Interpretation of the Thirty-Second Rule of Love

Rule Number 32 — Nothing should stand between you and God. No imams, priests, rabbis or any other custodians of moral or religious leadership. Not spiritual masters and not even your faith. Believe in your values and your rules, but never lord them over others. If you keep breaking other people’s hearts, whatever religious duty you perform is no good. Stay away from all sorts of idolatry, for they will blur your vision. Let God and only God be your guide. Learn the Truth, my friend, but be careful not to make a fetish out of your truths.

— Shams Tabrizi, to Rumi

Context - This rule can be seen as a continuation of the previous one. After sending Rumi to buy wine, Shams goes a step further and offers him half a glass to drink. Rumi, being a devoted Muslim and a respected Mewlana, holds the glass with trembling hands. Just as he is about to drink, Shams stops him. The test is complete, and Rumi has passed.

It is at this moment that Shams shares this rule, emphasizing that while a path is necessary to reach the Divine, one must not become trapped within the path itself.

Interpretation within the Story - Rumi’s devotion to Islam and his identity as a Mewlana made the act of drinking wine deeply conflicting. Shams wanted to test the depth of Rumi’s surrender. Would he remain bound by conditioning, or would he transcend it in obedience to his master?

This entire situation was a carefully designed test. Through it, Shams illustrates that teachings, morals, and disciplines are essential in the beginning, as they provide structure and direction. However, to truly experience the Divine, one must eventually go beyond all conditioning and encounter Truth directly, without any intermediary.

Deeper Interpretation Beyond the Story - As these rules progress, Shams begins to reveal more advanced spiritual insights.

It is important to understand that this rule applies to individuals like Rumi and Shams, who had already spent decades strictly following the disciplines of their respective paths. For them, these practices had become second nature, and the next step was to transcend them.

This teaching should not be misunderstood or applied blindly. For someone who has not yet walked the path with sincerity and discipline, this rule can be misinterpreted as permission to ignore all structure or tradition. That is not its intent. Notice that Shams stopped Rumi before he actually drank the wine. The situation was symbolic—a test of readiness, not an encouragement to break religious principles.

In the early stages, discipline, rules, and conditioning are necessary. Even Shams himself followed the rules of the dervish lodge and his teachers without resistance. These structures help build sincerity and commitment on the path.

However, for someone who has matured through years of practice, these same structures can become limitations. At that stage, one must be willing to let go of all conditioning to experience the Divine directly.

Discipline proves your sincerity, but it should not become a barrier. As also pointed out by Osho, a Guru helps you release attachments, yet eventually the Guru himself can become the final attachment. The mind begins to cling even to the teacher. At that point, the Guru becomes the last obstacle to Truth, and one must be ready to let go even of that.

If understood in this light, the rule carries profound depth. But if interpreted superficially, it can become misleading and even harmful.

In essence, this rule is meant for those who have already dedicated years to discipline and inner work. Such a seeker must now be ready to drop all attachments—including those to beliefs, practices, and identities—in order to experience the Divine in its purest form.

For someone who has not yet begun the journey, the first step is still discipline, not transcendence.

Gratitude!!!