On the 61st episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I am delighted to introduce our guest, Duncan Moss. Duncan is a Clinical Psychologist, and Honorary Research Fellow at Plymouth University, whose approach draws from long-standing psychological perspectives and also from the methods of meditation and the traditions of contemplation and awareness. He has been a student in the Tibetan Tradition for many years.
Simply put, this was the exact type of conversation I was hoping to capture when starting this podcast project. Duncan has a wonderful mix of wisdom, experience, and humility to explore what is here now for him while sharing valuable insights from his own research and personal inquiries.
This entire conversation is a beautiful exploration of the disturbances we can feel in life, accepting their inevitable appearances, befriending what is here right now, and a nod to the correlation between slowing down and experiencing kindness towards ourselves.
We discuss Duncan’s present explorations into the work of Eckhart Tolle and our resistance to suffering, letting go, and surrendering. We also explore themes like our ‘monkey minds,’ suffering as a teacher, and the timelessness of the present moment.
If you are presently suffering from any discontent in your life, this episode will be highly illuminating and soothing to listen along to. It won’t magically fix whatever you are perceiving, but perhaps it will give you space to observe and accept it and befriend whatever experience you are presently going through.
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Running Order:
02:49 Why am I suffering right now?
07:19 The resistance to letting go of suffering
11:19 What does surrendering entail?
16:19 The helpfulness of uncomfortable teachings
20:54 The surprising effect of rest after trying so hard
24:54 Befriending ourselves and grandmotherly energy
29:04 Suffering is our greatest teacher
35:04 Compassion for ourselves is always there
38:49 A stepping into timelessness
45:04 Contemplating mortality and absurdity of life
52:09 What is a good life for Duncan?
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