November 2018 archive

Program 16: You are Pregnant with God!

In this program I speak about Rumi’s informal sermons to people who came from many places to hear him speak. He did not write these presentations into a book, his followers did. It came to be know as Fihe ma fihe which means “It is in it, what is in it.” The title which echos a famous line of poetry highlights the unconventional nature these talks. They contain stories, jokes, rebukes, and basically his words of wisdom. Like everything else that Rumi said, their focus is love. Again, the purpose of this love is to give us the stamina to work on understanding the purpose of our existence. We are each a Mary, pregnant with God. If we understand our body- and the sacred nature of what we carry – we will give birth to our sacred being/God in due time.

Program 15: Weave a Basket, Part II

In the last program I told you about Shams of Tabriz, the simple basket-weaver who turned into an influential teacher transforming Rumi’s outlook on life. Today, we will continue with that conversation by listening to some of Shams sayings where his thoughts are crystallized in his candid – yet caring – words. Being down to earth, so to speak, is a major characteristic of Shams and Rumi both. Presence, and teaching, for both of them are discrete qualities rather than loud words. Stars shed light on your way without uttering a single word. To recognize these presences, however, it is important to protect your solitude particularly when surrounded by people. Thus you will notice the beloved walking inside your soul invisible to others — and that you are a sea without shores.