Philip Pullman, author of 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, has remarked
that after nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the
thing we need most in the world. This new collection of Rumi stories
fills that need.
This fresh prose translation of 105 short teaching stories by Rumi,
which form the core of the six-volume Masnavi, explores the hidden
spiritual aspects of everyday experience. Rumi transforms the seemingly
mundane events of daily life into profound Sufi teaching moments. These
prose gems open the mystical portal to the world of the ancient mystic.
These stories include well-known and popular tales such as Angel of
Death, The Sufi and His Cheating Wife, Moses and the Shepherd,
Chickpeas, and The Greek and Chinese Painters as well as the less
commonly quoted parables: The Basket Weaver, The Mud Eater, and A
Sackful of Pebbles.
Rumi's voice alternates between playful and authoritative, whether he is
telling stories of ordinary lives or inviting the discerning reader to
higher levels of introspection and attainment of transcendent values.
Mafi's translations delicately reflect the nuances of Rumi's poetry
while retaining the positive tone of all of Rumi's writings, as well as
the sense of suspense and drama that mark the essence of the Masnavi.