Mevlana remembered: The Eternal Mysticism of Mevlana

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Mevlana remembered: The Eternal Mysticism of Mevlana

by Hale AKAL

Mevlana was a leading figure of his time who revolutionized the
philosophy of humanism in the 13th century. He lived in Turkey and
was a devout moslem who advocated tolerance and love for
fellow-man. He taught his disciples how to show love and affection
through religion. He was a poet, and throughout all the poetry and
verse he wrote there is a profound reverence for things divine. He
pointed the way to peace among people of all races by living a
life of exemplary humanistic compassion.

Merely a glimpse at the philosophy he lived by is sufficient to
show us what a different kind of man he was, and the important
effect he has had on philosophical thinking since the time he
lived. His philosophy was based on art and life and love, and
reflected a new spirit of tolerance which pervades all his poetry.
His thinking led to a new era in humanistic mysticism. At the time
Europe and the West was living in the Dark Ages, Mevlana the
mystic was teaching belief in immortality of the soul, the joys of
passion and the need for brotherhood among all the races of
manking. He stressed the need to break through the restrictions of
scholasticism and welcome differences in opinions. His philosophy
renewed flagging zeal in Islamic mysticism, and embraced a
tolerant love for all mankind as shown in this verse:

Come, come, come again,

Whoever you may be,

Come again, even though

You may be an unbeliever

Or fire worshipper,

Our way is not one of despair,

Come again, even if you have broken

your vows a hundred times.

Come again.

The Mevlevi religious order was the first of its kind to blend
music with religion, and give a positive though limited
recognition of the role painting plays in religion, including
Islam. Mevlevi principles embody service in the interests of
mankind, modest behaviour and attitudes, the need for caring
perception, reason, respect for knowledge, modesty, patience and
politeness in relations with others.

These days perhaps, Mevlana and his philosophies are best
remembered through the annual religious ceremonies of the
so-called "Whirling Dervishes" who try to transcend the physical
by reaching out to the spiritual. The Mevlevi order and the
whirling dervish ceremonies were founded by Veled, the son of
Mevlana. Veled was dedicated to his father and advanced his
teachings about tolerance and love as followed even today by
adherents to the philosophies of Mevlana.

Mevlana saw the soul as a divine essence, placed in man at the
time of creation. This is the vital element that makes man what he
is, the living fusion of the human and the spiritual. This is what
instills in man that supreme quality of love, that gives man that
special place among all the creatures on earth.

This man, this giant among men, born in Belkh, Afghanistan, lived
between 1207-1273 and spent most of his life in Konya, Turkey,
where he died. His tomb in Konya is a monument to his life and is
open as a museum.

Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi was a teacher who influenced the whole
world of Islam, and philosophical thinking throughout the
developed world. The impression he left behind cannot be erased.
Indeed, the concepts he taught continue to shape the lives, either
directly or indirectly, of many, many people.

In a world that values only material riches, Mevlana's doctrines
of happiness through spiritual understanding, values and concepts
gain new strength. This victory of the spiritual over the flesh is
typified in the "sema" or graceful turning dance of the whirling
dervishes. This deeply aesthetic experience transports both those
who perform the dance and those who watch it. As the body gently
turns, the right hand is raised with the palm turned upwards, and
the left hand is lowered with the palm facing downwards. Thus
symbolically, heavenly blessings are conveyed down to the troubled
earth below for the spiritual refreshment of all mankind. Love and
peace among people, unity with God-that is the meaning of the sema
as ceremoniously performed by the dervish disciples of Mevlana.
Mevlana died in Konya on December 17, 1273. This night is called
the wedding night, even as Mevlana described his passing in this
moving poem:

Death is my reunion with God.

The night of my death

Will be a bridal night,

A nuptial night blessed

With supreme love.

The anniversary of the death of Mevlana is remembered every year
in Konya on December 17. Even today the teachings of Mevlana
inspire feelings of love and tolerance. The message of the popular
Beatles song "All you need is love" is a product of Mevlana's
fundamental principles. His vision was sublime. As a teacher and
mystic he is admired as much today as he was when he was alive.
His place in Turkish culture will endure forever. As a cornerstone
of Turkish tradition and social reform, the influence of Mevlana
Celaleddin Rumi is as strong as ever, the love he taught will
never fade away.

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