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The Emerald

The Shamanic Vonnegut: Or, The Fine Art of Hearing the Purple Hum

Aug 6, 2019
The podcast explores the relationship of the trance state to the violet hum, drawing on Zen koans, Greek myths, and Tantric visions of consciousness. It discusses the character Billy Pilgrim in Slaughterhouse Five and his experiences of being unstuck in time. The chapter also explores the concept of merging into the present moment, the blind seer in Greek tradition, and the practices of sound and meditation in tantric and yogic practices.
33:57

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The concept of merging into the present moment through meditative practice resonates with the idea of the protagonist becoming unstuck in time in Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse Five.
  • The hum represents a state of trance and oneness in various cultures, inviting individuals to connect with the primal sound of the universe through meditation and dissolve the ego.

Deep dives

The Yogic Journey of Billy Pilgrim

In this podcast episode, the mythic lens with which Kurt Vonnegut's novel 'Slaughterhouse 5' is explored is highlighted. The protagonist, Billy Pilgrim, becomes unstuck in time, experiencing past, present, and future simultaneously. This concept resonates with the yogic idea of merging into the present moment through meditative practice. The journey of the individual soul is compared to a pilgrimage, aiming to reach a state of absorption where all times merge. The practice involves focusing on the breath, repetition, and the subtle humming sound. This podcast episode delves into the connection between Vonnegut's work, yogic practices, and the timeless nature of existence.

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