Rupert Spira recounts his British boarding-school upbringing, his disenchantment with science, and the discovery of spirituality through the arts. He recalls his apprenticeship under the Zen-like studio potter Michael Cardew, the rift and reconciliation with his father, and reflects on the seductiveness of adulation in spiritual teaching and the apparent conflict between beauty and truth.
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In this interview I am joined by Rupert Spira: a teacher of the direct path method of Advaita, and an internationally acclaimed ceramic artist. In this episode Rupert discusses his childhood in British boarding school, his disenchantment with science, and his discovery of spirituality. Rupert explains how his decision to pursue a career in pottery caused a rift with his father, and reveals the profound significance of their subsequent reconciliation many years later. Rupert recounts his intensive apprenticeship with the Zen Master-like British studio potter Michaela Cardew, and shares the essence of his artistic process as it expresses both in ceramics and in his work as a teacher of nonduality. Rupert also discusses personality cults in the arts and spirituality, the seductiveness of adulation as a spiritual teacher, the apparent conflict between beauty and truth, and why awakening so often still the artistic impulse but can also liberate it. … https://www.guruviking.com/ep124-art-of-awakening-rupert-spira/ Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:11 - Rupert’s upbringing and education at boarding school 05:25 - Disenchantment with science 08:00 - Discovery of spirituality and the arts 10:32 - Rupert’s parents’ mixed response to his career in the arts 10:58 - Estrangement and powerful reconciliation with Rupert’s Father 15:31 - Apprenticeship under the Zen-like master potter Michael Ambrose Cardew CBE 23:04 - The education of a master artist 27:37 - Spiritual interests kept secret from Michael Cardew 30:57 - The essence and process of Rupert’s internationally acclaimed 30 year career as a ceramic artist 35:35 - Transitioning from pottery to spiritual teaching 36:58 - Similarities between Rupert’s arc as a potter and as a spiritual teacher 38:00 - Leaving the master and the emergence of the artist’s own voice 42:36 - Rupert’s art in every aspect of teaching 50:14 - Personality cults in the arts and spirituality 55:06 - Navigating student’s projections 57:06 - The seductiveness of adulation 01:04:48 - Resolving the conflict between beauty and truth 01:11:00 - The liberation of Rupert’s art 01:17:19 - Why awakening can kill art, and why it didn’t kill Rupert’s art … To find out more about Rupert Spira, visit: - https://rupertspira.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James