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Rumi's Four Essential Practices: Ecstatic Body, Awakened Soul
Poems and commentary that open the door for a new generation to experience the ecstatic and embodied spiritual truths contained in Rumi’s poetry
• Reveals how the four practices of eating lightly, breathing deeply, moving freely, and gazing intently can invoke the divinity within us all
• Explains how these practices dissolve the self’s need for identity so that we may experience a state of transcendent ecstasy and union with the divine
• Takes Rumi’s path to finding God from theoretical to embodied practices
The great thirteenth-century Sufi mystic and poet Jalaluddin Rumi began his life as an orthodox Islamic believer but felt that to fully experience complete union with the divine he must abandon institutionalized religion and its prescribed forms of worship. Surrendering his will to his overriding urge for a much more immediate, intuitive, and compelling union with the divine, he found that by manipulating certain behavioral aspects of his physiology--eating lightly, breathing deeply, moving freely, and gazing raptly--he was capable of loosening the rigid confines of the self, thereby overriding its limitations and achieving a transcendent merging with his own divinity.
His message is if you wish to affect the spirit, you must first make changes in the way your body responds to the world. Through clearly written commentary interspersed with Rumi’s beautiful poems, this book details these four practices in a very precise way. As such, it is a sweet and open invitation to follow the examples set forth in order to embark upon one’s own path of inner illumination. The freshness of Rumi’s poetry dissolves the 700 years that separate his life from our own time, making his message as pertinent today as when he walked the streets of Konya, Anatolia (present-day Turkey), reciting his inspiring verse. This book allows us, through Rumi’s gentle guidance, to touch the face of God that resides deep within us all.
• Reveals how the four practices of eating lightly, breathing deeply, moving freely, and gazing intently can invoke the divinity within us all
• Explains how these practices dissolve the self’s need for identity so that we may experience a state of transcendent ecstasy and union with the divine
• Takes Rumi’s path to finding God from theoretical to embodied practices
The great thirteenth-century Sufi mystic and poet Jalaluddin Rumi began his life as an orthodox Islamic believer but felt that to fully experience complete union with the divine he must abandon institutionalized religion and its prescribed forms of worship. Surrendering his will to his overriding urge for a much more immediate, intuitive, and compelling union with the divine, he found that by manipulating certain behavioral aspects of his physiology--eating lightly, breathing deeply, moving freely, and gazing raptly--he was capable of loosening the rigid confines of the self, thereby overriding its limitations and achieving a transcendent merging with his own divinity.
His message is if you wish to affect the spirit, you must first make changes in the way your body responds to the world. Through clearly written commentary interspersed with Rumi’s beautiful poems, this book details these four practices in a very precise way. As such, it is a sweet and open invitation to follow the examples set forth in order to embark upon one’s own path of inner illumination. The freshness of Rumi’s poetry dissolves the 700 years that separate his life from our own time, making his message as pertinent today as when he walked the streets of Konya, Anatolia (present-day Turkey), reciting his inspiring verse. This book allows us, through Rumi’s gentle guidance, to touch the face of God that resides deep within us all.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 2010
About the author
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ar-Rumi
1,167 books15.9k 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 25, 2018
I was given this book as a present. In a string of synchronises through my life, the Sufi part of my family has always drawn me close. Them who in vague memories put a glowing steel nail on my father's scalp and cured him of his illness. Those who brave the norm, institutionalised Islam, and venture into the interpretations present through Sufism.
This book covers as the title each of the four essential practices. Fasting, Breathing, Moving and Gazing. The latter definitely one I have attempted to practice but yet to find he or she who will practise with me.
If you don't know anything about Sufism, consider it the Buddhism of Islam and thus consider, that Islam itself means surrender and is open to many many interpretations. Sufism is one that goes against the mainstream adoptation in understanding that Allah is not a personified entitiy that will judge us at the end of a life where we are told it's almost a crime to look inwards. The paradox of imposed discipline. On the contrary, if you read the Koran, and allow yourself the freedom to investigate its meaning freely, you will find like Rumi did, that to find God, to find Allah, you must first look within yourself and feed your soul - and not the home it resides in.
The book is short descriptions followed by some of the translated poetry from the Divan which revolves around the four essential practices.
This book covers as the title each of the four essential practices. Fasting, Breathing, Moving and Gazing. The latter definitely one I have attempted to practice but yet to find he or she who will practise with me.
If you don't know anything about Sufism, consider it the Buddhism of Islam and thus consider, that Islam itself means surrender and is open to many many interpretations. Sufism is one that goes against the mainstream adoptation in understanding that Allah is not a personified entitiy that will judge us at the end of a life where we are told it's almost a crime to look inwards. The paradox of imposed discipline. On the contrary, if you read the Koran, and allow yourself the freedom to investigate its meaning freely, you will find like Rumi did, that to find God, to find Allah, you must first look within yourself and feed your soul - and not the home it resides in.
The book is short descriptions followed by some of the translated poetry from the Divan which revolves around the four essential practices.
May 13, 2019
It's a very practical book. I think the instructions are very simple, straightforward and easy to follow. The poems are beautiful, too. However, I felt that the poems' interpretation is on a more spiritual and abstract level. I appreciate how the author has brought it to the literal and physical realm. That is a nice perspective that you can achieve the meaning through the metaphor directly.
February 1, 2016
This book is a nice small and quick insight into four essential and main components/practices Rumi both advocated and practised. I'd definitely recommended this for someone who is looking for a bite sized insight in to these components, however if you are searching for something with more depth AND detailed explanation, this isn't the correct one. I loved the way a short explanation was given before the poetry, however I would have loved a bit more information and guidance through the poetry in order to both maximise and materialise understanding to a greater extent. All in all this a wonderful and insightful book. Enjoyed it :-)
January 17, 2016
"Mostly we think of spiritual practices and meditations as something we do with our minds, but all the practices that Rumi mentions - eating lightly, breathing deeply, moving freely, gazing raptly - are remarkably body oriented. His message is clear: if you want to change the psychology, you need to alter the physiology first."
October 30, 2020
Rumi is Rumi.
For those who understand at least a little bit of what he says, and appreciates the same, this is definitely a book to be read.
It reinforces all the guidance that Rumi has provided and helps one reaffirm that one needs to awaken one's soul through loving everyone and judging none. Easily said but not easily done.
A must read.
For those who understand at least a little bit of what he says, and appreciates the same, this is definitely a book to be read.
It reinforces all the guidance that Rumi has provided and helps one reaffirm that one needs to awaken one's soul through loving everyone and judging none. Easily said but not easily done.
A must read.
June 1, 2012
A quick read. Simple but not always easy profound practices: Eating lightly (fasting); breathing deeply (consciously, loosely); dancing freely; gazing raptly (into another's eyes).
I hadn't realized from my other Rumi reading how highly he regarded Jesus as a teacher of love.
I hadn't realized from my other Rumi reading how highly he regarded Jesus as a teacher of love.
June 10, 2013
I liked the way the sections were broken up. Starting with description and possible forms of practice, then moving on to the Rumi's writings/talkings, that mixed well with that particular practice. Was a good book to take slowly in order for the mind to absorb the full meaning.
April 16, 2014
I have a hard time, sometimes, with selected poetry because it always feels out of context. But with this book the selected poetry was in context of an explanation and it worked. I liked being able to learn more about this aspect of Islam.
March 24, 2013
I didn't know Rumi started the whole whirling dervish thing. Love the poetry. Very inspired to live a more ecstatic life.
January 26, 2014
The book was fine. The four practices are meaningful but the author could have elaborated more on each. The poems are good, but seem to have lost some of their power while translation.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews