umsami Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 So, I'd really like to put together something for my kids to study Rumi next year, as well as memorize a few of his shorter works. So far, I have Demi's book on him. I also bought her and Alexis Lombard's "Conference of the Birds" as Attar was one of Rumi's supposed influences. I have the Rumi Daybook for actual selections. Am possibly considering combining it with history of the Persian empire, but not sure yet. I do have some Persian cookbooks, and figure we might try and celebrate some various Persian festivals like Nowruz. Any other ideas? I saw this, but as there are no reviews, no idea if it's worth buying. I know he died in Turkey, so perhaps I can integrate some stuff about Turkey as well. No idea. I will be learning with my kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 I can share one of my favorite Rumi poems: Whoever is loved is beautiful and the converse not necessarily true Lovableness is the root principle from which beauty grew. 'There are girls more beautiful than Layla', they told Majnoon 'But I don't love Layla for her form' responded Majnoon 'Layla in my hand is like a cup 'It is the wine within I am in love with 'You have eyes for the beaker, 'Of the wine within you are unaware', said Majnoon 'A golden goblet studded with precious stones Containing vinegar 'Or something else other than wine Would be of no use to me 'An old broken gourd of wine Is superior to such a golden goblet And hundreds like it, said Majnoon For a man to tell the wine from the beaker He must be moved with passion and yearning Take two men, one hungry the other full The man suffering from hunger Perceives a living nourishing soul in a piece of bread The man full of food merely conceives the shape of the bread. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spy Car Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Am possibly considering combining it with history of the Persian empire, but not sure yet. I do have some Persian cookbooks, and figure we might try and celebrate some various Persian festivals like Nowruz. Food of Life is a very nice cookbook. I am quite fond of Persian cuisine and prepare Persian dishes often. You are a little late for Nowruz ;) Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shukriyya Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Coleman Barks's translations are wonderful. You would want to include one of his books in your study. "The Essential Rumi' would be a great place to start. He and dancer Zuleikha often work together to present 'An Evening of Rumi' at various venues across the country bringing Rumi's words into a tangible and embodied experience. You might also do some research on the Mevlevi order of dervishes of whom Rumi is the founder. There is a wealth of material on them starting with Shems Friedlander's now OUP book, 'The Whirling Dervishes'. Another book you might look at is 'Women called to the Path of Rumi' for a female perspective. His great masterpiece, 'The Mathnawi', is what the translators of his poetry draw from. You might look into different publications of that if you were feeling intrepid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 Oooh, I have "The Illuminated Rumi" by Coleman Barks and it is so beautiful I can only read one or two pages a day. One of my favorites: Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don't open the door to the study and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument. Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground. Umsami I would love to know what you end up doing and with what materials - for myself if not my kids! "Keep knocking, and the joy inside will eventually open a window and look out to see who's there." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 Food of Life is a very nice cookbook. I am quite fond of Persian cuisine and prepare Persian dishes often. You are a little late for Nowruz ;) Bill LOL :) Yes, I know... I'm planning for next year. Coleman Barks's translations are wonderful. You would want to include one of his books in your study. "The Essential Rumi' would be a great place to start. He and dancer Zuleikha often work together to present 'An Evening of Rumi' at various venues across the country bringing Rumi's words into a tangible and embodied experience. You might also do some research on the Mevlevi order of dervishes of whom Rumi is the founder. There is a wealth of material on them starting with Shems Friedlander's now OUP book, 'The Whirling Dervishes'. Another book you might look at is 'Women called to the Path of Rumi' for a female perspective. Those all sound good. I've been involved on and off with the Threshold Society for years, who follow the Mevlevi order. Your post reminded me that I should ask there for ideas! Oooh, I have "The Illuminated Rumi" by Coleman Barks and it is so beautiful I can only read one or two pages a day. One of my favorites: Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don't open the door to the study and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument. Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground. Umsami I would love to know what you end up doing and with what materials - for myself if not my kids! "Keep knocking, and the joy inside will eventually open a window and look out to see who's there." Thanks. I have Coleman Barks' Illuminated Prayer book, which I really love. I'll have to look for the Rumi one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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