underneath is the timeless message from a real person trying to make sense and share his insights about life and the context (present, past, historical). Rumi lived over 800 years ago, yet if you open randomly to any page you will feel as though Rumi is in the room. He dances around us, spinning tales-- some with open-ended meaning (or maybe I just don't get it!). It helps to have some background in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim texts. Here's a random passage: "Solomon's aspirations you require to shun cheap vanities and aim much higher. Despite his strength he couldn't conquer death: his kingdom's waves eventually stopped his breath, dust settled on him from this agony, for other kings he thus felt sympathy. He spoke for them, 'This royalty of mine--give it completely just as strong and fine to whomsoever you should smile upon, for I am he and he is Solomon. He isn't after me but with me here, but what's with me when I've no claimants near?' (Mojaddedi, 2004; reissued 2008, p. 161, Book 1, line 2625)."

Because I do not read Persian, I used a variety of translations (see references below and this).

Arabi, F. (2015). Masnavi, Book 1, first 18 lines, [Online a cappella sung Persian version of Rumi's first 18 lines of Masnavi, Book 1]. https://dar-al-masnavi.org/audio/forouzandeh.nay-nameh.m4a (FA)

Barks, C. (2004). The Essential Rumi: New expanded edition (C. Barks does not know Persian so is using translations by R. Nicholson, A.J. Arberry, and J. Moyne). HarperCollins. [for commentary see: https://dar-al-masnavi.org/corrections_popular.html#By%20Coleman%20Barks] (CB)

Gamard, I. (various dates). The Masnavi: A Full-Text Website of the Masnavi in Persian, English, and Turkish (6/15). https://dar-al-masnavi.org/masnavi.html (IG)

Gamard, I. (n.d.). Dar-Al-Masnavi of the Mevlevi Order [web site]. https://www.dar-al-masnavi.org/about_masnavi.html  (IG)

Gamard, I. (n.d.). Links [online links to resources related to Rumi and the Mevlevi Order. https://www.dar-al-masnavi.org/links.html  IG)

Gamard, I. (n.d.). Corrections of popular versions. https://dar-al-masnavi.org/corrections_popular.html#By%20Coleman%20Barks (IG)

 Rumi. (2008 reissue). The Masnavi: Book one (J. Mojaddedi, Trans.). Oxford University Press. (JM)

 Rumi. (2008 reissue). The Masnavi: Book two (J. Mojaddedi, Trans.). Oxford University Press. (JM)

 Rumi. (2013). The Masnavi: Book three (J. Mojaddedi, Trans.). Oxford University Press. (JM)

 Rumi. (2017). The Masnavi: Book four (J. Mojaddedi, Trans.). Oxford University Press. (JM)

 Rumi. (2022). The Masnavi: Book four (J. Mojaddedi, Trans.). Oxford University Press. (JM)

Rumi. (2016). Masnawi Rumi: Book 2 In Farsi with English Translation. (R.A. Nicholson, Trans.). Compiled by Nazari & Somayeh Nazari. Learnpersianonline.com. [for corrections see: http://www.dar-al-masnavi.org/about_nicholson.html] (RN)

Rumi. (1898). The Masnavi I Ma'navi of Rumi, Complete (E.H. Whinfield, Trans.). Pantianos Classics. (EW)

Rumi. (1974). Mystical poems of Rumi (A.J. Arberry, Trans.). University of Chicago Press. (AA)

Sham-i Tabrzi. (2004). Me and Rumi: An Autobiography of Shams-i Tabrizi (W.C. Chittick, Trans.). Fons Vitae. http://www.fonsvitae.com (WC)