Rumi in Time

Reflections on the 750th anniversary of Rumi’s death

A short essay by Ali Boorman

Photo: Simone Dalmeri

Our planet has seen a constantly accelerating evolution from its ‘dead’ beginnings and then to the appearance of life.

Vast periods of time were necessary before the arrival of our humankind.

Humanity has also evolved from its primitive beginnings, arriving at our supposedly sophisticated societies.

We can trace the past; we are involved in the present, which is moving inexorably towards the future, though it is difficult to see what behavioural and material changes may occur.

There have always been, and still are, indications as to the breadth and scope of our possibilities, pointing to the nature, even purpose, of our life on this planet. These come from the world of meaning and qualities and find expression in the world of things.

All these are based on the premise, or knowledge, that there is One, Single, Unique Reality from which we are not separate, except in thought.

It is therefore the source of all Beauty, a sheer, Unqualifiable Beauty which finds expression in the world about us.

The expression or movement of this is Love.

All ways recognize this. In our Western world the very epitome of this was Jesus. The necessary knowledge for education in this was fully embodied by the appearance of Mohammed. Explanation and unfolding appeared, reaching its perfect expression in Ibn ‘Arabi. The movement to Love, the meaning and purpose of knowledge, arrived, via Saddrudin Konevi, at Rumi.

Around 60 or so years ago there arose conditions which favoured a more evident promulgation of this consideration. There thus appeared a plethora of groups and movements, coming mostly, but not exclusively, from the spiritual or esoteric side of the major religions.

One such was given the name Beshara and, although its apparent roots came from Islamic mysticism, it insisted that Truth was Single and Unique and had been and was continuing to be expressed in all forms of religions.

The singular meaning of this Omen of Joy lies before all the appearances of the differing ways, indeed, before the appearance of anything; it is common to all as it is their origin and essence. Manifestation, the appearance of the material world could be pictured as a pyramid. All the ways which seek to guide a return to this Uniqueness are seen to start at the base and gradually ascend. (We created man in possession of all the beauty of creation and brought him to the lowest of the low?) Clearly, as they reach the apex the differences between them are seen as smaller and smaller. The Omen of Joy is the view from above the pyramid and all is seen as emanating from One Single source, of which we are no other. We are not really fixed in either ‘standpoint of view’, both are present in our journey towards what we really are.

50 years ago, in 1973, after this period of establishment, was the 700th anniversary of the death of Rumi. As he represented and symbolised and powerfully expressed the reality of Love and is considered to be of the ‘line’ of Jesus, it is tempting to suggest that this ‘coincidence’ set the seal for what was to come. The all-embracing, all-encompassing majesty evident in his verses, especially in his Divani Shamsi Tabriz, expresses this overwhelming power, present and available always to us, and made him the most read poet in the western world.

We now come to the 750th anniversary of the death of Rumi. Perhaps this is an opportunity, even a demand, to evaluate where we are now and ask what directions would be beneficial to take.

Surely Love, with its necessarily accompanying Compassion, provides the best possible conditions for any future progress or evolution.

Love is not a mere concept to be considered and discussed, it is a sentiment, a feeling engendered by the beauty which forever surrounds us. It is allowed a place by our acceptance that we are all part of a single Whole. It demands participation and expression in thoughts, words and deeds. It is the antithesis of selfishness; therefore, respecting the rights of others, caring for them and for the future of our planet are some of the consequences of love in action and we begin to see more and more signs of this. Every positive thought and action, both great and small, is an effect of love. We cannot hope to combat darkness and negativity except by adding light and positivity.

Whether the results from this are seen and acknowledged or not, the more it occurs, personally and globally, the more a platform is built from which will come the next orientation and expression of the humankind, which is sometimes referred to as the Second Emergence of Christ.

‘I have put duality away, I have seen that the two worlds are one…..
I am intoxicated with Love’s cup, the two worlds have passed out of my ken;
I have no business save carouse and revelry.’

‘I am the pangs of the jealous, I am the pain of the sick.
I am both cloud and rain, I have rained on the meadows.
Never did the dust of mortality settle on my skirt, O dervish!……
O son, I am not Shamsi Tabriz, I am the pure Light.’