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This week we talk to Mark Nepo about the mysteries of life
Mark Nepo is a poet, philosopher and cancer survivor who has taught in the fields of poetry, health, and spirituality for forty years. A New York Times #1 bestselling author, he has published numerous books and audio projects. Mark has appeared with Oprah Winfrey on her Super Soul Sunday program on OWN TV, and has also been interviewed by Robin Roberts on Good Morning America.
His book The Book of Awakening is considered a modern spiritual classic. His latest book is called Inside the Miracle: Enduring Suffering, Approaching Wholeness
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In This Interview Mark Nepo and I Discuss…
- The One You Feed parable
- Thinking of things as life affirming or life draining versus good and bad
- How none of us really understands the mystery of life
- How controlling and counting cuts off our access to the present moment
- Resisting inflating or deflating ourselves
- The real meaning of humility
- How only the heart can synthesize our experience
- The role and definition of paradox
- Substituting what is familiar for what is true
- The critical role of dialog and relation in a spiritual practice
- Viewing questions as a doorway to enter
- Difficulties as a path to openness
- Being a ‘spiritual warrior’
- The ‘terrible knowledge’
- How the knowledge of impermanence can ground us
- Balancing ambition and contentment
- Not choosing between becoming and being
Mark Nepo Links
Deborah says
Mark, let had met you in key west, 2012 after t he hurricane Sandy destroyed and killed 250 people.
Predictions by psychics untillike too late, they become true are then recieved. I have managed to survive with sufficient strength, poise and self confidence to overcome the long term.
I was still in shell shock from two very violent attacks, now it has come full circle
Like yourself, I have survived cancer, and now finding my voice, I will not allow the
In humane people who do these heinous things to try to keep us silent, where they thrive
Feeding them, to find more victims. Allowing us to grow and help others through the stages
Of healing. Mark you are great, like Gloria Steinem who helped beyond what I could ever have thought.
Mike says
Love your podcast and your message guys. This one really resonated with me and I’ve listened to it a few times on my daily commute.
Some takeaways for me (and we hear what we need to hear at any given time) are as follows:
“We work toward dreams, and a lot of times our dreams don’t come true. As long as we give our full heart and all of our work and effort to whatever we think we’re working on, our dreams may not come true, but by being so devoted, WE may come true.” -Mark Nepo
“Experience asks us to let everything in to absorb it and let it integrate; to let it synthesize. The mind can’t do that – only the heart can do that and when we can hold the truth of all things, then it releases a logic of the heart.” -Mark Nepo
“There’s a different between participating and engaging in life. When we do try to control things, which is impossible, we wind up becoming more and more anxious and irritated, and we wind up resenting the life around us that won’t stay controlled.” -Mark Nepo
I also enjoyed Mark’s point about writing about what he needs to learn for himself versus what he already knows – what an amazing approach as a writer. If we need to learn to be courageous and take risks, then write about being courageous and taking risks, etc. Brilliant stuff.
Eric / Chris… Thanks for the work you do – your show is a breath of fresh air.
Eric Zimmer says
Thanks Mike!!
I do the podcast about things I need to learn for sure.
Helen Vella says
My favorite parable which I use with most of my clients and remind them all the time. Great post and video. Thanks for sharing.