Rumi's Sun: The Teachings of Shams of Tabriz

Five stars for content. Three stars for presentation. Average them at four.On content, It's a long book at over 400 pages with valuable insights. There is also a look at individual feelings and personal relationships. This includes relations between Shams, Rumi and his children. For example one footnote clarifies text "Shams is referring to Mevlana's younger, conservative son Alaeddin who was jealous of Shams..." It's interesting and valuable for me to see the personal struggles involved even with individuals this enlightened.On presentation, I found the footnotes almost unreadable the print font was so small and the italicized parts were even less readable. I found the footnotes valuable to include in the reading but difficult to assimilate due to the difficulty in reading them. It seems to me that this would have been better as a two volume set so the footnotes were in a larger font.

It’s a great book to read.

This is one of the best Rumi collections out there- many footnotes, Arabic/Persian original words, and references are present throughout this book. Rumi's devotion to Islam is present. This seems to be one of the more authentic translations of Rumi.

There are more fake guides, teachers in the world than stars. Do not miss this one.

this is a book that requires time to read and reflect as you go... this will definitely be more of a study.

I'm enjoying this translation of the Maqalat-e Shams Tabrizi a lot! I'm not the biggest fan of the way they artificially split up the discourse, but it does add some structure to the content.

Great Sufi Spiritual book, in depth, hard to read. Every line needs to be chewed and digested!

Would you not wish to come closer to Beloved God? Penetrating moments of clarity and love, written by Rumi's muse, The Sun of Trabriz.

This is a beautifully clear account of Shams i Tabriz, and his influence on Rumi. Clearly, it is not intended as a substitute for Chittick's, arguably more acadmically orientated, 'Me and Rumi', even though some of the ground covered is the same. In the introduction to the Everyman selsction of Rumi's poetry, the point is made regarding the extrame range of translated Rumi; at one end of the spectrum, the focus on meaning exemplified by Arberry and Nicholson, and at the other, the more populist approach of Coleman Barks. Like Arberry and Nicholson, Heminski translates from the source, rather than translating a translation, which I think aids the clarity. Footnotes are excellent.

It was amazing to see Sham's reflections and views.

Excellent book, but very faint print. Printed by Amazon.

Very insightful and thought provoking

This book is fierce! One of those books you take with you to that Island of little belongings.