The Song of the Soul Introduction to Rumi’s Masnavi

Announcing New SufiCorner Online Lecture Series:

The Song of the Soul
An Introduction to Rumi’s Masnavi, Book I

SufiCorner is pleased to introduce a new lecture series exploring Book I of Rumi’s Masnavi—one of the most revered works of Sufi literature. Through this series, we will journey with Rumi’s poetry, beginning with the mournful cry of the reed (nay), whose longing for reunion sets the stage for the entire Masnavi.

Rumi’s metaphor of the reed, torn from its origin, is a powerful reminder that spiritual trials, longing, and self-effacement are the very conditions that awaken the soul to the music of the Beloved. In these sessions, we will trace the hidden connections between six key tales in Book I, uncovering the ways in which Rumi weaves together profound teachings on virtue, loss, and the dissolution of the ego

Topics include:

● The "Lament of the Reed": Longing and Separation
● The Christians and the Vile Vizier: The Consequences of Deception
● The Lion and the Rabbit: Spiritual Cunning and Trust
● The Parrot and the Merchant: The Illusion of Death and Liberation
● The Grammarian and the Boatman: Knowledge and Surrender
● Ali, the Sword of God: True Strength and Divine Justice
● The Chinese and Greek Painters: Inner Illumination vs. External Adornment

Lectures will be held online – please click here to register for the series.

Join us as we unravel the wisdom of Rumi’s poetry, learning to quiet the self and listen to the music that has always been playing—the song of the soul returning to its Source.

About the Scholar:

Dr. Nariman Aavani is an Associate Researcher in Islamic Studies at the University of Chicago Divinity School. He earned his PhD. from Harvard University, focusing on pre-modern Islamic thought in Iran and the Indian subcontinent and Hindu-Muslim relations during the Mughal period.

Schedule

Saturday, April 19, 2025 | 11am-12pm
Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 11am-12pm
Saturday, May 3, 2025 | 11am-12pm
Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 11am-12pm
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 11am-12pm
Saturday, May 24, 2025 | 11am-12pm
Saturday, May 31, 2025 | 11am-12pm
Saturday, June 7, 2025 | 11am-12pm

Membership & Fees

• If you become a member of SufiCorner, you can enjoy a 50% discount on this lecture series. Please click here to become a member now!
• Members, please visit here and login first for your special pricing.
• Students get a special discount on the series. Please write us with your school emails before purchasing a ticket.
• Membership discount and student discount cannot be applied together.
• Questions: social@suficorner.org

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