Jalalud'din Rumi: Intermediary between East and WestThe 13th-century teachings of Jalalud'din Rumi, the Sufi Muslim philosopher of modern Afghanistan, are rich in wisdom for guidance and open the heart of every human being. Rumi's insights into love, awareness of the things of the soul, and tolerance could help bridge the growing cultural divide that divides the West and the Eastern Muslim world. Rumi wrote and taught that all religious groups are equal in the eyes of God. If he were alive in our modern times, he would have no qualms about worshiping or praying in a church or synagogue instead of his religious holy places. When we examine the philosophy revealed in his poetry and his other writings, we see that Rumi taught people to seek their individual relationship with God through existential and mystical means. Rumi's deep love for all the people and things around him, regardless of what or who they were, demonstrates that the West and the East, non-Muslims and Muslims are not as divided as many today believe. Originally trained in theology as a Muslim cleric, Rumi later became a mystical teacher, leader, and poet following an encounter with Shams in 1244 AD Rumi expressed his beliefs primarily through poetry, which often speaks of honest compassion and infinite tolerance for individuals who live outside of Islamic teachings. Despite his Muslim religious upbringing, Rumi did not discriminate against people of other faiths or even agnostics. In an essay about his relationship with Jesus, Rumi writes “He Was Nowhere Else”: “Cross and Christians, from one end to the other, I examined. He was not on the cross. I went to the Hindu temple, to the ancient pagoda. There was no sign in any of them. Towards the highlands of Herat I... middle of paper...... or else pay attention to how things come together (Rumi)Works Citedde Vitray-Meyerovitch, Eva. Rumi and Sufism, Sausalito: The Post Apollo Press. 1987Jalalud'din Rumi, Fountain of Fire, trans Nader Khalili. Trzana, CA: Burning Gate Press 1994.Jalalud'din Rumi http://sevenpillarsjourney.org/additional-poetry/ March 12, 2014Jalalud'din Rumi, Life and Death: http://www.rumi.org.uk/life&death . htm 12 March 2014Jalalud'din Rumi, Rumi's poetry: 'All religions, all this singing, one song' http://razarumi.com/rumis-poetry-all-religions-all-this-singing-one-song/ 12 March 2014Jalalud'din Rumi, translated by Kabir Helminski. http://www.sourcetext.com/hupage/Rumi/rumi0.html March 12, 2014.Jalalud'din Rumi http://www.onejourney.net/the-living-book/jalal-al-din-rumi- 1207 /22/quotations.html March 12, 2014Shah, Idries. “The Way of the Sufi” The Octagon Press, London. 1980