The Virtue of Vice: Paradox and Desire in Everyday Life

As seekers, it’s easy to fall into the trap of pretending to be better than we are. We often focus on trying to be too good, scrubbing away our illicit desires, and wayward parts that contradict the ideal self-image we wish to project. Masking our own shadows can lead to both deception and hypocrisy. In this talk for The Seekers Forum, Mark Matousek looks at the virtues of vice in leading an awakened life. How can we shake off Puritan notions of goodness, self-improvement, and so-called purity, without losing integrity? Leave room for vice, transgression, self-contradiction, and falling, in the spiritual life? “We are poor, indeed, if we are only sane,” as psychologist D.W. Winicott reminds us. When we allow for the value of our shadow impulses, we only strengthen the connection to vitality and passion - as well as humility - on the path of personal evolution.
The Seekers Forum is an online community founded by author and teacher Mark Matousek, known for his Writing to Awaken method of self-inquiry as well as his two award-winning memoirs and other books. At The Seekers Forum, topics related to creativity, spiritual practice, and ethical well-being are explored through writing and discussion. Find out more at theseekersforu...

[@dakinilover]

Beautiful talk. Thank you for reminding us all about our humanness. I remember that I was puzzled by the fact that Nisargadatta Maharaj was smoking tobacco. How is it possible for a realized master to be addicted to nicotine? When asked about it during his talks Maharaj said, that even after realization some conditioning remains. 🚬❤