Have you ever felt like every path you turn down leads to hell? In this episode of The Gospel of Direct Experience, hosts Michael Ellick and Jeff Mansfield explore the idea of dying before you die, a concept central to many of the world's religions and mystery traditions. Is it possible to face the terror of our own fragility and emerge transformed? What if the self you cling to is the very thing keeping you from true life? Join us as we face down Death with stories, poetry, and a dream about battling a creature that refuses to die.
Episode Highlights
[00:01:05] Crossroads of Hell:
Michael introduces Peter Kingsley’s concept of "dying before you die" with a powerful reflection on human fragility and the ultimate path to wisdom.
[00:02:50] A Poetic Response:
Jeff reads William Carlos Williams’ evocative poem, connecting it to Kingsley’s theme of confronting death and our illusions.
[00:04:25] Living Death and Devotion:
Exploring the modern neglect of "dying before you die" in religious and secular contexts, and the cultural denial of life’s fragility.
[00:09:56] Denial of Death:
Stories of human resistance to mortality, the spiritual cost of denial, and the barriers to truly experiencing life.
[00:12:29] Gateways to Death:
Discussing the initiatory power of grief, loss, and near-death experiences as entry points to spiritual awakening.
[00:17:36] Cultural Avoidance:
How modernity distracts us from existential truths and the role of discomfort in spiritual transformation.
[00:22:20] The Dream of the Vampire:
Michael shares a vivid dream of a vampire hunter, revealing profound insights into the ego, spiritual piercing, and the myth of resurrection.
[00:35:36] Wicker Man and the Vampire:
Jeff and Michael explore the mythological resonance of the dream and the archetype of the ego as a vampire.
[00:46:09] Spiritual Materialism:
Questioning whether contemporary spirituality bolsters the self or truly dismantles it in the face of the sacred.
[00:47:47] Baptism as Death:
Reflecting on baptism as a ritual enactment of death and resurrection, and the forgotten depth of this Christian practice.
[00:53:07] Suffering and Grace:
Wrestling with the paradox of tragedy as a source of grace, transformation, and glimpses of another world.
[01:00:09] God Within the Earthquake:
Exploring the tension between suffering and divine presence, and the collapse of duality in the face of existential pain.
[01:03:17] The Harrowing of Hell:
Insights into ancient myths, the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, and the transformative power of descending into the underworld.
Works Cited
Kingsley, Peter. In the Dark Places of Wisdom.
Williams, William Carlos. "The Last Words of My English Grandmother."
Kornfield, Jack. A Path with Heart.
Trungpa, Chögyam. Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism.
The Wicker Man. Directed by Robin Hardy, performances by Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee, British Lion Films, 1973
Dahm, Evan. The Harrowing of Hell.
The Gospel of Mary.
Borg, Cynthia. The Meaning of Mary Magdalene.
Michael's Closing Prayer
"And my soul sang: 'What has bound me has been slain. What encompassed me has been vanquished. Desire has reached its end, and I am freed from Ignorance. I left one world behind with the aid of another, and now as Image I have been freed from the analog. I am liberated from the chains of forgetfulness which have existed in time. From this moment onward I go forward into the fullness beyond time, and there, where time rests in the stillness of Eternity, I will repose in silence.'" (As quoted in Cynthia Bourgeault's The Wisdom Jesus)
Continue the Conversation
Are you clinging to life, slaying your ego, or a little of both? We'd love to hear your stories and what you thought of the episode.
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