today -
marks the death of the great sufi poet Rumi. (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273).
His death is celebrated each year as a celebration of his marriage to Allah.
Although I have only read non rhyming english interpretations of his poetry -it was originally transcribed verbally as he spoke in rhyming verse, some as long as 18000 words. I find that it is still the most relevant modern poetry I have ever read.
In a time where spirituality is often based on fear, attachment to sadness or stoic discipline, I can realate to the ecstatic nature and wisdom . It captures that moment I live for as a musician. Ecstatic energy in the moment. Where Life and death are one.
I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar
With angels bless’d; but even from angelhood
I must pass on: all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel-soul,
I shall become what no mind e’er conceived.
Oh, let me not exist! for Non-existence
Proclaims in organ tones,
To Him we shall return
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī (Persian: جلالالدین محمد بلخى), also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (Persian: جلالالدین محمد رومی) and popularly known as Mevlānā in Turkey and Mawlānā[1] (Persian: مولانا, Persian pronunciation: [moulɒːnɒː]) in Iran and Afghanistan but known to the English-speaking world simply as Rumi[3] (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273) was a 13th-century Persian[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Muslim poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic.[12] Rūmī is a descriptive name meaning “Roman” since he lived most of his life in an area called “Rumi” (then under the control of Seljuq dynasty) because it was once ruled by the Eastern Roman Empire.[13] He was one of the figures who flourished in the
