Stories of Sages (Vol. II)

This second volume of the “Stories of Sages” contains primarily those writings and speeches that arise out of the author’s past decade in diaspora and exile. The first book told stories of Rumi, Ghazali, Saadi, Hafez and Shariati; In this book, great figures such as Iqbal, Bazargan, Ghazali, Tabatabai, Erasmus, … act as heroes and narrators in their own beautiful stories. And since “no thornless flower grows in the garden” (according to Saadi, Sonnet No. 20), the unspeakable name of a group of unwise men reluctantly and perforce runs at the margins of this work–like thorns along a flower stem–so that the encounter with the antagonist may enable the wise reader to recognize and appreciate the brilliance of the wisdom-teaching protagonist in contrast. And of course, there is beloved Maulana (Rumi), Jalaluddin of Balkh, the lord of all sages. Without devoting a single chapter to his grace, this balanced and humble collection of stories is soaked by his signature scent and has his name written all over it …