Ustadh Feraidoon Mojadedi

Stories to Awaken You!

Stories to Awaken You!

One of the most

fascinating aspects of the Masnavi is the use of symbolism.

Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi had a genius for selecting the perfect object to symbolize
a metaphysical reality. For example, he uses more than thirteen different animals to
symbolize thenafs(lower self or ego) in order for us to understand the various aspects
of thenafsmore comprehensively. Similarly, one important recurring theme of the
Masnavi is the contrast of forms and meanings. Almost in everystory, Rumi keeps
reminding us that forms change and are not permanent; and so we should seek the
inner meanings that are hidden within the forms.
Oh my beloved, astoryis like a bowl,
The meaning of thestoryis like the seeds inside the bowl,
The sagacious one looks for the seeds inside the bowl,
Not concerned with the form of the bowl, if it changes
If we seek beyond the symbolism and forms, it becomes clear that the core teaching
of Rumi is about the self . As the tradition states, one cannot know his Lord if he
does not even know himself. Rumi reminds us about who we truly are. He teaches us
that there is a universe inside each of us, and so we need to travel inward. He says in
the Masnavi, How beautiful and gentle is the inward travel.
Toawakenus to the realities of ourselves, the Masnavi of Rumi teaches us about
death. However, it is not the physical death that he alludes to, but rather the death
of those human qualities which prevent us from seeing, hearing, or feeling the Truth.
Rumi says in theDiwanof Shams:
Go and die before your death,
So you dont suffer from the pangs of death,
Die a death that will illuminate you,
Not a death that will leave you buried in a dark grave.
In this course, students will (inshaAllah) discover forms and meaning, symbolism,
thenafs and its trickery, and the secrets of the remembrance of death.

Stories to Awa ke n Yo u!

Stories to Awa ke n Yo u!

Stories to Awa ke n Yo u!

Stories to Awa ke n Yo u!

Stories to Awa ke n Yo u!

Stories to Awa ke n Yo u!

Stories to Awa ke n Yo u!

Stories to Awa ke n Yo u!

Stories to Awa ke n Yo u!