Showing results by narrator "Michael Toms" in All Categories

Drunk with the Divine, Rumi wrote 20,000 poems of mystical, ineffable love of God. "There is a ferocity in his longing that maybe we don't understand," says Barks. Listen in and understand a little better. A wondrous, exhilarating look at the exultant poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi, the 13th century Sufi poet, with Coleman Barks.

Father Dom Bede Griffiths was a revered mystic who grew beyond his Christian traditions to embrace and embody the philosophical grounding of eastern thought. His gift of unconditional love and the divine presence he brought to this world were transformative to his students. In this conversation, Brother Wayne Teasdale and Asha and Russill Paul share their experience of Father Bede and his legacy, and the promise it holds for the world we face today.

This internationally known physicist has developed a theory of quantum physics which addresses the totality of existence, including matter and consciousness, as an unbroken whole. The late Bohm's concept of "implicate order" provides a basis for bridging science to the realm of spirit. For two decades he explored this possibility with J. Krishnamurti, the famed religious teacher.

Leaving naivete behind may open up the wilder regions of maleness, where men can wrestle with their demons and, in time, reach maturity and balance, according to Bly, poet and men's workshop facilitator. This is a fascinating dialogue which explores the mystery of maleness and includes Bly's storytelling mastery and poetry.

Krishnamurti addresses love, greed, violence, separation, time, death, conflict, and fear, discussing them all with a clarity and insight that makes the entire spiritual landscape appear newly visible and replete with possibilities. Krishnamurti also has much to say about the source of our problems, both personal and planetary, with appropriate comments on how to resolve them.

A Christian monk who lived in India for over 30 years, the late Father Griffiths shares some remarkable insights about the contemplative life. He builds a bridge linking the Gnostic tradition of early Christianity and the mystical tradition streaming down through the centuries with the ancient philosophies of Vedanta and Buddhism. The results are fascinating and profound.

It's a perilous world after the fiery apocalypse of World War III, and John Thomas Rourke — ex-CIA Covert Operations Officer, weapons specialist, and survival expert — pursues his arch-enemy Vladmir Karamatsov into the strife-torn, blackened wilderness of mainland China and a rendezvous with certain death. Karamatsov, bent on the destruction of the entire world, is determined to seize control of the vast Communist Chinese nuclear arsenal that survived the hell-fire destruction of the Night of The War.

Topics explored in this dialogue include: why the life and work of Rumi is relevant in today's world, what is Rumi's connection to the Divine, comparisons of Rumi and other great religious leaders, why Rumi is skeptical about language, where do you find Rumi's passion in today's world, what Rumi might be doing if he were alive today, and what is the connection between Rumi's revelations and the Sufi tradition.

Have you ever harbored dreams of being a writer? You're far from alone. Have you wrestled time and again with a seeming inability to write? You've got even more company there. Now help is on the way, in the person of Gabriele Rico, professor of English and creative arts at San Jose State University.

Tom Baker reprises the role of the Fourth Doctor in the third of five thrilling brand new audio adventures, with Richard Franklin as Mike Yates. In Blandford, 1832, ringmaster Antonio exerts a strange influence on the townsfolk. When the Doctor steps into the ring, he discovers that Antonio has some familiar demons of his own... Written by the acclaimed Paul Magrs, The Circus of Doom also features Michael Maloney, Jilly Bond, Susie Riddell and Stephen Thorne.

In the weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29th, Audible reached out to customers in the affected area to offer help. Many customers responded and several agreed to be interviewed about their experience. Stories from the Storm was recorded in mid-November, in the days when many people were still clearing debris and figuring out how to restart their lives. These riveting stories will remind listeners of the heartbreak, confusion, and perseverance of the Katrina survivors.

"The whole job of learning how to produce miracles for yourself is to convince yourself that you already have this power," says Wayne Dyer. He describes the "real magic" available in every life as the undeveloped powers existing within each of us.

Michael Gelb explains what neuroplasticity means, and provides some low cost ways (including optimism!) to improve our brain power and resilience, and possibly prevent Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. He describes the benefits of challenging the brain to do something new, and other brain-enhancing activities, including meditation, wine in moderation, and naps!

How does a body of poetry written in a remote part of the world find its way to best seller lists in the U.S. over 700 years later? What is the compelling quality inherent in great literature that resonates throughout the ages? Coleman Barks, poet and translator of Jelalludin Rumi's poetry, explores the genius, mystery and rapture of Rumi's work; why he has become the most-read poet in America, and what his poetry has in common with the immortal writings of Dickinson, Emerson and Thoreau.

Making a living while following one's bliss is too often seen as an impossible dream, too idealistic, and pragmatically unattainable. Not so, according to Nancy Anderson, who provides a wealth of wisdom and myriad ways to discover your passion and follow your heart to a financially and personally rewarding career. She emphasizes the need to choose work that you love in order to lead a fully productive, integrated life - a life filled with happiness and satisfaction.

Best-selling motivational author and lecturer Wayne Dyer ignites your inspiration to be all you can be. "The danger is not that your hopes are too high and you fail to reach them, but that they are too low and you do."

In this interview, Dan Millman explores such questions as: Why am I here? What am I meant to do? What is my purpose? Dan has found through his research that there are four purposes and 12 required courses in the school of life that each of us are taking. He talks about the difference between career and calling, and how small acts of service lead to genuine fulfillment. Dan also explains why what you do has more impact than what you think or feel, and describes a mysterious but accurate method of pinpointing hidden gifts and drives.

An interview with Father Bede and two musician friends becomes a profoundly moving musical excursion through the deep truths and feelings of the various spiritual traditions represented in their South Indian Christian-Hindu ashram.

There are enormous gifts in growing older and wiser, and Angeles Arrien is working to help bring that awareness to our culture at large, to those of us who've passed the 50-year milestone - and also to those who are headed in that direction. Arrien identifies the opportunities we have in the second half of our lives to move beyond obligation and say yes to our natural rhythms and deepest desires.

Drawing on the wisdom gleaned from thriving mega-churches and innovative business leaders while anchoring their vision in the Eucharistic center of Catholic faith, Fr. Michael White and lay associate Tom Corcoran present the compelling and inspiring story to how they brought their parish back to life. Rebuilt is a story of stopping everything and changing focus. When their parish reached a breaking point, Fr. Michael White and lay associate Tom Corcoran asked themselves how they could make the Church matter to Catholics.