New Monastics Poetry Share: Impotence & The All-Possible with Deepa Patel

In this episode, Netanel plays hooky, and Daniel is joined by Deepa Patel, a teacher of Inayati Sufism, partner of the Charis Foundation, and recurring guest, to share poems close to each of their hearts.

In the course of reading and reflecting on the poems listed below, they explore coping with harrowing world events, honoring the preciousness of lost lives, unity consciousness as a reservoir of strength, being lifted out of impotence, the action of stillness, the 'hard work' and courage of becoming oneself, the mental prisons in which we trap ourselves, singing our unique 'song,' the power of poetry, embracing the all-possible, following the seed of our longing, the 'cookie-cutter nature' of Capitalism vs. the revolution of individuality, the silence between words, the purifying effect of our authenticity being challenged, humility and inspiration in the face of great practitioners, and how all 'rays bow before the Sun.' 

List of Poems Read:

ON ANOTHER PANEL ABOUT CLIMATE, THEY ASK ME TO SELL THE FUTURE AND ALL I’VE GOT IS A LOVE POEM — Ayisha Siddiqa

The Scripture of The Golden Eternity [Verses 64-66] — Jack Kerouac

Now I Become Myself — May Sarton

Untitled — Patrizia Cavalli (Tr. Geoffrey Brock)

Go to the Limits of Your Longing — Ranier Maria Rilke

The Imposter — Shaykh Ahmad Al-Alawi (Tr. Martin Lings)


Charis Foundation

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