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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The writer continues to tell the reader to keep working, searching for __________ in the daily practice.

2. Rumi asks when seeing the birds flying in frenzied patterns whether the one he _______ is everywhere.

3. The destination may be unclear for __________ understanding, according to Rumi, but one should walk anyway.

4. Love is more than an old study of _________, according to the writing of Rumi in this section.

5. When Rumi regained consciousness, he stated that _______ was the greater because he realized the breadth of God.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the ways a person will be able to bring themselves into the present moment, according to Barks?

2. What should a person do with their life instead of acting from fear, according to the writings of Rumi?

3. To what does Rumi compare human beings who do not explore their own spirituality?

4. What is the real work of human beings, according to the writings of Rumi?

5. What will happen after the traveler's legs become tired during the journey?

6. What will happen to a person's present life when they are going on a spiritual journey, according to the writings of Rumi?

7. What does Rumi realize about his friend Shams when he doesn't believe that he is actually dead?

8. What is the question Shams asks Rumi, which leads Rumi to believe that Shams is a great person?

9. What is the story of Ramahrishna that Rumi tells at the start of this section of the book?

10. What does Barks have to say about Rumi as being a True Human Being? What does Barks say this means?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The story of Shams and Rumi is one which plays out from one page to the next in this book, a story of friendship and the sharing of knowledge.

Part 1: Why do you think Shams and Rumi got along as well as they did?

Part 2: Why do you think Rumi still felt the need to be competitive with Shams?

Part 3: Do you think all relationships are competitive on some level? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Some of the poems in this collection of Rumi's work celebrate the idea of openness in life and in spirit.

Part 1: Why do you think openness is essential in life?

Part 2: Do you think that openness is something which can be easily cultivated in life?

Part 3: How do you think that you can personally cultivate more openness in your own life?

Essay Topic 3

Human beings don't know what they are, according to Rumi. He believes human beings are much more powerful than they realize.

Part 1: Do you think that human beings are more powerful than they realize?

Part 2: What sorts of powers might human beings have which they are not using as well as they could?

Part 3: Why do you think Rumi wants to ensure the reader knows they are powerful?

(see the answer keys)

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