Perennial Wisdom

The Search for Meaning with Simon Drew | Living the Questions

May 22, 2024

Simon Drew, a poet, musician, and philosopher from the Walled Garden Philosophical Society, discusses profound questions about life's meaning. He emphasizes the significance of finding purpose in everyday relationships and actions. The conversation explores the duality of happiness and suffering, advocating for resilience amid challenges. Drew reflects on the journey of self-discovery and the role of love, while highlighting the importance of humanities in understanding our shared human experience. The dialogue culminates in a call for continuous exploration of these essential questions.

01:27:19

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Episode guests

Simon Drew

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Quick takeaways

Finding meaning deeply rooted in everyday actions and relationships, such as being a loving spouse and parent, enhances one's sense of purpose.

Discernment and clarity are vital for identifying core values and creating a significant, meaningful life experience.

Holding onto hope and resilience in the face of suffering is essential for navigating life's challenges and finding deeper meaning.

Deep dives

Exploring the Meaning of Life

The concept of life's meaning is examined, emphasizing that being alive is often considered the ultimate purpose. This perspective aligns with philosophical views like those of Alan Watts, who suggests that life's essence lies in the experience itself rather than searching for external validation. The conversation highlights how individuals frequently rush through life seeking meaning, forgetting to appreciate the journey. There is an encouragement to find joy in the inherent adventure of living, as this may lead to a deeper understanding of one's purpose.

Intro

2min

The Meaning of Life and Duality of Experience

19min

Journey to Self-Discovery and Love's Role

28min

Finding Resilience in Suffering: Stoicism and Empathy

4min

The Importance of Humanities in Understanding Human Experience

10min

Embracing Wisdom Through Life's Trials

21min

Reflections on a Meaningful Journey

2min

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In this episode of In Search of Wisdom, my guest is Simon Drew from the Walled Garden Philosophical Society. As many of you know, Simon is a friend, poet, musician, philosopher, and someone deeply interested in life’s questions. Today’s episode concludes the series “Living the Questions” (You can catch up on the previous five volumes here: I, II, III, IV, & V). Throughout this series, Simon and I have explored several perennial questions and attempted to follow the poet Ranier Maria Rilke’s advice to “Live the questions for now. Perhaps then, without even noticing it, you will gradually come, on some far-off day, to live your way into the answer.” In our final conversation in this series, Simon and I explore the question: “What is the meaning of life?” We discuss the importance of finding meaning in everyday life. We explore the themes of interdependence and interconnectedness, maturity and wisdom, aligning oneself with what truly matters, the role of hardships, and much more.

Key Takeaways:

Finding meaning in everyday actions and relationships, such as being a loving spouse and parent, can bring a sense of purpose.
Discernment and clarity are essential in identifying what matters most and creating meaning in our lives.
Finding meaning amid suffering can be a challenge, but holding onto hope and resilience is crucial.

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