Shams’ Mysterious Influence
These excerpts selected from Mevlânâ Celaleddin Rûmi’s Divan-ı Kebir reveal the profound and transformative influence of Şems-i Tebrizi on Mevlânâ. Shams is not merely a guide, but also a mysterious agent of divine love; his presence triggered a great upheaval in Mevlânâ’s inner world. Shams’ statement, “not from heaven, but of a sky,” emphasizes his extraordinary and unconventional position; he is a figure who transcends worldly boundaries and carries humanity to higher levels of consciousness.
The Presentation of the Wine of Love and the Awakening of the Soul
Mevlânâ depicts Shams as one who presents the wine of love; this wine is not merely a physical beverage, but symbolically purifies the soul, eliminates subconscious obstacles, and leads to truth. This “wine” invites Mevlânâ to turn within the community, that is, to transcend the ego and unite with the divine. Shams’ presentation possesses a power that revives stones and blossoms gardens; this expresses love’s potential to transform the universe. Through Shams, Mevlânâ experiences the transformative power of love and strives to transmit it to humanity.
The Conflict Between Reason and Love
Mevlânâ’s relationship with Shams also reveals the tension between reason and love. While reason represents logical thought and boundaries, love is an experience that transcends reason, an irrational experience. Shams distances Mevlânâ from reason; he sees his path as “misleading” because reason cannot delve into the depths of love. This conflict reflects humanity’s effort to define itself both with logic and emotion, and Mevlânâ argues that love is superior to reason: Love is the key to reaching one’s true self; therefore, one must set aside reason and surrender to the guidance of love.