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Rumi's Little Book of Life: The Garden of the Soul, the Heart, and the Spirit
From Madonna to Deepak Chopra, celebrities have been recording and embracing Rumi's poetry for the past two decades, creating a resurgence of interest in this 13th century Sufi mystic. Rumi's Little Book of Life is a beautiful collection of 196 poems by Rumi, previously unavailable in English. Translated by native Persian speakers, Maryam Mafi and Azima Melita Kolin, this collection will appeal to Rumi lovers everywhere. This collection of mystical poetry focuses on one of life's core coming to grips with the inner life. During the course of life, each of us is engaged on an inner journey. Rumi's Little Book of Life is a guidebook for that journey. The poetry is a companion for those who consciously enter the inner world to explore the gardens within--out of the everyday "world of dust"--through an ascending hierarchy that restores one's soul to the heart; the heart of the spirit; and in finding spirit, transcending all.
211 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2012
1795 people are currently reading
2560 people want to read
About the author
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ar-Rumi
1,170 books15.7k followersSufism inspired writings of Persian poet and mystic Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ar-Rumi; these writings express the longing of the soul for union with the divine.
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī - also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, Mevlânâ/Mawlānā (مولانا, "our master"), Mevlevî/Mawlawī (مولوی, "my master") and more popularly simply as Rumi - was a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian and Sufi mystic who lived in Konya, a city of Ottoman Empire (Today's Turkey). His poems have been widely translated into many of the world's languages, and he has been described as the most popular poet and the best-selling poet in the United States.
His poetry has influenced Persian literature, but also Turkish, Ottoman Turkish, Azerbaijani, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu, as well as the literature of some other Turkic, Iranian, and Indo-Aryan languages including Chagatai, Pashto, and Bengali.
Due to quarrels between different dynasties in Khorāṣān, opposition to the Khwarizmid Shahs who were considered devious by his father, Bahā ud-Dīn Wālad or fear of the impending Mongol cataclysm, his father decided to migrate westwards, eventually settling in the Anatolian city Konya, where he lived most of his life, composed one of the crowning glories of Persian literature, and profoundly affected the culture of the area.
When his father died, Rumi, aged 25, inherited his position as the head of an Islamic school. One of Baha' ud-Din's students, Sayyed Burhan ud-Din Muhaqqiq Termazi, continued to train Rumi in the Shariah as well as the Tariqa, especially that of Rumi's father. For nine years, Rumi practised Sufism as a disciple of Burhan ud-Din until the latter died in 1240 or 1241. Rumi's public life then began: he became an Islamic Jurist, issuing fatwas and giving sermons in the mosques of Konya. He also served as a Molvi (Islamic teacher) and taught his adherents in the madrassa. During this period, Rumi also travelled to Damascus and is said to have spent four years there.
It was his meeting with the dervish Shams-e Tabrizi on 15 November 1244 that completely changed his life. From an accomplished teacher and jurist, Rumi was transformed into an ascetic.
On the night of 5 December 1248, as Rumi and Shams were talking, Shams was called to the back door. He went out, never to be seen again. Rumi's love for, and his bereavement at the death of, Shams found their expression in an outpouring of lyric poems, Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi. He himself went out searching for Shams and journeyed again to Damascus.
Rumi found another companion in Salaḥ ud-Din-e Zarkub, a goldsmith. After Salah ud-Din's death, Rumi's scribe and favourite student, Hussam-e Chalabi, assumed the role of Rumi's companion. Hussam implored Rumi to write more. Rumi spent the next 12 years of his life in Anatolia dictating the six volumes of this masterwork, the Masnavi, to Hussam.
In December 1273, Rumi fell ill and died on the 17th of December in Konya.
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī - also known as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, Mevlânâ/Mawlānā (مولانا, "our master"), Mevlevî/Mawlawī (مولوی, "my master") and more popularly simply as Rumi - was a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian and Sufi mystic who lived in Konya, a city of Ottoman Empire (Today's Turkey). His poems have been widely translated into many of the world's languages, and he has been described as the most popular poet and the best-selling poet in the United States.
His poetry has influenced Persian literature, but also Turkish, Ottoman Turkish, Azerbaijani, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu, as well as the literature of some other Turkic, Iranian, and Indo-Aryan languages including Chagatai, Pashto, and Bengali.
Due to quarrels between different dynasties in Khorāṣān, opposition to the Khwarizmid Shahs who were considered devious by his father, Bahā ud-Dīn Wālad or fear of the impending Mongol cataclysm, his father decided to migrate westwards, eventually settling in the Anatolian city Konya, where he lived most of his life, composed one of the crowning glories of Persian literature, and profoundly affected the culture of the area.
When his father died, Rumi, aged 25, inherited his position as the head of an Islamic school. One of Baha' ud-Din's students, Sayyed Burhan ud-Din Muhaqqiq Termazi, continued to train Rumi in the Shariah as well as the Tariqa, especially that of Rumi's father. For nine years, Rumi practised Sufism as a disciple of Burhan ud-Din until the latter died in 1240 or 1241. Rumi's public life then began: he became an Islamic Jurist, issuing fatwas and giving sermons in the mosques of Konya. He also served as a Molvi (Islamic teacher) and taught his adherents in the madrassa. During this period, Rumi also travelled to Damascus and is said to have spent four years there.
It was his meeting with the dervish Shams-e Tabrizi on 15 November 1244 that completely changed his life. From an accomplished teacher and jurist, Rumi was transformed into an ascetic.
On the night of 5 December 1248, as Rumi and Shams were talking, Shams was called to the back door. He went out, never to be seen again. Rumi's love for, and his bereavement at the death of, Shams found their expression in an outpouring of lyric poems, Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi. He himself went out searching for Shams and journeyed again to Damascus.
Rumi found another companion in Salaḥ ud-Din-e Zarkub, a goldsmith. After Salah ud-Din's death, Rumi's scribe and favourite student, Hussam-e Chalabi, assumed the role of Rumi's companion. Hussam implored Rumi to write more. Rumi spent the next 12 years of his life in Anatolia dictating the six volumes of this masterwork, the Masnavi, to Hussam.
In December 1273, Rumi fell ill and died on the 17th of December in Konya.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
January 22, 2015
This book found me, while I was reading another one about serendipity. I usually don't read this type of books, but when I opened a random page, the text got me:
"Why worry about the flower, when I have already given you a garden."
I love Rumi's kindness and this open flow of feelings that his words usually follow. It's a book that makes you feel good about life, indeed.
"Why worry about the flower, when I have already given you a garden."
I love Rumi's kindness and this open flow of feelings that his words usually follow. It's a book that makes you feel good about life, indeed.
November 10, 2023
In a moment of pure heartache and pandemonium worldwide, Rumi offers a home for peace and quiet. A selection of poems that work through the physical, emotional, and spiritual phases of our human existence. That Rumi knew all of this back in 13th Century Persia - is beyond me. How we are still here, turning to hate, war, and weapons - instead of love and peace - is beyond me. Always vote for peace. Always vote for humanity ❤️
November 11, 2020
I have read some of other works of Rumi mostly through articles and social media posts. This was the first book which I read. Being a non believer it didnt really amazed or impacted me. I do feel that if one is religious or spiritual then this book might be of some value. Also I must have missed larger understanding because of my inability to access poetry maybe.
March 17, 2023
Just browsed through this from day to that.
Very nice and calming.
Very nice and calming.
September 11, 2025
Read in 2022
This book is close to my broken heart. When it got delivered I opened a random page and it opened on a beautiful quote. And from that day onwards whenever I want some comfy words, I randomly open a page and it provides my Soul comforting words which resonates with my situation every single time ❤
This book feels like my friend :)
This book is close to my broken heart. When it got delivered I opened a random page and it opened on a beautiful quote. And from that day onwards whenever I want some comfy words, I randomly open a page and it provides my Soul comforting words which resonates with my situation every single time ❤
This book feels like my friend :)
January 4, 2013
Rumi ... Wow!!! His poetry so lyrical, the messages so powerful! Love, love, love Rumi!!!!!!!
This collection of poems are simply wonderful!!! Food for the mind, the heart and soul!
This collection of poems are simply wonderful!!! Food for the mind, the heart and soul!
January 13, 2021
I read the majority of this on the plane ride back from Canada. As cliche as this sounds, I think if I had read it two years ago I wouldn't have understood it as much as I do now. The first chapter resonated the most with me. It is amazing that a text that is so dated can still hold truth and relevance to modern day life. Highly recommend if you enjoy reading poetry. High four!
April 23, 2021
Spiritual, full of wisdom, provides food for thought, DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE NOT SPIRITUAL!
February 15, 2017
I have to admit I didn't know anything about Rumi until a couple of years ago. I saw on my cousin's profile this quote:
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I'll meet you there.
I was intrigued and asked him what it meant and he didn't know either but told me to get into Rumi. The internet is replete with his quotes especially social media. I've bought a few of his books and have to say the poetry doesn't seem to have the same impact on me as it does on so many others.
But I like him and what he stands for.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I'll meet you there.
I was intrigued and asked him what it meant and he didn't know either but told me to get into Rumi. The internet is replete with his quotes especially social media. I've bought a few of his books and have to say the poetry doesn't seem to have the same impact on me as it does on so many others.
But I like him and what he stands for.
February 28, 2021
Poetry is not my strong suit but how to deny it, it goes straight to the soul.
February 28, 2023
5/5 ♡♡♡♡♡
I take my time with poetry books. This particular gem has been with me since last year and I've loved every moment drowning in Rumi's enchanting, bewildering, mesmerizing lyrics.
It's a translation and not the real deal and that kind of saddens me. I can only imagine what I'd feel for the actual words if the translation seemed to transport me to an altogether different realm.
// 𝘼 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙛 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝
𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨
𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙
𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩. //
This book -- 𝙍𝙐𝙈𝙄'𝙨 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 was broken up into three segments.
♡ 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭
♡ 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵
♡ 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵
And they're aptly named, each poem was a beautiful flower of the Garden it blossomed in. I'm sure I'll feel the otherworldly essence of it and remember the scent for years.
I'll definitely be going back and revisiting a lot of my favorite lines every so often.
Rumi is for forever. ♡
I take my time with poetry books. This particular gem has been with me since last year and I've loved every moment drowning in Rumi's enchanting, bewildering, mesmerizing lyrics.
It's a translation and not the real deal and that kind of saddens me. I can only imagine what I'd feel for the actual words if the translation seemed to transport me to an altogether different realm.
// 𝘼 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙛 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝
𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨
𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙
𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩. //
This book -- 𝙍𝙐𝙈𝙄'𝙨 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙇𝙞𝙛𝙚 was broken up into three segments.
♡ 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭
♡ 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵
♡ 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵
And they're aptly named, each poem was a beautiful flower of the Garden it blossomed in. I'm sure I'll feel the otherworldly essence of it and remember the scent for years.
I'll definitely be going back and revisiting a lot of my favorite lines every so often.
Rumi is for forever. ♡
April 19, 2021
What did I think?
A little book with a big heart written by one of the greatest poets from the Middle East.
An abundance of words can only describe a fraction of how beautiful Rumi’s poetry truly is. Each poem flows through to the next and if I were to quote my favourite line I’d have to quote the entire book. Rumi’s piety emanates through each page and even though I just recently discovered his poetry, it feels as if I have known it for so much longer.
After a long debate of which quote I would choose to convince you to indulge in Rumi’s poetry, I decided on this
-
What sorrow takes away from your heart
it replaces with something better.
Without the fury of thunder and lightning
the plants will be scorched by the sun.
Be grateful for all you receive,
good and bad alike, for it may be a gift
-
A little book with a big heart written by one of the greatest poets from the Middle East.
An abundance of words can only describe a fraction of how beautiful Rumi’s poetry truly is. Each poem flows through to the next and if I were to quote my favourite line I’d have to quote the entire book. Rumi’s piety emanates through each page and even though I just recently discovered his poetry, it feels as if I have known it for so much longer.
After a long debate of which quote I would choose to convince you to indulge in Rumi’s poetry, I decided on this
-
What sorrow takes away from your heart
it replaces with something better.
Without the fury of thunder and lightning
the plants will be scorched by the sun.
Be grateful for all you receive,
good and bad alike, for it may be a gift
-
May 17, 2017
A little book filled with enormous inspiration.
September 16, 2021
For a committed heart, Everything is possible.
December 22, 2021
Enthralling!
No words can describe the magic of Rumi's writing. He is beyond words. This book can be read again and again.
No words can describe the magic of Rumi's writing. He is beyond words. This book can be read again and again.
May 7, 2021
The translation here is indeed quite contemporary and smooth, perhaps too modern for my tastes. I would definitely enjoy the poems more if I could read them in the original Persian, as is the case for any work of poetry.
December 31, 2022
Being a non-believer in spirituality, I picked this book only because I saw some poems and proses here and there on social media which fascinated me to grab a Rumi. My lack of understanding poetry might have been the partial reason for not enjoying it much. This was definitely not my cup of tea!
June 17, 2014
Poetry by Rumi...always deep and insightful.
January 3, 2023
I’ve long wanted to own a collection of Rumi. This one was a good way to start a new year, devoted as it is to faith and hope.
August 5, 2022
Give yourself to Love. Give yourself to Beauty. Give yourself to Madness.
February 15, 2022
Maybe poems aren't for me! I felt it to be so... meh?
March 2, 2022
Overall decent one to read. However, many places it felt that it was not translation, but transliteration. Hence 2 star.
October 3, 2017
Rumi kūrinių citatas aptikdavau tai šen, tai ten, ir jose aptinkamos gilios mintys bei išmintis kurstydavo mano susidomėjimą, norą perskaityti daugiau. Galiausiai perskaičiau išverstą į lietuvių kalbą jo eilėraščių rinkinį. Skaityti buvo nelengva, nes perskaityti negali daug. Nors teksto puslapyje nėra daug, bet tas tekstas skatina mėginti suprasti ir ieškoti gilesnių prasmių už žodžių. O tai reikalauja laiko ir susikaupimo. Net sunku pasakyti, apie ką tie eilėraščiai. Ir apie meilę, ir apie širdį, ir apie sielą, ir apie mokytoją, ir apie mokinį, ir apie Mylimąjį, Dievą. Lyg susiję su religija, lyg žemiški. Sakyčiau, jie ne kiekvienam. Tai vieni iš tokių kūrinių, kuriems svarbu tinkamas laikas, tinkamas nusiteikimas, tinkama būsena. Šiuo metu, kai skaičiau, radau juose minčių ir prasmės, tačiau nesijaučiau kaip nors ypatingai paveikta. O kas žino, gal kitu metu, kitos būsenos, juos matyčiau visai kitaip.
March 16, 2022
I did not read Rumi before. Just few quotes on circulated on social media. I picked up this book for March Challenge because it was available for free. Looking back, I am glad that I did.
It took me awhile (10% on ebook) to get into the receptive state of mind to understand the book.
Once I did, it was hard to put down the book. The words transcended from the book to my heart. I could feel the author sitting across and narrating the poems to me. In my own voice.
I cried. A lot. Not from the hateful words or anything. For the first time in a while, I cried from the joy of life and from the wonders of world around me.
I kept on highlighting quotes I liked only to realise I highlighted most of the book.
Some words confirmed my way of living/thinking; some challenged it to the point of fury. Nonetheless, it all reached my conscience.
Rumi has done a wonderful job of leading you on the path of spiritual awakening.
If you let it.
It took me awhile (10% on ebook) to get into the receptive state of mind to understand the book.
Once I did, it was hard to put down the book. The words transcended from the book to my heart. I could feel the author sitting across and narrating the poems to me. In my own voice.
I cried. A lot. Not from the hateful words or anything. For the first time in a while, I cried from the joy of life and from the wonders of world around me.
I kept on highlighting quotes I liked only to realise I highlighted most of the book.
Some words confirmed my way of living/thinking; some challenged it to the point of fury. Nonetheless, it all reached my conscience.
Rumi has done a wonderful job of leading you on the path of spiritual awakening.
If you let it.
February 28, 2020
I enjoyed reading some of the poetries (Here are two examples)
Page 93:
“False words disturb the heart
only truth brings peace.
False words are like a straw stuck in the mouth
that the heart tries desperately to spit out.”
Page 61:
“Seeker , when you feel your soul contracting know it is for your own good
allow not your heart to burn with grief .
In times of expansion you spend and this expenditure requires an income of painful soul searching .
If it was always summer , the roots would burn and the gardens would never become green .
Winter seems bitter but it is also kind.”
Page 93:
“False words disturb the heart
only truth brings peace.
False words are like a straw stuck in the mouth
that the heart tries desperately to spit out.”
Page 61:
“Seeker , when you feel your soul contracting know it is for your own good
allow not your heart to burn with grief .
In times of expansion you spend and this expenditure requires an income of painful soul searching .
If it was always summer , the roots would burn and the gardens would never become green .
Winter seems bitter but it is also kind.”
July 8, 2021
I love Rumi's poems. This book is a good translation of Rumi's poems. He tells the reader spiritual secrets through his poems. I love it and I may reread it again. I highly recommend it. Each sentence is precious spiritual teaching. It is not Islam, Christianism, Buddhism, Judaism, or Hinduism. It is simply philosophical poems of the secrets of our true essence and what to do to find it. It is a book for awareness, awakening to our true self. It is a book of love.
November 1, 2021
I am spellbound. Falling short of words to write a review on this mine of precious gems. How would you describe an indescribable?
Here are some gems from book.
"What you see, ugliness or beauty, is your own reflection."
"A peaceful weaver cannot appreciate the art of war."
"...do not call him yours for what is yours is only sorrow and longing."
"All troubles arise from imagining that I possess something."
"The Ego is a ladder that we climb and from which we all fall in the end."
Here are some gems from book.
"What you see, ugliness or beauty, is your own reflection."
"A peaceful weaver cannot appreciate the art of war."
"...do not call him yours for what is yours is only sorrow and longing."
"All troubles arise from imagining that I possess something."
"The Ego is a ladder that we climb and from which we all fall in the end."
February 22, 2021
There’s so much Rumi all over the Internet. I’d always wanted to read a collection to see how that might feel different from the sound bites. It was a good read. I easily found three dozen poems I enjoyed.
December 29, 2019
4.5- some very thought provoking poetry
November 23, 2021
Best poetry book
One of the best poetry.. By one of the best poet. This books shows spiritual path.. And change perspective towards life
One of the best poetry.. By one of the best poet. This books shows spiritual path.. And change perspective towards life
Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews