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Rumi Reading & Lecture
w/Mahmoud Vahedian Ghaffari

Saturday, October 11, 2014
7-9 p.m.
$5 suggested donation

The creation of Rumi's extraordinary work is an amazing story in itself. In fact, Rumi's own personal life is a subject of so many myths in the history of Persian literature. The young Rumi, who seemed to have had all the stars in the world at birth, was an unhappy seeker of love for most of his life. He was forced to emmigrate from the center of Persian civilization to a more remote, yet safer, part of the world. There he received the devastating news of the destruction of two of the most powerful pillars of the Muslim civilization, the Persian and Arab Empires, by the mass killing machine of the Mongol army. He must have felt a burden heavier than truth, heavier than the universe, on his lover heart and magnificent mind. At 38, however, his lifetime longing for the truth came to a turning point when he set his eyes on Shams of Tabriz. Shams was that alchemist whose companionship turned Rumi into a prophet, the prophet of love.

The night will begin with a description of Rumi's life and the historical period he experienced the world, and then explore the most important coincidence of Persian literature, where Rumi and Shams meet. The second portion of our night follows with the reading of two short stories from Rumi's master piece, the Mathnavi. The poems will be recited in the original Persian language of 800 years ago to transfer the musical and divine feeling of that original work.The verses and stories will then be translated into English as each original is recited.

Born in the city of Mashhad, Iran, famous as the birth place of many a beloved Persian literary figure, Mahmoud Vahedian Ghaffari studied at the Polytechnic University of Tehran before leaving Iran for Poland where he attained his MA in Transatlantic Studies from the famed Jagiellonian University. While in Poland he lectured extensively on Iranian poetry and culture at the National Museum, Warsaw. He now resides in Brentwood, California where he pursues many passions, including his area of expertise revolving around one of the most cherished of Persian poets; Jal?l ad-D?n Muhammad Balkh?, otherwise known affectionately as Molana or Rumi. With natural charisma and a deep love and knowledge of the poetry, Mahmoud helps transport his audience to the timeless, ageless, enchanting landscape of the mystics and poets.

 


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