The complete idiot's guide to Rumi meditations PDF
Preview The complete idiot's guide to Rumi meditations
Rumi Meditations by Yahiya Emerick A member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Rumi Meditations Rumi Meditations by Yahiya Emerick A member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. ALPHA BOOKS Published by the Penguin Group Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore, Auckland 1311, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Copyright © 2008 by Yahiya (J. A.) Emerick All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or trans mitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the informa tion contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. For information, address Alpha Books, 800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240. THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO and Design are registered trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2007935866 ISBN: 1-4362-1238-3 Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide help ful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering professional services in the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted. The author and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, per sonal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and applica tion of any of the contents of this book. Publisher: Marie Butler-Knight Copy Editor: Janet K. Zoya Editorial Director: Mike Sanders Book Designer: Trina Wurst Managing Editor: Billy Fields Indexer: Brad Herriman Executive Editor: Randy Ladenheim-Gil Layout: Ayanna Lacey Development Editor: Susan Zingraf Proofreader: Aaron Black Senior Production Editor: Janette Lynn Contents at a Glance Part 1: Meet the Master 1 1 Who Was Rumi? 3 Get introduced to the best-selling poet in America today, Rumi, a Persian mystic from the thirteenth century. Explore who he was, where he came from, and what happened in his life to shape him and his work that’s so special to us today. 2 What Did Rumi Believe? 21 Learn about Rumi’s journey into the mystical reaches of the heart and what he believed about human beings. Understand why he believed so passionately in the path of self-realization and what the pitfalls to progress that he warned against are. Also, explore Rumi’s view on how love does save the day. 3 Rumi the Writer 37 Begin to explore what Rumi wrote and why, and how his writing was received. Take a tour of each of his major works, including the Divan and the Mathnawi, and learn how the West discovered Rumi. Part 2: Nothing for Something Is Everything 57 4 The Forgotten Self 59 On a voyage of self-discovery, Rumi explores the real roots of stress, doubt, and hopelessness, and how a person can sur vive in this world and gain a sense of self. 5 Igniting the Divine Spark 77 That little voice inside your heart is real. Who is speaking to you? What does the voice bid you to do? Learn how Rumi guides you back to the light you forgot you had. vi The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Rumi Meditations 6 Fighting the Illusion That Binds You 95 Discover Rumi’s view of this world and our place within it. Explore how this life is useful, what the meaning is of what we see, what success and failure are in life, and how to apply Rumi’s timeless lessons to our daily lives. Part 3: Love and the Single Mind 113 7 Understanding the Nature of Love and Pain 115 Explore Rumi’s definition of love and its Divine expression in our lives, and how we know what love is and what it needs to grow. Understand the reasons we some times experience pain in our souls, what it’s for, and how love that transcends time sets us free. 8 Dancing with the Beloved 131 Learn about Rumi’s quest for God and what God meant to him. Discover what it means to be annihilated in the Divine and how the spirit of Divine wisdom sets us free from all that pains us. 9 Celebrating Earthly Passion 145 Love is the union of souls, so where does love begin? How can a liberated soul love more deeply than a shackled soul? What does unrestricted love feel like? What is passion unleashed from within? Discover the beauty of Rumi’s love poetry. Part 4: In the Garden of Eternal Delight 161 10 Wisdom to Live By 163 The personal habits and empowering beliefs that Rumi praised are reflected in much of his writings. Explore the pitfalls and negative habits that prevent personal growth and union with the Divine spark within us all. Contents at a Glance vii 11 Animal Fables 179 Rumi was fond of employing animals in his stories and poems. From lions, horses, and birds to even rabbits, Rumi brought out the wisdom in each. Discover some of his most memorable tales, including those drawn from the Arabic literary classic Kalila and Dimnah, and the valuable lessons each can teach. 12 Stories of the Seeker 195 Rumi lived at the tail-end of a magical world populated by sinners and saints, fabulous cities and lonely dervishes, and wealthy sultans and wandering maids. Explore the artistry and imagery that Rumi employed in his portrayal of the last days of classic Islamic civilization. Appendixes A A Timeline of Rumi’s Life 209 B Rumi Resources 215 C Glossary 223 Index 227
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