Reddit mentions of The Illuminated Rumi

The Illuminated Rumi is an amazing book that is beautiful and worth treasuring. Rumi was a 13th-century Persian poet.

That was my first thought too. Then I remembered Rumi, and the incredible work Coleman Barks did interpreting Rumi's writings. I especially like The Illuminated Rumi which is full of insightful wit and timeless inspiration, all accompanied by deliciously sensual illustrations.

Much as I love the Tao, this book of Rumi's is the one I took with me when I was on a solo hike for a few days in Appalachians, fasting and meditating as much as I could stand. Needless to say, the book seemed much more pertinent in that context.

>Rise up nimbly and go on your strange journey
to the ocean of meanings where you become one of those.
From one terrace to another through clay banks,
washing your wings with watery silt,
follow your friends. The pitcher breaks.
You're in the moving river. Living Water,
how long will you make clay pitchers
that have to be broken to enter you?
The torrent knows it can't stay on the mountain.
Leave and don't look away from the Sun as you go.
Through him you are sometimes crescent, sometimes full.

You have to understand that in this context, terms like 'friend' and 'Sun' are loaded with hidden meanings, probably much more so than I'll ever understand.

>Work. Keep digging your well.
Don’t think about getting off from work.
Water is there somewhere.

>Submit to a daily practice.
Your loyalty to that
is a ring on the door.

>Keep knocking, and the joy inside
will eventually open a window
and look out to see who’s there.

Wow. Reading that again just gave me a shiver. Powerful stuff.