A Meditation on Rumi and the Power of Poetry | Leili Anvar | TED

Summary

In this poignant narrative, the speaker recounts their experience of exile from Iran at age 15, carrying with them the invaluable treasure of the Persian language and its rich poetic tradition. The speaker finds solace and a sense of home in the works of the 13th-century mystic poet Rumi, whose verses resonate deeply with the experience of separation and the longing for reunion. Through Rumi's poetry, the speaker embarks on a spiritual journey, discovering the power of words to transmute reality, connect with one's humanity, and find healing in the darkness of times. The speaker emphasizes the life-saving role of poetry in reminding us of our true selves and the universal human condition of exile.

Takeaways

• 😊 The Persian language and its rich poetic tradition became a source of solace and identity for the speaker after leaving Iran at age 15.
• 🌍 Despite being exiled from their homeland, the speaker found that their mother tongue, Persian, could not be taken away and became their connection to Iranian culture.
• 📖 The speaker immersed themselves in the works of the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, whose verses on exile, separation, and the human condition resonated deeply with their experience.
• 🕊️ Rumi's poetry, particularly the famous lines from the prologue about the reed flute's lament, opened up a world of understanding for the speaker about the universal experience of exile and longing to return home.
• 🌹 Through Rumi's mystical poetry, the speaker was able to explore themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, finding solace and meaning in their own journey.
• 🔑 Poetry, and the arts in general, have the power to transmute reality into something rich and meaningful, providing a therapeutic connection to our essential humanity.
• 🌇 The speaker emphasizes the centrality of love in Rumi's poetry, which reflects the true purpose of all great poetry.
• 🌎 Rumi's work reminds us that, in a sense, we are all exiles in this world, celestial souls separated from our true home, to which we must find our way back through spiritual awareness and love.
• 📚 Engaging with poetry – reading, reciting, translating – became a lifelong journey and companion for the speaker in their exile, helping them cope with the darkness of their circumstances.
• 🌺 Poetry has the power to connect us with what is most essential in life and should be cherished for its ability to provide solace, meaning, and a reminder of our shared humanity.

Q & A

What was the invaluable treasure the speaker took with them when leaving Iran?

The speaker states that the invaluable treasure they took with them when leaving Iran at the age of 15 was the Persian language, which they describe as a millennium-old language that emerged as the language of poetry.

How did the experience of exile help the speaker realize the importance of their mother tongue?

The speaker reveals that it was through the experience of exile that they came to realize that what they had lost was a country, a house, and a garden, but that nobody could bereave them of their motherland if their motherland was their mother tongue. Within them, the language remained alive, and it was the Persian language that made them Iranian.

What role did Persian poetry, particularly the works of Rumi, play in the speaker's life in exile?

The speaker embarked on a poetic journey guided by Rumi, the 13th-century Persian mystic poet. They read Rumi's poetry, learned his poems by heart, and translated many of his works. Rumi's poetry became a companion for the speaker in exile, helping them feel at home wherever they went.

What is the significance of Rumi's prologue to his 'opus magnum' in the speaker's understanding of exile?

In Rumi's prologue, where he compares his poetic work to the song of the reed flute, the speaker found a profound understanding of the pain of exile and separation, as well as an invitation to accompany Rumi on the return journey through the wings of poetry.

How does the speaker describe Rumi's poetry and its effect on the human experience?

The speaker describes Rumi's poetry as sheer music that tells and whispers a forgotten story to the soul. Through his lyric poetry and innumerable stories, Rumi not only points to his own individual experience but also reminds the listener of their situation in life – that whoever we are and wherever we live, we are in exile from our celestial origins.

According to the speaker, what is the power and significance of poetry in human life?

The speaker believes that poetry has the power to transmute reality into something rich and meaningful. It reminds us of who we are and where we belong, connects us with what is most essential in life, and can help us through the darkness of difficult times. The speaker sees reading, rendering, writing, and reciting poetry as a therapy that connects us to the spiritual essence of life.

How did the speaker's encounter with Rumi's poetry during the Iran-Iraq war impact them?

The speaker vividly remembers the first time they heard Rumi's lines during the Iran-Iraq war when Tehran was bombarded. Despite the risks, a circle of poets and poetry lovers would gather every Friday, and the speaker's father took them to these gatherings. Hearing Rumi's lines opened a whole new world for the speaker, and Rumi became their companion for life and in exile.

What does the speaker suggest about Rumi's own experience of exile?

The speaker mentions that Rumi himself had fled his native town (in present-day Afghanistan) when he was very young due to the Mongol threat. He left his homeland as a child, never to return, wandering from town to town until taking refuge in Anatolia (present-day Turkey). Even in this foreign land, Rumi kept reading Persian poetry, maintained his mother tongue, and taught it to his own children.

How did the speaker's encounter with Shams of Tabriz impact Rumi's life and poetry?

According to the speaker, when Rumi met Shams of Tabriz in Konya, Shams initiated Rumi to mystical music, dance, and the religion of love. It was through this encounter that Rumi lived a series of bewildering experiences that illuminated and awakened him to his true self, and he became a poet.

What is the speaker's overall message about the role of poetry and the arts in addressing the human condition?

The speaker's overall message is that poetry and the arts, if spiritually oriented, have the power to help us navigate the human condition, including the feelings of exile, disorientation, and despair that can arise from witnessing the inhumanity of humanity. Poetry connects us to what is most essential in life and should be cherished for its ability to transmute reality and offer spiritual guidance.