Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi- Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi is his full name, but Mevlana is his popular name known in his homeland, Konya-Turkey.
In the English-speaking world, however, he is popularly known as Rumi.
He lived in the 13th century, 1207 - 1273. The day he died is known by all in the Sufi world as Sheb-iArus, the wedding night, the night he met his Beloved.
It is a well-known legend that he said these words: "Do not cry after me.
Tonight is my wedding night. I am going to Beloved." Rumi had many titles such as poet, jurist, and theologian, but he is most well-known as a Sufi mystic.
In the Sufi world, it is also known that he became who he is after being the disciple of Shams-i Tabrizi, another famous Sufi mystic.
Rumi was a well-educated and learned scholar loved by all, but after meeting Shams, he went through a change by tasting God's real love, which is the basis of Sufism.
This ecstatic love turned him from an accomplished teacher and jurist into an ascetic.
Rumi believed love and longing for God is the only path for reaching God.
For true seekers of God, love is their only religion.
The truth and love vibrating through his work made him heard by people worldwide over the past seven centuries.
His teachings are so universal that his poems can be heard in churches, synagogues, Zen monasteries, and art/performance/music scenes.
Rumi's works are originally written in Persian and have been translated into several languages.
In 2007, he was described as "The most popular poet in America." His works advocate unlimited tolerance, positive reasoning, goodness, charity, and awareness through love.
All religions have the same value, and he looks with the same eye on Muslims, Jew, and Christian alike.
His peaceful, tolerant teaching has appealed to people of all sects and creeds.
With his work and life-style, Rumi tried to spread the idea that people of all religions and backgrounds can live together in peace and harmony.
His visions, words, and life teach us how to reach inner peace and happiness.
The "INNER PEACE AND HAPPINESS" is the essential thing.
Masnavi, which is the source for this selection of work, weaves fables, scenes from everyday life, Qur'anic revelations and exegesis, anecdotes, and stories full of secrets of the liberation of the soul and enlightenment.
Among these selected stories, you will find Sufism's basis and the message it carries out into the world.
During the translation process, no interpretation is added to the stories.
The stories are kept accurate to the originals, but some footnotes are given to clear the meanings under a Sufi master's guidance.
These stories seem to be written for children, but they are written for the many (adult) spiritual seekers.
If you just read between the lines, you will find messages to guide you to inner peace and divine love.
All readers will love wandering through Rumi's fables and tales of wisdom.
No matter what religion, the truth and delight of Rumi's writings penetrate that wordless place of knowing within every excellent teaching and every longing heart. "Knowing God starts with knowing yourself and accepting who you are."
