Sacred Poetry


Devotional Poems of Mirabai, the. by Alston, A. J. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass, 1980.	These poems or padas are widely loved in much of northern India and express an intense love for Lord Krishna, which is especially affecting when separation from the divine love is the theme.
Devotional Songs of Narsi Mehta. by Mahadevananda, Swami. Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Ltd. 1985.	"Companion mine, last night I heard the music of the flute; It came from deep in Vrindavan woods, it woke me from sleep; Lost was my heart in that sweet sound, its flawless purity; Led me through waking state, and dream, and even yet beyond." A hundred songs that describe the early life of Krishna, his love-play with Radha and the gopis of Gokula and the basic philosophy of early bhakti culture. Essentially songs of devotion for Lord Krishna.
Essential Rumi, the. by Rumi, Jalal al-Din. Barks, Coleman, and Moyne, John. et al, trans. New York, NY: Harper San Francisco. 1995.	This a a rare and precious book that will stir the hearts of Rumi devotees and win many new converts. A comprehensive collection of ecstatic poetry that delights with its energy, passion and brings the vibrant, living words of Rumi to contemporary readers.
*Gitanjali the.* by Tagore, Rabindranath.	The Gitanjali or `song offerings' was written in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), Nobel prize for literature 1913, who later translated it himself in English. It is a collection of 103 mystical poems/songs expounding in highly allegorical language the relationship between the soul and God. With an introduction by the poet William B. Yeats (1865-1939), Nobel prize for literature 1923.
*Illuminated Prayer, the: The Five-Time Prayer of the Sufis as Revealed by Jellaludin Rumi and Bawa Muhaiyaddeen.* by Barks, Coleman and Green, Michael. New York, NY: The Ballantine Publishing Group. 2000.	The prayer is God's gift to all humankind, and in this gorgeously illustrated volume, its simple, archetypal practice unfolds like a fragrant, many petal flower, joining words and movements into a single luminous event that engages our entire being. These ancient rituals are presented here as a gift for anyone with a heartfelt desire to set aside for a moment the concerns of everyday life and enter a sacred time and space in which to explore the beckonings of the spirit. The authors take us through the words, movements, and hidden meanings of the Call to Prayer, the Ablutions, The Prayer itself, and the Peaceful Embrace afterward. Faithful practice lends a sacred rhythm to each day and creates a psychological force that helps us nurture and express a profound inner harmony.
Illuminated Rumi, the. by Barks, Coleman and Green, Michael. New York, NY: Broadway Books. 1997.	Rumi's passionate, playful poems find and celebrate sacred life in everyday existence. They speak across all traditions, to all peoples, and today his relevance and popularity continue to grow. Coleman Barks, widely regarded as the world's premier translator of Rumi's writings, presents some of his most brilliant work, including many new translations. The Illuminated Rumi is a truly groundbreaking collaboration that interweaves word and image: a magnificent meeting of ancient tradition and modern interpretation that uniquely captures the spiritual wealth of Rumi's teachings
Immortal Hafiz, the. by Kennedy, Maud. South Caroline, USA: Manifestation, Inc. 1987.	The poetry of Hafiz of Shiraz expresses the flowering of the civilization of Islam and the mystical Sufi path of love. In this tidy collection of odes, Hafiz describes with poetic beauty the charms of the universe, the planes, the path and secrets revealed therein. He not only excels in spiritual writings but also in poetic meters and style. If you like Rumi and want more - give this one a go.
*Kabir Book, the.* by Kabir. Bly, Robert, trans. Boston, MA: The Seventies Press. 1977.	Few major achievements of world literature are as little known to Americans as the great ecstatic poetry of the Hindus and the Sufis, as exemplified by the work of the 15th-century master, Kabir. Irreverent while being intensely religious, Kabir seems incredibly playful in his taunting of the sacred dogmas of his time--to readers accustomed to the solemnity and ideological fidelity of most Western religious poems. Working from the Tagore-Underhill translation, Bly has done much more than retranslate into American diction. A noted poet himself, he has breathed new life into the work of a fascinating poet.
Kabir Book: Forty-Four of the Ecstatic Poems of Kabir, the. by Bly, Robert. Toronto, Canada: Beacon Press Books. 1977.	Kabir says this: "When the Guest is being searched for, it is the intensity of the longing for the Guest that does all the work. Look at me, and you will see a slave of that intensity." The simplicity and intensity of Kabir's love poems are for those whose path is bhakti or devotion. Ecstatic poetry from an ecstatic seeker.
Look! This is Love: Poems of Rumi. by Schimmel, Anne Marie, trans. Boston, MA: Shambhala. 1996.	Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273), one of the world's most beloved poets, poured out thousands of verses expressing a wonderful, high-soaring love for God. Rendered in rhythmic language, the poems collected in this book echo the enraptured dances created by Rumi and made famous by the whirling dervishes.
Mystic Songs of Kabir. by Das, G. N. New Delhi, India. Shakti Malik Abhinav Publications. 1996.	"The Lord is in your heart to find, wherever else do you wander, In search of Him in vain." This pocket size hardback of Kabir's love songs in Sanskrit and English, charting the mystic's landscape - the effort of man to attain God or Salvation.
Naked Song: Poetry, Mysticism, Women's Studies. by Lalla. Athens. Maypop Books. 1992.	Lalla (1320-13920, the 14th century North Indian mystic, is a lioness. She rides the breath, and she knows the way of courage. Her attention is focused in these poems not through any cultural, or conventionally religious, lens. Lalla's naked awareness is the truth she knows, and is always in motion, as she herself was, wandering and singing these songs in medieval Kashmir.
One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryokan. by Ryokan. Stevens, John, trans. New York, NY: Weatherhill. 1984.	This small volume gives a selection of the poetry of this 18th century Japanese Zen Master. In their appealing simplicity, the poems reveal the all-acceptance of the myriad happenings of daily life: joy, sadness, loneliness, gratitude, companionship.
*Paradise Lost* and Paradise Regained. by Milton, John. Ricks, Christopher, trans. New York, NY: Penguin Books. 1982.	Two of the greatest epic poems in English literature. Each a profound exploration of the moral problems of God's justice, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained demonstrate Milton's genius for fusing sense and sound. classicism and innovation, narrative and drama. As Samuel Johnson wrote in his Life of Milton, "He can please when pleasure is required, but it is his peculiar power to astonish."
*Soul is Here for its Own Joy, the.* by Bly, Robert. Hopewell, NJ: The Ecco Press. 1995.	A selection of sacred poems from many cultures including Dante, Jimenez, Kabir, Mirabai, Mary Oliver, Blake, Donne, Hopkins and Yeats forming a kind of pilgrim's progress that embraces the rich wisdom of East and West, ancient and modern, male and female, spirit and flesh. Best title yet.
Springs of Persian Wisdom. Compilation. New York, NY: Herder and Herder. 1970.	A delightful booklet with illustrations containing the mystical poems of some of the greatest Persian poets: Firdausi, Hafiz, Nisami, Omar Khayyam, and Sa'di.
Wine of the Mystic: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, a Spiritual Interpretation.by Yogananda, Paramahansa. Los Angeles, CA: Self-Realization Fellowship. 1994.	The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam as translated by Edward Fitzgerald has long been one of the most beloved poems in the English language. In an illuminating new interpretation, Paramahansa Yogananda reveals--behind the enigmatic veil of metaphor--the mystical essence of this literary classic. Yoganandaji presents an original and inspired commentary on the poem, bringing to light the deeper truth and beauty beneath its graceful imagery.
Wisdom of the Christian Mystics, the. by Freke, Timothy. Boston, MA: Journey Editions. 1998.	The wisdom of the mystics contained within this inspiring little book is the spiritual essence of Christianity. The mystics teach that the very purpose of human life is to know God and that if we turn toward God we will find that He has been waiting for us all along.
Wisdom of the Hindu Gurus, the. by Freke, Timothy. Boston, MA: Journey Editions. 1998.	With some of the greatest Hindu gurus as our guides, this remarkable little book leads us on a mystical journey from ignorance to self-realization; from separation to unity; from selfishness to service; from a troubled mind to an open heart; from illusion to love.
Wisdom of the Sufi Sages, the. by Freke, Timothy. Boston, MA: Journey Editions. 1998.	In this inspiring little book the Sufi sages lead us on a mystical voyage of discovery; enticing us into a love affair with the Divine Beloved. Sufi wisdom may seem mystifying, but actually it is trying to point us to something so obvious that we miss it. God is everywhere and everything