We are pleased to present passages from the recorded discourses of Shams-e Tabrizi in the context of a dynamic relationship between teacher and student. It is believed that Shams came for one disciple, one student, to whom he directed his energy and his Jalal al-Din Rumi, fondly known as Rumi. His mission was to transform Rumi into a God-intoxicated, God-realized human being.
Shams’ words were thus addressed to a lover of divine Truth. They were not directed toward historians of mysticism and Sufism, lovers of literature or poetry; or philosophers seeking a coherent narrative on life’s meaning. Shams’ sole concern was the reality of spirit, the divine-a reality some refer to as God. If you, like Shams, are concerned with God, then you will find both inspiration and learning latent in his words; but we warn you from the making sense of Shams’ words is not easy! They will sometimes surprise with their generosity and sometimes frustrate in their opacity, but they will always offer more.
For this twenty-first century publication, Shams’ words have been translated from the compilation of the original thirteenth century Farsi by Mohammad Ali Movahed into modern English by an Iranian American, herself a disciple of a living spiritual teacher in a lineage of contemporary mystics. This work is not meant to be an explanatory narrative of Shams’ words, a collection of answers, or a book to be read from cover to cover. Rather, it is a chest filled with treasures-treasures that will continue to reveal their value the more you reflect upon them.
Shams’ singular objective was to actualize, share, and celebrate with Rumi the divine dimension of the human potential. As you will soon discover, Shams was uncompromising in his communication.