I may have mentioned before that I've become hooked on a show on The Sundance channel called "Iconoclasts".
This show pairs two social icons; they spend time with each other and talk about each other's influence on each other and on the world . Sometimes, at first glance, the combination seems highly odd. But near the middle of the show, the commonalities woven between the two far outnumber the differences.
Past shows have paired Dave Chapelle and Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra and Mike Myers, Mikhail Barishnikov and food guru Alice Waters. The episode I just watched combined Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Richard Branson.
You would think that Desmond Tutu would rank right up there in spiritual 'otherness' with the Dalai Lama.
Sure, the man is an icon, and considered one of the world's most esteemed "Elders" - but what I saw was a man with a who giggled like a schoolgirl, told corny jokes, and was not too proud to admit he needed swimming lessons. He is human, and it is this humility that shapes his spirituality.
Today's TT comes from one of the many books in my personal library that have to do with what I constantly struggle with - finding purpose and meaning in one's life.
It's called "The Call: Discovering Why You are Here", and the quote is this:
"The truth is, no life is inherently more 'spiritual' than another, no personality or set of ego characteristics more readily available to an awareness of the still and sacred presence we are than another. All personalities have slightly different struggles on the road to waking up to who we are and why we are here.
Some will have to sit with the urge to strike out when angry while some will have to struggle with the tendency to repress anger and the consequences that brings. Some may have to learn to be quiet more often while others have to learn to speak out. Some may need to act more quickly or more often while others more frequently need to sit still and wait.
We all have patterns of behaviour and preferences that come from a combination of our inherent temperment and developmental learning, just like we have certain physical characteristics as a result of nature and nurture...This does not mean that we are doomed to unconsciously live out the patterns of our ego. It means that we have to know ourselves, have to bring to consciousness with deep honesty our tendencies and patterns, our strengths and weaknesses, our vulnerabilities and fears, if we are to find freewill choices in how we live."
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
This show pairs two social icons; they spend time with each other and talk about each other's influence on each other and on the world . Sometimes, at first glance, the combination seems highly odd. But near the middle of the show, the commonalities woven between the two far outnumber the differences.
Past shows have paired Dave Chapelle and Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra and Mike Myers, Mikhail Barishnikov and food guru Alice Waters. The episode I just watched combined Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Richard Branson.
You would think that Desmond Tutu would rank right up there in spiritual 'otherness' with the Dalai Lama.
Sure, the man is an icon, and considered one of the world's most esteemed "Elders" - but what I saw was a man with a who giggled like a schoolgirl, told corny jokes, and was not too proud to admit he needed swimming lessons. He is human, and it is this humility that shapes his spirituality.
Today's TT comes from one of the many books in my personal library that have to do with what I constantly struggle with - finding purpose and meaning in one's life.
It's called "The Call: Discovering Why You are Here", and the quote is this:
"The truth is, no life is inherently more 'spiritual' than another, no personality or set of ego characteristics more readily available to an awareness of the still and sacred presence we are than another. All personalities have slightly different struggles on the road to waking up to who we are and why we are here.
Some will have to sit with the urge to strike out when angry while some will have to struggle with the tendency to repress anger and the consequences that brings. Some may have to learn to be quiet more often while others have to learn to speak out. Some may need to act more quickly or more often while others more frequently need to sit still and wait.
We all have patterns of behaviour and preferences that come from a combination of our inherent temperment and developmental learning, just like we have certain physical characteristics as a result of nature and nurture...This does not mean that we are doomed to unconsciously live out the patterns of our ego. It means that we have to know ourselves, have to bring to consciousness with deep honesty our tendencies and patterns, our strengths and weaknesses, our vulnerabilities and fears, if we are to find freewill choices in how we live."
4 comments:
For a future episode of Iconoclasts, I envision you talking with that so-called royalty, that Lady that claims that she is the Queen of England. We loyal readers know who the true royalty is.
Waking up is hard to do, whether it's first thing in the morning or in the middle of a chaotic life. Nurturing the seeds of awareness yields a garden harvest of compassion and insight.
Now, wheeeeere is my coffeee?? (There is no Awake of any sort until that first cup...)
Wise words, thank you for sharing them.
I believe I'm here to host Blog Fests and to provide housing for insects, and a resting place for cat vomit. The Blog Fest part is the best.
"an awareness of the still and sacred presence we are"
The tragedy is some never do. The reassurance is that some do magnificently, and that the rest of us try.
Beautiful post,
Doc
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