Rumi’s first meeting with Shams-i Tabrizi turned him literally upside down, because of the mystical shock he experienced in their first encounter. The stranger from Tabriz was no ordinary person; he was a gifted mystic, also known as Kamil-i Tabrizi. He had attained extraordinary esoteric abilities on the path of ‘ Salook’ the journey towards God, to seek closeness to Him. Salook, a most cherished goal of all mystics is achieved through completely submitting one’s ‘self” (nafs) to the Most High, to the point where it can mirror in its purified depth the reflection of the Reality and Power of the Most High. Rumi, in his late thirtees was a jurist of the first order with accomplishments in religious sciences, including Quran, tradition and fiqh and was leading a loyal Muslim community in Konya in Eastern Iran, then called Khorasan, now Turkey. His fame as a theophosopher, it appears had traveled beyond his area to Damascus and Allepo, two major centers of learning where Rumi had also traveled to fulfil the academic requirements of a Faqih or Jurist. Rumi had, it appears, attained an honorable position among is peers. But there was a certain feeling of unfulfilment, disquiet, an emptiness, an appetite, a craving, a yearning, a desperate need to go beyond the worldly state, to the world unknown, the world beyond, the higher hemisphere, the domain of the Most High that even angels fear to tread. He knew he could not do it alone. He was in need of a spiritual Guide, a Mentor, skilled in the metaphysics of the intended ‘ space travel ‘, a consummate pilot who can help navigate this flight into the higher realms of existence. Shams Tabriz, a man probably in his sixties, having accomplished himself in religious sciences had studied under different teachers in Tabriz. He had however epitomized his skills on the path of ‘ salook ‘ under the guidance and tutelage of an accomplished teacher and a great mystic of the time, known as Baba Kamal Jundi. He spent more nearly 12 years with this skillful teacher in Tabriz. They secluded themselves in ‘ chillas ‘ ( a mystic exercise, praying for 40 days in total seclusion, seeking His Grace). Once when Shams told his teacher that he had so much on his chest to share with others but he could not say it words. the great sage, Baba Kamal told him that he was going to meet with a person who was to become his ‘tongue’, or alter-ego. Led by a dream, Shams set out on a journey to Allepo and then to Konya where he finally discovered the pal he had been looking for. The legend goes that Rumi was sitting by the water ( a pond) with his students and a pile of books when Shams walked in as a wayfarer with dishevelled hair, After greetings, he asked Rumi pointing to the books (manuscripts) what was it. Rumi answered interrogatively ‘ what would you know ? ‘ The visitor reached for the the pile of books and threw them in the water. These were Rumi’s hand written manuscripts and he was greatly upset by the unexpected rage of the unknown man. Shams bent down to the water, restoring the pile of books with no sign of water on them. A bewildered Rumi managed to ask, “ what was it ? “ and Shams answered him back in Runi’s own words, “ What would you know ? “ and left. That was it. Rumi threw away his religious raimant and his hat chasing after Shams.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 09:52:08 +0000
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