Rumi and the Sufi Tradition (John A. Moyne)

ISBN: 1883058988
Author: John A. Moyne
Publisher: Global Publications, IGCS, Binghamton University (1998)
Pages: 93 Binding: Paperback

Description from the publisher:

A salient feature of Sufism is the notion of a union between an individual and the Divine being. This union, which is an antithesis of alienation, is the most critical problem of humanity. This book explores the concept of mystical union and other major teachings of the great Iranian (Persian) mystic poet, Mowlana Jalaluddin Mohammad, known in the west as "Rumi." In addition to offering a translation of his most representative poems, this book examines the view that many rituals and the basic doctrine of Sufism originate from the ancient, pre-Islamic Indo-Iranian traditions as well as from Hellenistic philosophy and culture. Mowlana Rumi wrote his masterpiece, The Masnavi, in Persian language ( the language of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and some parts of the Middle East) but he was also well versed in the Greek language as is indicated by his Greek poetry, which is translated into English for the first time in this volume.

This book is written by a foremost authority on Mowlana Rumi. Unlike many recently published books on this subject, written primarily by those who do not even read or speak the Persian language and hence have had to rely upon a few available secondary and tertiary sources in English, Professor Moyne draws upon the works of Mowlana Rumi in the original language in which they were written. .