Jelal-ed-din Rumi was born at Balkh, Persia, in 1207, and died at Konya, Turkey, in 1273. He founded the order of Mevlevi or whirl ing dervishes, and his chief work is the Mathnawi, an epic poem which expresses their mystical path. It was translated into English by Reynold Nicholson (6 volumes, London, 1926). This booklet is a selection from 'The Lives of the Gnostics' by Aflaki, disciple of the poet's grandson, written between 1318 and 1335. It was translated into French by C. Huart under the title 'Les Saints des Derviches Tourneurs' (Paris 1918-22). 
The heart is like a grain, we resemble the mill; does the latter know why it turns? 
The body is like the mill, thoughts are the water which makes it turn; the mill creaks and the water recognises its movement. 
The water says: Ask the miller, who sends this water down the mill-stream? 
And the miller will tell thee: O eater of bread, if the mill turned not, who would be baker? 
Many strange things will happen: silence! Ask God to inform thee. 
JELAL-ED-DIN RUMI

The Whirling Ecstacy

Aflaki

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Books by Aflaki

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The Whirling Ecstacy