It's not what you think.
Whilst the book by Elif Şafak holds some love interests, the title refers to the Sufi concept of love.
It's the second time I've run into Mewlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī (Rumi) and Shams al-Din Mohammad (Shams of Tabriz).
Here are some quotes:
".. God never burdens us with more than we can bear."
A rule:
"Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighbourhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful! It is easy to be thankful when all is well. A Sufi is thankful not only for what they have been given but also for all that they have been denied."
A rule:
"If you want to change the way others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself. Unless you learn to love yourself, fully and sincerely, there is no way you can be loved. Once you achieve that stage, however, be thankful for every thorn that others might throw at you. It is a sign that you will soon be showered in roses."
..continues..
"How can you blame others for disrespecting you when you think of yourself as unworthy of respect?"
A rule:
"Fret not where the road will take you. Instead concentrate on the first step. That's the hardest part and that's what you are responsible for. Once you take that step let everything do what it naturally does and the rest will follow. Do not go with the flow. Be the flow."
"..you think that I am a religious man. But I am not.
I am a spiritual [man], which is quite different. Religiosity and spirituality are not the same thing, and I believe that the gap between the two has never been greater than it is today. ... Spirituality is not yet another dressing for the same old dish. It is not something we can add to our life without making major changes there."
"My heart rejoices at the magnificence of the universe God has created in His image, so that everywhere we turn, we can both seek and find Him. And yet human beings rarely do that." [tense changed to the present]
"I thank Him for al lthe things He has both given and denied me, for only He knows what is best for me."
A rule:
"Destiny doesn't mean that your life has been strictly predetermined. Therefore, to leave everything to fate and to not actively contribute to the music of the unviverse is a sign of sheer ignorance...
Your destiny is the level where you will play your tune. You might not change your instrument but how well you play it is entirely in your hands."
Whilst the book by Elif Şafak holds some love interests, the title refers to the Sufi concept of love.
It's the second time I've run into Mewlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī (Rumi) and Shams al-Din Mohammad (Shams of Tabriz).
Here are some quotes:
".. God never burdens us with more than we can bear."
A rule:
"Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighbourhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful! It is easy to be thankful when all is well. A Sufi is thankful not only for what they have been given but also for all that they have been denied."
A rule:
"If you want to change the way others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself. Unless you learn to love yourself, fully and sincerely, there is no way you can be loved. Once you achieve that stage, however, be thankful for every thorn that others might throw at you. It is a sign that you will soon be showered in roses."
..continues..
"How can you blame others for disrespecting you when you think of yourself as unworthy of respect?"
A rule:
"Fret not where the road will take you. Instead concentrate on the first step. That's the hardest part and that's what you are responsible for. Once you take that step let everything do what it naturally does and the rest will follow. Do not go with the flow. Be the flow."
"..you think that I am a religious man. But I am not.
I am a spiritual [man], which is quite different. Religiosity and spirituality are not the same thing, and I believe that the gap between the two has never been greater than it is today. ... Spirituality is not yet another dressing for the same old dish. It is not something we can add to our life without making major changes there."
"My heart rejoices at the magnificence of the universe God has created in His image, so that everywhere we turn, we can both seek and find Him. And yet human beings rarely do that." [tense changed to the present]
"I thank Him for al lthe things He has both given and denied me, for only He knows what is best for me."
A rule:
"Destiny doesn't mean that your life has been strictly predetermined. Therefore, to leave everything to fate and to not actively contribute to the music of the unviverse is a sign of sheer ignorance...
Your destiny is the level where you will play your tune. You might not change your instrument but how well you play it is entirely in your hands."
