Page 26 - The Book of Rumi

perhaps tedious works of literature or commentary, regardless of how enrich-
ing or essential they may be.
By translating Rumi’s works, I hope to reach out to people who may
have never heard of him, especially the younger generation. But Rumi’s longer,
diffi cult, winding stories may not be the best introduction to his works, even
though they contain deeply intense moral, psychological, and spiritual lessons
that are well worth the attention of the dedicated reader. But Rumi wrote
many short pieces that are equally complex and morally signifi cant in their
own way. Believing that these short works are more suitable as an introduction
to Rumi and hoping that readers will be inspired to then seek out all of his
works, including the longer pieces, I’ve decided to confi ne the present volume
to Rumi’s short stories.
I realized some years ago that every time I read a Rumi story, which he
composed in verse, in my mind I instinctively turned it into prose as I was
processing it. Throughout the years, many readers who are generally interested
in spirituality but who are not great fans of poetry have expressed their disap-
pointment in being unable to take full advantage of Rumi because of their
lack of connection with poetry. With them in mind, as well as all Rumi lovers,
I present this volume as a collection of Rumi’s short stories translated into
prose for broader accessibility.
Ritual has historically been an essential part of any society in which citi-
zens come together to share meaningful experiences. Carrying out rituals that
have connected people for millennia instills behaviors and thought patterns
that shape the character of a people within their society. In Sufi sm, where
ritual is taken extremely seriously, Sufi s practice zikr, in which one or more of
the ninety-nine names of God are repeated rhythmically for a certain length
of time. The ritual is so profound that the practitioner can transcend beyond
the present world and into the lap of God. It may not be possible for us today
to attend zikr ceremonies regularly or at all, depending on where we live. We
can, however, connect with the essence of zikr wherever we are.
I believe that connecting to Rumi on a regular, daily basis helps one, as
in zikr, to transcend the interfering ego and lift one to a higher and purer

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