About this episode
Today we explore the story of the Buddha’s awakening through a mythic lens with Buddhist writer and teacher, John Tarrant. We touch into topics like Zen koan, grief, death, art, and how this timeless parable of the Buddh’s story still resonants for thousands of years. John Tarrant is a Zen teacher, writer, and poet who has studied koans for over forty years. He is director of the Pacific Zen Institute and teaches culture change in organizations. Tarrant holds degrees in human sciences and English literature and a PhD in psychology. For twenty years, he was a Jungian psychotherapist working on dream analysis. He is the author of several books, including The Light Inside the Dark: Zen, Soul, and the Spiritual Life and Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life and his most recent book The Story of the Buddha . He lives among the vineyards near Santa Rosa, California. Topics 00:00 Introduction 00:52 Introducing John Tarrant 02:07 Discussing 'The Story of the Buddha' 03:36 The Mythic Universe and Dreamlike Qualities 08:25 Illustrations and Artistic Choices 10:24 The Living Dharma and Personal Reflections 15:23 Modern Life and Spiritual Growth 18:26 Embracing Suffering and Death 22:19 Catholicism and Mysticism 27:57 The Light Inside the Dark 33:48 The Power of Noble Conversations 34:10 Craving and Contentment 34:44 Collective Grief and Environmental Collapse 36:05 The Enlightenment of a Samurai 38:07 The Buddha's Awakening and Interdependence 40:09 Dreams and Their Significance 42:59 Meditation and Connection with Animals 51:00 The Intimacy of Not Knowing 54:54 Returning to the Fire 56:13 Sharing the Dhamma Resources John Tarrant’s Website: Tarrant Works The Story of the Buddha by John Tarrant : Shambhala Publications Roberto Calasso: Explore Roberto Calasso’s Works Sounds of SAND #113 Ancient Rhythms Podcast: Pat McCabe & Francis Weller Sounds of SAND #98 Glissando of Consciousness: Andrew Holecek Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life by John Tarrant The Light Inside the Dark: Zen, Soul, and the Spiritual Life by John Tarrant Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member