Iain McGilchrist on The Divided Brain and Perceiving the Sacred
Nov 1, 2023
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Dr. Iain McGilchrist discusses his exposure to religion, transition to psychiatry, left-hemispheric dominant thinking's impact on society, concept of the sacred, values of truth, goodness, and beauty, role of spirituality and literature in shaping childhood, influence of hemisphere differences in perception, state of divisiveness and tribalism, importance of formation and resisting binary thinking, moral act of attention, and significance of embracing marginalized perspectives.
Embracing metaphor, poetry, music, narrative, and rituals enhances our understanding and connection to the sacred.
Cultivating mindfulness and embracing the right hemisphere's intuitive understanding can help reconnect with the sacred in daily life.
Openness to different perspectives and embracing uncertainty fosters a more inclusive and interconnected common life.
Deep dives
The Importance of Metaphor and Embodiment
The podcast episode discusses the significance of metaphor and embodiment in understanding the sacred and the world around us. It highlights how relying solely on a mechanistic view of the world, like the machine metaphor, limits our understanding and connection to the sacred. The conversation emphasizes the need to embrace metaphor, poetry, music, narrative, and rituals to fully experience the depth and richness of the sacred. It also points out that the left hemisphere-dominated thinking prevalent in our society hinders our ability to grasp the fullness of the sacred. To resist growing tribalism and polarization, the podcast encourages a shift in mindset to open ourselves to different perspectives and ways of understanding, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic common life.
Reconnecting with the Sacred
The podcast episode explores the ways in which we can reconnect with the sacred in our daily lives. It urges listeners to explore mindfulness as a way to quiet the left hemisphere's dominance and create space for the right hemisphere's intuitive and embodied understanding of the sacred. By cultivating patience, silence, and openness, individuals can invite spiritual experiences and revelations. The episode emphasizes the importance of deconstructing the mechanistic view of the world and reimagining our relationship with the sacred through poetry, music, contemplation, and rituals. It encourages listeners to recognize the limitations of their own perspectives and to approach spirituality with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to listen and learn.
Embracing Fluidity and Uncertainty
The podcast episode highlights the value of embracing fluidity and uncertainty in our understanding of the sacred and in navigating the complexities of our current world. It critiques the rigidity and certainty often associated with modern thinking, advocating for a more open and imaginative approach. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing our limited knowledge and being open to different perspectives and interpretations. It suggests that by reframing our understanding of reality and adopting a disposition marked by compassion, wonder, and humility, we can foster a greater appreciation for the sacred and navigate a more inclusive and interconnected common life.
The importance of right hemisphere stroke
The podcast episode discusses the significant impact of right hemisphere stroke compared to left hemisphere stroke. While the effects of a left hemisphere stroke, such as difficulty moving the right hand and speaking, are more easily identifiable, the consequences of a right hemisphere stroke are broader and more challenging to rehabilitate. The speaker found this distinction fascinating and conducted research on asymmetries in the brain, particularly in relation to schizophrenia. The loss of normal asymmetry in the brain can result in a different perception of the world and is linked to artistic expressions in modernism.
The differences between left and right hemispheres
The podcast explores the fundamental differences between the left and right hemispheres in how they perceive and comprehend the world. The left hemisphere is associated with manipulating and categorizing the world based on fixed, known, and decontextualized information. In contrast, the right hemisphere is more attuned to understanding the world through context, interconnectedness, emotion, and embodied experiences. The speaker highlights the importance of attention as a moral act, suggesting that giving adequate attention to both hemispheres is crucial for a balanced and more comprehensive understanding of the world.
Iain McGilchrist is a globally acclaimed psychiatrist and writer author of groundbreaking books ‘The Master And His Emissary’ and ‘The Matter With Things’.
Iain spoke with Elizabeth about the varying exposures he had to religion in his childhood, how he went from being an English academic to psychiatry, and the effect left-hemispheric dominant thinking has had on our society.
Find out more about Iain's work here: https://channelmcgilchrist.com/
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