Transcendentalism and The Role of Nature In Emerson and Rumi's Literature

Transcendentalism was neither a systematic nor a sharply definable philosophy, but rather an intellectual mode and emotional mood that was expressed by diverse, and in some instances rather eccentric, voices. Modern historians of the movement tend to take as its central exponents Emerson (especially in Nature). Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American Transcendentalist poet, philosopher and essayist during ۱۹th century. In ۱۸۳۲, he became a Transcendentalist, leading to the later essay "Self-Reliance" and "The American Scholar". His father was a clergyman, as many of his male ancestors had been. He attended the Boston Latin School, followed by Harvard University and the Harvard School of Divinity. He was licensed as a minister in ۱۸۲۶ and ordained to the Unitarian Church in ۱۸۲۹.The famous writer and poet could highly effect on Emerson's thought and beliefs, especially on nature, Jalal al din Rumi, the ۱۳-century Sufi Muslim philosopher. The writings of Jalal al din Rumi, the ۱۳-century Sufi Muslim philosopher from modern day Afghanistan and the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the ۱۹-century Christian transcendentalist from Boston, Massachusetts, are filled with lessons that enrich every human soul. Both Rumi and Emerson viewed all religious groups as equal before God. Both Emerson and Rumi encouraged people to search for their own personal connection with God through existential and wondrous ways.As a young man, Rumi was trained as a theologian and Muslim cleric, but he later became a mystical poet after meeting his mentor Shams in ۱۲۴۴. Rumi conveyed his thoughts mainly through poems, many of which speak to infinite tolerance and compassion for people outside of Muslim circles. For Rumi, God is the source of all love and it is this love which permeates the entire universe. Like Rumi, Emerson was also passionate about the overwhelming feeling of love. His thoughts and feelings, which were brilliantly expressed in his essays and poems, make one feel as if he or she is empowered and uplifted. For Emerson, all living beings experience love in one form or another.Both Rumi and Emerson encourage people to search and learn about their own personal connection with God through existential ways. By the way, Emerson has a similar belief with Rumi; both of them were also strong proponents of the power of love, especially experiences of God's love and share their ideas and loves with all people around the world with different beliefs and religious. They both see this love in different ways like nature, landscape and environment. Nature is a setting that fits equally well a comic or a mourning piece. Nature is the only book that its every page contains deep meaning. Nature can learn that there is no suffering on earth that is not borne by God and it is challenging the meaning of life that is the truest expression of the state of being human. Nature also remind us the lover of immortal beauty. Man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature. With an eye made quiet by the power of joy, we see into the life of things.