025 Roger Walsh – How Can We Best Help?

State of Emergence

Physician, scholar, researcher, transpersonal psychologist, professor, and Buddhist lama, Roger Walsh joins Terry to discuss how they each can be of the best benefit at a time when our societies are shutting down and experiencing unprecedented stress.

Roger had been on silent retreat for over a month before he emerged to have this conversation about our suddenly disrupted human moment. He also turned the tables on Terry and drew out some intimate and vulnerable personal reflections from our host, as the conversation took a more personal turn.

Roger Walsh MD., Ph.D. DHL is widely respected for his extremely clear discernment and insight as an author and a professor of psychiatry, philosophy, and anthropology at the University of California at Irvine. He holds degrees in psychology, physiology, neuroscience, and medicine, and is also a researcher and teacher of meditation and yoga. Among his many published books are Paths Beyond Ego, The World of Shamanism, and Essential Spirituality: The Seven Central Practices. Roger is currently working on a major book (or two) on the nature of Wisdom.

Here are some of the questions you’ll hear him and Terry explore in this episode:

• How do koans and other “wisdom questions” take us deeper into ourselves over time and help us optimize our work in the world?
• How can each of us become aware of our most unique and strategic contribution?
• Can a “beginner’s mind” practice in times of crisis enable us to challenge our unconscious assumptions and be redirected into new forms of service?
• How can we practice an embodied, felt response to crisis, instead of contracting into a mental mode of problem-solving? Does responding this way allow others to do so too?
• To what extent will the current pandemic catalyze societies to recognize other existential threats on our horizon?

For more information on Dr. Roger Walsh and Terry Patten, check out the following resources:

• Roger Walsh's Website: http://www.drrogerwalsh.com
• Roger's book, Paths Beyond Ego: https://drrogerwalsh.com/books/paths-beyond-ego/
• Roger's book, The World of Shamanism: https://drrogerwalsh.com/books/the-world-of-shamanism/
• Roger's book, Essential Spirituality: https://drrogerwalsh.com/books/essential-spirituality/
• Terry Patten's website: https://www.terrypatten.com/

To learn more about the work we are doing, visit:

• A New Republic of the Heart website: http://newrepublicoftheheart.org/
• State of Emergence podcast website: http://stateofemergence.org/

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