Awakened Dreams was written in the early 1900s at the end of the Ottoman era by Ahmet Hilmi - humorist, revolutionary, and Sufi mystic. Raji - a man disillusioned with science, philosophy, and religion - meets a grandfather-like madman who lives in a cemetery and wears clothes patched with bits of mirrors. The Mirror Dede, though apparently mad, makes more sense than anyone Raji has ever met. From time to time they drink coffee together, and as the old man plays a reed flute, Raji's transformation is mirrored through a series of awakened dreams. He experiences changes in perception which show...

Jalaluddin Rumi has become one of the most widely read poets in our time. This collection of verse is drawn from Rumi's masterwork the "Mathnawi, "often referred to as the "Qur'an" in the Persian tongue. The "Mathnawi "comprises six volumes of rhymed verse drawing on favorite stories from the "Qur'an, " tales of Sufi saints and masters, the sayings of Muhammed, folklore, and popular humor. Throughout its intricate tales, Rumi scatters precious gems of wisdom. Like jewels, his words seem to catch the light and reflect it to the reader's soul. The Helminskis' translations beautifully convey the...

The spiritual influence of Jelaluddin Rumi (1207-1273) is increasing among people of diverse beliefs throughout the western world. Rumi is now recognized here in the West, as he has been for seven centuries in the Middle East and Western Asia, as one of the greatest literary and spiritual figures of all time. Rumi is a spokesman for the religion of love in the language of the heart.
Recent translations of Rumi's work have brought forth a variety of different qualities, exploring the subtlety, grace, and electricity of his verse. This book presents his spiritual teachings concisely and...