The writer John Burnside has had a good year. His latest poetry collection, Black Cat Bone, recently won both the Forward Poetry Prize and the TS Eliot prize. In a new episode of Belief he talks to Joan Bakewell about the influence of spirituality on his life and writing and he explains how he came to his beliefs. Raised a Catholic by a hardworking mother and a hard-drinking father John once thought of becoming a priest but he ended up following in his father's footsteps - drinking heavily and taking drugs until he ended up in a mental hospital. But years of reading and contemplation eventually led John to discover the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism and now he leads an altogether quieter life according to Taoist principles.
From Caro 7.4.12
Just listened to this - excellent, except for Joan Bakewell's lack of understanding of philosophies outside a montheistic tradition, tipified by the contrast of her use of words such as 'fatalistic', 'belief' and 'faith' in contrast to Burnside's 'understanding' , 'flow' and 'observing'. His exposition of his evolving relationship to the way of things, is as good an introduction to the Tao, as currently practiced here in the west, as I have ever heard. I have just ordered 'Black Cat Bone' from the library, and will add him and Thoreau to Gary Snyder, for books I will read at the Kuti in June. His words near the end of the broadcast about 'entering a discussion to close it down' were insightful and instructive. I will listen again soon.
Regarding him feeling like he is on another planet from the mainstream of people's thinking... I wish he didn't feel so alone... there are a fair few of us out there whose thoughts and feelings he would resonate with.
1 comment:
Teabreak chat precis:
Why doesn't everyone know that this Way is the answer?
Some people have forgotten the question.
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