大象传媒

Mark Tully considers the sacrifices we have to make to become wise. He discusses the imagery and meaning of the Christian Cross with Franciscan Priest, Richard Rohr, along with the outward signs of success and self esteem we might need to shed in order to lose ourselves to a greater wisdom.

Mark looks to other traditions which also speak of the barriers in our way - the props that support our egos but prevent us from becoming our true selves - with readings from the 14th century Hindu mystic Lalleshwari, and accounts of the life of the Buddha whose realisation that he had got it all wrong enabled his path to enlightenment.

The programme features poetry from TS Eliot and music from John Tavener, Nat King Cole, Chuck Daar and Alan Hovhaness, whose setting of a verse from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes includes the words, "A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine and the boldness of his face shall be changed."

So how can we hope to achieve wisdom, and from where can we find the strength to be bold in our pursuit of it, to unlearn what we know, and to abandon our certainties.

Producer: Adam Fowler
A Unique production for 大象传媒 Radio 4.