Freedom from Yourself
Rumi's Selected Poems from Divan Shams Tabrizi
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Translation and interpretation of the
1st Poem
I went through a journey without I*
There, my heart opened up to joy without I*
The Beloved who always hid His face from me
Suddenly showed His beautiful face to me without I*
I died from the pain of not finding you
A new birth came and I was reborn without I*
Now I am always drunk without any wine
Now I am always happy and joyful without I*
Do not ever remember me for who I* was
I am the remembrance of me without I*
I say happy and loving words without I*
It is I who is always alive without I*
All the doors of fortune and joy were closed on me
Suddenly they were opened to me without I*
With I*, even if I am a king, I am a slave of time
Without I*, there is no slavery in all my kingdom
I am drunk with the wine from Shams Tabriz
May this drunkenness of love be always without I*
I* Represents I as ego and the state of mind were we are not in the present moment; either we are fearful of the future or guilty of the past and constantly forgetting our divine nature.
Select Format
Book Details
About the Book
Freedom from Yourself: Selected Poems from Divan Shams Tabrizi is a guide written to help set us free from our ignorance and the prison of our minds which keeps us occupied in misery, fear, and guilt.
Rumi’s teaching is based on the foundations of Sufifism which is divine love, worship, simplicity and moderation, goodness, consciousness of God, humbleness, and tolerance. The most celebrated relationship in Rumi’s spiritual development was with Shams Tabrizi, whom he met in Konya. Through their spiritual teamwork, they enlightened many people and also influenced all the centuries which followed.
This guide was written to help people reach their ultimate goal of attaining Nirvana—a state of mind when all our desires subside and we live in total harmony, peace, serenity and total stillness of the mind. it represents the final goal of Buddhism. Freedom from Yourself enables everyone to go deeper into the meaning of Shams Tabrizi’s poems and to apply them directly to the everyday problems we can encounter.
About the Author
Alexander K is fortunate to speak Rumi’s language as his mother tongue—the thirteenth century language of Persia—which enabled him to understand the meaning of the words from a deeper perspective. The author spent thirty-five years examining Rumi’s work, mysticism, Sufism, and philosophy. This helped him to interpret Rumi’s words and provide the true meaning behind them as Rumi originally intended.