035: Ecstatic Experiences for the Spiritually Mediocre with Jules Evans (Philosopher and Author of The Art of Losing Control: A Philosopher’s Search for Ecstatic Experience)

by Swanson

035: Ecstatic Experiences for the Spiritually Mediocre with Jules Evans (Philosopher and author of The Art of Losing Control: A Philosopher’s Search for Ecstatic Experience)

‘Compelling…Evans’ skill as a story-teller, like his sensitivity as a thinker, is never in doubt’. 

— The Guardian

Jules Evans is near impossible to encapsulate in a brief bio, but let me start by sharing some his accolades: his first book, Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations was a Times Book of the Year in 2013 and was integral to the revival of Stoic philosophy that you see happening today, he is a research fellow at the Centre for the History of Emotions, Queen Mary University of London where he researches well-being and ecstatic experiences, while also diving into ways to improve mental health in different countries and cultures. On top of that Jules runs the London Philosophy Club which is the biggest philosophy club in the world. Above all of these pats on the back, Jules Evans is a curious, humble, and damn fine human being. The focus of our conversation is his new book, The Art of Losing Control: A Philosopher’s Search for Ecstatic Experience. This book and this conversation is exactly why Contemplify came into being; what do you do when the status quo is no longer working and you want to go beyond mere egoic satisfaction? This episode is for all of you feel like the schools of thought in your midst taste like a stale cracker. In our conversation Jules shares about his Near Death Experience, how Stoicism helped him form identity and why he still felt called beyond the Stoic container to experiences of surrender, and why despite all of this deep searching, Jules feels like he wrote a book for people like himself, which he calls the ‘spiritually mediocre’. Learn more about Jules Evans at philosophyforlife.org.

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EPISODE SHOW NOTES

Books by Jules Evans

Resources Mentioned

People

  • St. Augustine
  • Hunter S. Thompson
  • Tom Wolfe
  • D.H. Lawrence
  • Aldous Huxley
  • Aaron Beck
  • Albert Ellis
  • Nicky Gumbel
  • The London Philosophy Club
  • Thomas Merton
  • Malcolm Gladwell
  • Thomas Traherne
  • C.S. Lewis
  • Garrison Institute
  • Mind and Life Center
  • Center for Action and Contemplation
  • Living School for Action and Contemplation
  • Richard Rohr
  • Cynthia Bourgeault
  • James Finley
  • Aristotle

Drinks Pairings

  • Absinthe

Practices

  • Sitting for 25 minutes, bringing attention to breath, loving-kindness practices, Tennis, Reading

Highlights

When you hear the word “contemplative”, how does that moniker relate to you or work, if you think it does at all?

Do you have any practices that you engage in your personal life?

Why are you moving to India?

If someone were going to teach a class on the formation of Jules Evans, what 3 books that formed you would definitely be on that syllabus?

You made a name for yourself as a Stoic with your first book, Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations, which played a role in Stoicism’s resurgence. It appears that you no longer adhere to Stoic philosophy with as much enthusiasm, and this plays into your new book The Art of Losing Control…but can you share how that journey away from Stoicism occurred?

It seems like Stoicism gave you a sense of control and now you are in a place where you are shored up enough to lose control, is that a fair assessment?

Is it lack of ritual that is causing so much psychological harm in the West?

Do you have any further comments on this quote from Aldous Huxley, ‘A society is good to the extent that it renders contemplation possible for it’s members.’?

We always pair an episode with a drink, what drink of choice goes best with this conversation?

 

Photo credit: Death To Stock Photo