Love, Soul & Freedom: Dancing With Rumi on the Mystic Path (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Author), Coleman Barks (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The authors, a husband-and-wife team who have taught in the areas of religion and philosophy for 20 years, have created a framework that seeks to define the mystic journey by dividing it into 12 areas or stages. These stages are then explored through reference to and reflection on the work of the Sufi poet Rumi (The authors can be commended for resisting the temptation to call the book Ruminations.) The excellent translations used are those of Barks, generally considered to be the foremost translator of Rumi's work. Unfortunately, the commentaries are somewhat unfocused. One of the great qualities of Rumi's poetry is its clarity, and the extra layer of exposition here often seems extraneous. Some readers will find this juxtaposition distracting, not unlike an unsatisfactory taped commentary accompanying a gallery tour, though others will no doubt find the approach fresh and the contemporary context engaging. Most libraries, however, would be better served by collecting the works of Rumi now available, especially the excellent The Essential Rumi (HarperCollins, 1997).AMark Woodhouse, Elmira Coll. Lib., NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 341 pages
• Publisher: Hazelden Publishing & Educational Services (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568382073
• ISBN-13: 978-1568382074
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #894,539 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read helps you apply Rumi to your spiritual journey., July 30, 1999

By	Carol Orsborn ""The Year I Saved My (down... (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I thought I liked Rumi. After reading this tour de force by Breton/Largent, I not only appreciate Rumi, I love Rumi. This book helps us bridge appreciation of Rumi as an artist and spiritual master, and actually apply his perceptions to our own lives in a practical, accessible way. I now read Rumi completely freshly. In fact, Breton and Largent's explanations of Rumi's poetry contain so much wisdom that even without the poetry as a bonus, I would have gotten more than my money's worth. This is the one that is on my bedstand!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique mixture of pragmatic, profound and jovial wisdom., August 7, 1999

By A Customer

This is a highly practical yet lighthearted guide for traversing the spiritual path. Liberally interlaced with Rumi's sublime poetry, Denise Breton and Christopher Largent make the transformational journey comprehensible and alluring offering the reader illuminating insights and beautiful prose. Highly recommended!

1 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars difficult to rate rumi's any version written by anyone., January 24, 2001

By	aimaq (Tashkent ,Uzbekistan) - See all my reviews

Rumi's mystic is the mystic of love which doesnt have beginning and end,wherever you start from , it does represent a portion of flood-wise that sweep out all conventional understanding.Neither Rumi nor Hafez represent any certain culture but LOVE that emerge in forms of paradoxical verses depend on your preception.I respect Rumi's Masnawi as encyclopaedia of mysticism,but I would ruther love Shams valume that has alot to do with human soul,even verses of blasphemous.Masnawi needs more study-background whereas Shams interduce you to the gigant mainstream of love.