When I tell people how terrific the latest episode of Russell Brand’s podcast was, here’s how a reaction typically plays out: first, in a baffled tone, the underpodcasted South African asks me a variation of “what’s a podcast” and why in heavens would I be listening to one, and second, with a twinge of jugdement, offers me a variation of their distaste for Russell Brand. Here is my rebuttal. And here is how Brand is a messenger for the most overlooked healing human power.
On the first count, podcasting (synonymous to YouTube) is the most quick-fire tool for personal growth and development you’re not using.
People are shocked when they hear me say podcasts are easily one of the three most important things to happen to me on my journey to full recovery from chronic fatigue. It is a space of tremendous inspiration and motivation. It’s where the now and future of communication and connection is actually already happening. It’s where discussions and ideas are sparking the current consciousness evolution.
We as individuals are the seeds.
The podcast waves are the nutrient.
The collective consciousness is the soil.
Changed hearts and minds are the blossom.
On the second count, I can only say how woefully and unfairly Russell Brand is misjudged to be. Though, thankfully, that is being rectified. Long gone is the last proper rock-and-roll bad boy, Brand is now one of the most passionate and valuable voices to listen to regarding matters of addiction/recovery, spirituality, compassion and love.
How’s that, you say? Well, because he woke up. To what, you say? To what actually matters. As he tells it time and time again, he tried to fill the gaping holes inside of him with drugs and alcohol (and plenty of it) – didn’t work, he tried money – didn’t work either, celebrity – nope, sex (quite the volume as well) – not that either. As he explains it, he was trying to fix internal wounds with external bandages. That doesn’t work.
To heal your heart and soul, or your body and mind,
that starts from within the heart and soul itself.
Brand isn’t unique here. His vices are as they say the usual suspects – pleasure, money, validation, escape, status, power. Who among us haven’t ventured onto at least one of those paths to varying degrees only to figure out somewhere down that self-destructive round that there is a pointlessness to them, an emptiness, a nothingness. Brand sure did, and so did I. He is now on a quest to spark the only revolution he believes can, and I agree, combat the rampant consumerism, individuality and consequent dysfunction of our time that left unchecked will leave the planet depleted of life, including ourselves.
The quest to spark a spiritual revolution.
So, going back to the beginning, the latest episode (at the time of writing) of Brand’s Under the Skin podcast really was a good one. Brand spoke to Radhanath Swami, a monk focused on promoting better ways to live. But what stands out about this podcast is in the episode’s name – #061 – Practical Spirituality – More than Crystals and Candles. Now, I’m neither disparaging crystal nor candle, and neither was Brand, but the critical word is practical.
As much as I enjoy the intellectual rigor of the never-ending complexities of various ideologies, philosophies and possibilities, sometime ago it dawned on me how little practical use the majority of that mental masturbation offers. People are quite, even extremely, willing to criticize and critique everything under the sun, but far too few offer real world solutions. That’s like doing deeds of heroism in your head and doing nothing in the world around you – that’s neither heroic nor valuable.
That’s why the marriage of spirituality and practicality is acutely needed right now. The word spirituality is unfortunately marred by connotations of all sorts, from the aforementioned crystals to all sorts of cynicism around its woo-wooness.
But I believe spirituality to not only be the most overlooked
conversation regarding the world’s bigger problems,
I believe it to be (or its lack) to be the most overlooked power for
our personal healing from dis-ease and dis-content.
Well then, what’s spirituality anyway? The answer will sound super hippy dippy to some of you and cliché to others of you and hopefully true to a few of you. Either way, the answer is true.
Love
That’s really all it is. Whatever religion or ritual which has ever been has ultimately been a pursuit of love. Whether that was called atma, the soul, spirit or God…same-same. It’s always been about seeking the essence of life, which is love. Love of life itself, of oneself, of others, of the Earth and all her beings. Because when one understands to live in love one simultaneously learns to live outside of fear. For love and fear are opposite sides of the same coin.
For everything love brings life to,
fear brings death.
That’s what makes spirituality so practical. It doesn’t have to involve anything complicated or regimented or scripted. Spirituality is simply a personal practice of love in whatever way works for you. Now there are certainly tools and resources that can help and create robustness but fundamentally it’s cultivating a life led by the heart rather than the mind. I cannot believe in this anymore than I do. Being a slave to my mind brought me to ruin. Reconnecting to my heart brought resurrection.
So go out into today, this day, with love. Feel the gratitude for all you have, for no matter how bad it is, there’s much you have to be grateful for. I once had a broken body, but at least had all my arms, legs, fingers and toes to fix. Feel the love for the food you are lucky enough to eat and warm bed you are lucky enough to rest and recover in. Enter into all your relationships with trust, kindness and compassion knowing that a smile to a stranger can change their day and never forgetting the asshole on the road may have just stayed up all night nursing their child dying of a disease they may not have the finances to fight. Tell the people that matter to you, yourself included, that you love them.
Here’s Radhanath Swami with today’s final word…
“The greatest potential of our true self is to love.
Our countless desires, our fleeting gratifications, insatiable longings, inevitable frustrations, they all arise from the single origin – that we have forgotten the love that is within ourselves.
Ultimately things could give some gratification to the mind and senses
but only love – to give and to receive – gives fulfillment to the heart.
Because the nature of the true self is to be an instrument of divine love.”
Check out the full podcast here.
Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash
Disclaimer:
Remember dear reader, I am neither a doctor nor any sort of medical physician in any capacity. None of the information presented above can be construed as any sort of medical advice in any sort of manner. You as the reader is solely responsible for creating and implementing your own physical, mental and emotional well-being, decisions, choices and actions. As such, the reader agrees that the author is not and will not be liable or responsible for any actions or inaction taken by the reader or for any direct or indirect results. This information is simply presented and whatever you decide to do with it is your choice and your responsibility.
Leave a Reply