Teachings of Rumi [Paperback]

Andrew Harvey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 1999

Jelalludin Rumi (1207-1273) led the quiet life of an Islamic teacher in the central Anatolia (modern Turkey) until the age of thirty-seven, when he met a wandering dervish named Shams Tabriz—through whom he encountered the Divine Presence in a way that utterly transformed him. The result of this epiphany was the greatest body of mystical poetry the world has ever seen, and the establishment of a spiritual movement that would eventually stretch from Africa to China, enduring to our own day.

This collection of versions of Rumi by Andrew Harvey contains some of the master's most luminous verse, along with selections from his lesser-read prose works, with the aim of presenting a balanced view of his teaching that includes both the high-flying love of God and the rigorous path of discipline essential for those who seek it.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-A 13th-century Islamic mystic might seem an unlikely figure to be enjoying celebrity in the modern West, but Jelalludin Rumi has been receiving a good deal of attention lately. In his introduction, Harvey explains that "Rumi's work has an uncanny direct force of illumination; anyone approaching it with an open heart and mind, at whatever stage of his or her evolution, will derive from it inspiration, excitement, and help of the highest kind." Working from original sources as well as a variety of translations, he has gleaned from the vast body of Rumi's work an elegantly honed collection of poetry and prose, which he organizes into four sections ("The Call," "Be a Lover," "Ordeal," and "Union"). The result is a guide to the disciplines necessary to achieve, in a continuing process throughout life, an ever-evolving consciousness. As Harvey sees it, Rumi's path to ecstasy requires a "rigorous, even ferocious austerity" that can yield for the seeker a unique perspective on modern problems. For teens venturing outside the lines of religious dogma, this book is a lucid and accessible introduction to Rumi's writings, while for those already somewhat familiar with Rumi through other sources, it offers a challenging method for deeper exploration.-Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st edition (July 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570623465
• ISBN-13: 978-1570623462
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Sufism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars finally - genuinly accessible Rumi!, July 20, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teachings of Rumi (Paperback)

I want to thank Andrew Harvey for offering a collection of Rumi that is grouped in such a way as to be really accessible to both the student of Rumi, as well as the new-comer. I found his clear presentation refreshing. This book has been a spiritual learning tool - a path to go down - with out the usual barrage of "opinions" by the editor. It is presented in such a way as to allow the reader to "just take the journey" without being swayed to believe that the passages mean anything else than the reader wants or needs them to mean. I am greatful that Harvey was able to show restraint and offer this clear- joyous collection - while feeling confident enough to leave the rest up to the reader.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Subpar translation (interpretation)., October 16, 2003

By 

T. Schade (Rocklin, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teachings of Rumi (Paperback)

This may not be that Bad of a translation; however, Harvey brings it down, that is, he takes something away from Rumi in order to present it to the reader. This is why it seems so much like an interpretation. True, a certain amount of interpretation seems to be required when translating such works, so maybe Harvey's just doesn't work or is missing something. Again, it's as if he "dummies" it down. It's as if Harvey thinks the beauty of the poetry is more in it's english poetic-ness (rhyme, etc.) than in what Rumi is pointing at. This can create a problem in translating works, especially when the Need to be poetic supercedes the content. I don't mean that the poetry is secondary; it's of equal importance to the actual translation, the medium is often the message; however, it seem in Harvey's effort to make it English-passing as poetry (almost like sonnets) he neglects to make a good, solid translation. For a much, much better reading, get the superior translation by A.J. Arberry. It's probably the best english translation out there. Of course, the best authority is to ask a REAL Sufi and see what he/she thinks.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Returning Home, February 10, 2008

By 

K. Benen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teachings of Rumi (Paperback)

While knowing some beauty is lost through the translation from Rumi's native language, as a westerner who speaks only english I am so grateful to the author for a very accessable translation of the Master's Wisdom.

Maybe Divine Love speaks for itself, but as a spiritual journeyer I was deeply comforted by the obvious 'rites of passage' and inherent 'Truth' of Rumi's Teachings.