Faisal Mohyuddin’s poem “Prayer” describes a practice of devotion. It’s a spacious and hospitable poem, filled with references to ritual and the body, and an invitation to share in the warm light of a household lamp.
A question to reflect on after you listen: What rituals do you use to anchor yourself?
Jan 16
W.S. Merwin — For The Anniversary of My Death
W.S. Merwin’s “For The Anniversary of My Death” is a slim, precise poem — just 13 lines made up of 84 words — about the very weightiest of subjects, one’s future death. With it, Merwin has crafted an elegant vessel, a small and sturdy container to hold some of life’s big question ... Show More
15m 17s
Jan 12
Kimblerly Blaeser - my journal records the vestiture of doppelgangers
Words can’t quite fully capture the activity, oddity, and awe that is everywhere around us, but poet Kimberly Blaeser makes a gorgeous attempt in her poem “my journal records the vestiture of doppelgangers.” The three stanzas overflow with an exuberance of colorful creatures — fr ... Show More
20m 8s
Oct 2021
Poetry, the Language of Religion
To celebrate its 500th edition, Beyond Belief has recorded a special programme at the Contains Strong Language poetry festival in Coventry. From the stage of the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry to discuss the theme of ‘Poetry as the Language of Religion’, Ernie Rea is joined by a di ... Show More
39m 57s
Aug 2021
Kaveh Akbar : Pilgrim Bell
<p>Today’s guest, poet Kaveh Akbar, discusses his latest poetry collection Pilgrim Bell. Given that Akbar once suggested that syntax was identity, how do the changes in Akbar’s own poetry, from his first collection to now, reflect changes in himself as a person? Akbar talks about ... Show More
2h 11m
Aug 2022
Living in Not-Knowing with Jenny Beal and Rachna Chowla: Openness and Spontaneity
<p>In this Living in Not-Knowing podcast with Jenny Beal, Rachna Chowla describes her spiritual journey from a traditional Vedanta school, via the Buddhist tradition of the Dalai Lama and the poetry of Rumi, to arrive at the Direct Path teaching of Rupert Spira and Francis Lucill ... Show More
56m 35s
Oct 2021
Pádraig Ó Tuama and Marilyn Nelson – “So let us pick up the stones over which we stumble, friends, and build altars”
Where to turn to find my place of standing when it feels like the world is on fire? This question surfaced in a public conversation Krista had just a couple of years ago with Pádraig Ó Tuama and Marilyn Nelson, two poet-contemplatives. Pádraig weaves together social healing, poet ... Show More
50m 47s
Aug 2023
Ibn al-Farid - The Mystical Poet of Love
<p>Explore the mystical world of Sufi poetry with Ibn al-Farid, one of the greatest poets of the genre. In this episode, we delve into the life and works of this revered 13th-century poet, examining the spiritual and philosophical themes that make his poetry so enduring. From his ... Show More
36m 58s
Nov 2018
Anne Lamott: Three Prayers for Challenging Times
<p>New York Times best-selling author, public speaker and writing teacher Anne Lamott discusses what she says are the three types of prayers that can help anyone through challenging times. Anne says it's easy to thank God when life is going well, but when times get tough, she say ... Show More
30m 10s