Summery Of Forty Rules Of Love By Elif Shafak

  

As i mentioned in few previous posts that i am not a smart buyer of books specially when i have to choose among random piles (not totally random actually but not well organized) .When i have to choose many while keeping in mind that it is a rare opportunity (once in a year) to buy books because our small city has no book shop which has collection of international books though Sukkur (25 km)  has few but due to be much crowded it seems impossible to stay in shop for long . The books i had bought during our December trip to Karachi were mixture of fiction and scientific research work by different authors .Among which i found one  beautiful novel two weeks ago.

 " Forty Rules of love " by Turkish best seller writer Elif Shafak . It is an enchanting book written skillfully about love in the light of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz .

Sharing Summery below taken from here

Love is the most important theme in the novel and it appears in

many forms, each bleeding into the next. The first and most fundamental love in the narrative is self-love and, in that way, self-acceptance; this is most clearly demonstrated through the way that Ella moves about the world. Downtrodden and unhappy in her daily life and in her marriage, Ella seems to be at the whims of her family and does not appear to do anything for herself. Because she does not appreciate herself and her uniqueness, and because she blames things like her husband’s string of affairs on herself, Ella is unable to appreciate those things that make her desirable until she explores the Sufi teachings she learns about in Sweet Blasphemy.

By making herself receptive to the type of love she encounters in the novel, Ella allow goes through a powerful transformation. She eventually learns to love herself, and in doing so, extends this love outside of herself. She in turn accepts her daughter’s engagement instead of viewing it as a failed attempt at love, she values herself more and ends her toxic marriage, and she falls in love with Aziz, the author of Sweet Blasphemy.

When i started this i was specially consumed by it's divinity and depth used through the phrases of Rumi and Shams of Tabriz .I have not read any book about two of these enlightening Sufis until now but after reading this i think i will try to find some nice books on their philosophy.

In this book Narration type is "self" and each character comes and speaks his mind ,which makes it easy to grasp. The definition of forty rules of love seem best explanation of what is love all about actually .Author shares the seven states of transformation of our ego go through and we attain pure self a altered higher level of consciousness which encounter with ultimate reality and Oneness. But because the path is hardest only few mange to achieve in a century.

I think this is worth reading for those who believe or want to believe in love !

Insisting On Denial

 This sounds weird when people say there is no creator who has created this world.

Or when they take life granted and complain about everything as if It  was on Creator to after creating all they have already he also should provide them on daily bases with every single thing they need.

This seems extremely ignorant and  ungrateful attitude actually by people who expect "thanks" for even a glass of water they offer to anyone . 

This is disappointing and sad mindset of people who accept and pay "tax" happily  (or unhappily) to governments who assure them security and allow to use their land for living . they pay tax on every single thing they buy with their hard earned money even.

I wonder if we are such naïve or blind or we pretend to be so ?

We find through science and religion how everything has appeared in universe to serve certain reason and all reasons lead to serve "humans" eventually .

We Have discovered the law of Nature that reveal how we are trapped in highly sensitive "surveillance system" (fields of forces) that is bound to shape us according to what we "actually intend"

What else we need to prove that there is a higher Power who is responsible for everything .

To keep diversity in the scenario we are programed with different thought systems" 

But it does not mean that we are vulnerable to them and forced to live by them forever .But we  are allowed to upgrade our understanding by using most important instincts .

To top of everything we have "freedom of choice" and will power to choose way and sustain decisions .

To be aware about to "do" and don't" we are equipped with specific alarming system called "conscience" or consciousness .

To be harmless for co existents we are also given "imagination " which not only help us to improve but help us to feel in others shoes as well.

By following all mentioned above we are allowed to "remove " lenses of different illusions gradually. With each removal we get the clearer view of reality which is uplifting and encouraging for those who remain "fair"

While looking at such finely tuned world full of  various species and special specie like us the humans when someone says it is all random and just exists ,i feel it is a lazy effort to avoid reality which is surrounding us from all possible sides like sand storm but we insist to deny by  keeping our head under ground .

Or we do it to avoid responsibility that come with acknowledgement.

Accepting that there is some kind of higher force executing this world can spoil our "fun time" and we will have to be careful ,organized in thoughts and actions and sensible in behaviors to avoid the resentment of that higher power. So it feels easy to keep denying and having fun wildly. 

How can we expect that One who has created this game of life and has facilitated us with everything to play it fairly we had and will be needing in far future  won't demand something in return ?

If we can be demanding after giving a little support if not much gratitude at least Why he can't demand from us the same ?

We ply games which have rules .Why can't he set the rules for us as well ? 

Isn't it possible that like being careless while playing drop us from level and take away rank ,and make us loose .He can does same to us in the game of life?

And though we realize or not because we are sent here with dual life physical and soul one the loss can be shown on any side .

All we need an observant eye to see carefully .

When no victory is earned here "easily" how can we expect that showing dullness here can make us pay ?

Thanks for bearing with me dear people!

hope i did not bore you as it was from heart totally spontaneous .

God bless you All!

 

Reasoning The Desperation In Everything (My poem )

 sometimes i feel like a ray of light 

Departing from the sun so bright 

To celebrate epitome of my birth 

I travel  down to the earth 

Gentle walk not haphazard race

Each moment i relish my pace 

Enthralled with encountered delight 

Embracing manifoldness of life 

I landed on lush serene hill 

Which was flirting with wind so chill 

She was high but felt bit low 

I asked her  why so ?

Said she has so much to miss 

Look at water below what a bliss

I am laying like lazy cow 

Stuck here  with nowhere to go 

Envy voyage  that stream can make 

For her ,all rules are break 

She looks happy and free all time 

Journeying  merrily singing  joyous rhyme

Lament of hill made me sad 

But i continued my blazing parade 

Next time i stopped on tree 

How fulfilled and rich he feel 

Youthful branches dancing with joy 

 Birds nestles  full of chirps and cry 

Laughing leaves on Jokes of breeze 

Made me nervous though buzz of bees 

Where is worry when glee is Lot 

Proved me wrong when Tree open his heart

Pity me that i live such a life 

Lost and robbed like a naïve

Standing tall like a fool 

Stupid those who think me "cool"

 Every one only "takes" from me 

Such a fool do i have to be ?

This state i cannot cross 

want to quit the business of loss

Can't i  fly away like a bird ?

Once to be "self centered "

Or like air freely roam 

Here and there roar and groan 

I  was shocked to listen his tale 

To find "good" can one be as fail ?

In my chest felt something to burn

Broken heart  i took my turn 

Slipped into the heart of stream 

Who transited me into soothing beam 

Stunned by stream's healing force 

Felt content with her Strength Gross 

But my credence went in vain 

When stream started complain 

I am tired of journey so long 

Always on toes is very wrong 

I want to stop ,i want to rest 

On solid ground a cozy nest 

Why do i have to drill 

World around when is still 

On her such ignorant cry 

I got out and said goodbye 

While pondering things absurd 

I encountered flying bird 

Gliding up and down in air 

He must have found life bit fair 

Sometime on ground ,sometimes on sky

What a liberty has this this guy 

You must see how when he whine 

Ungratefulness crossed all lines 

Do you know how much i am board

Spending my life on a bare sword 

Always on the state of war 

Looking for food near or far 

At the risk of predator and storm 

What is the glamor and where is Norm ? 

Before burying  under this tower 

I float away and stopped by flower 

Overflowing  delight and bling 

Looking at it makes each heart sing

Jewel of body and  joy of soul 

Who deny divinity as whole 

Everyone knows with life so short 

Flower brings happiness to lot !

With such a valid life 

He should feel peace and pride 

So bad he wasn't exception 

Like under curse or excursion

Do not go on looks so pretty 

life of mine is feeble and tricky 

I stay under scorching sun 

With complain nil and none

Gust of wind can end the play 

Drops of rain can wither away 

While you travel up so high 

Birds and pests make me cry 

Fear of fading occupies 

What is point of such short life ?

Wounded soul and burdened heart 

I rolled up myself a lot 

Then i turned a little and bend 

To the "consciousness" my friend

She knew already my pain 

about my queries  and complains 

While sitting her throne divine and high 

She began with enlightening smile 

All the people you just met 

Found them whining and regret 

All of them and all others here 

Made up of frailty and dare 

One's weakness is other's vigor 

This is how system works here

The "destress" you find in all 

 Is the only tool to crawl 

Crawl towards the better place 

Choose between trivial or grace

And if  used in right range

Such desperation works for "change"

"Constant Change" is aim life 

So we can move to better and bright

There is nothing to surprise or blame 

If you ponder life is "game" 

Whether predator or prey 

Everyone has part to play

Only way to win this fight  

Be aware  and use your "light"

See carefully what lies before

Sea ahead or is shore

Do not jump with urge so blind 

Or you will lost your kind 

Learn every skill to survive 

But you need to tame your "drive" 

Try to do  in harmless way 

Unless you are pushed to attack 

 

Political Disturbance ,Internet Down And Another Love Story

Hey Sweat Hearts !

Hope and pray that all is well at your end and whatever is still resolvable  is not beyond your wisdom and skills to overcome it!

Due to current political disturbance sims and internet system was down throughout the country .Little of it has been restored but YouTube ,Facebook and twitter are still absent completely which brings great loss for users and sites as well .

 Extremely summer has took over our part of land specially this southern Pakistan and our small city near desert Nara is heating up under scorching sun ,yes the same old friendly sun who used to smile on us everyday looks upset now :( i still love him though .

After restoration of internet we watched Mrs Chatterjee vs norway on Netflix  based on True Story  of an Indian girl who suffered as mother because of unjust and painful circumstances she was put in by a child welfare center of Norway claiming that her parental attitude was threat to her children . I loved the well made movie thoroughly . Rani Mukherjee's acting is heartfelt since always and this film was not an exception too. I found this one another Love story .Lovestory of a mother who fought for her children till the end.

Another point that this inspiring story rise in my mind is that how important for us the humans is to "enlighten" our minds like sun who's light spreads all around unlike a Torch who's light is focused on one point only and everything else is in the darkness . We should keep in mind that things that exist outside of the spot light of our  torch or fixed "mindset "  don not disappear because we can't see them but they are still there with all their value and demand attention when encounter eventually.

The wisdom of Creator is divine and flawless. Love is his most powerful ingredient used in each creation . He gives a child a perfect family to love , nurture and protect .This stands as first love story on earth and all other love stories spring further after this one . This short life is less to pay thanks for His kindness he bestowed upon His man .I wish each of us has habit to ponder and count blessings he has been enjoying throughout life .Rest ahead will be good automatically because we disrupt the mechanism of life first when we Stop to be Grateful and rest ahead gets complicated .

One thing which i loved about this movie that it has a scene of famous Northern Lights which was filmed beautifully and i loved it so much as it was first time i could see it as nicely :)

health ,peace and happiness to all of you precious people !  

Will Love Stories Survive in future ?

Last night we watched a latest Bollywood movie link of trailer .It was basically a romantic comedy with message that a man who does love marriage can still live with family that is too supportive, modern and understanding for it's young generation .It's been while we have watched one like this .Like everything else Indian  cinema is changing quickly .Modern filmmaker are toying with new ideas to attract younger audience with modern mentality . But as far as i see most of the south Asian population still own older mindset .Though young generation is adopting western lifestyle but still there is lot  to change in their eastern romantic perspective .

 Being from here i can sense that main target of the most of the people in society is still to have a family life . Children grow under the influence of parents which is still quite strict except in few lager urban cities. Parents support their children financially until they are settled and emotionally throughout the life. Most of the parents choose life partner for their kids and their influence remains unchallenged upon all family decisions till they live. Youth tries to adjust with this attitude somehow most of the times.

Youth with liberty to choose life partner for themselves get married to whom they fall in love with and live separately. So family ,partner ,marriage and children are the main things around which life circles here mostly until now. I find it fascinating and appropriate way to spend life. I think despite of modern trends wide spread in western world there too are so many people who live such life bound in emotions and relationships and find it fulfilling and meaningful way to live.

Hollywood has created some of the most beautiful love stories no doubt .But  Bollywood has all the spices  that give perfect flavor to their  romantic movies to touch hearts here .And it is because of it's  charming culture they portray on screen and mesmerize with their powerful reflection  of feelings that is blend of east and west both which makes it more appealing for spectator. 

In early movies the idea that dominated most of the films was encounter between rich and poor to which hero and heroin belongs. Hundreds of filmmakers presented it in so many different ways and most of the times it was hit and popular. People are most interested how two people in love go through hardships to unite and live happily eve rafter. Though after 2000 trend slowly changed and films came with different topics many were liked too . But whenever Bollywood tried  hand in love stories with good directors they broke records of all times and ruled on cinema for longest period. They were hit in all other foreign countries as well where big south Asian community live.  Some of the hits are these 

I want to ask what you think friends ?

Do you too at heart like romantic movies most ?

 Why ???

Do you think love stories will survive in future ?

My love for movies and shows even cartoon shows is Grave in which family ,friends ,love and other delicate human emotions are evolved. Though my favor is shifted   towards complex ideas still in corner of my heart longing for a nice  still exist and whenever i find one i run to watch it in first leisure time.

Thank you for bearing with me dear people !

health ,peace and joy to you and to all you love!

The Transformation ( my poem)

 

For ages confined in the "cage of boy" 

I relied on the "food " of timely pleasures so long 

Disillusioned by satisfactions  though "heart" believed were wrong 

I could hear the whisper of my sore soul buried below "illusions"

Inspiring  me to breakthrough idleness and confusion 

Something inside kept part of me on toes 

Knowing though  paths ahead full of thorns then rose 

Heartbroken , exhausted by long innate fight 

I unburdened my soul and ask to take her flight 

I surrendered to my longing for freedom to Higher view of life

With tool of my "desire"  i broke lock of Cage

And let" arise" and settle higher  soul the sage 

Leaving behind all that kept me astray and low 

Unyielding ,bleak "self " and coarse  ego

No more pressures and congestion of fixed existence

 Every dimension is mine now without clue of distance 

Sometimes i feel ,i am melting into silvery smoke 

Disappearing into the vastness of space 

Dissolving into the body of "Oneness" to join the "significant glow"

It is enchanting to break the shell  be "drop" in Divine flow 

Across the set boundaries of  time and matter 

Roaming liberatingly in the veins of endless "Whole" 

I feel serene like a child who eventually got "Home" 

Holding the hand of mother who feels safe and calm

For seeing from the mother's lap everything looks "akin"

The only difference is made by the "body's selfish desire

Once you leave this cage your soul dwell higher 

The height that will turn you into" Water " from fire