~ Offered by Camille Adams Helminski[1] In 1980, we were graced with a meeting with Suleyman Dede. The moment we met him, we felt received, into the presence of a soul deeply devoted and at one with his Lord. Our two small sons were with us, and as soon as he heard that the younger [...]
The Mevlevi Sufi tradition traces back to Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi (d. 1273) one of the greatest mystics and poets the world has ever known.
In Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi's family there had long been a tradition of the recognition of the spiritual beauty, yearning, and wisdom of women. It was his grandmother, the princess of Khorasan, who first lit the spark of inquiry in Rumi's father, Bahaeddin Weled. It was under her care (Bahaeddin's father died when he was two years old) that he grew to be the "Sultan of the learned" and a great spiritual light for his world. Mevlana's mother, Mu'mine Hatun, a devout and saintly lady, was very dear to him. Mu'mine Hatun was the beautiful daughter of Rukhneddin, the governor of Balkh in what is now Afghanistan.
The following is a story told on several occasions in Dede's house when visitors were present and there was much sohbet and discussion about the Way. The first part I recall as being complete [Dede] in itself as a response to some question or comment put by a European guest, and which I translated, and was referred to several times over the years. Part II I recall being told by Dede when there were Turkish dervishes or mixed company visiting, and I several years later retold the story of Part I when we were having a good time; Dede then related the story in Part II
Reprint of a 1976 article. From The Eye of the Heart, the newsletter of The Mevlevi Order and The Threshold Society