The Story of the Three Fish
Here is an aquatic tale that Rumi borrowed from an existing story collection he was familiar with called Kalila and Dimnah. Rumi put his own spin on the account and drew out several spiritual lessons. This is the story, O stubborn one, of a lake in which there were three huge fish. You've already seen it in Kalila, though that book only had the outer shell of this tale, while here you'll find the hidden meaning. Three fishermen once passed by the edge of this lake they saw that there was much...
What Love Sometimes Brings
I often wonder at the seeker of purity, who shies away from harsh treatment when it's time to be polished. Love is like a lawsuit rough handling is the evidence of its passing. Where there is no evidence, the case is lost. Don't feel wronged when this Judge demands your evidence. In order to unlock this treasure, you sometimes have to kiss a snake. The rough handling is not directed toward you personally, O child no, not at all, but rather it's directed toward the bad qualities you harbor...
The Seven Sermons
Throughout his life, Rumi gave many sermons in the mosques of Konya and many addresses and speeches to gatherings of his students, followers, and others. On seven of these more auspicious occasions, either Rumi's son, Sultan Walad, or his top student, Husamuddin Chelebi, recorded what the Master said. These seven recorded sermons, together, are known as the Majalis-i Saba which translates as the Seven Sermons. Each of these seven speeches centers upon an important saying, or hadith, of the...