The poetry of 13th-century Persian mystic Jalal ad-Din Rumi continues to attract a large American audience, particularly his collection known as the Divan-i Kebir, according to Nuri Simsekler, director of the Mevlana Research and Practice Center at Selcuk University.
Simsekler noted that the Divan-i Kebir stands out among Rumi's works for its heavy emphasis on love and affection. American poet Coleman Barks drew on the collection for his anthology "The Essential Rumi," which has become a bestseller in the United States.
Rumi, who lived in the 13th century, devoted his life to Sufi mysticism and is regarded as one of its greatest masters. He is also recognized as the spiritual founder of the Mevlevi order, widely known for its whirling dervish ceremonies.
Among his major works is the Mathnawi-i Manawi, a six-volume compilation of roughly 30,000 couplets covering Sufi doctrine, fables, and observations on physics and psychology. His other significant writings include the Diwan-e Shams-e Tabriz, containing around 40,000 verses honoring his close friend Shams of Tabriz, and the Fihi Ma Fih, a collection of speeches on various subjects.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in January 2007, in its own words.