Rumi: Bridge to the Soul – Journeys into the Music and Silence

Rumi: Bridge to the Soul is a book about the music and silence of the world-renowned poet and Sufi master, Rumi.

Introduction

Drawn by the beauty of Rumi’s poetry, many readers are surprised to learn that he is not only the great Persian mystic and poet, but also a musician and composer of spiritual music. In this book, Andrew Harvey explores the many facets of Rumi’s life and work, from his early years as a scholar in Balkh to his later years as a wanderer in Anatolia and Persia. Harvey also looks at Rumi’s musical legacy, which includes some of the most beautiful Sufi music ever composed.

Rumi: Bridge to the Soul – Journeys into the Music and Silence is both a biography and an exploration of Rumi’s poetry and music. Harvey draws on his own experiences as a student of Sufism to offer readers an intimate look at the life and work of this great spiritual teacher.

The Life of Rumi

His Early Years

Rumi was born in 1207 in the city of Balkh, in present-day Afghanistan. He was given the name Jalal ad-Din, which means “Glory of the Faith.” Rumi’s father was a respected theologian and scholar, and he brought his young son up to be deeply religious.

Rumi’s early years were spent immersed in Islamic studies. He learned to read and write at a young age, and studied the Quran and Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). He also learned mathematics, philosophy, and astronomy.

In 1221, when Rumi was just 14 years old, his father passed away. This was a turning point in Rumi’s life, as he began to question his religious beliefs. He started to explore other spiritual traditions, including Sufism (a mystical branch of Islam).

His Years as a Teacher

Rumi spent the next several years teaching in Konya. In 1244, he lost his beloved Shams, and there was great sorrow among the people of Konya. Rumi himself was inconsolable, and his speeches and poetry from this period show his deep pain. But as always, he found solace in his work, turning his grief into some of the most beautiful poetry ever written. Slowly, Rumi began to emerge from his sadness, and he continued to teach and write until his death in 1273.

His Later Years

In 1273, following Shams’s disappearance, Rumi got married and fathered two sons, Ala-ud-Din and Soltan Walad. He also established the order of the Mevlevi or the “Whirling Dervishes”, which was a Sufi order and is still practised today. Rumi’s life and works were so influential that, centuries after his death, his thoughts were adopted as part of the Baha’i faith.

Rumi died on 17 December 1273 in Konya, Seljuk Empire (present-day Turkey), at the age of 62 or 63, and was buried next to Shams.

Rumi’s Teachings

Rumi was a thirteenth-century Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Rumi’s teachings are relevant to our lives today because they emphasize the importance of love, tolerance, and understanding. Rumi’s poetry is timeless and provides us with a bridge to our own souls.

The Path to God

Rumi often speaks of the path to God as a journey that each soul must take. He compares the soul to a bird that has become lost in the wilderness and must find its way back to its nest. The path back is not always easy, but Rumi assures us that God is always there to guide us.

Rumi also compares the path to God to a journey across a desert. The desert is hot and dry, and the journey is long and difficult. But if we are patient and keep our eyes on the horizon, we will eventually reach our destination.

Finally, Rumi compares the path to God to a pitcher of water that has been overturned in a river. The water is trying to find its way back to the pitcher, but it is being pulled downstream by the current. However, if we are persistent, we will eventually reach our goal.

Love and Compassion

Rumi’s teachings on love and compassion are some of the most beautiful and moving in all of spiritual literature. Far from being simply sentimental, Rumi’s vision of love is one that is transformative and has the power to change our lives.

Rumi begins by teaching that real love is not just a feeling but an action. He says that love is not just something we feel in our hearts but something we do with our lives. To truly love someone, we must be willing to put their needs above our own and to sacrifice our own happiness for theirs. This kind of selfless love is the highest form of love and the only kind that can truly transform us.

Rumi also teaches that compassion is an essential part of love. Compassion is not simply feeling sorry for someone who is suffering but actively working to relieve their suffering. We can only truly love someone when we are willing to see their pain as our own and work to ease it.

Rumi’s vision of love is one that is both radical and deeply compassionate. His teachings show us that true love is not just a feeling but a way of life that has the power to change us and the world around us.

The Soul

In his poems and teachings, Rumi often speaks of the soul. He sees the soul as the true self, the part of us that is eternal and connected to the Divine. The soul is who we really are, and everything else is just an illusion.

Rumi teaches that we can only find true happiness when we connect with our soul. This requires us to let go of our egos and attachments to the material world. Only then can we experience the bliss of union with the Divine.

Rumi also teaches that the soul is like a bridge between this world and the next. By connecting with our soul, we can bridge the gap between this life and the next. We can also use this connection to access divine knowledge and wisdom.

The soul is an essential part of Rumi’s teachings because it is only through connecting with our soul that we can experience true happiness and peace.

Rumi’s Poetry

Rumi’s poetry often speaks of the soul’s journey to find unity with the divine. His poems are filled with imagery and metaphors of love, nature, and spirituality. Rumi’s work has been translated into many languages and his poetry is enjoyed by people all over the world.

Themes

Rumi’s poetry is based on the themes of love, ecstasy, spirituality, and the quest for God. In addition to these themes, his poems also deal with topics such as death, loss, and nature. Rumi often used Sufi terms and concepts in his poems, which can make them difficult to understand for modern readers. However, the beauty of his language and the power of his emotions shine through even in translations.

Language and Style

Rumi’s poetry is characterized by its use of simple, elegant language. His verses are often spare, employing few words to convey a great deal of meaning. Rumi’s style is also marked by its use of imagery and metaphors, which help to bring his poems to life.

Rumi often wrote about topics such as love, spirituality, and nature. His poems frequently explore the relationship between the individual and the divine, and many of his verses celebrate the mystical connection between all beings. Rumi’s poetry is timeless and universal in its appeal, speaking to readers across cultures and centuries.

Rumi’s Legacy

Rumi was a 13th-century Persian poet, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Born in present-day Afghanistan, his teachings combine the best of both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. Rumi’s poetry is remarkable for its beauty, depth, and universality. His poems have been translated into many languages and have been set to music by a wide variety of artists. Rumi is one of the most popular poets in the world, and his legacy continues to grow.

His Influence on Sufism

Rumi’s influence on Sufism is far-reaching and profound. He is considered one of the most important figures in the history of the religion, and his poetry has played a central role in shaping the spiritual tradition. As Sufism developed over the centuries, Rumi’s poetry came to be seen as a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds, and his words continue to resonate with seekers of all backgrounds.

Rumi’s poetic legacy spans centuries and cultures, but his message is timeless. His poems speak to the human condition, offering compassion and hope in dark times. They also offer a glimpse into the mystical dimension of reality, revealing a world beyond our everyday experience. Rumi’s poetry has inspired countless artists, musicians, and writers, and his influence can be seen in many different facets of modern culture.

His Influence on the West

Rumi’s influence in the West has been profound. He is undoubtedly one of the most popular poets in the English-speaking world, and his work has been translated into many languages. He has inspired musicians, painters, and writers, and his ideas have been taken up by psychologists and therapists. His work has been a source of solace and strength for people in times of trouble, and his message of love and tolerance has resonated with people of all faiths.

Rumi’s popularity in the West began with the publication of Reynold Nicholson’s groundbreaking translation of The Mathnawi in 1925. This was followed by a number of other influential translations, including those by Coleman Barks, Robert Bly, Andrew Harvey, Kabir Helminski, Camille Adams Helminski, Huston Smith, and Coleman Barks. Rumi’s work has also been adapted for the stage and screen, most notably by Peter Brook in his acclaimed production of The Conference of the Birds.

Rumi’s popularity shows no signs of waning; he continues to speak to us across the centuries with his message of love, understanding, and tolerance.