#7 - Daniel Thorson | Throwing Yourself In Completely, Without Reservation

The tendency to hedge is a modern disease. This rich discussion re-inspired me to go all-in with my life.Daniel Thorson is dedicated to monastic practices and lives at The Monastic Academy in Vermont — a wisdom institution that trains trustworthy people. At the start of the 2020 pandemic, he became an overnight focus of media attention after he emerged from a silent retreat and tweeted, “I’m back from 75 days in silence. Did I miss anything?” His unique experience was featured by The New York Times. He’s also the host of The Emerge Podcast.This is a conversation about sacrifice, wisdom, dedication, and practice.Topics include:* Why the most important thing everyone can do right now is come to terms with death.* What it takes to create a trustworthy person.* The MAPLE practice model of Wisdom, Love and Power.* Why pure mindfulness practice might lead to “equanimity induced apathy.”* How to change your friendships for life in 30 seconds (a practical exercise).* The critical need for a vibrant network of wisdom institutions.* Why you should be getting emotionally triggered regularly (and what to when it happens).* Where “masculinity” might fit in with wisdom institutions.* The uncomfortable importance of Hierarchy.* Why we need new archetypes to inspire transformation. Philosopher kings and warriors instead of quiet monks.* The significance of going all-in. Stop hedging. Fuck optionality.Resources:* Daniel Thorson’s Twitter. Reach out to him if you’re interested in The Monastic Academy.* The Monastic Academy (aka MAPLE) in Vermont. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com