The ingredients, stages and experience of love : a parallel exposition of Jalaluddin M. Rumi and Ananda K. Coomaraswamy

Abstract

This study analyses the concept of love as presented in the writings of two prominent thinkers, namely Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi (d.1273) and Ananda K. Coomaraswamy (d. 1974), representing two spiritual traditions and historical periods. It attempts to examine man's experience of love at various levels - physical and spiritual, earthly and divine - and to establish connections and relations between the two. In this respect a biographical introduction and a historical background of each thinker is provided along with an overall account of the concept of love as reflected in their respective schools of thought. The research has addressed the concept of love under three main heading, 1) Ingredients of love, 2) Stages of love, and 3) Experience of love. Under "Ingredients", elemental topics such as self, knowledge and beauty are conversed. Under "Stages", various levels and categories of love - personal, social, romantic, spiritual and divine - are discussed. And the concept of "taste" ("dhawq" in Rumi's terminology and "rasa" in Coomaraswamy's) has been deliberated upon under "Experience"; this most profound level of understanding love involves all stages and ingredients at their various intensities and purities. The study of this aspect through the literature produced by Rumi and Coomaraswamy shows how much the notion of love has evolved, or remained unchanged, among different people with different beliefs. The research provides a comparative analysis highlighting the similarities and differences on the concept of love by Rumi and Coomaraswamy and their contributions to the field of philosophy and mysticism.