Mythic Dharma

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