Wine of the Mystic : The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam : A Spiritual Interpretation [Hardcover]

Paramahansa Yogananda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1994

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam as translated by Edward FitzGerald has long been one of the most beloved, and least understood, poems in the English language. In an illuminating new interpretation, Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi, reveals the mystical essence of this enigmatic masterpiece, bringing to light the deeper truth and beauty behind its veil of metaphor. Commonly thought to be a celebration of wine and other worldly pleasures, these lyrical Persian quatrains find their true voice when read as a hymn to the transcendent joys of Spirit.

This beautifully illustrated edition of Wine of the Mystic introduces for the first time in book form Paramahansa Yogananda's complete commentaries on an enduring treasure of world literature. Yogananda said: "One day as I was deeply concentrated on the pages of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat, I suddenly beheld the walls of its outer meanings crumble away, and the vast inner fortress of golden spiritual treasures stood open to my gaze. Ever since, I have admired the beauty of the previously invisible castle of inner wisdom in the Rubaiyat. I have felt that this dream-castle of truth, which can be seen by any penetrating eye, would be a haven for many shelter-seeking souls invaded by enemy armies of ignorance. Profound spiritual treatises by some mysterious divine law do not disappear from the earth even after centuries of misunderstanding, as in the case of the Rubaiyat. Not even in Persia is all of Omar Khayyam's deep philosophy understood in its entirety, as I have tried to present it."

Winner of the 1995 Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Book in the Field of Religion, this edition features 50 beautiful original color illustrations and includes Persian text and spiritual commentary to each quatrain.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, an 11th-century Persian astronomer-mathematician, has entranced English readers since Edward FitzGerald (1809-83) trans-mogrified a 15th-century version into a hedonistic paean to wine. Some scholars disputed Khayyam's belonging to the ancient Islamic order of Sufism, but in 1967 Robert Graves and Sufi poet Omar Ali-Shah proved the Sufi mystical symbolism in Khayyam's verse. Yogananda (1893- 1952), well known for his Autobiography of a Yogi, employs FitzGerald's fiery first edition of 1859, transforming it into a profound devotional treasure. The wisdom of Khayyam's verses is revealed via a glossary, a glowing spiritual interpretation, and practical application. The quatrains are beautifully illustrated with full-page color plates and Persian calligraphy. It compares well to the 1946 edition's romantic recreations of Isfahan's palace frescoes by Sarkis Katchadourian. Highly recommended.
Dara Eklund, Los Angeles P.L.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A glowing spiritual interpretation…Highly recommended. --- Library Journal

All seekers will appreciate Yogananda's clear discussion on such topics as karma, reincarnation, destiny and free will, maya, meditation, perfecting love, life's problems, true security, the cosmic drama, and more. Yogananda's spiritually illuminating commentary...is a living treasure which can be read and reread, for each reading will unveil another truth in the infinite mystery of life. --- Yoga International

This literary contribution enhances the enormous achievements and innumerable accomplishments that distinguish Paramahansa Yogananda as among the world's great spiritual geniuses. --- Daniel Ross Chandler, Ph.D., Coordinator, The Academy 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Self-Realization Fellowship (July 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087612225X
• ISBN-13: 978-0876122259
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MYSTICISM REVEALED BY A MODERN YOGI, April 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wine of the Mystic : The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam : A Spiritual Interpretation (Hardcover)

Paramahansa Yogananda has opened up the heart of OMARR KHAYYAM in this uniquely presented commentary of Fitzgerald's 1st English translation.

With the same remarkable insight displayed throughout His other writings, Yogananda has again given inspiration with clarity and wisdom. His informative introduction re Omarr's life is an especially interesting feature of this work, not to mention His whole approach to commentary. It becomes clear on the first few pages that this work gives more than intellectual elucidation. These are the words and vibes of the living experiences from the authors great spiritual adventure carried to a successful completion.

It leaves the reader filled with awe and wonder - what else did this man write?

also recommended: Autobiography of a Yogi(orange cover), Man's Eternal Quest, and Songs of the Soul, by the same author from Self-Realization Publishers.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eternal spiritual truths resurface after a millenium, June 10, 2003

By 

richardpinneau.com (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Wine of the Mystic : The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam : A Spiritual Interpretation (Paperback)

"It takes one to know one," is here shown to apply to mystics. In this award-winning volume, Twentieth Century Indo-American sage Paramahansa Yogananda applies his irrepressible spiritual pursuit to Omar Khayyam's Twelfth Century masterpiece. Like most cultures through the ages, Kayyam's Persia was much friendlier to his mainstream career (in mathematics and astronomy) than to his spiritual revelations. The wondrous poetic beauties which sparkle through his Rubaiyat express his personal, non-canonical insights into Enlightenment (aka: the Kingdom of Heaven, Nirvana, Samadhi) are in metaphors - symbolisms whose spiritual implications register only for those "who have eyes to see" - who have themselves had a glimpse of higher spiritual realms.

The publisher of Wine of the Mystic has included an eye-opening foreword to this volume that puts these complexities into perspective, including 1) the fact that Edward FitzGerald (translator for the most famous English-language editions) only grudging acknowledged the mystical significance of the work, 2) FitzGerald's poetic techniques that faithfully capture the *spirit* of stanzas even when they are not linear translations, 3) the tradition among Sufi mystical poets of using wine as a symbol for Divine Intoxication.

Why should a poem that is merely (on the surface) a hymn to the joys of drunkenness survive for a millenium and continue to fascinate cultures around the world in languages so unlike its author's? In his introductory words, Yogananda summarizes the miracle of FitzGerald's (apparently materialist) translation by called him "divinely inspired to catch exactly in gloriously musical English words the soul of Omar's writings." To those who have received a hint of the Divine Intoxication, a deep intuitive chord may be struck by Yogananda's explanation: "Profound spiritual treatises by some mysterious divine law do not disappear from the earth even after centuries of misunderstanding, as in the case of the Rubaiyat."

As to the book itself (Wine of the Mystic)? The awards it has won, the beauty of its color illustrations, tastefully selected type faces, and rich reproduction make this volume irresistable immediately upon opening its pages. Readers are then embraced by Yogananda's sensitive and unprecedented bouquet of insights as they are welcomed to a never before dreamed of wine-tasting.

There is *no* edition to compare. This volume will reward your reading and re-reading for years. A gorgeous gift item.

CONTENTS:
Introduction of author's (Yogananda) insights.
Foreword of publisher's (Self-Realization Fellowship) history and spiritual perspectives on the Rubaiyat's.
Presentation of each Rubaiyat quatrain, along with FitzGerald's translation, Yogananda's glossary of spiritual symbolism, Spiritual Commentary, and Practical Implications for the reader's spiritual work.
Addendum reprinting all of the verses (FitzGerald translation) without interruption.

28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EVERY QUATRAIN IS NOW A DEEP & ENLIGHTENING SPIRITUAL LESSON, April 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Wine of the Mystic : The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam : A Spiritual Interpretation (Paperback)

This wonderful book is not just A TRANSLATION of the Rubaiyat, it is a collection of deep spiritual discourses which are meant as an exhortation to the soul (what we essentially are) to transcend beyond this ephemeral world of temporary illusion and to ever constantly search for the real truth which lies within every one of us.