The Way of Passion: A Celebration of Rumi [Hardcover]

Andrew Harvey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1994

Contemporary translations of 13th-century poet Rumi's mystical poems have enjoyed tremendous popularity among modern readers. Oxford scholar Andrew Harvey's dramatic interpretation results from his own personal spiritual experience. He speaks with charisma of the relevance of Rumi's vision to Western life.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Harvey is probably best known for Hidden Journey (Viking, 1991), in which he details his spiritual surrender to the Indian mystic Mother Meera. He has since found in the mystic poetry of the 13th-century Sufi master Rumi a distillation of the message that he believes Mother Meera embodies and that the world cannot afford to ignore. "I believe we are all in the last moments of a civilization," Harvey writes. "What is at stake is the whole human experiment." Some will find this fixation on the imminent apocalypse distracting. Taken from a series of lectures given in 1993, the book is probably of greatest interest to those having some prior familiarity with the poetry. Harvey's passion and enthusiasm often lead to hyperbole, and his interpretation of Rumi, while compelling, needs to be absorbed slowly and with a critical eye. For collections with an interest in Sufism or mysticism in general.
Mark Woodhouse, Elmira Coll. Lib., N.Y.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

...a brilliantly clear, ecstatic book. With these generous and direct words.... -- Coleman Barks --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 319 pages
• Publisher: Frog Ltd (March 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188331920X
• ISBN-13: 978-1883319205
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A mystic for our time, May 29, 2001

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Ossian "ossian" (albuquerque, nm) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Way of Passion: A Celebration of Rumi (Paperback)

As one with a lifelong interest in mysticism, I have been reading Rumi for forty-five years now. Unfortunately, I cannot yet read the originals, and I have had to intuit the sense in some rather bloodless interpretations. Harvey, however, seems to hit it just right. To the degree that we can speak of these things during a person's lifetime, he seems to me to be a genuine mystic himself, passionate and full-blooded as the real thing usually is. Six months ago, I gave a copy of this to a much younger friend who had discerned the via negativa with no external guidance before we met. He rejoices in the book and is delighted to find words that exactly mirror his own untaught discoveries. I do not normally gush over such books. I was rigorously trained in Catholic theology and philosophy, hold a graduate degree in East Asian religion and identify myself as a Christian. I am not expert in Islam, though I know far more than the average reader, having edited one work on Rumi. So I tend to cast a jaundiced eye over most work like this. But if I were forced to reduce my library to a scant hundred volumes, The Way of Passion would still find an honored place. Rumi, though heterodox like all mystics, spoke powerfully not only to the Sufis of his time but to orthodox Muslims, Jews and Christians. Though Harvey certainly does not rank with Rumi, his interpretation can speak meaningfully to all persons of good will who do not barricade themselves behind denominational lines. On the basis of this book alone, I would read anything that Harvey writes.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Celebration of Rumi, January 6, 1998

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C. Sewell "blueskies" (Milford Square, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Way of Passion: A Celebration of Rumi (Hardcover)

Rumi is one of the greatest spiritual mystics and poets who we can read today. This book is a wonderful guide, both through some of Rumi's poetry, and in gaining insight into Rumi's life. This book is one of my favorite books in my library. Andrew Harvey has clearly experienced the passion of Rumi himself, and is able to guide the reader through profound waters with skill. I found his commentary to be a bonus to the experience of reading Rumi.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Come On Baby - Light My Fire!, July 7, 2001

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[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Way of Passion: A Celebration of Rumi (Paperback)

The Divine Love, Divine Passion, Divine Power, and Divine Truth of Rumi are all explained here by Andrew Harvey. True to the book's title, Harvey has truly created a delightful celibration of Rumi and his works. If you are on your path, or even if you have wondered off the path into the dark forest, Harvey has provided a clear roadmap to the next level of transformation. This map comes repleat with warnings of speed traps, and roadsigns - telling of Rumi and Shams "wildness, violence, and ferocity" as they traveled down their path, drinking wine, and going ever onward, toward the Sun. Just enjoying moments of Divine Grace.