Rumi on Change by Love and Reason

Book excerpt: Rumi's teachings have two essential bases, namely, love and reason. In this book these faculties are explored, and used in conjunction with other, more modern psychological techniques, in order to be strengthened and enhanced. With love we can overcome any obstacles, reach any goals and make any great dreams come true. According to Rumi, the faculty of love has special and effective abilities. Love is an alchemy which brings out our positive talents. Loving is an art and a skill which is capable of being taught. Rumi considers reason in the same way as love, to be the faculty by which we progress on the path to perfection. The specific quality of reason is "foresight". This foresight causes happiness. Reason, not only, is capable of detecting the path and removing the obstacles with foresight, but also is a director of our thoughts and emotions, which manages and makes them organised. It is a guide, whose duty is to control the quality and application of thoughts, emotions and regulate acts, accordingly