The Essence of Rumi

by John Baldock

Looks at the life and works of the thirteenth-century Sufi mystic.

Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry, Religion, Philosophy, Spirituality, Islam, Mysticism

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2005

Reviews

[DoubleM · Rating 1 out of 5]

After reading the Bhagavad Gita, thought I would try Rumi. Perhaps, I am the problem, but patriarchal religions leave me looking for something else, something that makes sense. Next search will try Budda!

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The one improvement I would make to this book would simply be more poems, full-length, as opposed to illustrative selections. Otherwise, this is a great book.

I like very much that the author gives autobiographical information about Rumi, tells about the history of Islam and Sufism's relation to mainstream Islam, and then goes on to discuss Rumi's works specifically in greater detail. Baldock has chapters talking about Rumi's characters, symbolism, and themes, and ends with chapters containing discourses from "Fihi mafihi," tales from the "Mathnawi," and odes from the "Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi."

Highly recommended.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have rated this higher if I had spent more thought on the content. My own fault for the lower score.

[Spoorthi Chandrashekhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

No matter what!
Rumi is always my all-time favorite writer.

The most thrilling part of this book is the poetry by Rumi about love, disappearance, disappointments, and religion.
Does explain who am I to say the religious blunders herein as you are also the same none to here to say that your religion is Superior?
This is how Rumi passes the truthful message to society.
Must-read book for Rumi followers...

[Wouter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An accessible introduction to Rumi and Islam. I mostly appreciated the conscise introduction to Islam; its history and development. However, Rumi's topics become slightly repetitive.

[Nazmi Yaakub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Menjadi bacaan yang dapat membawa kita untuk menikmati taman mawar Maulana Rumi baik dalam konteks sejarah keperibadian hinggalah karya agungnya sama ada yang berbentuk prosa seperti Fihi Ma Fihi hinggalah magnum opus yang meninggalkan kesan besar kepada dunia hingga ke hari ini, iaitu Mathnawi dan Diwan Shams.

Adalah salah untuk memisahkan Maulana Rumi daripada Islam yang syariatnya menjadi jalan yang tidak terpisahkan, apatah lagi meninggalkan ranah tasawuf yang menjadi hakikat yang perlu dipegang untuk menyampaikan kita kepada perjalanan seterusnya, iaitu makrifat yang tidak punya penghujung.

Buku ini memudahkan kita untuk memahami simbol yang bukan saja digunakan oleh Maulana Rumi, bahkan yang wujud dalam karya sufi zaman-berzaman hinggalah tema unggul yang ada dalam karya beliau.

Justeru, buku ini merupakan bacaan wajib kepada mereka yang mahu mengenal Maulana Rumi dan juga kepada yang sudah pun biasa tetapi mahu mengukuhkan pengenalannya.

[Saira Malik Rahman]

Rumi's work - translated fairly well.

[Jodi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A textbook. Didn't really convey any of the romance about Rumi's writings...

approximate date read only.

[Zaha Gheryania-shtewi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely could have included more of Rumi's poetry, I'm hungry for more!

[Mark Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, and I gained a lot of context about Rumi's symbolism and themes and some respect for the secular, non-religious spirituality in Islam. The author's task is difficult, since Rumi is not always consistent. However, the book does stop short at several key moments when linking the overarching concept to the poetry. That is, in many cases, Baldock introduces themes for (sometimes) several pages, then some Rumi that he thinks fits; but, there's not always a good explanation on how it fits. These are minor gripes - I gained some historical, religious, and symbolic perspective from this book.

What isn't a minor gripe is Baldock perpetuation and defense of 13th (or 8th) century social ideas. He lost my respect in a half-page addendum titled "woman", where he says: "Many westerners take exception to the apparent subordination of women in Islamic cultures." It's not apparent. It's very real. "However, the subordination may arise...". It did arise. "... from the literal interpretation of a hadith from the Prophet, who said, "Put the woman last"!" Baldock's argument, and Rumi's own defense of the Prophet, is that woman is a metaphor for the ego, which is lesser to our higher spiritual selves: "... he meant your ego, for it must be put last, and your intellect first.

This is all rather simple: The metaphor is a bad one and it should never have been used. Rumi, writing from 5 centuries after Muhammad, couldn't find it in himself to criticize it. Baldock couldn't find it in himself to say, "This was a metaphor born of 8th century morality, and while the spiritual metaphor may tell us something, Rumi was clearly wrong to continue using it, just as Muhammad was wrong to write it." It's rather simple, Baldock - if you write, "Put the women last", fervent believers will put women last. Couldn't you have used a better metaphor, Muhammad? Couldn't you have at least called Rumi out on this, Baldock?

[Zareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The name of Rumi kept coming up in my life & I wanted to find more about the man. His life & thoughts as encapsulated in his writings are thought-provoking & heart-warming as well as challenging.

The author John Baldock has given a comprehensive account of the life, teachings & wisdom of this Sufi mystic. An excellent read.

[D.l. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one has a lot of background on Rumi, Islam, and general history of the Middle East.

I was expecting more poetry, less background. I might have enjoyed it more if there was less repetition.

[Aciy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would be a perfect if Baldock included Rumi's poems more.

[Razan AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the translated (Arabic) version. The book is okay, simple, but expected it to be better 😁