Reading that after Shams, Rumi had a friendship with Salah, who was less revered because he was a goldsmith and had a shop for a while. His background wasn't a prestigious. Rumi made his sons marry Salah's daughters. The one previous book I read was all about Shams and Rumi, so hearing about the next guy is interesting. Shams may be at the center of the story, but it's quite a long story. I don't think I want Mehdi to marry my daughter, but I do sort of wish I could marry my daughter off to consolidate a friendship, that sounds kind of cool and cruel, and the theme of Taming of the Shrew.
I suppose what I appreciate most about Gooch's biography of Rumi in 311 pages, is that it's a great introduction to the poet, that I hardly know honestly. This was a must read for everyone who reads in English. Sorry, I had to add to that list. Rumi's popular poetry really isn't understood without some background.
The larger world is fascinating, in 1257 Hulagu, the grandson of Genghis Kahn took Baghdad. It was the rampaging army that pushed Rumi westward, and he was getting closer to Konya Turkey. The suggestion is that he ended the golden age of Islam. See painting depicting it below:
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There's a parallel with the sacking of Nalanda in 1200 by Muslims.
There's a poem, that includes the phrase "secrets of secrets". To me, that is friendship, and can't really be written about, comes from the alchemy of a relationship. You have to have great love to be friends with imperfect humans.
I've only been meditating once a day, and with soccer and Mehdi gone, I've slacked a little, trying harder today in meditation.
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