Rumi Comes to America: How the Poet of Mystical Love Arrived on our Shores

SECOND EDITION: In 1976 few people had heard of Jelaluddin Rumi. Suddenly the 13th-century Islamic theologian skyrocketed into public awareness to became Americas best-selling poet. The story focuses on the people and events behind Rumis entry into popular culture -- including former British pop singer and author Reshad Field poet Coleman Barks and a group of young seekers who invite Süleyman Dede head of the Whirling Dervishes to their home in Los Angeles. Süleyman Dede was eighteen years old when he entered the dervish monastery in Konya Turkey but soon after in 1926 all dervish activities were banned. As a humble cook serving soup to the poor Dedes spiritual mastery went unnoticed until age 74 when he arrived in Los Angeles with a secret mission -- to plant the path of Rumi in the West. The books intimate recollections reveal how todays Rumi phenomenon began in the hearts of young people dedicated to Rumis message of universal love. Pulling from improbable events candid interviews and archival recordings Bruce Miller weaves an entertaining memoir of mystical magic and spiritual mayhem of that time. As a teaching story the book illuminates how the sacred impulse traversed across 700 years of history to inject an awakening force into America Europe and the world at large. More than 120 photographs are included.REVIEWS: Bruce thank you for doing this good work! Coleman Barks The Essential Rumi An illuminating book for those interested in how Sufism evolved in the West. We sense a child-like joy and gratitude as well as mastery of the moment as we read the words of Süleyman Dede. Daniel Thomas Dyer Chickpea Press This book tells the story of one of the most important moments in Americas recent religious and spiritual history using accounts of those involved and new translations of audio recordings from the time. Written with honesty compassion and understanding it beautifully conveys the feeling of the place and period. Mark Sedgwick Department of the Study of Religion Aarhus University and author of Western Sufism: From the Abbasids to the New Age (Oxford University Press)