When I tell people how terrific the latest episode of Russell Brand\u2019s podcast was, here\u2019s how a reaction typically plays out: first, in a baffled tone, the underpodcasted South African asks me a variation of \u201cwhat\u2019s a podcast\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
On the first count, podcasting<\/strong> (synonymous to YouTube) is the most quick-fire tool for personal growth and development you\u2019re not using<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/strong>. It is a space of tremendous inspiration and motivation. It\u2019s where the now and future of communication and connection is actually already happening. It\u2019s where discussions and ideas are sparking the current consciousness evolution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We as individuals<\/strong> are the seeds<\/strong>. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How\u2019s that, you say? Well, because he woke up<\/strong>. To what, you say? To what actually matters<\/strong>. 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) \u2013 didn\u2019t work, he tried money \u2013 didn\u2019t work either, celebrity \u2013 nope, sex (quite the volume as well) \u2013 not that either. As he explains it, he was trying to fix internal wounds with external bandages<\/strong>. That doesn\u2019t work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To heal your heart and soul, or your body and mind, Brand isn\u2019t unique here. His vices are as they say the usual suspects \u2013 pleasure, money, validation, escape, status, power. Who among us haven\u2019t 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<\/strong>. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The quest to spark a spiritual revolution. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, going back to the beginning, the latest episode (at the time of writing) of Brand\u2019s 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\u2019s name – #061 \u2013 Practical Spirituality \u2013 More than Crystals and Candles<\/em>. Now, I\u2019m neither disparaging crystal nor candle, and neither was Brand, but the critical word is practical<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/strong> 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\u2019s like doing deeds of heroism in your head and doing nothing in the world around you \u2013 that\u2019s neither heroic nor valuable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why the marriage of spirituality and practicality is acutely needed right now. <\/strong>The word spirituality is unfortunately marred by connotations of all sorts, from the aforementioned crystals to all sorts of cynicism around its woo-wooness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But I believe spirituality to not only be the most overlooked Well then, what\u2019s spirituality anyway? The answer will sound super hippy dippy to some of you and clich\u00e9 to others of you and hopefully true to a few of you<\/strong>. Either way, the answer is true. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Love<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s 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\u2019s 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<\/strong>. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For everything love brings life to, <\/strong> That\u2019s what makes spirituality so practical<\/strong>. It doesn\u2019t have to involve anything complicated or regimented or scripted. Spirituality is simply a personal practice of love in whatever way works for you<\/strong>. Now there are certainly tools and resources that can help and create robustness but fundamentally it\u2019s cultivating a life led by the heart rather than the mind<\/strong>. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So go out into today, this day, with love. Feel the gratitude for all you have, for no matter how bad it is, there\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s Radhanath Swami with today\u2019s final word\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe greatest potential of our true self is to <\/em>love<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em> Ultimately things could give some gratification to the mind and senses <\/em> Check out the full podcast here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo by Tyler Nix<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Disclaimer: I believe it to be (or its lack) to be the most overlooked power for
The podcast<\/strong> waves are the nutrient<\/strong>.
The collective consciousness<\/strong> is the soil<\/strong>.
Changed hearts and minds are the blossom. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
that starts from within the heart and soul itself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
conversation regarding the world\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
fear brings death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our countless desires, our fleeting gratifications, insatiable longings, inevitable frustrations, they all arise from the single origin \u2013 that we have forgotten the <\/em>love<\/em><\/strong> that is within ourselves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
but only <\/em>love<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 to give and to receive \u2013 gives fulfillment to the heart. <\/em>
Because the nature of the true self is to be an instrument of divine <\/em>love<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
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. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nour personal healing from dis-ease and dis-content. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":324,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[10,80,79,78,77],"class_list":["post-323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-life","tag-chronic-fatigue","tag-love","tag-podcasts","tag-russell-brand","tag-spirituality","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/humancoachsa.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}