40 RULES OF LOVE BY 'SHAMS TABRIZI'

Shams Tabrizi, also known as Shams of Tabriz, was a Persian mystic and spiritual teacher who lived in the 13th century. He is perhaps best known for his association with the great Sufi poet Rumi, whom he met in the city of Konya in what is now Turkey. Shams and Rumi had a deep and transformative spiritual friendship that lasted several years and had a profound impact on both of their lives.

One of the legacies of Shams Tabrizi's teachings is his 40 Rules of Love, a set of guidelines for living a more meaningful and fulfilling life. These rules were not written down by Shams himself, but are based on his teachings and have been compiled by various authors and scholars over the centuries. Here, we will explore some of the key themes and messages of these rules, and how they can be applied in our lives today.

The first rule of love is perhaps the most fundamental: "The path to the Truth is a labour of the heart, not of the head. Make your heart your primary guide! Not your mind." This rule speaks to the importance of following our intuition and inner guidance, rather than relying solely on logic and reason. It reminds us that true wisdom comes from the heart, and that we must cultivate our capacity for love and compassion in order to live a fulfilling life.

Another important theme in the Rules of Love is the idea of surrender. Rule number 5 states: "The midwife knows that when there is no pain, the way for the baby cannot be opened and the mother cannot give birth. Likewise, for a new self to be born, hardship is necessary." This rule encourages us to embrace the challenges and difficulties in our lives as opportunities for growth and transformation. It reminds us that the greatest gifts often come through struggle and adversity, and that we must be willing to let go of our old selves in order to become something new.

The Rules of Love also emphasize the importance of compassion and kindness. Rule number 17 states: "A life without love is of no account. Don't ask yourself what kind of love you should seek, spiritual or material, divine or mundane, Eastern or Western… Divisions only lead to more divisions. Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple. Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire!" This rule reminds us that love is the essence of life itself, and that it transcends all boundaries and categories. It encourages us to open our hearts to others, to see the humanity in everyone we meet, and to cultivate a spirit of generosity and compassion in our daily lives.

In addition to these themes, the Rules of Love also offer guidance on how to cultivate a deeper spiritual practice. Rule number 30 states: "The past is an interpretation. The future is an illusion. The world does not move through time as if it were a straight line, proceeding from the past to the future. Instead, the world moves through time like a wheel, rotating around a fixed axis that represents the eternal present. Each moment of the wheel's turning creates a harmonious whole, for both the present and the future are contained in the past. And the person who experiences time like the wheel experiences the past, present, and future as a unified whole." This rule encourages us to let go of our attachment to the past and the future, and to embrace the present moment as the only reality. It reminds us that time is not linear, but cyclical, and that our lives are part of a larger cosmic rhythm that is constantly unfolding.

Finally, the Rules of Love also speak to the importance of community and connection. Rule number 37 states: "Be like the sun for grace and mercy.