New Translation and Commentary by Doug MarmanIt Is What It Is: The Personal Discourses of Rumi brings you across time to sit at the feet of one of the world's greatest spiritual teachers. Jalal al-Din Rumi lived over 700 years ago, yet his voice still echoes around the world today. Rumi's discourses have long been recognized as a key to unlocking the depths of his wisdom. This new translation, with all new commentary, brings one of the most difficult of Rumi's manuscripts to life. You can now experience the impact of listening to Rumi as he shares his universal and timeless teaching. Rumi says: "These words are for the sake of those who need words to understand. As for those who understand without words, what use do they have for speech? The heavens and earth are words to them. . . . Whoever hears a whisper, what need do they have for shouting?" Rumi is not using words to just explain, but to move us beyond the need for explanations. He describes that moment when truth reveals itself directly to us like an open book. His tales and metaphors are luminous, beckoning us to new states of consciousness. This is more than just a book. It is designed to be a personal study program with Rumi.