A Little Book of Mystical Secrets: Rumi, Shams of Tabriz, and the Path of Ecstasy

by Maryam Mafi, Narguess Farzad (Foreword)

At long last, an accessible little book that focuses on the teachings of Rumi's teacher and inspiration, Shams of Tabriz. Included in this slim, charming volume is a biographical sketch of the great Sufi teacher and mystic and a new translation of 500 of his core teachings that bring into fresh focus the meaning and mysteries of life and love. There are many books on Rumi and many translations of his works and yet most readers are unaware of how Rumi became a mystic. Shams, an Arabic word that means the sun, was the catalyst that converted the rather resolute and ascetic Rumi, the cleric and teacher, into Rumi, the passionate disciple of the religion of love. He was the agent of the propulsive mystical energy that transformed Rumi the reticent into Rumi the ecstatic poet. Rumi lovers, spiritual seekers, and devotees of the mystical path will meet this little book of wisdom and mystical secrets with enthusiasm. I shall not place you in my heart
For you may get hurt by its wounds.
I won't keep you in my eyes
For I may belittle you and
expose you to the ridicule of common men.
I will hide you inside my soul, not in my heart or in my eyes,
so that you may become one with my breath.

Genres: Spirituality, Poetry, Mysticism, Philosophy, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2017

Reviews

[Yelda Basar Moers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know much about the relationship between the Sufi poet Rumi and the mystical vagabond Shams and have read numerous books about Rumi (at least 20!). Their chance meeting is believed to be an act of divine grace (Shams means the "sun" and Rumi was referred to as the "moon") and their union was one of the greatest creative partnerships of all time-- a true union of 2 divine forces. Shams was the muse and catalyst that turned Rumi from a jurist and religious scholar to a poet, whose poetry revealed great truths about love and humanity. This union was all magic, synergy, synchronistic divine destiny, so we should feel the magic in this book. However, I didn't feel any of that. Ultimately I felt this book had too many shortcomings for me to recommend it to others. It's a lackluster account of their story, didn't teach me anything I didn't already know, and the excerpts from Shams's teachings were flat, unremarkable and missing a key element, his soul. I couldn't feel it. For those interested in Rumi and Shams and their special relationship, please read Soul Fury by Coleman Barks or the Rumi biography Rumi's Secret by Brad Gooch. Both are excellent and capture that magic!

[NON · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always held Shams in a special regard, and to find this little book that focuses on Shams is an ultimate treasure. Maryam Mafi offers copious teachings of the brilliant Shams in this slight volume that captures the mind, the heart, and the soul of the reader. It's charming, thought-provoking, and intimate.

[Jose · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping to find some inspiration and was seduced by the pretty cover. Instead I read one after another of the most mindbogglinly twee and banal aphorisms regarding friendship, joy, sadness, love and the way to mystic bliss.
Really could be just condensed in a few paradoxes and suspension of judgement... if you are sad it’s because you know happiness. If your friend is true he’ll tell you were you went wrong. If you want to find treasure, don’t chase it. Do it, don’t do it, it doesn’t matter, just don’t judge how others go about it. Praise to Allah and ignore his followers. Done. Love, Sham of Tabriz. Waste of time, really. Or not, your choice.

[Nora Alshareef · Rating 3 out of 5]

It just fell flat. I didn’t learn much at all.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.

[Ruth Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rumi lover

[Macy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weirdly tedious for such a short book! Parts seemed to be overly obvious, and then some sections were just glossed over that could have used more detail.

[Madiha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book contains no secrets and so it taught me nothing. You could consider it an abridged version of the already existing literature, but with flat writing, it was truly uninspirational.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a easy of a read as I thought, but worth the time and focus!