Maulana Rumi Online: November 2012

Imago Dei, a Poem by Rumi

What is Sufism - An Interview With Professor William C. Chittick

Professor William Chittick, one of the greatest contemporary American scholars of Sufism, has authored numerous books on Rumi, Sufism, and particularly on the life and teachings of the great 13th century Spanish -born Sufi master and philosopher, Ibn Arabi. Some of Prof. Chittick's outstanding scholarly works include:

Sufism: A Beginner's Guide.
The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi.
The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi.
The Sufi Path of Knowledge: Ibn al-Arabi's Metaphysics of Imagination.
The Inner Journey: Views from the Islamic Tradition.

Prof. Chittick's masterpiece though, in my very humble opinion, is his outstanding English translation of Shams Tabrizi's 'Maqalat - شمس تبریزی- مقالات', literally meaning Articles, which he has titled as 'Me and Rumi: The Autobiography of Shams Tabrizi', also A MUST READ book for anyone interested in getting to know Rumi's mystical lover and spiritual master, Shams of Tabriz. For a complete list of Prof. Chittick's outstanding works on Sufism, Ibn Arabi, and Rumi, please visit: Books by William C. Chittick

Face Your Problems Head On, a Poem by Rumi

The Self and the Other in Ibn Arabi and Rumi

The Self and the Other in Ibn Arabi and Rumi
By Professor Süleyman Derin
Associate professor, Marmara University, Faculty of Theology - Istanbul-Turkey

"What are the borders between my self and other? How should be the relationship with different selves? Sufism has great potential to give answers to such an experiential problem. Among Sufis, Ibn Arabi and Rumi have ideas which complete each other. Avni Konuk who interprets Rumi’s Mathnawi through the eyes of Ibn Arabi, is the connection point between these two great Sufis..."

The Self and the Other in Ibn Arabi and Rumi
| PDF| ENGLISH| 22 PAGES|

Divan Hafiz Shirazi

Open my grave when I am dead,

and you'll see a cloud of smoke rising out from it;

then you'll know that the fire still burns

in my dead heart-

yeah, it has set my very winding-sheet ablaze.

~Hafiz Shirazi

Returning

The morning breeze comes back

and from the southern desert

the lapwing returns

The dove's soft song about roses

I hear that again.

The tulip, who understands what the lily says,

went away, but now she's back.

With the sound of a bell,

strength and gentleness.

Hafiz broke his vow and damaged his heart,

but now, for no reason, his Friend forgives that,

and turns, and walks back up to his door.

~Hafiz - Translated by Coleman Barks

Click on each link below to read a poem by Hafiz in English and Farsi or Persian simultaneously...Courtesy of Hafiz on Love

~ The Ecstatic Poetry of Hafiz ~

Courtesy of Poetry Chaikhana & Peaceful Rivers
and also Poem Hunter

Related Reading Materials:

"Hafiz of Shiraz (1325 - 1390) is the greatest Persian poet. The poetry of Hafiz is erotic yet spiritual, both sensual and symbolic, full of images of wine and the tavern, of the Beloved, and of nightingales and roses. Hafiz, a Sufi poet, expressed in poetry love for the Divine, and the intoxicating oneness of union with Him. Hafiz, along with many Sufi masters, uses wine as the symbol for love. The intoxication that results from both is why it is such a fitting comparison. Hafiz spoke out about the hypocrisy and deceit that exists in society, and was more outspoken in pointing this out than many poets."

This Path to God
Has made me such an old sweet beggar.
I was starving until one night
My love tricked God Himself
To fall into my bowl.
Now Hafiz is infinitely rich,
But all I ever want to do
Is keep emptying out
My emerald-filled pockets
Upon this tear-stained World.
~Hafiz Shirazi

Say it brother, O say the divine name dear sister,
silently as you walk,
don't die again with that holy ruby mine inside
still unclaimed when you could be swinging a golden pick
with each step.
~Hafiz Shirazi

Come, let's scatter roses and pour wine in the glass;

we'll shatter heaven's roof and lay a new foundation.

If sorrow raises armies to shed the blood of lovers,

I'll join the wine-bearer so we can overthrow them.

With a sweet string at hand,

play a sweet song, my friend,

so we can clap and sing a song,

and lose our heads in dancing...

~Hafiz Shirazi

"Khwajeh Shams al-Din Mohammad Hafiz Shirazi, the shining star of the rich Persian literature, was born in Shiraz in around 725/1325. He presented his great Gnostic and poetic services to the Persian literature and Iranian culture during the 77 years of his prolific life.

Hafiz created the best literary and Gnostic concepts in the form of eloquent and pithy lyrics. His concepts surpassed those of other contemporary philosophers, thinkers and scholars. His marvelous poems, not complying with the existing norms of his time, contributed a valuable and unique treasure to the Persian literature. He made excellent use of allusions, metaphors, parables and other figures of speech, never achieved before or after him.

Hafiz is one of the rare poets capable of expressing the lovers' grief, the feelings of burning butterflies, a candle's sigh and a nightingale's love with great eloquence. He has preserved his words in an ocean of accessible and unique definitions and images, which are an honor for the Persian culture.

Believe in Yourself, a Poem by Rumi

'God and I have become One', a poem by Rumi

Hover your mouse over above thumbnail to see all the details of this truly spectacular artistic drawing, full of highly meaningful yet occult symbolism and hidden messages.

Presencias y Ausencias Sufies en el Divan del Tamarit, de Federico Garcia Lorca

Presencias y ausencias Sufies en el Divan del Tamarit, de Federico Garcia Lorca

Juan Manuel Silva Barandica

Universidad de Chile

“Ignorante del agua, voy buscando
una muerte de luz que me consuma”

Gacela XI “De la huida”

"El objetivo del presente trabajo es verificar el nivel de influencia del sistema literario árabe y, más concretamente, Sufí, en el Diván del Tamarit de Federico García Lorca, para intentar interpretar en ese código algunos de los poemas que demuestren con mayor claridad la aparición de figuras e imágenes de ese acervo simbólico..."

Lea el Articulo Completo:

Presencias y ausencias Sufies en el Divan del Tamarit, de Federico Garcia Lorca

PDF| Español|13 Paginas|