Turning to the Mystics with James Finley cover image

Turning to the Mystics with James Finley

T.S. Eliot: Session 3

Oct 14, 2024
Dive into T.S. Eliot's 'Four Quartets' as the podcast reflects on the delicate balance between nature and technology, emphasizing nature's enduring power. Explore personal growth through the insights of the Bhagavad Gita, celebrating love and nonviolence. Discover the evolving journey of self, urging mindfulness in the present while navigating time. Delve into the richness of prayer and its connection to eternity, highlighting the need for sincerity and deeper spiritual engagement in a distracting world.
46:55

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The metaphor of the river in 'Dry Salvages' highlights the tension between nature's raw essence and modern technological conveniences, prompting a reconnection with the primordial self.
  • The poem explores the cycle of loss and the role of meditation in transcending time, revealing a deeper spiritual awareness beyond suffering and grief.

Deep dives

The Relationship Between Time and the Primordial

The poem 'Dry Salvages' uses the metaphor of a river to explore the tension between the primordial forces of nature and the modern reliance on technology. The river, described as a 'strong brown god,' represents nature's enduring and untamed essence, which society often forgets after building conveniences like bridges. This estrangement from the natural world raises deeper questions about our relationship with the primordial within ourselves and across our lives. Ultimately, the poem invites a reflection on how to heal from this exile and reconnect with the elemental aspects of existence.

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