Sounds True Logo

[ENCORE EPISODE] Coleman Barks: Rumi, Grace, and Human Friendship

    —
March 5, 2026
Music

[ENCORE EPISODE] Coleman Barks: Rumi, Grace, and Human Friendship

Coleman Barks — March 5, 2026

An encore presentation in honor of Coleman Barks, who passed away on February 23, 2026. Tami Simon speaks with Coleman, a leading scholar and translator of the 13th-century Persian mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi. Coleman’s work was the subject of an hour-long segment in Bill Moyers’ Language of Life series with PBS. He has published numerous Rumi translations, including with Sounds True the audio programs I Want Burning, Rumi: The Voice of Longing, and his new three-CD collaboration with cellist David Darling called Just Being Here: Rumi and Human Friendship. In this episode, Tami speaks with Coleman about the extraordinary friendship between Rumi and his teacher, Shams Tabriz, and how translating Rumi requires entering a trance state. Coleman offers insights on grace as he and Tami listen to selections from Just Being Here.

Photo of ()\

Coleman Barks is a leading scholar and translator of the 13th-century Persian mystic Jelaluddin Rumi. In addition to publishing two books of his own poetry (The Juice and Gourd Seed), Barks has published 12 volumes of translations from Rumi and others, and contributed to over 20 anthologies. The next edition of the Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces will include selections of his Rumi translations. He is currently a member of the English Department at the University of Georgia.

Author photo © John Zeuli 2011


Listen to Tami Simon's interview with Coleman Barks: Rumi, Grace, and Human Friendship

Posted March 5, 2026
[ss_social_share]

900 Episodes and Counting…

Subscribe to Insights at the Edge to hear all of Tami’s interviews (transcripts available too!), featuring Eckhart Tolle, Caroline Myss, Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, Adyashanti, and many more.

Apple Podcasts
YouTube
Spotify
RSS

Meet Your Host: Tami Simon

Each week on Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon interviews leading voices in the Mind/Body/Spirit space about a vast spectrum of fascinating ideas. Since 2009, Tami and her guests have been exploring the edge of understanding, nearly 1,000 episodes on the honest work of change, including spiritual discovery, awakening, intuition, purpose, trauma, and grief.

Photo © Jason Elias

Also By Author

See All
podcast
Post Views: 1,464
Music

[ENCORE EPISODE] Coleman Barks: Rumi, Grace, and Human...

Coleman Barks — March 5, 2026

An encore presentation in honor of Coleman Barks, who passed away on February 23, 2026. Tami Simon speaks with Coleman, a leading scholar and translator of the 13th-century Persian mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi. Coleman’s work was the subject of an hour-long segment in Bill Moyers’ Language of Life series with PBS. He has published numerous Rumi translations, including with Sounds True the audio programs I Want Burning, Rumi: The Voice of Longing, and his new three-CD collaboration with cellist David Darling called Just Being Here: Rumi and Human Friendship. In this episode, Tami speaks with Coleman about the extraordinary friendship between Rumi and his teacher, Shams Tabriz, and how translating Rumi requires entering a trance state. Coleman offers insights on grace as he and Tami listen to selections from Just Being Here.

podcast
Post Views: 19,976
Spirituality

Coleman Barks: Rumi, Grace, and Human Friendship

Coleman Barks — April 6, 2021

Tami Simon speaks with Coleman Barks, a leading scholar and translator of the 13th-century Persian mystic Jelaluddin Rumi. Coleman’s work was the subject of an hour-long segment in Bill Moyers’s The Language of Life series on PBS. He has published numerous Rumi translations, including with Sounds True the audio programs I Want Burning: The Ecstatic World of Rumi, Hafiz, and Lalla; Rumi: Voice of Longing; and his three-part collaboration with cellist David Darling called Just Being Here: Rumi and Human Friendship. In this episode, Tami speaks with Coleman about the extraordinary friendship between Rumi and his teacher Shams Tabrizi, and how translating Rumi requires entering a trance state. Coleman offers insights on grace as he and Tami listen to selections from Just Being Here. 

 

Click  here to listen to  Holiday Without Limits by Coleman Barks

podcast
0
Post Views: 2,296
Shamanism Spirituality

Coleman Barks: Rumi, Grace, and Human Friendship

Coleman Barks — March 11, 2014

Tami Simon speaks with Coleman Barks, a leading scholar and translator of the 13th century Persian mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi. Coleman’s work was the subject of an hour-long segment in Bill Moyers’ Language of Life series with PBS. He has published numerous Rumi translations, including with Sounds True the audio programs I Want Burning, Rumi: Voice of Longing, and his new three-CD collaboration with cellist David Darling called Just Being Here: Rumi and Human Friendship. In this episode, Tami speaks with Coleman about the extraordinary friendship between Rumi and his teacher Shams Tabriz, and how translating Rumi requires entering a trance state. Coleman offers insights on grace as he and Tami listen to selections from Just Being Here. (63 minutes)

You Might Also Enjoy

podcast
Post Views: 2,098
Health & Healing Music

Jeff Strong: Drum Healing

Jeff Strong — July 11, 2017

Jeff Strong is a sound researcher and percussionist whose rhythm-based therapeutic music has been used in clinical settings worldwide. With Sounds True, Jeff has created several albums of rhythmic entrainment music, including The Better Sleep Program and The Focus and Attention Program. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Jeff about the concept of brain entrainment through rhythm and how it has deep roots in tribal ceremony. They talk about the therapeutic application of this music for anxiety, ADHD, autism, and mood disorders, and explain the difference between rhythmic entrainment and “neuro beat” recordings. Finally, Jeff offers two excerpts from The Brain Shift Collection for calming and the exploration of deep meditative states. (66 minutes)

podcast
Post Views: 1,923
Music Subtle Energy

Natalie Southgate: Chakradance

Natalie Southgate — June 13, 2016

Natalie Southgate is an internationally respected teacher who drew upon her background in psychology, dance, and energy healing to create the ecstatic movement practice now known as Chakradance. With Sounds True, Natalie has released the DVD 7 Keys to Freedom and its companion CD of the same name. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon and Natalie Southgate talk about the origins, principles, and healing possibilities of Chakradance. They discuss the influence of music upon the chakras and why it is so important that we balance our energy centers in order to release pain and trauma. Finally, Natalie shares three pieces of music from the 7 Keys to Freedom CD—each designed to work with a different chakra.
(65 minutes)

podcast
Post Views: 861
Music Relationships

The Book of Rounds

October Project — December 8, 2015

October Project features composer Emil Adler, poet-lyricist Julie Flanders, and vocalist Marina Belica. With Sounds True, the group has most recently released the album The Book of Rounds: 21 Songs of Grace. In this special episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon converses with the members of October Project about the power of the human voice and the pure, direct joy of a cappella singing. They speak on the shape and intent of The Book of Rounds, detailing the complexity of singing in rounds and the aural journey created by the album. Finally, Tami and October Project share and comment upon four different songs from The Book of Rounds. (61 minutes)

Sounds True Logo

Sounds True is a multimedia publishing company founded in 1985 by Tami Simon, with the mission of disseminating spiritual wisdom. The company is based in Lafayette, Colorado.

Menu

Listen to Sounds True playlists on

Spotify Logo

Connect With Us

Facebook Youtube Instagram Pinterest

© 2024 Sounds True. All rights reserved.

Accessibility  | Privacy Policy  | Terms & Conditions