Subscribe to this Online Retreat

Perhaps you’ve heard it many times: Rumi is the most popular poet in the Western world. Many have found in him a voice of a universal spirituality rooted in love, free of artificial constraints, compassionate, earthy, ecstatic, joyful.

But are we aware that the foundation of this poetry is a coherent teaching about what it is to be truly human? For Rumi the primary purpose of human life is to know and love the Divine. Rumi was intoxicated with the beauty of God. He wanted us to know this Truth as deeply and passionately as he knew it.

In this Online Retreat and Practice Circle, a group of friends, all practicing Sufis who have been on Rumi’s path for many years, offer some selections from Rumi’s vast work that they believe capture the essence of his teaching. We hope you will find these selections not only beautiful and inspiring, but informative and practical. Every morning for seven weeks, you will receive a selection by email to be contemplated according to a recommended method of conscious reflection.

This sacred poetry of Rumi is grouped around seven themes: Taking responsibility; Forbearance; Character & Courtesy; Single-minded Remembrance; Devotion, Transformation, Unity. Each theme will be introduced by one of the friends, and later in the week he or she will relate a personal experience of living that theme.

Participants in the retreat will also have access to an online Practice Circle where we will discuss the theme and the poetry as well as ask questions of our retreat leaders. The community will be accompanied by the friend who wrote each week's introduction.

This Online Retreat has been developed by the Threshold Society, which is affiliated with The Mevlevi Order of Sufis. The Mevlevis, who trace their inspiration back seven centuries to Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, are known for their hospitality to religious seekers of all traditions. Spirituality & Practice is pleased to partner with the Threshold Society to bring this teaching to our online community. We hope that you will enjoy the retreat and that it will also be deeply transformative to your spiritual understanding.

THIS RETREAT IS OVER. IT WILL BE OFFERED AGAIN IN 2010.