Sunday, July 13, 2008

Video - A Modern Peace Quest in Light of the Babel Problem

There is a new video from a talk given at Fordham University in Manhattan in April 2007 on the spiritual-health.org website. To view the video, click on the following link: View Video

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Sufi Reflections Podcast - An Audio Directory of Current and Past Programs

A web page recently has been constructed at Sufi Reflections Podcast which contains two menus (one above the other) that provide links both to streaming audio versions, as well as downloadable MP3 editions, of all twenty-five completed programs of Sufi Reflections Podcast. When one clicks on any of the entries in the top menu -- which focuses on streaming audio versions of the Sufi Reflections Podcast -- one is taken to a web page which gives a brief overview of some of the main features contained in the selected streaming podcast. The foregoing description is followed by an audio box through which one can listen to the particular Sufi Reflections Podcast one has chosen.

The second menu on the Sufi Reflections Podcast directory noted above contains links to mp3, downloadable versions of all twenty-five Sufi Reflection Podcast programs. If one would rather not be tied to the computer while listening to any given edition of Sufi Reflections Podcast, then, one can download whichever program in which one might be interested. In fact, one can use the links provided in the first menu, noted above, to learn more about what a specific edition of a Sufi Reflections Podcast contains via the aforementioned program overviews, listen to a portion, and, then, decide if one would like to download the program through the links listed in the second menu of the foregoing audio directory for the Sufi Reflections Podcast.

All twenty-five programs of the Sufi Reflections podcast contain relatively brief Quranic recitation, along with poetry (often, although not always, from the writings of Jalal-ud-din Rumi -- may Allah be pleased with him), and several songs drawn from the magnatunes.com collection of artists. Below are brief descriptions for each of the podcasts:

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Sufi Reflections Podcast # 1

This program includes: an essay entitled "Discernment", a poem set to music with the title 'Aspirations', and a commentary called: 'Two Obligations'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #2

This program contains an essay entitled "Guidance", a poem set to music with the title 'Life, A Work In Progress', a short story called: 'Etymology', and a commentary called: 'A Study In Hypocrisy'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #3

This program involves an essay entitled "Love", a poem set to music with the title 'The Last Sermon', a short story called: 'Phoenix Rising', and a commentary called: 'Openings: A Critical Look at the book What's Right With Islam by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #4

This program contains an essay entitled "Expansion", a poem set to music with the title 'Salaams For The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)', a short story called: 'Dream On', and a commentary called: 'The Two Commandments which is a critical essay on a section of the book What's Right With Islam by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.


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Sufi Reflections Podcast #5

This program involves an essay entitled "Hatred", a poem set to music with the title 'Tears of Life', a short story called: 'Commitment's Reward', and a commentary entitled: 'Open Letter to the Muslim Community'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #6

This program contains an essay entitled "Spirit", a poem set to music with the title 'The Way Home', a short story called: 'What's Your Secret', and a commentary entitled: 'The Boundary Problem - Part 1' -- a critical examination of certain aspects of so-called Islamic law..

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #7

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Yaqueen (Certainty)", a poem set to music with the title 'Nature', a short story called: 'Asceticism', and a commentary entitled: 'The Boundary Problem - Part 2 -- a continuation of the critical examination of certain aspects of so-called Islamic law' which was begun in part 1 of the series.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #8

This program contains an essay entitled "Identity", a poem set to music with the title 'The Guru', a short story called: 'Original Intent', and a commentary entitled: 'Terrorism - Part 1'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #9

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Fanaticism", a poem set to music with the title 'The Way Home', a short story called: 'Absence', and a commentary entitled: 'Terrorism - Part 2'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #10

This program contains an essay entitled "Balance", a poem set to music with the title 'The Last Sermon', a short story called: 'Artisan', and a commentary entitled: 'Terrorism - Part 3'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #11

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Jihad (Struggle)", a poem set to music with the title 'States: The Usual Suspects', a short story called: 'The Interview', and a commentary entitled: 'Terrorism - Part 4'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #12

This program contains an essay entitled "Zikr (Remembrance)", a poem set to music with the title 'Ode To Those Who Wage War On Peace', a short story called: 'The Snake Charmer', and a commentary entitled: 'Common Roots - Part 1' -- a critical examination involving part of a book What's Right With Islam by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.
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Sufi Reflections Podcast #13

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Government", a poem set to music with the title 'The Gift', a short story called: 'Crisis', and a commentary entitled: 'Common Roots - Part 2' -- a continuation of a critical examination involving part of a book What's Right With Islam by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #14

This program contains an essay entitled "Hope", a poem set to music with the title 'The Human Condition', a short story called: 'Fantasy', and a commentary entitled: 'Common Roots - Part 3' -- a continuation of a critical examination focusing on part of a book What's Right With Islam by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #15

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Ghayr (Other)", a poem set to music with the title 'Freedom', a short story called: 'Point Counterpoint', and a commentary entitled: 'The Nature of Idols'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast 16

This program contains an essay entitled "Kun (Be, Become)", a poem set to music with the title 'AndThat Is Enough For Us', a short story called: 'When In Rome', and a commentary entitled: 'A Critical Response to the Nature of Idols - Part 1' -- a critical exploration of certain facets of what is referred to as Islamic law.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #17

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Death", a poem set to music with the title 'Hands', a short story called: 'Poison And Its Antidote', and a commentary entitled: 'A Critical Response to the Nature of Idols - Part 2' -- a continuation of the critical exploration into certain facets of what is referred to as Islamic law which began in the previous podcast.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast 18

This program contains an essay entitled "Dhawk (Taste/Tasting)", a poem set to music with the title 'Mystical Poem', a short story called: 'What's In A Word', and a commentary entitled: 'A Critical Response to the Nature of Idols - Part 3' -- a continuation of a critical inquiry into certain facets of what are referred to as Islamic law which was explored in the two previous podcasts.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast 19

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Prophets", a poem set to music with the title 'Life, A Work In Progress', a short story called: 'The Curiosity Shoppe', and a commentary entitled: 'The Legacy of Babel' -- a talk given at an Abrahamic Interfaith Conference which took place at Fordham University.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #20

This program contains an essay entitled "Expectations", a poem set to music with the title 'Explosive Questions For September 11th', a short story called: 'Cul-de-sac', and a commentary entitled: 'Qualities of a Teacher'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #21

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Jami' (Gatheredness)", a poem set to music with the title 'God Who Is Here', a short story called: 'DancingWith The Moon', and a commentary entitled: 'The Nature of Deen'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #22

This program contains an essay entitled "Hal' (States)", a poem set to music with the title 'Spiritual Longing', a short story called: 'The Other Side', and a commentary entitled: My Year Inside Radical Islam - A critique of a book by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross - Part 1'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #23

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Autonomy", a poem set to music with the title 'Gratitude', a short story called: 'The Storm', and a commentary entitled: My Year Inside Radical Islam - A Critique of a book by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross - Part 2'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #24

This program contains an essay entitled "Faith", a poem set to music with the title 'Invitation', a short story called: 'Mirror,Mirror', and a commentary entitled: My Year Inside Radical Islam - A Critique of a book by Daveed Gartenstein-Ross - Part 3'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #25

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Heedlessness", a poem set to music with the title 'Remembrance', a short story called: 'A Job Well Done', and a commentary entitled: 'An Absence of Reason: A Critique of The End of Faith by Sam Harris'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #26

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Idols", a poem set to music with the title 'Human Potential', a short story called: 'Inheritance', and a commentary entitled: 'An Absence of Reason: A Critique of The End of Faith by Sam Harris - Part 2'.

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Sufi Reflections Podcast #27

This podcast includes an essay entitled "Doubt", a poem set to music with the title 'Random Thoughts', a short story called: 'Bidding For Services', and a commentary entitled: 'An Absence of Reason: A Critique of The End of Faith by Sam Harris - Part 3'.

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The foregoing links take you to streaming audio versions of the indicated editions of Sufi Reflections Podcast. If a person would like to download any of the foregoing programs, all one has to do is go to Sufi Reflections Podcast downloadable MP3 and right click on the appropriate podcast in the second menu.