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In Shake Like A Mad Drum Rumi and Shams told us the story of their friendship. They continue to communicate with us offering words of wisdom and encouragement. Here we share with you new material and important messages from Rumi and Shams channeled by John Windwalker.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

A conversation on Joy between Rumi and Shams

This is a recording of a conversation between the poet Jelalludin Rumi and his friend and teacher Shams of Tabriz, as channeled by spiritual teacher John Windwalker. More of these conversations appear in the book "Shake Like A Mad Drum: The Eternal Friendship of Rumi and Shams" available at Amazon and  at www.RumiShams.com.
To view the video directly on youtube: click here.

Friday, October 16, 2015

When You’ve Had Enough


Shams often admonished Rumi that only when he had had enough of his fearful, manipulative negative ego would his life change for the better, more loving and spiritual. It was this human 'lower self' that obscured Rumi's radiant Soul from guiding Rumi towards a new life of creative expression.

In our book, Shake Like A Mad Drum, Shams demands of Rumi  that he awaken to his great power within. When Rumi resists, beloved Shams is at his spiritually powerful best. Shams holds a place for Rumi's self-realization by never acquiescing, giving in or settling for any result other than victory.  And beloved Shams succeeded because he never gave up.

This is something that we must do for our self, we must be our own Shams of Tabriz and free our soul from the prison of our fears.  Your soul will thank you, as Rumi's soul eternally thanks Shams.  

The following is an excerpt from Shake Like A Mad Drum.  Here Rumi expresses in poetry the moment when he’d had enough, and his soul’s response:

Many a tear fell.
If they were coins of gold could I afford a palace and a host of servants.
It is when I reached the farthest edge of despondency that my soul said,
Enough is enough.  Jump if you must, but you will not fall.
Look around you.  There is the invisible silence
And the blue nothing, and the apparent space,
And there is us, your truth and your lie.
I cannot allow you to dictate to me an illusion that bores me.
There are better things and I was meant for the greatness of love
Not the mediocrity nor sadness nor ache leaving one behind.
It is time to stand with me.
It is time to be great, to love our way into heaven on earth.  Or else.
-Rumi

John Windwalker

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Shams said to me, “What is the difference between hot and cold?”



Shams said to me, “What is the difference between hot and cold?”

I asked him if he was serious and he said, “Yes, I am, Rumi.”

And I said, “Shams, you know the difference between hot and cold.  What do you think it is?”

“I don’t think, Rumi.  I know what it is.  It’s how I feel about it.”

“Shams you could say that to almost any—“

“Yes you can!  You certainly can.  And you know what, Rumi? ”

“Know what, Shams?”

“You should practice that.  You should practice the understanding that life is hot or cold or tepid or medium, or large or small, according to how you believe!  You ask me what is hot and cold.  It’s different from your hot and cold.”

“But we’re the same!  Everybody’s the same!”

“You just have to realize that it all comes from a condition.  You.”

“What do you mean, Shams, a condition?”

“You fill yourself—or did—with books about holiness.”

“That matters to me, Shams.”

“I didn’t ask, Rumi, if it mattered to you.  I said that’s what you do.  I don’t read books.  I fill myself with entirety.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means everything, Rumi!  Because I don’t want to be limited, especially by somebody else’s idea of what my life should be!”

“Are you implying—“

“Yes, I am.  I’m not just implying it, I’m daring you.”

“So, who... who is it that made my—“

“Whoever you gave permission to make your life the way that you believe you’re living your life.”

“I need to think about that.”

“That’s a good answer, Rumi.  The world needs to think about it.  the world needs to realize that the world is the world that it is because people think it is, or they agree with it, that’s the way it is.  It is not.  Everybody has an idea of what life is.  And then everybody knows what life is, Rumi.  And when you know, you know it’s not what you think you know.  But how do you get there from here?”

“I have a feeling you’re going to tell me, Shams.”

“No, I’m not!  It’s not about being told how to do something because then you believe me!  And you’re right back where you started from.”

“Well, how, how does that happen?”

“It happens because you are fortunate and someone brings it up to you, and then you think about it, and you make a decision:  Does this feel right, or is it crazy?  I’m told all the time that I’m crazy.”

“But, Shams, it does feel true.  You don’t see life like anybody sees life.”

“Well, thank you!  I don’t entrap myself.  I don’t limit myself.  That’s why I own nothing, and I’m a part of everything.  You see?  And that’s why I can love you so unconditionally and deeply as I do, and that’s why I’m never going to stop.”
--Jelaluddin Rumi

And I didn’t.  I never stopped.  It’s something that’s not—what’s the proper nomenclature—it’s not an option.  It wasn’t an option for me, because you’re dealing with an ego personality, an ego false self.  You’re dealing with something that isn’t real, but somebody believes that it is real.  Everybody does.  And I tried to take their hand, and I tried to lead them inside:  Look what’s here!  And they ran away!  Or they clawed at me, or they spit at me or they punched me.  All because I remembered something that they forgot.
-Shams of Tabriz

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Download a Free Copy of Shake Like A Mad Drum

Download A Free Kindle Copy September 10-14, 2015

 Shake Like A Mad Drum

Shake Like A Mad Drum: The Eternal Friendship of Rumi and Shams

 Jelaluddin Rumi is the best-selling poet in the world today, and his works are more relevant now than in the 13th Century when he wrote them.  His greatest inspiration was a vagabond named Shams of Tabriz, of which little is known, until now.

In Shake Like a Mad Drum, Shams of Tabriz speaks about his life, his adventures, and how meeting Rumi changed both of their lives.  Rumi tells us how his friendship with Shams jeopardized his reputation as a great scholar and also forced him to rethink his core beliefs.  It was Shams who led Rumi to seek God beyond books and dogma, and discover God within himself.  In their friendship, they found a new way of looking at life and at themselves.  Now they share these experiences that we may expand our perspective of God, and in so doing, discover a life of joyful adventure.  

This book is a channeled work by spiritual teacher John Windwalker, and his student Jamila Hammad, who served as scribe. For more information visit us at www.RumiShams.com.

Shake Like A Mad Drum: The Eternal Friendship of Rumi and Shams is available at Amazon.com. Download A Free Kindle Copy September 10-14, 2015

Sunday, August 9, 2015

I dreamt on the evening last a meeting with the greatest of souls



I dreamt on the evening last a meeting with the greatest of souls.
I wore my humbleness like some tattered robe and yet the welcome was so great I could not see for the light that blinded my old weary eyes.
I called out to the darkness that was sunlight: “Beloved is that you?”
“I have always been your beloved,” came the reply. “Perhaps not the beloved you expected.”
“Then who are you?”
“Open your eyes.”
“You are the living legend. I know of you.”
“Living, yes.  I have no need for legends.”
“This is a dream.”
“Is it?”
“I am dreaming. I thought I was dreaming of my beloved.”
“Here I am.”
“But you are the greatest of the great.”
“Is not your beloved?”
“Oh yes, but he wears a different face.”
“Oh, it is the face that is important?”
“No, not just the face.”
“The clothes then?”
 “No.”
 “Then what is important my child?”
“It is that we have history. We have a deep abiding love.”
 “And we have none?”
“None that I can recall.”
“Have you seen your mother and father lately?”
 “I have not. They died many years ago.”
 “Mine have never died.”
“Is that so?”
 “Yes. They are the same parents that bore you.”
 “Oh, then you are my brother?”
 “In a sense.”
 “Then brother can you tell me where my beloved resides?”
 “You know the answer to that, Rumi. Forever in your heart”

-Jelaluddin Rumi