Delicious Laughter: Rambunctious Teaching Stories from the Mathnawi of Jelaluddin Rumi (Paperback)

by Coleman Barks (Author), Maulana Jalal al-Din Rumi (Author) "Some time ago there was a man named Nasuh..." (more)
Key Phrases: The Chinese, True Human Being, True Person

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Persian

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Maypop Books; 1st edition (February 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961891610
• ISBN-13: 978-0961891619
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #424,719 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Divine Comedy of a Comic Saint?, November 13, 2000

By	C. King Khidr (Damascus, Syria) - See all my reviews

Delicious Laughter is Coleman Barks's collection of some of Maulana Rumi's most uproarious stories from the Mathnavi. But I must warn you potential reader: many of the narratives in this compilation are quite explicit - *definitely* not for puritanical prudes. The thing to remember is that Rumi uses these graphic images to make a point. His stories are not just crude attempts to make us chuckle. Rather, he seeks to lay bare the various impulses that push and pull us - impulses that in fact make up the Divine Comedy of human existence. Behind all of these impulses lies the Grand Impulse, which is our inate yet unconscious yearning for the Object of our existence - the Eternal Beloved - like water drops seeking a return to the ocean, or flowers naturally turning towards the sun. As long as this is kept in mind, Rumi's humour will reveal itself for what it is: a key to a higher and more profound understanding of what makes us human. Through this key the grand narrative behind the apparently incoherent and disjointed fables and stories will unlock itself.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid source for Sufi teaching tales, August 9, 2000

By	M. J. Smith (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Delicious Laughter is a secondary translation of teaching tales in verse by Rumi. By secondary translation I mean that Coleman Barks does not translate directly but works with others who can read the origin. However, Barks' sense of poetry, meaning and story make his versions excellent. Many of the stories are known to the Western world via Idries Shah's work, some through de Mello, others have moved East and West through time. However, many of the tales will be unfamilar to the reader - some of which will remind us of the international character of Rumi's environment.

In "Chinese Art and Greek Art" there is a contest to see which art is best - the Chinese complete a stunning piece of art on their wall. The Greeks polish their wall so brightly that it reflects the Chinese work. ... the moral is ... (read the book to find out).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh, Laugh, Laugh, July 23, 2007

By	Julie Jordan Scott "Writer, Life Coach - Owne... (Bakersfield, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Once again, Coleman Barks translating Rumi equals a huge blessing in my life.

I was thrilled to learn that these stories from "Mathnawi" are translations of Rumi's "Couplets", teaching stories poetically told. These are stories created to be retold, read aloud, discussed, debated, unfolded, sniffed, thrown in a river and caught several miles downstream with the laughter still gurling forth... as well as the "a-ha's" because naturally, with Rumi, humor is a valuable source of personal growth and reflection.

This section touched me deeply:

"Pay attention to your mean thoughts. That sourness may be a blessing, as an overcast day brings rain for the roses and relief to the dry soil. Don't look so sourly at your sourness. It may be it is carrying what you most deeply need and want. What seems to be keeping you from joy may be what leads you to joy."

"Don't call it a dead branch, call it the live, moist root."

Ahhhh, how I treasure all of the words in "Delicious Laughter".