In this interview I am joined by John Brehm, American poet and author of ‘The Dharma of Poetry’.

John recalls his early life in Nebraska, formation as an unlikely poet, use of psychedelics, and discovery of the aesthetic impulse.

John reads ‘Non-Harming’, a poem from his latest book ‘Dharma Talk’, and reflects on the use of poetry for personal and religious edification, as well as the power of exposing one’s darker dimensions in verse.

John also discusses how to achieve profundity in poetry, the skilful use of language, why T.S. Eliot is so often criticised, and how to detect the unmistakable whiff of ego.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep230-the-dharma-of-poetry-john-brehm

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

00:49 - A controversial poem

02:58 - Self awareness of one’s foibles

04:21 - How poets present themselves

04:56 - Ikkyu

05:21 - Making the sinful sacred

07:02 - Overly solemn poetry readings

07:52 - John reads ‘Non Harming’

10:05 - Reflections on the poem

11:54 - Working class upbringing in Nebraska

13:04 - An unlikely poet

14:46 - The poetic calling

16:29 - Psychedelics

18:19 - Early poetic influences

20:06 - The art of seeing one’s local place

24:42 - An aesthetic impulse

25:53 - How to relate to a poem

27:46 - Aggressive approaches to poetry

29:09 - Nondual poetry practice

31:21 - How the high modernists made poetry elite

32:41 - Williams vs Eliot

34:08 - Anybody can enjoy poetry

36:16 - Poetry as edification

39:57 - The unmistakable whiff of ego

41:56 - The one who stops

45:41 - How to reach profundity in writing

50:23 - How to craft effective language

53:32 - How to read a poem aloud

55:34 - The role of memorisation

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To find out more about John Brehm, visit:

- https://www.johnbrehmpoet.com/

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James