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Follow Your Bliss

Mark Tully considers Joseph Campbell's exhortation to follow your bliss. He talks to priest and theatre director James Roose-Evans about the wisdom he derives from the mantra.

Mark Tully investigates the meaning of Joseph Campbell's exhortation to follow your bliss.

The 20th century writer and philosopher based his aphorism on a phrase he found in the Hindu Upanishads. It became much quoted following his TV documentary series The Power of Myth, made shortly before his death.

"Follow your bliss" has become a mantra for many, but is often misunderstood. Mark tries to get a sense of its true meaning, in conversation with the priest, writer, teacher and pioneering theatre director James Roose Evans.

There are readings from Pablo Neruda, Stephen Spender and Katherine Raine and music by Erin McKeown, Cesar Franck and Beethoven.

The readers are Jasper Britton and Geraldine Alexander.

Presenter: Mark Tully
Producer: Frank Stirling
A 7 digital production for Â鶹Éç Radio 4.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 Mar 2018 23:30

Music Played

  • Pivio and Aldo De Scalzi 

    Monk with a Camera

    Performer: Pivio and Aldo De Scalzi .
    • Monk with a Camera.
  • Charlie Landsborough

    Going My Own Sweet Way

    Performer: Charlie Landsborough.
    • My Heart Would Know.
  • Yusef Islam 

    Greenfields, Golden Sands

    Performer: YUSEF .
    • Yusef: An Other Cup.
  • Erin McKeown

    Born to Hum

    Performer: Erin McKeown.
    • Born To Hum.
  • César Franck

    Grande piece symphonique in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 17, M. 29: I. Andante serioso - Allegro non troppo e maestoso

    Performer: César Franck.
    • Grandes Pieces Symphoniques - Ian Tracey Plays French Organ Works.
  • µþ·¡·¡°Õ±á°¿³Õ·¡±·Ìý

    Beethoven's 9th Symphony - ode to joy

    Performer: London Symphony Orchestra .
    • Beethoven: The Complete Symphony Collection.

Readings

Title: Emerging 

Author: Pablo Neruda, translated by Alistair Reid

Found in Being Human published by Bloodaxe; originally published by Farrar, Strauss & Giroux


Title: An Epitaph on the Celebrated Claudy Philipps, Musicians - Who Died Very Poor

Author: Samuel Johnson 

Found in The School Bag, published by Faber


Title: I Am Raferty The Poet 

Author: Anthony Raferty

Found in The School Bag, published by Faber


Interview with James Roose Evans


Title: Essay

Author: Kathleen Raine

Found in the Bloodaxe Book of Contemporary Poets, published by Bloodaxe


Title: I Think To Live 

Author: Emily Dickinson


Title: The Truly Great 

Author: Stephen Spender

Found in Collected Poems, published by Faber

Broadcasts

  • Sun 18 Mar 2018 06:05
  • Sun 18 Mar 2018 23:30