Brene Brown on Vulnerability and Shame

Can you feel shame? Can you objectify it? Can you allow yourself to be so completely vulnerable, so without manipulation of present experience that self drops away?

www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html
www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html

Wonderful!

"You cannot selectively numb emotions." -Brene Brown

Brown makes a great case for feeling the whole broad range of emotions as part of a human life well-lived. Continuing to go through my own process with this, swinging back and forth between wanting to come to the end of emotions and embracing them, I currently find myself agreeing with Brown; feelings and emotions are good. The more, the merrier. And, dare I say, there is more to a life well-lived than the end of suffering. Connection with others matters as much as enlightenment. Enlightenment, or contemplative fitness, as I've come to think of it lately, is just one important part of a full human life that includes relationships, meaningful work, a rich emotional life, physical fitness, and community. I wouldn't always have thought of it like this, but this is what is up for me now. (Apologies for my inconsistency; I'm still learning.)

Don't apologize Kenneth. i enjoy your changing opinions. As the masters say the ultimate truth is indescribable with words anyway. But to my limited understanding if you strictly held to the absolute. Then there there would be no need to speak and share opinions and so forth no need for a valuable message board such as this. Which would be a shame so keep changing and sharing.

Shame is a powerful, powerful teacher. It's the last bastion of protection, IMHO, because it is so hard to look at and objectify. As such it takes a ton of courage and fortitude to work with. But that work is oh so much worth the effort!

Kenneth, as you know this was not always my opinion (and as with you my opinion changes over time), but you really are at your best when you're sharing your thoughts here as you just did. It's refreshing and heartening to see that every eon struggles, everyone has something to learn. Thanks.

Thanks for posting these Justin. Fantastic!

Kenneth, you're the worst dogmatic cult leader ever!

Seriously though, I listened to this talk when I first started meditating, and it made a big impact on me, especially what she had to say about gratitude. That may seem extraneous, like pure sila, but I've managed to break new ground in my insight practice at least twice by grounding myself in the heart, in feelings of gratitude. This practice is all about accepting and being able to appreciate what is, just as it is. I don't think anyone can afford to put that off "until enlightenment".

Thanks --- these are great