The Way of Passion: A Celebration of Rumi

Through his exquisite writing, using Rumi's work as a vehicle, Andrew Harvey has given us a handbook to the inner courts of the soul. The depths of his observations will take you about as far as the written word can. It is not enough to just read this book. One must then go back and meditate one's way through it to truly absorb its richness. To do less would be to smell the fragrance of the wine but never taste it. Truly, this masterful study is a veritable banquet for the searching soul.

One viewpoint: Harvey is clearly inspired and explores many of Rumi's pieces in a heartfelt way. Excellent reading! It's healthy to spend time with Rumi and contemplate on his ideas--and humor. Rumi is among the top, top spiritual writers available. He understands--as does Harvey--what's important in Soul's journey Home. (I'd suggest, to fill out this book's perspective, reading Twitchell's Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad (I and II).)

The Divine Love, Divine Passion, Divine Power, and Divine Truth of Rumi are all explained here by Andrew Harvey. True to the book's title, Harvey has truly created a delightful celibration of Rumi and his works. If you are on your path, or even if you have wondered off the path into the dark forest, Harvey has provided a clear roadmap to the next level of transformation. This map comes repleat with warnings of speed traps, and roadsigns - telling of Rumi and Shams "wildness, violence, and ferocity" as they traveled down their path, drinking wine, and going ever onward, toward the Sun. Just enjoying moments of Divine Grace.

As one with a lifelong interest in mysticism, I have been reading Rumi for forty-five years now. Unfortunately, I cannot yet read the originals, and I have had to intuit the sense in some rather bloodless interpretations. Harvey, however, seems to hit it just right. To the degree that we can speak of these things during a person's lifetime, he seems to me to be a genuine mystic himself, passionate and full-blooded as the real thing usually is. Six months ago, I gave a copy of this to a much younger friend who had discerned the via negativa with no external guidance before we met. He rejoices in the book and is delighted to find words that exactly mirror his own untaught discoveries. I do not normally gush over such books. I was rigorously trained in Catholic theology and philosophy, hold a graduate degree in East Asian religion and identify myself as a Christian. I am not expert in Islam, though I know far more than the average reader, having edited one work on Rumi. So I tend to cast a jaundiced eye over most work like this. But if I were forced to reduce my library to a scant hundred volumes, The Way of Passion would still find an honored place. Rumi, though heterodox like all mystics, spoke powerfully not only to the Sufis of his time but to orthodox Muslims, Jews and Christians. Though Harvey certainly does not rank with Rumi, his interpretation can speak meaningfully to all persons of good will who do not barricade themselves behind denominational lines. On the basis of this book alone, I would read anything that Harvey writes.

Rumi is one of the greatest spiritual mystics and poets who we can read today. This book is a wonderful guide, both through some of Rumi's poetry, and in gaining insight into Rumi's life. This book is one of my favorite books in my library. Andrew Harvey has clearly experienced the passion of Rumi himself, and is able to guide the reader through profound waters with skill. I found his commentary to be a bonus to the experience of reading Rumi.