The Soul Salons: Exploring Our Spiritual Heritage

The aim of the series is to look at the work of prophets, poets, mystics, and philosophers throughout the ages whose teachings have focused on our divine, or spiritual, reality. The latter is given short shrift in a materialistic age, but humanity has a deep spiritual heritage. Episodes are designed to reveal insights that you can apply to your daily lives. No new episodes will be posted after 2021, but all recordings can be accessed at www.thesoulsalons.com (Music is used with permission by Randy Armstrong, The Conference of the Birds CD) . read less

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Living in the Light (‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

Living in the Light (‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

‘Abdu’l-Bahá – one of the central figures of the Bahá’í Faith – shares some important insights about living in the light, or the darkness. “Perchance such ways and words from you will make this darksome world turn bright at last; will make this dusty earth turn heavenly, this devilish prison place become a royal palace […]

Episodes

Living in the Light (‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

Living in the Light (‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

‘Abdu’l-Bahá – one of the central figures of the Bahá’í Faith – shares some important insights about living in the light, or the darkness. “Perchance such ways and words from you will make this darksome world turn bright at last; will make this dusty earth turn heavenly, this devilish prison place become a royal palace […]

A Reflective Life (Michel de Montaigne)

A Reflective Life (Michel de Montaigne)

A French philosopher from the 16th century advises humility on what we don’t know, but that we are still born to inquire after the truth. “It [truth] is not, as Democritus said, hid in the bottom of the deeps, but rather elevated to an infinite height in the divine knowledge. The world is but a […]

What Bird Are You? (Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi)

What Bird Are You? (Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi)

Digging into the deeper meanings of “The Universal Tree and the Four Birds,” by Muslim scholar, poet, and philosopher Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi. “Beautiful realities descend upon threads Toward the hearts that turn from the ornaments of the gardens In search of the one who transcends the vicissitudes of time.” Muhyiddin Ibn ‘Arabi

Karma Kameleons (Buddha)

Karma Kameleons (Buddha)

The stories and teachings in the Dhammapada offer some useful guides for living, including thinking of the consequences (and karma) of our intentions and actions, and valuing the human experience. “It is rare to be born human, rare is the life of the mortals, it is rare to hear True Dhamma, rare the arising of […]

The Whims of Fortune Stink (Boethius)

The Whims of Fortune Stink (Boethius)

Philosophy – personified as a woman – explains the transience of life to an imprisoned Boethius and counsels him to remember his true nature and God’s guiding hand. “So, shouldst thou see anything in this world happening differently from thy expectation, doubt not but events are rightly ordered; it is in thy judgment that there […]

Putting the Pieces Together (Emerson)

Putting the Pieces Together (Emerson)

American poet, essayist, and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson explores “the background of our being” in one of his most popular essays called “The Over-Soul.” “We live in succession, in division, in parts, in particles. Meantime, within man is the soul of the whole; the wise silence, the universal beauty, to which every part and particle […]

Falling out of the Nest (St. Augustine)

Falling out of the Nest (St. Augustine)

St. Augustine’s Confessions is a story about one man’s struggles in a materialistic world, but, ultimately, it’s about his redemption. “Have pity, O Lord God, lest they who go by the way trample on the unfledged bird, and send Thine angel to replace it into the nest, that it may live, till it can fly.” […]

Race Unity Reconsidered (Interfaith Writings)

Race Unity Reconsidered (Interfaith Writings)

This episode looks at the theme of race unity from diverse faith and wisdom traditions, asking how we can honor everyone’s humanity and nobility. “This call for a world-wide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one’s tribe, race, class and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all men.” […]

All You Need is Love (Bahá’u’lláh)

All You Need is Love (Bahá’u’lláh)

Love between the Creator and the created one is a core theme of The Hidden Words – one the most mystical works in the Bahá’í Faith. “O Son of Man! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore, I created thee, have engraved […]

Calm in the Storm (English Verse, Part 2)

Calm in the Storm (English Verse, Part 2)

Revisiting some 19th and 20th Century poems that call us to a place of introspection and tranquility. “I know no birth, I know no death that chills; I fear no fate nor fashion, cause nor creed, I shall outdream the slumber of the hills, I am the bud, the flower, I the seed: For I […]