NEW RUMI CENTER COURSE
An 8-Week Journey through Book One of the Mathnawi
A Timeless Guide to the Human Soul
In this course we will explore Book One of the Mathnawi as Rumi’s map of spiritual awakening. Through a close reading of its most important teaching stories, we will uncover the stages of the soul’s journey—from the illusions of ego-consciousness to the freedom of the awakened heart.
Few works in world literature explore the inner life with the depth and brilliance of Rumi’s Mathnawi. This six-volume masterpiece is not merely poetry—it is a profound guide to the transformation of the human soul.
Rumi’s genius lies in his ability to communicate the deepest spiritual insights through symbol, story, and poetry. His characters are mirrors of our own inner life, revealing both the traps of the ego and the hidden capacities of the soul.
Across eight weeks we will engage these stories together, discovering why Rumi’s teachings continue to speak so powerfully to readers across cultures and centuries.
WHAT YOU WILL EXPLORE
In this course you will discover:
Rumi’s map of the soul and the stages of inner transformation
The difference between the ego-self and the awakened heart
The symbolism behind Rumi’s most famous teaching stories
How poetry can function as a tool of spiritual awakening
The deeper meaning of key Sufi concepts such as
nafs (the ego/self)
qalb (the spiritual heart)
tawḥīd (divine unity)
ʿishq (divine love)
fanāʾ (annihilation of the ego)
baqāʾ (abiding in God)
ikhlāṣ (sincerity)
maʿrifa (direct knowledge of the Divine)
We will also learn how these teachings for uncovering the essential self can be applied practically in contemporary life, offering insight into the challenges of the modern spiritual seeker.
Why Study the Mathnawi?
For centuries the Mathnawi has been regarded throughout the Muslim world as one of the greatest works of spiritual wisdom ever written.
It is not simply a book of beautiful poetry—it is a guide to self-knowledge and experiential knowledge of God.
Within its stories Rumi examines:
The illusions and strategies of the ego
The nature of authentic love
The awakening of the heart
The path toward intimacy with the Divine
By studying Book One closely, we gain the keys to understanding the rest of Rumi’s work and the broader Sufi tradition.
Course Structure
Each week we will explore one of the major discourses of Book One of the Mathnawi, unpacking its symbolism and spiritual insights.
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We begin with the famous opening lines of the Mathnawi, the Song of the Reed, where Rumi introduces the soul’s longing for its divine source. These verses serve as a key to the entire work. We then explore the first great teaching story, The King and the Handmaiden, which Rumi calls “the essence of our state.” Through this story we uncover the difference between misplaced love and true love and the spiritual healing required for the soul to awaken.
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In this celebrated story Rumi explores the nature of knowledge and discernment. Through the encounter between the lion and the clever hare, he reveals the difference between the partial intellect of the ego and the deeper wisdom of the Universal Intellect. The story also exposes one of the most dangerous traps on the spiritual path: the arrogance of thinking we already understand.
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One of the most beloved stories of the Mathnawi, this discourse reveals the hidden cage of ego-identity. The parrot’s mysterious message contains one of Rumi’s most profound teachings about spiritual liberation. Through this story we explore the paradox that true freedom often requires a symbolic death of the false self.
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The longest discourse in Book One unfolds as a series of interconnected teaching stories. Within it, Rumi exposes the subtle deceptions of the ego that can mislead even sincere seekers. Stories such as The Grammarian and the Boatman reveal how attachment to pride, intellect, or appearances can veil us from deeper truth.
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In this second lion story, Rumi presents a deeper stage of spiritual realization. By contrasting different responses to the lion, he illustrates the difference between ego-centered action and true surrender. The story becomes a powerful meditation on tawḥīd—the unity of all reality in the Divine.
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Through the story of Joseph and his friend, Rumi introduces one of the central symbols of Sufi spirituality: the heart as a mirror. The human heart has the capacity to reflect the light of reality—but it must first be polished. This week we explore how ego, distraction, and attachment cloud the heart and how spiritual practice restores its clarity.
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In the final story of Book One, Rumi presents a powerful example of perfect sincerity and spiritual mastery. When Imam Ali faces his enemy in battle, an unexpected moment reveals the true meaning of ikhlāṣ—acting purely for the sake of God. This story reveals the culmination of the spiritual path and the character of the awakened soul.
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In our final session we step back and view Book One as a complete map of the soul’s journey. The stories we have studied reveal the stages of transformation from the ego’s illusions to the freedom of the awakened heart. We conclude by reflecting on how these teachings can guide our own spiritual lives and prepare us to explore the rest of the Mathnawi.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Baraka Blue, Course Facilitator and Teacher (note: video is auto-muted)
LIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
Live Sessions are bi-weekly on Sundays at 9AM PT / 12 PT ET.
1st Live Session: May 3, 2026
2nd Live Session: May 17, 2026
3rd Live Session: May 31, 2026
Last Live Session: June 14, 2026
WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?
This course is designed for:
• Readers who love Rumi and want to understand his teachings in their original depth and context
• Students of spirituality interested in Sufism and Islamic wisdom traditions
• Seekers exploring spiritual psychology and the path of awakening
• Anyone drawn to the transformative power of poetry and symbolic storytelling
No prior knowledge of the Mathnawi or Sufism is required.
What Makes This Course Unique
Many modern presentations of Rumi focus only on inspirational quotations.
This course returns to the original teaching context of the Mathnawi.
Together we will explore:
• Rumi’s stories in their full narrative and symbolic depth
• Classical Sufi interpretations of the path of the soul
• Connections to other major wisdom traditions
• Practical insights for integrating these teachings into everyday life
The result is a deeper encounter with Rumi—not simply as a poet of love, but as one of humanity’s greatest spiritual guides.
JOIN THE JOURNEY
The Mathnawi is not merely a text—it is a mirror of the seeker’s own heart.
To study it carefully is to embark on a journey of self-knowledge and transformation.
If you are drawn to the wisdom of Rumi and the path of love he describes, we invite you to join us for this exploration of Book One of the Mathnawi.
Enrollment is now open.
PRICING OPTIONS & REGISTRATION
Payment can be made as a one-time registration fee of $399.
(Best value)
Payment plan available:
2 monthly payments of $211.
Note: Payment is processed automatically and remains due regardless of course completion. ($422 in total)
Terms & Conditions
All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges.
Payment is processed automatically and is required regardless of course completion.
Course access may be shared only with immediate family members residing in the same household.
You will have access to the online course for 1-year until April 26, 2027.
Unauthorized distribution or sharing of course materials outside your household is not permitted.
Access to course content is for personal, non-commercial use only.
By enrolling in Rumi Center’s online courses, you agree to these terms.
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about your teacher
B a r a k a B l u e
Baraka Blue is a poet, educator, and founder of the Rumi Center for Spirituality and the Arts. His work explores the intersection of poetry, spirituality, and the inner sciences of the soul.
He holds a BA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and an MA in Islamic Studies, where his academic work focused on classical Islamic thought, Sufism, and the rich literary traditions of the Persian and Arabic worlds. Alongside his academic training, he has also studied with Sufi teachers across the Muslim world, gaining direct exposure to living traditions of spiritual practice and transmission.
For more than two decades he has studied the works of Rumi, Ibn ʿArabī, al-Ghazālī, and other masters of the Sufi tradition, exploring how their insights illuminate the perennial questions of human existence: the nature of the self, the meaning of love, and the path to spiritual awakening.
As a poet and performer, Baraka Blue has shared his work internationally through concerts, lectures, and retreats. His creative work bridges classical spiritual wisdom with contemporary artistic expression, bringing the teachings of the great traditions into dialogue with modern life.
Through the Rumi Center, he offers courses, retreats, and programs devoted to the study of the world’s great wisdom texts and the cultivation of spiritual insight through art, literature, and contemplative practice.
His teaching approach combines close reading of classical texts, philosophical reflection, and practical spiritual insight, helping students engage these teachings not only as historical works but as living guides to the transformation of the self.