Listen to a Lecture By Dr. Ergin on Sufism and Mevlana
This lecture was given by Dr. Nevit O. Ergin at the International Association of Sufism Symposium on “Sufism and Self Discovery”.
Entitled: Way of Itlak and Sufism
Dr. Ergin, originally a citizen of Turkey, has traveled extensively in Central Asia, and the near and far east. He currently lives in California, working with the Society for Understanding Mevlana. He is the translator of numerous books on the writings of… Continue reading
Replicas of the Original Dîvân-i Kebîr
A limited number of Replicas of the Original Dîvân-i Kebîr are available through the society. Contact Us.
Transcribed in 1364, the Dîvân-i Kebîr is Mevlana Rumi’s masterpiece. An anthology of lyric poems that contains more than 40,000 verses, it is written in 14th century Khorasani… Continue reading
Who Rumi Was Not
Most reference books describe him as: “A Persian Mystic, and poet, who was born in 1207 and died in 1273.” What he says:
“I am neither Christian nor Jew
Neither Persian nor Moslem.
I am from neither the East nor West
Neither from land, nor from water.”
He is certainly rejecting the ideas that confine him in any particular location or religion:
“I am concealed, secret, sometimes,
Sometimes I appear, and become obvious.
Sometimes I am Muslim
Sometimes… Continue reading
Who Rumi Was
In the following quatrain, or rubai, he describes himself:
“My turban, my robe, my head,
They aren’t worth a dime.
Haven’t you heard of my fame in the universe?
I have been annihilated,
I am nothing
I am Absent.”
-R. 198 P. 162
“Annihilation, Nothingness, Absence”, when one searches for him, he is pointing where to look. Certainly it’s not in his robe or turban.
There is an… Continue reading
