Spiritual teachers tutor us in hailing and hallowing our experiences. The meditations of one of the great Sufi seers are available on Poems of Rumi, a two-cassette package available from Audio Literature.
For seven centuries, the spiritual poetry of Jalahuddin Rumi, who lived from 1207 to 1273, has enchanted, inspired and delighted Moslems, Jews, Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists alike. For this package, Coleman Barks and Robert Bly read from their own translations of Rumi's poetry. The superb musical accompaniment of sitar, tabla, flute, and percussion adds a satisfying richness to the experience of hearing the recited poetry.
Rumi's spiritual vision is sensuous, celebratory, and pensive. He identifies with nature and animals. He loves mysteries and is impatient with those who think they have answers. He praises the commonplace and spits upon fear which always brings human beings down. The spiritual and the sexual are not put into separate compartments but are seen as analogies of each other. Love is what's important — in the way we treat our neighbors and in how we relate to the Holy One.
In the tradition of oral spiritual teaching, enjoy Rumi's poetry and then pass it on to those you cherish.