Took me _three months_ but Im finally watching this ... "To fall under the gaze of God," said Jason. Beautifully said, indeed 🙏 Ah, Canto XXII: "The Whip of Gluttony," I see ...
It is evident that one reason the interchanges with your knowledgeable guests are so engaging is because you, Tom, are such a gracious facilitator. Thank you both for sharing your understanding and the gems of your intellectual and spiritual pursuits.
As a far from contemplative person I found your conversation extraordinarily interesting. This was another beautiful canto from the very first lines with Dante as the scared child running to mummy Beatrice for comfort. I loved meeting Benedict hidden in his pearl of light. Kirkpatrick gives him a felicitous line "steadied their step and kept their hearts entire." And then there's Dante opening his trust like a rose opening wide to the sun. I was blown away by the scope of Dante's imagination when he looks back down through the seven spheres to the little globe. Thank you Jason for bringing a different perspective to dear Tom's labour of love.
Excellent discussion. I quite enjoyed this canto. It is fairly straightforward to read, but still has a lot of hidden meaning to uncover. Dante looking back on the planets and Earth reminded me of the Cassini space probe when it took pictures of Saturn and its rings with Earth as a dot in the background.
This was a marvellous conversation! You always have such wonderful guests who contribute so much to our understanding of Dante, his world, and his magnum opus. Contemplative space is so underrated and neglected in much of the modern world. So many people have forgotten the importance and meaningfulness of regularly taking some time to shut off the constant electronic barrage on the senses and just be alone with our thoughts and prayers. That reminds me that I'm so long overdue to resume my former cherished practice of saying the short Modeh Ani prayer upon rising, which thanks God for restoring our soul to our body after sleeping. (Technically, a female should say Modah instead of Modeh, but most people use Modeh as a default.) I'd also love to go on some kind of spiritual retreat someday.
Thank you and thanks for telling me about the Modeh Ani. A prayer in the morning, no matter how short, can help us put everything else so much in the right perspective, vs. waking up and being swept into the day’s whirlwind as an inanimate object.
That point of moderation around the eight minute mark is very Aristotelian, along with your point on that "constant state of being," which of course, is intentional with Dante. The journey, or constant unfolding that exposes the self, as what is discussed around the 28 min mark fits well with the original point, as well. "Where is Vergil???" I didn't even ask this while reading over this--I was too lost in the text that I didn't realize we have left him behind 😂 Oh! And the oil being mentioned again, and that connection with divinity! Fantastic!
Monastery SCHMONASTERY! You both need to come to Hyde Cottage for wine and calzones! That's the REAL contemplative life! Peace, serenity, and a bossy little Schnauzer yelling at you both to fuss over her!
In the last age of antiquity many writers were building a syncretistic model out of pagan and Christian elements...this model the middle ages adopted and perfected... delighted contemplation of this model and intense relegious feeling of a specifically Christian character are seldom fused except in the work of Dante.
I like that you use the word “fused”. It’s so true, Dante took the entire world and fused it into the Divine Comedy, reaching the highest degree of harmonization that he could.
A world renouncing ascetic and mystical character marked the most eminent pagans no less than their Christian opponents. The characteristic medieval frame of mind had many pagan elements built into it. Pagans and Christian's were in many ways far more like each other than either was like a modern man. good interview tom and Jason.
Thanks Chris, that’s something to keep in mind too, for sure. In the context of the last 2,000 years of history, WE (today) are the odd ones, not anyone else : )
The crossover episode we've all been waiting for!
😄 This might incinerate the internet.
Took me _three months_ but Im finally watching this ... "To fall under the gaze of God," said Jason. Beautifully said, indeed 🙏 Ah, Canto XXII: "The Whip of Gluttony," I see ...
It is evident that one reason the interchanges with your knowledgeable guests are so engaging is because you, Tom, are such a gracious facilitator. Thank you both for sharing your understanding and the gems of your intellectual and spiritual pursuits.
Thanks so much, really glad you found this chat interesting 🙏🏻❤️
As a far from contemplative person I found your conversation extraordinarily interesting. This was another beautiful canto from the very first lines with Dante as the scared child running to mummy Beatrice for comfort. I loved meeting Benedict hidden in his pearl of light. Kirkpatrick gives him a felicitous line "steadied their step and kept their hearts entire." And then there's Dante opening his trust like a rose opening wide to the sun. I was blown away by the scope of Dante's imagination when he looks back down through the seven spheres to the little globe.
Thank you Jason for bringing a different perspective to dear Tom's labour of love.
Thank you Ros ! That Kirkpatrick translation is beautiful indeed.
Excellent discussion. I quite enjoyed this canto. It is fairly straightforward to read, but still has a lot of hidden meaning to uncover. Dante looking back on the planets and Earth reminded me of the Cassini space probe when it took pictures of Saturn and its rings with Earth as a dot in the background.
Oh my, can't wait to watch this. Got to go and read this canto first.
the ease with which a scientific theory assumes the dignity and rigidity of fact varies inversely with the individuals scientific education
This was a marvellous conversation! You always have such wonderful guests who contribute so much to our understanding of Dante, his world, and his magnum opus.
Contemplative space is so underrated and neglected in much of the modern world. So many people have forgotten the importance and meaningfulness of regularly taking some time to shut off the constant electronic barrage on the senses and just be alone with our thoughts and prayers. That reminds me that I'm so long overdue to resume my former cherished practice of saying the short Modeh Ani prayer upon rising, which thanks God for restoring our soul to our body after sleeping. (Technically, a female should say Modah instead of Modeh, but most people use Modeh as a default.) I'd also love to go on some kind of spiritual retreat someday.
Thank you and thanks for telling me about the Modeh Ani. A prayer in the morning, no matter how short, can help us put everything else so much in the right perspective, vs. waking up and being swept into the day’s whirlwind as an inanimate object.
That point of moderation around the eight minute mark is very Aristotelian, along with your point on that "constant state of being," which of course, is intentional with Dante. The journey, or constant unfolding that exposes the self, as what is discussed around the 28 min mark fits well with the original point, as well.
"Where is Vergil???" I didn't even ask this while reading over this--I was too lost in the text that I didn't realize we have left him behind 😂 Oh! And the oil being mentioned again, and that connection with divinity! Fantastic!
Hahah yes the oil again 😂 Food has to be mentioned every single time !
Wow I cant believe this!
35:31 "Navel gazing?!?" you say. "Airy fairy?!?" I _resemble_ those remarks! 🤣😳😂 51:02 Crowley = "The Science of Magick + the Art of Religion." 93/93
Monastery SCHMONASTERY! You both need to come to Hyde Cottage for wine and calzones! That's the REAL contemplative life! Peace, serenity, and a bossy little Schnauzer yelling at you both to fuss over her!
The stars will be aligning soon to make that happen!
This is great Great GREAT! 😃 Two Catholic Dante scholars, indeed.
aka “Dante with an accent”
@@tomlabooks3263 Ha! You're funny 🤣 I'm on a Street Car currently so shall return to finish watching/commenting upon this vid.
In the last age of antiquity many writers were building a syncretistic model out of pagan and Christian elements...this model the middle ages adopted and perfected...
delighted contemplation of this model and intense relegious feeling of a specifically Christian character are seldom fused except in the work of Dante.
I like that you use the word “fused”. It’s so true, Dante took the entire world and fused it into the Divine Comedy, reaching the highest degree of harmonization that he could.
A world renouncing ascetic and mystical character marked the most eminent pagans no less than their Christian opponents.
The characteristic medieval frame of mind had many pagan elements built into it.
Pagans and Christian's were in many ways far more like each other than either was like a modern man.
good interview tom and Jason.
Thanks Chris, that’s something to keep in mind too, for sure. In the context of the last 2,000 years of history, WE (today) are the odd ones, not anyone else : )