Immortal Echoes, Mortal Words

Rumi: "I have You; why should I seek anything else?" | Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast

Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
Reyhaneh Davoodi-Kahaki 
Music: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
Join us as we examine Rumi’s ghazal 162 of the Divan-i Shams Tabrizi, exploring the themes of “detachment,” “spiritual union,” and the “ultimate treasure of divine love.” Discover how Rumi’s words guide us to let go of illusions and embrace what truly matters.
My question for you:
Why does Rumi describe himself as the ‘prey’ of the Beloved rather than an active seeker?
What does this suggest about his view on surrender?
 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
Watch more from Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HHJERERmZ7fn8cYrLJOzvqy&si=m5l2JJfTOLetqpST
Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
#sufism #Islamic_mysticism #mysticism #Rumi #persianpoetry #persian_poem #Emanation #IbnArabi #fusus_al_hikam #molana #philosophy #Rumi_poetry_reading #greatest_Islamic_philosophers #Islamic_thought #rumi_poem #rumi_poetry #مولانا #مولانای_جان

Rumi's Invitation to Self-Reflection? - Ghazal of Divan

Rasoul RAHBARI GHAZANI
Reyhaneh DAVOODI KAHAKI 
Music: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
Rumi asks, What excuses do we have for the shortcomings within us? How is it that we crave Divine closeness yet stumble so often in faithfulness? How do Rumi’s words of self-dialogue help us navigate our inner conflicts and find balance in our lives? In this episode, we analyze the self-examination of the human heart through Rumi’s eyes—a conversation between his soul and his shortcomings. Join us to uncover how Rumi’s insights lead to profound lessons for our lives today.
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
Watch more from Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HHJERERmZ7fn8cYrLJOzvqy&si=m5l2JJfTOLetqpST
Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
#sufism #Islamic_mysticism #mysticism #Rumi #persianpoetry #persian_poem #Emanation #IbnArabi #fusus_al_hikam #molana #philosophy #Rumi_poetry_reading #greatest_Islamic_philosophers #Islamic_thought #rumi_poem #rumi_poetry #مولانا #مولانای_جان

The Cry of “Here I Am”: Rumi’s Mystical Journey in Ghazal 1594 of Divan | Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast

Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
Reyhaneh Davoodi-Kahaki
Music: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
What does it mean to truly answer the call of love? In this episode of the Rumi Podcast, we explore Ghazal 1594 from Rumi’s Diwan-i Shams, where the beloved is not just a figure of beauty, but a force that burns, transforms, and awakens. Why are lovers called “helpless”? Why do they cry out “Here I am!” at dawn?
Join us as we unfold:
The fiery dance of divine love 
The cry of longing echoing from the heart of every seeker 
The profound transformation that spiritual love demands
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
Watch more from Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HHJERERmZ7fn8cYrLJOzvqy&si=m5l2JJfTOLetqpST
Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
#sufism #Islamic_mysticism #mysticism #Rumi #persianpoetry #persian_poem #Emanation #IbnArabi #fusus_al_hikam #molana #philosophy #Rumi_poetry_reading #greatest_Islamic_philosophers #Islamic_thought #rumi_poem #rumi_poetry #مولانا #مولانای_جان

"The Fire Kindled in the Woods of Thoughts" | Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast

Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
Reyhaneh Davoodi-Kahaki
Music: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmohamdmonjezi
Why does Rumi refer to God as “The fire kindled in the woods of thoughts”? In this episode, we examine the captivating imagery in ghazal 1 of the Divan-i Shams Tabrizi, exploring how the Divine both burns and enlightens amidst the tangled forest of our minds. Discover how Rumi’s verses connect the paradoxes of life—seeking and being sought, light and dark, chaos and beauty—and reveal the hidden joy within us all. Join us for this transformative journey through Rumi’s wisdom.
 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
Watch more from Persian Mystical Poetry Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HHJERERmZ7fn8cYrLJOzvqy&si=m5l2JJfTOLetqpST
Read my recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
#IbnArabi #fusus_al_hikam #Islamic_thought #Rumi_poetry_reading #greatest_Islamic_philosophers #mysticism #مولانای_جان #persianpoetry #rumi_poem #metaphysics #Iranianpoetry #spiritualjourney

Unknowing & Unsaying: Apophatic Theology, Relationality, and Becoming — with Prof. Catherine Keller

In this episode, I, Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani, speak with Professor Catherine Keller, an influential theologian and thinker, about the mystery of unknowing and the language of unsaying in Christian mystical thought. Professor Keller—George T. Cobb Professor of Constructive Theology at Drew University—reflects on the living tradition of apophatic-negative theology. Together, we explore how theology becomes relational, how becoming replaces static being, and how mystical insight bridges faith, philosophy, and mysticism. This dialogue unfolds across traditions — from Nicholas of Cusa to Ibn ʿArabī, from process theology to planetary entanglement — revealing how unknowing opens a deeper awareness of our interconnected, sacred cosmos.
Topics discussed:
The meaning and spiritual depth of negative / apophatic theology
The limits of language in speaking about God (unsaying the divine)
How “unknowing” nurtures compassion, humility, and relational awareness
The concept of becoming and its link to process thought
Parallels between Christian and Islamic mystical traditions
Love, wonder, and the cosmological vision of relational existence
Timeline:
00:00 — Introduction: Who is Professor Catherine Keller?
01:35 — Prof. Keller’s background and research
10:29 — “Professor, can you talk about some of your favorite works?”
21:56 — “What is negative-apophatic theology? How would you describe the spiritual significance of unknowing and unsaying within Christianity?”
38:56 — “Ineffability”
47:20 — What does “becoming” mean in theological-philosophical-mystical literature, and how does it relate to “relationality”?
Prof. Keller’s books:
The Cloud of the Impossible: https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Impossible-Planetary-Entanglement-Insurrections/dp/0231171153\
Facing Apocalypse: https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Apocalypse-Climate-Democracy-Chances/dp/1626984131
No Matter What: Crisis and the Spirit of Planetary Possibility https://www.amazon.com/No-Matter-What-Planetary-Possibility/dp/1531508731
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
#ApophaticTheology #NegativeTheology #MysticalTheology #ProcessTheology #ConstructiveTheology #ChristianMysticism #IbnArabi #NicholasOfCusa #Mysticism #InterfaithDialogue #RelationalTheology #Unknowing #Unsaying #Becoming

Radical Love | Interview with Prof. Omid Safi on Rumi & Essence of Divine Love in Sufism

In this inspiring conversation, Professor Omid Safi (Duke University) joins me, Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani, to discuss his groundbreaking book Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Tradition. We explore the Mazhab-i 'ishq (religion of love), path of radical love, the whitewashing of Rumi in the West, and the unique mystical vision that refuses to separate Divine and human love. Professor Safi also reflects on Rumi’s farewell poem, the harmony of form and formlessness in Sufism, and the eternal nature of love that transcends death.
Professor Safi hosts "Sufi Heart with Omid Safi" Podcast: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-sufi-heart-with-omid-safi-31075277/
Book: Radical Love (Safi 2019): https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300248616/radical-love/
Book: Memories of Muhammad: Why the Prophet Matters (Safi 2010): https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Muhammad-Why-Prophet-Matters/dp/0061231355
 
Watch our Persian mystical poetry Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HHJERERmZ7fn8cYrLJOzvqy
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
My recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
 
#Love #Sufism #Rumi #OmidSafi #IslamicMysticism #PersianPoetry #Spirituality #SufiLove #PersianSufiam

Sufism Today: Sri Lanka, Shrines, & Mystical Pluralism | Interview with Assoc. Prof. Shobhana Xavier

Host: Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
In this interview, Associate Professor Shobhana Xavier from the School of Religions at Queen’s University shares her helpful insights into contemporary Sufism, particularly as practiced in Sri Lanka. We begin with her academic background and journey into the study of sufism, before exploring a wide range of compelling questions:
What defines authentic sufism today?
Can all mystical aspects of Islam be called sufism?
Is there one form of Islamic mysticism, or is it inherently pluralistic?
How does life-tied, everyday sufism compare to more monastic or ascetic paths?
What role do shrines play from both spiritual and theological perspectives?
Is sufism evolving into a more metaphysical discourse?
How do Ibn Arabi and Rumi compare in their approach?
Whether you're a scholar, a student of Islamic thought, or simply curious about Sufi spirituality, this interview can help you.
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
My recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
 
#Sufism #IslamicMysticism #SriLanka #ShrinesInIslam #IbnArabi #Rumi #FaydKashani #ContemporarySufism #SufiTraditions #IslamicStudies

Persian Poetry: What Prose Cannot Say | Interview with Professor Rebecca Ruth Gould

In this insightful interview, I, Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani, speak with Professor Rebecca Ruth Gould, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Poetics and Global Politics at SOAS University of London, about the power of (Persian) poetry to express what cannot be said in prose or philosophy.
We explore:
What makes Persian poetry uniquely capable of articulating philosophical and mystical truths
Why Persian/Iranian thinkers historically favored poetic forms over discursive prose
Why should contemporary scholars research Persian poetic tradition
The challenges and responsibilities of translating Persian poetry into English without losing its beauty, depth, and spiritual nuance
About Professor Rebecca Ruth Gould:
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@poetry-and-protest
Rebecca Ruth Gould is an award-winning scholar, translator, and public intellectual whose work explores the intersections of poetry and politics across the Islamic world, the Caucasus, and beyond. She is the author of Erasing Palestine (Verso, 2023), The Persian Prison Poem (EUP, 2021), and Writers and Rebels (Yale UP, 2016).
Featured Projects & Links:
The Textual Materialist (Rebecca’s newsletter): https://rgould.substack.com
GlobalLIT Project Website: https://globallit.hcommons.org
GlobalLIT Intro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlf0ggZRN80
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/balaghas.bsky.social
Book: https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-persian-prison-poem.html
Essays in The London Review of Books: https://www.lrb.co.uk/contributors/rebecca-ruth-gould
 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
My recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
 
#PersianPoetry #Sufism #Translation #PoetryAndPolitics #Rumi #Hafez #ComparativePoetics #MiddleEasternStudies #IranianLiterature #persianpoem #sufism #rumi #poetry #poem

Ep.9. Sufism (Practical Dimensions) - Ibn Arabi’s Fusus | Interview with William Rory Dickson

In this in-depth interview, I, Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani, speaks with Dr. William Rory Dickson, Associate Professor of Religion and Culture at the University of Winnipeg, Canada, about his research on Sufism, his latest book Dissolving into Being: the Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy, and the practical dimensions of sufi philosophy.
 Timeline & Questions Answered:
00:00:10 – Introduction and interview purpose
00:03:02 – Who is William Rory Dickson? His research focus on Sufism
00:07:19 – What makes Ibn ‘Arabi’s Fusus al-Hikam unique?
00:15:03 – Structure and main themes of the book: Dissolving into Being
00:20:27 – How do Sufis interpret Idris and Elijah as one figure?
00:33:10 – Is Sufism theoretical or practical? (Ibn ‘Arabi & Ibn Rushd's iconic meeting)
00:44:44 – The role and limits of reason in sufi thought
01:05:23 – What does fana, self-annihilation, in sufism mean?
01:08:54 – What does it mean to embody God’s Names?
01:11:34 – Love as the heart of the sufi path – healing and fulfillment
01:28:03 – Closing reflections on adab, compassion, and practical Sufism
Featured Book: William Rory Dickson, 2024, Dissolving into Being: the Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy. https://www.amazon.com/Dissolving-into-Being-Wisdom-Philosophy/dp/1905937776
 
 My latest book: Sarayān: The Real’s Permeation: Ibn ʿArabi on the Divine Presence in the Cosmos with Neoplatonic Insights (available in both digital and print formats): https://immortalechoes.org/pages/our-press
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
Watch more from our Ibn Arabi Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqkz7b_183HG0qkYvbH9dyTAWnncKZGLp&si=sCNGBNjB7RRRIZat
My recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
 
#Sufism #IbnArabi #Metaphysics #FususAlHikam #IslamicMysticism #Spirituality #IslamicMetaphysics #practical_mysticism #love

Sufism, Reform, and Modern Islam: Interview with Professor Oliver Scharbrodt (Lund University)

What happens to Sufism when Muslim societies modernize? In this interview, I host Professor Oliver Scharbrodt to explore the transformation of Sufism from the premodern to the modern period, the place of reformist thinkers, and the complex relationship between Sufism, modernity, and political activism. 🎙 Host: Rasoul Rahbari-Ghazani
About the Guest: Oliver Scharbrodt, Professor of Islamic Studies, Lund University. Specialist in Sufism, Islamic modernity, and intellectual history. Author of numerous works on Sufi authority, reform, and Muslim intellectual traditions.
Key themes in this interview:
How Sufism changed from premodern to modern contexts – Whether Sufism was actually marginalized or productively reinvented
How major reformers like Jamal al-Din Asadabadi (al-Afghani) and Muhammad ‘Abduh drew on Sufi thought
The distinction between tasawwuf (Sufism) and ‘irfān (gnosticism, mysticism, mystical philosophy)
Neo-Sufi organizational models in modern activism
The importance of ethical self-cultivation, spiritual discipline, and walāya
Why scholars must rethink the simplistic “Sufism vs Reform” dichotomy
Recommended Works by Prof. Scharbrodt 
Scharbrodt, Oliver. 2022. Muhammad 'Abduh: Modern Islam and the Culture of Ambiguity: https://portal.research.lu.se/en/publications/muhammad-abduh-modern-islam-and-the-culture-of-ambiguity/
Scharbrodt, Oliver. 2020. Anti-Sufism in Early Qajar Iran: Āqā Muḥammad ‘Alī Bihbahānī (1732–1801) and His Risāla-yi khayrātiyya: https://www.cmes.lu.se/oliver-scharbrodt/publication/75aaf880-e655-4bdc-a39e-fd32242de3d6
Scharbrodt, Oliver. 2010. The Qutb as Special Representative of the Hidden Imam: The Conflation of Sufi and Shi‘i Concepts https://portal.research.lu.se/en/publications/the-qutb-as-special-representative-of-the-hidden-imam-the-conflat/
Scharbrodt, Oliver. 2007. The Salafiyya and Sufism: Muhammad 'Abduh and his Risālat al-Wāridāt (Treatise on Mystical Inspirations) https://portal.research.lu.se/en/publications/the-salafiyya-and-sufism-muhammad-abduh-and-his-ris%C4%81lat-al-w%C4%81rid%C4%81/
Prof. Scharbrodt’s Recommendation:
Most Comprehensive Modern Study of Sufism:
Sirriyeh, Elizabeth, 1998. Sufis and Anti-Sufis: The Defence, Rethinking and Rejection of Sufism in the Modern World: https://www.routledge.com/Sufis-and-Anti-Sufis-The-Defence-Rethinking-and-Rejection-of-Sufism-in-the-Modern-World/Sirriyeh/p/book/9780700710607
Books for Rethinking Orientalist Lenses & Understanding Islam’s Ambiguity
Ahmed, Shahab. 2015. What Is Islam? The Importance of Being Islamic: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691164182/what-is-islam?srsltid=AfmBOorzhRRZHf0lJqV9eFyW1QCQELQHmH16lY1QSb_7oSdoc6xpefti
Bauer, Thomas. 2021. A Culture of Ambiguity: An Alternative History of Islam: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/a-culture-of-ambiguity/9780231553322/
 
Visit our ⁠Academy of Mystic Poetics and Philosophy⁠, and check out our courses: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/courses 
If you enjoy the content and wish to ⁠support our work⁠, your generosity helps us continue creating: https://immortalechoes.org/pages/donations
My recent publications: https://istanbul.academia.edu/RasoulRahbariGhazani
 
#Sufism #IslamicStudies #ModernIslam #IslamicReform #Tasawwuf #Irfan #Mysticism #IslamicPhilosophy #ibnarabi