Remembering Rumi

Ahmad Wali - Dost (Sufi Music)

I love my friends neither with my heart nor with my mind. 

Just in case…

Heart might stop. Mind can forget.

I love them with my soul.

Soul never stops or forgets.

Rumi

Three countries, all part of the former Persian Empire, claim Rumi as their poet: Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey. Though he died 742 years ago, his wisdom continues to enlighten and inspire. Along with being a wonderful poet, Rumi was also a proponent of dance as a means of connecting with the Divine.

I lived in Turkey for a year in the mid-80s and heard a lot about Rumi and the Whirling Dervishes he inspired. Later, I became even more aware of Rumi's poetry through my reading of Mark Nepo. Nepo cites Rumi and many other mystics and poets in his book, Awakening. 

The Mevlâna Festival takes place annually from December 10th to the 17th in the Anatolian city of Konya, where Rumi died at the age of 66 on December 17, 1273. 

Some say Rumi was a Sufi but I believe that Rumi himself would have resisted any such labels. To read Rumi's poems is to recognize a beautiful soul.

May this post inspire you to welcome a little Rumi into your life! 

Ch'an Master Seng-Ts'an

Ch'an Master Seng-Ts'an

Earlier this morning I was absorbing my daily dose of The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo. The epigraph for today's reading seemed especially relevant in light of the media hubbub around Caitlyn Jenner. 

"There is no need 

to seek the truth--

just put a stop 

to your opinions!" 

--Seng-Ts'an 

Curiosity thus piqued, I found and share herewith the following page about Ch'an Master Seng-Ts'an.

The Courage of the Seed

Easter Sunday photo of Todd's Red Oak, planted Feb 16, 2015

Mark Nepo's timing is uncanny. When he published The Book of Awakening 15 years ago, he knew that in the year 2015, Easter would fall on April 5th. He knew that this would be the first Easter after our Todd passed from this Earth. He somehow knew that we would have a special reason to trust in a sense of continuity--that today, especially, we would strain credulity just enough to believe in resurrection of the dead.

The red oak acorn I planted on what would have been Todd's 52nd birthday was a gift from caring colleagues. This morning, somewhat groggy from a sunrise service, I sat in my prayer chair and opened Nepo to the entry for April 5th. That is when those words he wrote 15+ years ago just for me, and just for that moment, finally hit home.

"All the buried seeds

crack open in the dark

the instant they surrender

to a process they can't see."

Never-mind that this is the 5th time I have read Nepo's book. The first four didn't count. The seed of meaning in those words could not crack open in my mind until I was ready to surrender reason and simply believe.

Happy Easter, Todd. We love you.

Mark Nepo coming to DC in March

An open letter to PhilosFX readers, fellow Nepo-ites, UCCers, friends, and family:

I am so excited about the fact that MARK NEPO is coming to DC for a lecture and workshop!  Please consider whether you can make it to DC Friday night and Saturday, 21 and 22 March. 

Mark Nepo is perhaps best known for his book, The Book of Awakening, which has inspired many DEEP THOUGHTS. 

You know I have read this book over and over again, and that it has changed my life, and that is why I have shared it with you in many previous posts.  

Can you join me? Wouldn't it be great to be in a small group together during the workshop? 

Please call Tanya at 301.897.7334 and reserve your seat today! The cost for the two-day event is $100, and all the details I have are in THIS PRESS RELEASE and at THIS LINK. 

The event is sponsored by the Shalem Institute and hosted by the First Congregational United Church of Christ at 945 G Street NW in Washington, DC.  

I am beyond excited! Join me? Bring a journal and open heart, head, and hands! 

Can't make it? You can LiveStream the Friday evening lecture on your computer at home for only $20. 

Please feel free to forward this announcement to your friends who might be interested, with the caveat that there are only 300 seats available, and they are going quickly.

With love,

Dave

Other points of contact:

Rev. Dr. Sidney D. Fowler

First Congregational United Church of Christ

945 G Street NW

Washington, DC

(church) 202.628.4317

Please like First UCC, DC, on Facebook!

P  Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

Monica J. Maxon

Director of Communications & Development
Shalem Institute
3025 Fourth Street, NE, Suite 22
Washington, DC  20017

http://www.Shalem.org
301-897-7334 x1004