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I found moments of deep realization and deep confusion while reading this book. The confusion came from things that I probably just haven't lived enough to understand yet. I will probably read this collection once every few years to grow this understanding. I can't wait to come back to it!!
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To read Rumi's poetry is as close to heaven as a person might get during their life.
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Without a doubt, my most regrettable read. This book is titled "The Essential Rumi" but should read "Freeverse in the Spirit of Rumi". The cover features "Translation by Coleman Barks" but Barks cannot speak/read/write in the Persian language — the language I feel was custom built for Rumi's vivid poetry. As I'm not the first to mention, Barks noticeably minimizes the Islamic influences of the world's most fascinating religious mystic, and one whose mind swirled day and night with ideas on the transcendent presence of God in him and the concept of 'ana al-Haqq'. I'm thankful for the fame Barks has brought Rumi in the U.S., except that this book is a complete bait-and-switch.
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Very interesting.
A spiritual text that always seems to put me back on track of my goals and dreams. I could come back to this book many times and find a different book for that time in my life. I look forward to reading the other translations and works of Rumi.
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