Book excerpt: Despite the fact that Confucius and Rumi were born in different periods and places, both were born at a time of social upheaval and political turmoil. Consequently, both thinkers tried to provide the means for their people to overcome the times of difficulty, first by understanding, cultivating, and realizing their human potentialities and then by transforming themselves, their families, and their societies. This book examines the core ideas of these two great thinkers and provides anthropocosmic insights into their ideas on nature, family, and music.