📃Niklas Luhmann, a German sociologist, wrote over 70 books using the Zettelkasten method. This system helped him connect ideas, recall information easily, and develop deep, structured arguments. 🖇Zettelkasten means “slip box” in German. Luhmann used paper slips in physical boxes, but today, digital tools like Obsidian, Roam, or Logseq make it even easier. If you're curious how to think better and learn deeper, Zettelkasten is a great place to begin.

Why Niklas Luhmann Created Zettelkasten

📑Zettelkasten isn’t just a note-taking method — it’s a system for thinking clearly and creatively. Unlike traditional notes that are forgotten, it builds a living web of ideas that grow with you. 📜By connecting notes, you boost recall and deepen understanding. The more links you create, the more cues your brain has to trigger insights. Instead of learning in isolation, Zettelkasten helps you connect new ideas to what you already know — turning passive notes into active, creative thinking.

How Zettelkasten Improves Knowledge Management

1. Fleeting Notes : 🛁Some ideas arrive unexpectedly — in the shower, on a walk, or just before sleep. Fleeting notes help you capture these thoughts before they disappear. They don’t need to be perfect. Just write them down quickly, like whispering to your future self. 📚When consuming new information — a book, podcast, or article — skip passive highlighting. Instead, write down one idea per note, in your own words, and always include the source. These notes aren’t just for storage — they’re the first step toward deeper understanding.

The 3 Types of Notes in Zettelkasten

2. Literature Notes : 👩‍🏫Once a fleeting note feels worth exploring, return to the original source and dive deeper. This is where literature notes begin — focused on active understanding of one idea at a time, in your own words. 🌿Use techniques like Feynman’s method or mind maps to break down and teach the concept to yourself. Don’t copy like a parrot — true learning happens when you reshape knowledge with your own voice. These notes turn passive input into lasting insight.

3. Permanent Notes :📖After learning from your fleeting and literature notes, it’s time to connect new ideas to what you already know. The goal isn’t to collect as many notes as possible — it’s to add value to your thinking. 🌱Ask yourself:• How does this fit with what I already know?• Can this idea explain something else?• How can I use this to explain X? 📎Permanent notes are all about connection. In school, we memorized facts in isolation — and forgot most of them. Our brain discards what it can’t connect. Zettelkasten helps you weave a web of ideas your mind will remember and use.

❤The true power of Zettelkasten lies in linking notes. When you connect a new idea to something you already understand, both ideas become stronger — and new insights begin to emerge. ⚡These links follow your personal way of thinking. That’s what makes Zettelkasten unique. Like neurons in the brain: what fires together, wires together. Over time, your knowledge becomes a living system, built on connection — not just collection.

Linking Notes: The Heart of Zettelkasten

🔑Keywords (or tags) are like signposts in your Zettelkasten. Adding them to your permanent notes helps you instantly recognize what the note is about. A good keyword captures the essence of an idea in one or two words. 🔏Over time, tags reveal patterns in your thinking. You’ll see which topics you revisit most and how your interests evolve. They're not just labels — they’re mirrors reflecting what matters most to you. 🗓By tagging consistently, you turn your Zettelkasten into a searchable, self-organizing system that grows smarter with every note.

Keywords Are Your Tags

📦Niklas Luhmann used two main boxes: a reference box and a main box. The reference box held fleeting and literature notes — quick thoughts, highlights, and summaries. The main box stored permanent notes with their links and keywords. 📑Today, we don’t need physical space or stacks of paper. Digital tools like Obsidian make it easier and eco-friendly. Fleeting and literature notes are random and don’t require deep organization, so you can jot them on paper. But permanent notes deserve structure — and I’ll show you how I organize mine in the next part.

How to Organize Your Kasten

1. Fleeting NotesI take fleeting notes on scrap paper and store them in a folder. By using numbers, I can write each note briefly along with its reference — this way, one piece of paper can hold more than ten fleeting notes.

🧠 How I Build My Zettelkasten

🧑‍🏫2. Literature NotesWhenever I choose, I review my fleeting notes and select one that interests me. I then go back to its reference to learn more deeply. I use a notebook for these literature notes and spend more time here to fully understand the material.The fundamental rule of this step is:“If you want to understand something well, explain it.”And:“If you can't explain it simply, then you don't understand it well enough.”

📒3. Permanent NotesI use Obsidian to store my main notes. They’re organized alphabetically, and each note is labeled with a code like Z-1-z, where the first 'Z' refers to the topic's first letter and the rest are for branching and connection. I also maintain an alphabetical index for quick reference.The structure of each permanent note includes: Title:– Tags:– Links: (integrated within the note)– Reference:

📘 For a deeper understanding of how to build your own Zettelkasten, you can also read “How to Take Smart Notes” by Sönke Ahrens. It offers practical insights and detailed guidance on mastering this method.

“If you're a lifelong learner, the Zettelkasten method should be a core pillar of your learning — it gives you a powerful system for managing knowledge, like building a second brain you can rely on.”

productivity

Productivity

writing

Reading & Writing

education

Learning & Education

problemsolving

Problem Solving

creativity

Creativity

Zettelkasten: The Note-Taking System That Thinks With You

We have strong evidence today that studying a foreign language has a ripple effect, helping to improve student performance in other subjects.

🪧Learning a new language strengthens the brain. Studies show that bilingual people have better cognitive abilities and a lower risk of Alzheimer’s than monolinguals. But these are general benefits. 🎯To stay committed, you need a personal reason — something that speaks to you. Ask yourself: What would I love to do if I spoke this language?Then ask: How long am I willing to focus on it? 📖For example, I want to learn English in six months so I can read Harry Potter in its original language. This kind of clear, personal goal keeps motivation alive — especially when you feel like giving up.

Why Learn a New Language?

“You live a new life for every language you speak. If you know only one language, you live only once.”

👶Babies don’t start with grammar — they mimic sounds, form words, and slowly absorb patterns through trial and error. Despite mistakes, they enjoy learning because it helps them connect. 💭Their subconscious naturally organizes words into categories — like people, objects, or actions. Unlike adults, they don’t cram vocabulary without structure. 💬Learning words without context is like mixing all grains in one bowl — it becomes hard to find what you need later.

How Babies Learn Language Effortlessly

“To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.”

🕵Mehmet Kuşman, an ordinary Turkish man, cracked the code of Urartian — a dead language that even experts struggled to solve. Driven by pure curiosity, he taught himself by traveling illegally to Iran, Armenia, and Syria to collect knowledge. 🔠He started by identifying the alphabet, then compared similar words across languages. Like a detective, he slowly pieced it all together. 🏛If one man can decode an ancient language, imagine what you can do with access to modern tools. All it takes is curiosity and a strong reason.

A Man Who Solved an Ancient Language Experts Couldn't

“The limits of my languages means the limits of my world.”

According to the 80/20 rule, 20% of what you learn gives you 80% of the results. In language learning, that vital 20% is vocabulary. Grammar and other elements matter, but words are what actually let you understand and communicate. 🤍As a multilingual learner, I focus on vocabulary first. I collect words from whatever material I'm using — like a movie — and organize them into a personal dictionary. Then I study grammar within that context. You can use Obsidian for organizing words and Anki for spaced repetition flashcards. Learn smart , not by memorizing , but by focusing on what really matters.

The 80/20 Language Rule: Learn the Words That Matter

“Language is to the mind more than light is to the eye.”

Here are key tips to boost your language learning journey: 1. Find Your PurposeA clear goal lights the path. Write your reason boldly on the first page of your notebook — it keeps you going when motivation fades. 2. Learn Vocabulary FirstWords are like puzzle pieces. The more you collect — and the better you organize them — the faster you’ll see the big picture. 3. Practice DailyImmerse yourself in the language. Read, listen, write, and speak a little every day. Like muscles, language grows with use.

Language Learning Hacks

4. Speak It!Speaking activates real learning. Your brain starts to think in the new language when you express ideas out loud. 5. Make MistakesMistakes are signs of growth. Treat them as challenges, not failures. Each one brings you closer to fluency.

❌One flaw of modern education is how it punishes failure. We're taught to fear mistakes — and people often mock accents or slip-ups, making us hide instead of grow. 🔭But even great inventors made countless mistakes. It's part of learning — and part of being human. Speak your target language boldly, like you're wearing clown clothes. Let people laugh if they must — then ask them to correct you. Having an accent isn’t shameful — it’s a badge of courage. Most who mock others speak only one language. You stepped outside your comfort zone to understand another world. That’s something to be proud of.

Mistakes: Your Path to Fluency

1. Concrete Nouns (C.)﻿C1. Living ThingsC1a. Humans — doctor, babyC1b. Animals — eagleC1c. Plants — bamboo C2. PlacesC2a. Natural Places — oceanC2b. Man-Made Places — hospitalC2c. Geographical Locations — Asia, Mount Fuji C3. Objects / ThingsC3a. Tools & Equipment — knifeC3b. Furniture — shelfC3c. Household Items — spoon, lampC3d. Technology — laptopC3e. Clothing — jacketC3f. Vehicles — truck C4. Food & DrinkC4a. Fruits — mango,C4b. Vegetables — spinachC4c. Dishes — pastaC4d. Drinks — tea C5. Body & HealthC5a. Body Parts — hand, faceC5b. Organs — brain, lungsC5c. Illnesses & Symptoms — fever, pain

📚 Example: Organized Nouns (N.)

2. Abstract Nouns (A.) A1. Emotions & Feelings — love, joyA2. States & Conditions — health, peaceA3. Qualities & Characteristics — honesty, kindnessA4. Time Concepts — hour, eternityA5. Ideas & Beliefs — justice, religionA6. Academic Fields — physics, mathA7. Events — war, weddingA8. Social Concepts — culture, friendship --- 🧠 This is just an example — feel free to adjust or expand it based on your learning needs. The goal is to sort vocabulary in a way that your brain can easily retrieve and connect them later.

"A language is not just words. It's a culture, a tradition, a unification of a community, a whole history that creates what a community is. It's all embodied in a language."

Many people spend years studying a language yet still struggle to express themselves when visiting a country where it’s spoken. Why? Because they’ve only learned it passively. Language learning has two levels:1. Passive Learning — gaining knowledge through input (listening & reading), often through courses. 2. Active Learning — using the language through output (speaking & writing), where real fluency develops.

Conclusion: The Two Levels of Language

Courses alone aren’t enough. If you can’t have a conversation, do business, or even gossip in your target language, you haven’t truly learned it. You can read all the books about how to ride a bike — but unless you actually ride one, you won’t know what it feels like. And when you do try, you’ll probably fall at first — just like you will with language. That’s not failure — it’s learning.

"The journey of a thousand steps in learning a language begins with a single step. Let’s begin our journey by exploring how to learn a language."

communication

Communication

Decoding How to Learn any Language

"When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because the didn't really do it, they just saw something. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things . And the reason they were able to do that was that they've had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people."

Our thoughts shape our actions. When we organize our thinking, our actions become clearer, more intentional — and our chances of success increase. A mind map is a powerful tool to organize the many pieces of your life. It’s a visual diagram that lays out ideas in a hierarchical, yet flexible, non-linear way. In a chaotic world, a mind map helps you stay organized. It allows you to rise above the noise and see the road ahead — like viewing a jungle of information from a bird’s-eye perspective.

Mind Map: See the Bigger Picture

💡 Central Idea — the core focus or goal you’re working toward🌿 Main Topics — key pillars that support your central idea🍃 Subtopics — detailed points or tasks branching off each main topic🕸 Connections — links between ideas that reveal hidden patterns. Write connections in another color to see them more clearly; this way, you’ll better understand both the structure and the relationships between your ideas. Think of a mind map like a spider web in nature. When you weave your own web with care, you create a strong structure to catch opportunities and navigate your way to success.

How to Structure a Mind Map

First, organize your goals in a structured way:✨ Dream List — Write down lifetime goals.🎯 Yearly Goals — Identify what you want to achieve this year, based on priorities.🗓 Monthly Goals — Break into monthly plans, then split into two-week chunks. Reflect and adjust every two weeks.📝 Daily To-Do List Each morning, map out tasks . Estimate how many hours each will take and prioritize. At day’s end, reflect on what happened and note mistakes to improve next time. By following this, you’ll stay clear on where you are and where you’re headed. Roll tasks into the next day— no guilt, just progress.

Organize Your Plans

Imagine an engineer who draws the world’s best architectural design, then just sits, waiting for the universe to bring it to life. Over time, the blueprint fades and is lost.Planning without action is just dreaming. Without execution, even the most beautiful plan will disappear, swept away by the river of time.

A Plan Without Action Is Worthless

In today’s world, everyone chases maximum productivity — but that mindset can burn you out emotionally. Remember to find balance:📑 Schedule workdays, but also rest between tasks.🏝 Take at least one rest day each week.☕ On rest days, allow yourself to work less or simply recharge. Life is too short to carry every workload. Plan wisely, knowing when to push and when to pause.

The Balance of Work

🌊 Our emotions are chaotic and interconnected, like the waves of an ocean. Instead of drowning in the flood, you can swim through by mapping your emotions in mind maps.⛈ We often say things we regret because we can’t organize how we feel. Try not to break others’ hearts in moments of anger. Sometimes, when I can’t find paper, I write my emotions on the wall with my finger — after all, walls and paper don’t have hearts to break.

Organize Your Emotions

🐺 When facing tough decisions, imagine two wolves inside you: the Black Wolf (negative emotions like fear, anger, doubt) and the White Wolf (positive emotions like hope, patience, confidence). 🎭 Write each on a page, list your feelings under each, and then connect them. This helps you balance both sides, see your emotions clearly, and make thoughtful, rational choices — without letting one side overpower the other.

The Fight of the White and Black Wolf

It’s not our traumas or bad experiences that break us — it’s the beliefs we build from them. Inside our mind, we build a map that shapes our character. 📃 On one page, write a meditation idea — organize your thoughts, actions, beliefs, and habits around it.✒ Then, make reflection notes: challenge where you might be wrong and replace faulty beliefs with rational thoughts. Remember: there’s a strong inner advocate defending your negative beliefs. When you think you’re a loser , your mind searches the world for “proof.” Be your own counter-advocate — stand up and show why that reasoning is flawed.

Organize Your Character

"Order and simplification are the first steps toward mastery of a subject."

The information we handle is often chaotic and unordered. Creating mind maps — instead of taking notes like a human copy machine — gives us space to see connections. Take reading a book, for example:🗒 Instead of writing a passive summary, draw a mind map from the book’s content, noting the main ideas in each chapter.📚 This gives you a map of the book, helping you see how its ideas connect.🔎 Add your questions inside the map in a different color, so you can look for answers when you revisit the book.

Organize New Information in Your Mind

"Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."

🌬 Instead of blaming others for stealing your time, focus on what you can do — and act on it. This gives you control over your life and builds confidence with each step. Don’t let what’s beyond your control overshadow what is within your hands. 🦥 Procrastination only breeds guilt, anxiety, and low confidence. Taking action, even if you make mistakes, is far better than staying stuck in your comfort zone.

What You Can Do in a Messy World

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.

🍎 Imagine a boy trying to grab an apple, his eyes so fixed on it that he keeps falling. Life isn’t just a destination — it’s a journey. Remember to enjoy each moment along the way. 🌄 One habit that changed my year was waking up early to watch the sunrise. It helped me appreciate my own efforts and reminded me that each sunrise is unique — leaving no regrets if today were my last. Small choices and habits can make radical, meaningful change. Thus, the quality of your life is shaped by your little daily choices — make sure to choose wisely to build a path toward a successful life for yourself.

Experiencing the Story Called Life

"Spiderweb and Mind Map Techniques for Generating Ideas and Organizing Your Life"

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

habits

Habits

timemanagement

Time Management

How to Organize Your Life in a Chaotic World

Rule 21"When a true lover of God goes into a tavern, the tavern becomes his chamber of prayer, but when a wine bibber goes into the same chamber, it becomes his tavern. In everything we do, it is our hearts that make the difference, not our outer appearance. Sufis do not judge other people on how they look or who they are. When a Sufi stares at someone, he keeps both eyes closed instead opens a third eye – the eye that sees the inner realm."

Rule 22"Life is a temporary loan and this world is nothing but a sketchy imitation of Reality. Only children would mistake a toy for the real thing. And yet human beings either become infatuated with the toy or disrespectfully break it and throw it aside. In this life stay away from all kinds of extremities, for they will destroy your inner balance. Sufis do not go to extremes. A Sufi always remains mild and moderate."

Rule 23"The human being has a unique place among God’s creation. “I breathed into him of My Spirit,” God says. Each and every one of us without exception is designed to be God’s delegate on earth. Ask yourself, just how often do you behave like a delegate, if you ever do so? Remember, it fells upon each of us to discover the divine spirit inside and live by it."

Rule 24"Hell is in the here and now. So is heaven. Quit worrying about hell or dreaming about heaven, as they are both present inside this very moment. Every time we fall in love, we ascend to heaven. Every time we hate, envy or fight someone we tumble straight into the fires of hell."

Rule 25"Each and every reader comprehends the Holy Qur’an on a different level of tandem with the depth of his understanding. There are four levels of insight. The first level is the outer meaning and it is the one that the majority of the people are content with. Next is the Batin – the inner level. Third, there is the inner of the internal. And the fourth level is so deep it cannot be put into words and is therefore bound to remain indescribable."

Rule 26"The universe is one being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of stories. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all in a silent conversation. Do no harm. Practice compassion. And do not gossip behind anyone’s back – not even a seemingly innocent remark! The words that come out of our mouths do not vanish but are perpetually stored in infinite space and they will come back to us in due time. One man’s pain will hurt us all. One man’s joy will make everyone smile."

Rule 27"Whatever you speak, good or evil, will somehow come back to you. Therefore, if there is someone who harbours ill thoughts about you, saying similarly bad things about him will only make matters worse. You will be locked in a vicious circle of malevolent energy. Instead for forty days and nights say and think nice things about that person. Everything will be different at the end of 40 days, because you will be different inside."

Rule 28"The past is an interpretation. The future is an illusion. The world does not move through time as if it were a straight line, proceeding from the past to the future. Instead time moves through and within us, in endless spirals. Eternity does not mean infinite time, but simply timelessness. If you want to experience eternal illumination, put the past and the future out of your mind and remain within the present moment."

Rule 29""Destiny doesn’t mean that your life has been strictly predetermined. Therefore, to live everything to the fate and to not actively contribute to the music of the universe is a sign of sheer ignorance. The music of the universe is all pervading and it is composed on 40 different levels. Your destiny is the level where you play your tune. You might not change your instrument but how well to play is entirely in your hands."

Rule 30"The true Sufi is such that even when he is unjustly accused, attacked and condemned from all sides, he patiently endures, uttering not a single bad word about any of his critics. A Sufi never apportions blame. How can there be opponents or rivals or even “others” when there is no “self” in the first place? How can there be anyone to blame when there is only One?"

Rule 31"If you want to strengthen your faith, you will need to soften inside. For your faith to be rock solid, your heart needs to be as soft as a feather. Through an illness, accident, loss or fright, one way or another, we are all faced with incidents that teach us how to become less selfish and judgmental and more compassionate and generous. Yet some of us learn the lesson and manage to become milder, while some others end up becoming even harsher than before…"

Rule 32"Nothing should stand between you and God. No imams, priests, rabbits 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."

Rule 33"While everyone in this world strives to get somewhere and become someone, only to leave it all behind after death, you aim for the supreme stage of nothingness. Live this life as light and empty as the number zero. We are no different from a pot. It is not the decorations outside but the emptiness inside that holds us straight. Just like that, it is not what we aspire to achieve but the consciousness of nothingness that keeps us going."

Rule 34"Submission does not mean being weak or passive. It leads to neither fatalism nor capitulation. Just the opposite. True power resides in submission a power that comes within. Those who submit to the divine essence of life will live in unperturbed tranquility and peace even the whole wide world goes through turbulence after turbulence."

Rule 35"In this world, it is not similarities or regularities that take us a step forward, but blunt opposites. And all the opposites in the universe are present within each and every one of us. Therefore the believer needs to meet the unbeliever residing within. And the nonbeliever should get to know the silent faithful in him. Until the day one reaches the stage of Al-Insān al- Kamil, the perfect human being, faith is a gradual process and one that necessitates its seeming opposite: disbelief."

Rule 36"This world is erected upon the principle of reciprocity. Neither a drop of kindness nor a speck of evil will remain unreciprocated. For not the plots, deceptions, or tricks of other people. If somebody is setting a trap, remember, so is God. He is the biggest plotter. Not even a leaf stirs outside God’s knowledge. Simply and fully believe in that. Whatever God does, He does it beautifully."

Rule 37"God is a meticulous clock maker. So precise is His order that everything on earth happens in its own time. Neither a minute late nor a minute early. And for everyone without exception, the clock works accurately. For each there is a time to love and a time to die."

Rule 38"It is never too late to ask yourself, “Am I ready to change the life I am living? Am I ready to change within?” Even if a single day in your life is the same as the day before, it surely is a pity. At every moment and with each new breath, one should be renewed and renewed again. There is only one-way to be born into a new life: to die before death."

Rule 39"While the part change, the whole always remains the same. For every thief who departs this world, a new one is born. And every descent person who passes away is replaced by a new one. In this way not only does nothing remain the same but also nothing ever really changes. For every Sufi who dies, another is born somewhere."

Rule 40"A life without love is of no account. Don’t ask yourself what kind of love you should seek, spiritual or material, divine or mundane, Eastern or Western. Divisions only lead to more divisions. Love has no labels, no definitions. It is what it is, pure and simple. Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire! The universe turns differently when fire loves water..."

philosophy

Philosophy

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

mindfulness

Mindfulness

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

Forty Rules of Love of Shams of Tabriz (part 2)

Rule 1"How we see God is a direct reflection of how we see ourselves; we don't see things as they are, we see them as we are If God brings to mind mostly fear and blame, it means there is too much fear and blame welled inside us. If we see God as full of love and compassion, so are we."

Rule 2"The path to the Truth is a labour of the heart, not of the head. Make your heart your primary guide! Not your mind. Meet, challenge and ultimately prevail over your nafs (self, psyche, soul) with your heart. Knowing your false ego will lead you to the knowledge of God."

Rule 3"You can study God through everything and everyone in the universe, because God is not confined in a mosque, synagogue or church. But if you are still in need of knowing where exactly His abode is, there is only one place to look for him: in the heart of a true lover."

Rule 4"Intellect and love are made of different materials. Intellect ties people in knots and risks nothing, but love dissolves all tangles and risks everything. Intellect is always cautious and advises, ‘Beware too much ecstasy’, whereas love says, ‘Oh, never mind! Take the plunge!’ Intellect does not easily break down, whereas love can effortlessly reduce itself to rubble. But treasures are hidden among ruins. A broken heart hides treasures."

Rule 5"Most of problems of the world stem from linguistic mistakes and simple misunderstanding. Don’t ever take words at face value. When you step into the zone of love, language, as we know it becomes obsolete. That which cannot be put into words can only be grasped through silence."

Rule 6"Loneliness and solitude are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the right path. Solitude is better for us, as it means being alone without feeling lonely. But eventually it is the best to find a person who will be your mirror. Remember only in another person’s heart can you truly see yourself and the presence of God within you."

Rule 7"Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighbourhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful! It is easy to be thankful when all is well. A Sufi is thankful not only for what he has been given but also for all that he has been denied."

Rule 8"Patience does not mean to passively endure. It means to look at the end of a process. What does patience mean? It means to look at the thorn and see the rose, to look at the night and see the dawn. Impatience means to be shortsighted as to not be able to see the outcome. The lovers of God never run out of patience, for they know that time is needed for the crescent moon to become full."

Rule 9"East, west, south, or north makes little difference. No matter what your destination, just be sure to make every journey a journey within. If you travel within, you’ll travel the whole wide world and beyond."

Rule 10"The midwife knows that when there is no pain, the way for the baby cannot be opened and the mother cannot give birth. Likewise, for a new self to be born, hardship is necessary. Just as clay needs to go through intense heat to become strong, Love can only be perfected in pain."

Rule 11"The quest for love changes us. There is no seeker among those who search for love who has not matured on the way. The moment you start looking for love, you start to change within and without."

Rule 12﻿"There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe. Don’t confuse power-driven, self-centered people with true mentors. A genuine spiritual master will not direct your attention to himself or herself and will not expect absolute obedience or utter admiration from you, but instead will help you to appreciate and admire your inner self. True mentors are as transparent as glass. They let the light of God pass through them."

Rule 13"Try not to resist the changes, which come your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?"

Rule 14"God is busy with the completion of your work, both outwardly and inwardly. He is fully occupied with you. Every human being is a work in progress that is slowly but inexorably moving toward perfection. We are each an unfinished work of art both waiting and striving to be completed. God deals with each of us separately because humanity is fine art of skilled penmanship where every single dot is equally important for the entire picture."

Rule 15"It’s easy to love a perfect God, unblemished and infallible that He is. What is far more difficult is to love fellow human being with all their imperfections and defects. Remember, one can only know what one is capable of loving. There is no wisdom without love. Unless we learn to love God’s creation, we can neither truly love nor truly know God."

Rule 16"Real faith is the one inside. The rest simply washes off. There is only one type of dirt that cannot be cleansed with pure water, and that is the stain of hatred and bigotry contaminating the soul. You can purify your body through abstinence and fasting, but only love will purify your heart."

Rule 17"The whole universe is contained within a single human being-you. Everything that you see around, including the things that you might not be fond of and even the people you despise or abhor, is present within you in varying degrees. Therefore, do not look for Shaitan (devil) outside yourself either. The devil is not an extraordinary force that attacks from without. It is an ordinary voice within. If you set to know yourself fully, facing with honesty and hardness."

Rule 18"If you want to change the ways others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself. Unless you learn to love yourself, fully and sincerely, there is no way you can be loved. Once you achieve that stage, however, be thankful for every thorn that others might throw at you. It is a sign that you will soon be showered in roses."

Rule 19"Fret not where the road will take you. Instead concentrate on the first step. That is the hardest part and that is what you are responsible for. Once you take that step let everything do what it naturally does and the rest will follow. Don’t go with the flow. Be the flow."

Rule 20"We were all created in His image, and yet we were each created different and unique. No two people are alike. No hearts beat to the same rhythm. If God had wanted everyone to be the same, He would have made it so. Therefore, disrespecting differences and imposing your thoughts on others is an amount to disrespecting God’s holy scheme."

The wisdom of Persian poet Shams Tabrizi: To see everything with new eyes.

Forty Rules of Love of Shams of Tabriz (part 1)

Does reading more books make you smarter? Or should you focus on fewer books deeply? Quality or quantity? 🤔But the deeper question is: "When did you last hear yourself think between all their words?" Your true self waits in the shadow - not to be found in books, but in the courage to know yourself. 📚<ul><li>We don't read to collect facts or sound wise. We read because we dare to understand who we really are.</li><li>So I won't say "Less is more." I'll say: "Depth is more." 📖</li></ul>

Less Or More?

"Thinking is difficult, that's why most people judge."

We skim surfaces - of people, ourselves, and books - judging by covers while avoiding true depth. Like timid swimmers, we linger in safe coastal waters, never venturing where the sea's true wonders dwell.
Meditation plunges into the soul's depths; contemplation reveals new horizons. Passive reading is like sunbathing on shore - pleasant, but shallow. Meanwhile, entire worlds glow beneath the waves, waiting for courageous divers.
Your choice: float comfortably in familiar shallows, or breathe deep and dive where the real treasures shine.

The Power of Deep Reading

We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience."

Is racing through lines truly understanding? Or should we pause between words—in that sacred space where reading comes alive?The blank spaces between words belong to you, the reader. When we read a novel, we don't just consume words—we build worlds in those gaps, coloring the author's framework with our own imagination.Speed reading starves this magic. True reading happens when we:  - Let sentences breathe  - See our own reflections in the text  - Allow ideas to root in our minds  The fastest reading isn't the words-per-minute count—it's how quickly a book travels from the page to your soul.

Speed Reading vs. Moments of Reflection

Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose."

The Purpose"O Captain! My Captain! In this sea of endless words, where do we sail?""Always toward the lighthouse of purpose," comes the reply.Your reading purpose is both compass and anchor—it prevents you from drowning in the ocean of information. Whether you seek to understand a loved one's soul through their favorite book, or to solve the riddle of your own existence, this intention transforms reading from consumption to communion.

Step1: The Purpose & The Chamber of Attention

Craft your chamber of attention: • A sanctuary where words breathe and ideas dance• With strict borders against the distraction• Where every sentence is tasted, not swallowed• To be everywhere is to be no where. A multitude of books only get's in one's way. For when you read with such sacred focus, books stop being objects you examine—they become mirrors in which you meet yourself.

The Chamber of Attention

"Life consists of an enormous number of choices that come at us, and each decision we make has consequences, so the quality of our lives depends on the quality of the decisions we make."

Before committing, interrogate your book:
1. Introduction - Does the author's promise excite you?
2. Contents - Which chapters spark immediate interest?
3. Random Pages - Does the writing style energize you?
 
Crucial Questions:
✓ "Will this book help me on my current journey?"
✓ "Does it challenge me in valuable ways?"
✓ "Does it feel like the right book at the right time?"
 
Trust your energy - Some books are meals, others are just snacks. If it doesn't nourish you, walk away without guilt. True wisdom lies in knowing when to keep reading - and when to close the cover forever.

Step 2: Survey and Verify - Choose Books Wisely

"when you read, don't just consider what the author thinks, consider what you think."

Imagine sitting across from the author in a cozy café, steaming cups between you. As they share their thoughts: ✓ Question freely - "What did you mean here?"✓ Challenge respectfully- "I see it differently because..."✓ Add your voice - Scribble your thoughts and insights in the marginsThis isn’t just their book anymore—it’s your dialogue in ink. One day, if you meet, you could hand them a transformed copy:"Here’s your original text... and how it sparked my evolution."

Step3: The Café Conversation With the Author

"If you can't explain it simply , you don't understand it well enough."

Treat your notebook as sacred ground where books transform into personal wisdom. Here's how to make it work: 1. Write in Your Voice- Rewrite key ideas in your words - this is where reading becomes understanding 2. The Streetlamp Principle- Each entry should show the book's essence so clearly that:✓ Future-you instantly recalls the insights✓ The original book's value is preserved without rereading 3. The Art of Compression - Distill chapters to single powerful sentences Why This Works? - Keeps all original requirements- Adds actionable structure with examples

Step4:Notes on Reflection: Crafting Your Memory Book

Set aside one sacred day each week to:
 
1. Re-read your annotated book/notebook like a meditation.
2. Connect the dots between:
- Marginal notes → Current challenges
- Old highlights → New insights
3. Become the artist - Remix the material into your unique style.
 
This is where true mastery lives:
✓ When Seneca's wisdom reshapes your modern work crisis.
✓ When a novel's metaphor solves your real-life dilemma.
 
You're no longer just a reader - 
you're the painter,
the words are your pigments,
and life is your canvas.

Step 5: Dancing with Ideas: A Chromatic Meditation for the Mind

"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to aquire it."

True reading mastery means living what you learn. Here’s how to transform words into wisdom: 1. Apply Immediately - Take one actionable insight from the book within 24 hours 2. Visualize Your Knowledge - Draw diagrams for true understanding - Your sketch of a concept beats passive highlighting 3. The Muscle Principle - Knowledge atrophies like unused muscle - Flex ideas through: ✓ Teaching others ✓ Real-world experiments 4. Personalized Legacy - Your marked-up copy becomes a living journal - Future-you will see: "Here’s where my growth began"

Step6: Earn Your Life Experience from the Book

"Life is too short to worry about little things. Have fun. Fall in love. Regret nothing, and don't let people bring you down. Study, think, create, and grow. Teach yourself and teach others."

Let time flow like a river around your reading—never rush, only savor. Remember: - The magic lives in how you read, not how fast you finish - Every book’s ending should leave you richer than its beginning As Tolstoy whispered: "The time will pass anyway. What matters is what you do with it— and who you spend it on." So close each book with two questions: 1. "Who will I share this with?"2. "What will I do differently tomorrow?" The final page is never the end— it’s where your lived story begins.

Conclusion: The Joyful Reader’s Manifesto

I also recommend you watch this youtube video that has the same idea with me.<a href="https://youtu.be/ChXJzbwAaLo?si=qcXugR-_O3sSdvUk">How to Turn books into results</a>

Zettelkasten: The Note-Taking System That Thinks With You

Decoding How to Learn any Language

How to Organize Your Life in a Chaotic World

Forty Rules of Love of Shams of Tabriz (part 2)

Forty Rules of Love of Shams of Tabriz (part 1)

Fati Vhn