During his last hours his wife pleaded with Mevlana to not leave and ask God to let him stay here a little longer. Mevlana's reply was thus: Am I a thief? Have I stolen someone's goods? Is this why you would confine me here and keep me from being rejoined with my Love?

Come, come again,whoever you are,come Heathen,Fire worshipper or idolatrous,come Come even if you broke your penitence a hundred times Ours is the portal of hope,come as you are…… MEVLANA CELALEDDİN RUMİ

Who is Mevlana? Mevlana Celaddiin-i Rumi is a 13 th century Muslim saint and Anatolian mystic known throughout the world for his exquisite poems and words of wisdom, which have been translated into many languages. Rumi, as he is known in the west, is the best selling poet in USA. The United Nations declared 2007 The Year of Rumi and celebrations were held world wide.

Mevlana was a Muslim. His doctrine advocates unlimited tolerance, positive reasoning, goodness, charity and awareness through love. To him all religions were more or less truth. Mevlana looked with the same eye on Muslim, Jew and Christian alike. His peaceful and tolerant teachings have appealed to men of all sects and creeds. In 1958, Pope John XXIII wrote a special message saying: “In the name of the Catholic World, I bow with respect before the memory of Rumi.”

Every 17 December, the night of Mevlana's death, thousands of people from all around the world gather at the magnificient 13 th century Mevlana Mausoleum to celebrate Seb-i Arus, his 'Wedding Day', his reunion with his Beloved, with the Divine.

According to Mevlana's teachings, human beings are born twice, once of their mothers and the second time of their own bodies. The real birth is the second, spiritual birth. Mevlevi dervishes, guided by a spiritual leader, are expected to live as members of the Mevlevi Order, according to the principles of his teaching. A long period of spiritual progress is necessary before they can participate in the whirling dance, for which they wear a tall cap symbolizing the tomb of carnality, and a white robe which is its shroud.

The 'dance' of the Whirling Dervishes is called Sema and is a part of the inspiration of Mevlana and has become part of Turkish custom, history, beliefs and culture.

Sema represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to "Perfect". Whirling towards the truth, his growth, through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrive to the "Perfect". He returns from this spiritual journey as a man who reached maturity and greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation, to all creatures without discrimination of believes, races, classes and nations.