Something Understood

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Religion & Ethics

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life, taking a spiritual theme and exploring it through music, prose and poetry

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Something Understood: Ideas of Self

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Ideas of Self

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, Ideas of Self

The poet Pejk Malinovski reflects on our various senses of self.

The poet Pejk Malinovski reflects on the many ways we perceive of ourselves.

'Be yourself', we're told. But what does that really mean? What is this thing called self?

The poet and radio producer Pejkl Malinovski reflects on a question that has intrigued poets for centuries. 'I is someone else', Rimbaud said. 'I contain multitudes', said Whitman.

Modern neuroscience contests the idea that we are somehow born with a soul and millions of Buddhists have been living happily without one for thousands of years.

Perhaps a lot of our frustrations in this self-centred era come from the idea that we must control, build and advance our egos, when really we might be a lot better off giving up some control.

Pejk's meditation embraces writings by Gertrude Stein, Fernando Pessoa and Sharon Salzberg.

Producer Alan Hall.
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

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