RUMI: The Persian Mystic
RUMI: The Persian Mystic
RUMI: The Persian Mystic
BY F. HADLAND DAVIS
AUTHOR OF " I N THE VALLEY OF STARS
THERE IS A TOWER OF SILENCE"
LONDON
J O H N MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET
1912
A. T. I<.
THIS LITTLE BOOK OF EASTERX WISDOM
IS LOVINGLY INSCRIBED
" OUR J O U RNE Y IS TO THE R OSE-G A RDE N OF U N I O N "
JALALU'D-DIN RITbli.
PREPACE
LONDON,
January 22. 1907.
CONTENTS
I. LIFE . . 34
11. SKBMSI T A B R ~ Z . 36
111. THE STORIES OF A L - A F L ~ KO~ D THE DEATH
os J A L ~ L U ' D . D ~ N~uxilf. 38
IV. T HE N ATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE O F J A L ~ L U ' D -
Dix R I M ' S POETBY . 40
SELECTIONS FROM THE " DZVBNIS H AMS I TABRTZ" 44
EDITORIAL NOTE
THE object of the Editors of this series is a very
definite one. They desire above all things that,
in thek humble way, these books shall be the
rtmbassadors of good-will and understanding
between East and West-the old world of
Thought and the new of Action. I n this en-
deavour, and in their own sphere, they are but
followers of the highest example in the land.
They aro confident that a deeper knowledge of
the great ideals and lofty philosophy of Oriental
thought may help to a revival of that true spirit
of Charity which neither despises nor fears the
nation of another creed and colour.
L. CRANMER-BYNGF.
S. A. KAPADIA,
MONG the Mohammedans Stifiism, or Persian
A mysticism, is known as tasawzuuf. The
word Shfi is derived from meaning " wool."
sicf,
When a little Persian sect a t the end of the
eighth century A.D. broke away from the
orthodox Muslim religion, and struck out on
an independent path, they ignored costly robes
n.nd worldly ostentation, and clad themselves in
a white wool garment. Hence they were known
as '' wool wearers," or SGfis.
Prof. Edward G. Browne * gives four theories
in regard to the origin of SGfiism, viz. : (1) Eso-
teric Doct~ine of the Prophet. ( 2 ) Reaction of
the Aryan mind against a Xemitic religion. (3)
Neo-Platonist influence. ( 4 ) Indepen.dent origin.
Neither of the four theories altogether satisfies
the learned professor, and very certain it is
* A Literary History of Pcrsia, vol. i.
11
12 NEO-PLATONISM
that the last-mentioned theory is of very little
account. Prof. Browne seems in favour of a'
" spontaneous growth " existing in various forms,
under various names throughout the civilised
world; but after all this is not very tangible
evidence. Moreover, we must bear in mind that;
the Neo-Platonist philosophers paid a visit to
the Persian court' in the sixth century A.D.,
and founded a school there in the reign of Ni~shir-
w8n. It is highly probable, therefore, that these
seven philosophers, forced to leave their homes
through the tyranny of Justinian, who forbade
the teaching of philosophy a t Athens, should.
have had considerable idluence upon a few of
the more thoughtful Persians. We shall now
find that this theory is borne out by internay
evidence.
Let us briefly study the tenets of Neo-Platon-
ism. The Neo-P1atonist.s believed in the Supreme
Good as the Source of all things. Self-existent,
it generated from itself. Creation was the
reflection of its own Being. Nature, therefore,
was permeated with God. Matter was essenti-
ally non-existent , a temporary and ever-moving
shadow for the embodiment of the Divine. The
Neo-Platonists believed that by ecstasy and
contemplation of the All-Good, man would rise
to that Source from whence he came. These
points bear directly upon the Shfi teaching.
They form a broad outline of the tenets of
NEO-PLATONISM AND SUF~ISM 13
GOD ONLY
LIFE IN DEATH
LC
0 ANGELS, BRING H I M BACK TO ME "
What ear has told you falsely eye will tell truly.
Then ear, too, will acquire the properties of an
eye ;
Your ems, now worthless as wool, will become
gems ;
Yea, your whole body will become a mirror,
I t will be as an eye of a bright gem in your
bosom.
First the hearing of the ear enables you to form
ideas,
Then these ideas guide you to the Beloved.
Strive, then, to increase the number of these
ideas,
That Lhey may guide you, like Majnun, to the
Beloved.
" THERE IS A PLACE O F REFUGE "
WHITE NIGHTS
46
WHEN NIGHT RETURNS "
When night r e t m s and 'tis the time of the sky's
levGe,
The stars that were hidden come forth to their
work.
SEPARATION 95
The people of the world lie unconscious,
With veils ' d r a m over their faces, and asleep ;
But when the morn shall bwst forth and the sun
arise
Every creature will raise its head from its couch ;
To the unconscious God will restore consciousness ;
They will stand in rings as slaves with rings in
ears ;
Dancing and clapping hands with songs of
praise,
Singing with joy, " Our Lord hath restored us
to life ! '
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