Interpretation of the Twenty-Fifth Rule of Love

Rule Number 25 — 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.

– Shams, to Self

Context - This rule, much like Rule Number 24, emerges when Shams Tabrizi reflects upon his spiritual journey and observes the immature ideas people hold about the Divine and its functioning. Through this rule, he emphasizes that heaven and hell are not external places to be searched for, but inner states to be recognized within ourselves.

Interpretation within the Story - This rule once again highlights the importance of our inner life in the spiritual journey. This is why, in one of the earlier rules, Shams reminds us that a true Master sends disciples back to themselves and encourages them to focus inward.

Here too, Shams expresses disappointment at immature human behavior, where people seek God outside themselves. Through this teaching, he reinforces that the Divine resides within us, and it is our own actions and inner state that determine whether we move closer to Him (heaven) or drift away from Him (hell).

Deeper Interpretation Beyond the Story - Osho says, “Hell and heaven are within you; both gates are within you.”

When we act unconsciously, we open the gate to hell. When we become alert and aware, we step into heaven. Heaven and hell are not physical locations but states of mind. Whenever we are joyful and positive, we are in heaven; whenever we experience grief and misery, we are in hell. A person may move between these states many times in a single day.

People often ask about the qualities of a true Guru or Master. Perhaps this teaching offers the clearest benchmark. A real Master always brings the disciple back to themselves. He guides them to look within and work on their inner being, knowing that inner transformation naturally reflects in outer life.

An ordinary teacher encourages people to change external circumstances in the hope of finding inner peace. A true Master, however, asks them to transform themselves, because the only person we can truly change is ourselves. Real change must arise from within before it can be seen in the outer world.

This reminds me of a session I had with Ma Anand Sheela a few years ago. We asked her, “Do you believe Bhagwan’s vision for the new man is being lived?”

She simply replied, “I am living it.”

That response became deeply significant for me. In that moment, I realized that my focus was still on others. Instead of asking whether I myself was living Bhagwan’s vision, I was more concerned about whether others were doing so. Her answer became a powerful eye-opener.

I feel this is the essence of this rule: focus on yourself. Only by turning inward and refining our inner state can we experience the peace of heaven. Beyond that, whether internal or external, everything else becomes a form of hell.

Gratitude!!!