PODCAST #14: INTERVIEWING SUFI POET RUMI

by

Martin Bidney

Intro: Rumi = Pre-eminent Sufi Mystic Poet, thirteenth century. I translate him from Tholuck’s German, and I interview him, offering verse replies. 

Dialogue 49 = Inclusion: all religions are one.

Dialogue 46 = Inclusion: all spirits are one.

I  Rumi teaches through Surprise.

Dialogue 53. The saint turns hell to heaven, as Milton’s Satan did in Paradise Lost. Both of these reside within the human spirit. “The mind is its own place, and of itself / Can make heav’n of hell, a hell of heav’n.

Dialogue 42. Forgiveness is an original ACTION, not a mere re-action. Ali shows that, contra Newton, every action does not have an equal and opposite reaction / retaliation. See Qur’an 42:43. “And verily whoso is patient and forgiveth – lo! that, verily is (of) the stedfast heart of things.”

 Dialogue 40 shows, via Rumi’s poem, the Chinese mural painting less perfect than the Byzantine mirror that makes it clearer through purity of heart. But in my Reply I add that a painting = mirror of the Creativity of the Creator.

 Dialogue 68 = “Golden Mean” ethical model of Aristotle vs. immeasurable Height-and-depth. Spokesman for height-and-depth, though, is deemed weak in character by his Sufi hearers. Balance – or Exploration?

II  Freedom through the Holiness of Nature – and Beyond.

 Dialogue 65, about Ibrahim Ibn Adhàm viewed as like St. Francis or Buddha, attuned to Nature.

 Dialogue 66 shows Ibn Adhàm with a parable of twig and orchard relating to the springtime fragrance of the magic shirt of Joseph. Compare to

 Dialogue 67 = Symposium of Senses, holiness of Nature. Cf. Ibn Arabi: one person praying = Complete Congregation of Organs and Thoughts.