OLLI @Berkeley Spring 2015

Introduction to the Poetry of Jalaleddin Rumi (1207-73)

Course Reader available at Krishna Copy Center - 2111 University Avenue (near Shattuck Ave.) The cost is $13. You can call ahead to order at (510) 540-5959.

Syllabus

"If you have lost heart in the Path of Love, Flee to me without delay: I am a fortress invincible."

Week 1: Introduction to Islam. Basics of Islamic Mysticism (Sufism: "The mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.")

The transformational meeting of Rumi and Shamseddin. (Shams-i Tabrizi )"was divinely sent spiritual influence which....set the ocean of his {Rumi's} being into....vast waves that transformed the history of Persian literature." Selections of poetry.

Week 2: Rumi: Historical and family background.

Father: Baha Walad. Rumi's education, travels, eventual settling in Konya (in present day Turkey). Culture of the Seljuks, rulers centered in Konya. Selections of poetry.

Week 3: Rumi's Masnavi-ye Ma'navi (spiritual couplets) and Divan (collected poems), selections. Poetic forms. "Song of the Reed"

The Masnavi begun 1260/61, continued up to Rumi's death. The Masnavi ("Couplets") is considered to be one of the "crowning glories of the Persian language."

Week 4: The Divan (Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi), selections.

The ramifications of Love: "Love cannot be contained within our speaking or listening: Love is an ocean whose depths cannot be plumbed. Oh you who have listened to talk of Love, behold Love! What are words in the ears compared to vision in the eyes?"

Week 5: The Mevlevi Sufi order. Selections from the Divan and the Masnevi.

"Oh come, oh come! You are the soul of the soul of the soul off whirling! Oh come! You are the cypress tall in the blooming garden of whirling!"

Basics of the Mevlevi order: formation, rituals, social and artistic heritage in literature, art and music. Selections of poetry.

Week 6: Review of course

READINGS

Week 1:

(RECOMMENDED) Frederick M. Denny, Islam and the Muslim Community (Waveland Press, 1987). pp. 5-76. (RECOMMENDED) William C. Chittick, The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi: Illustrated Edition (World Wisdom Press, 2005), pp. 9-32. REQUIRED Nader Khalili, Rumi: Fountain of Fire (Cal-Earth Press) Hesperia, CA 1994. pp.5-29.

Week 2:

W.C. Chittick, The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi, pp. 33-65. Khalili, Rumi, pp.30-54. (READER) Annemarie Schimmel, As Through a Veil. Mystical Poetry in Islam (Oxford, Oneworld Press, 2001), pp. 83-108.

Week 3

(READER) Alan Williams, Rumi Spiritual Verses The First Book of the Masnavi-ye Ma'navi ((London, Penguin Classics, 2006)

Week 4:

Chittick, The Sufi Doctrine of Rumi, pp. 71-99. Khalili, pp. 55-79. (READER) Annemarie Schimmel, As Through a Veil, pp. 109-133.

Week 5:

Khalili, Rumi, , pp. 80-104 (READER) Schimmel, I Am Wind You Are Fire, pp. 200-204.

Week 6:

Khalili, Rumi, pp. 105-129. (READER) Franklin D. Lewis, Rumi Past and Present, East and West (Oneworld Publishers, 2008), pp. 394-400.

Additional readings for Rumi course: Books on page 1 of Reader. Books on page 44 of Reader: "Other Works" Books on page 49 of Reader.