The Second Mountain: The Next Big Challenge in Your Life

[@eleanorbarsic8065]

David, over the last few years, you have become one of my favorite people on earth. Your interest and thoughts about society and personal morality are of great interest and value to me. Right now, I am going through a transition period, and needing to grow. Every time I hear you speak, I feel the warmth in your heart. Each time what you share helps me grow a little. Thank you so much:]

[@kkc6656]

So totally agree with these comments!

[@denise2169]

Thanks, David Brooks! I’m now 72, and finally on my second mountain, after lifelong struggle to find transcendence from my pain. I learned to go inside and to become emotionally present. I now have the pleasure of volunteering to help seniors living by themselves, and it feels good to be in community. I am in the process of letting go of material ’things’, I continue to grow and evolve, and would never go back to being younger. My life continually shows me what I need to learn and do. ❤

[@yeti9127]

Great talk, David. Thank you for your great skill in making sense of the world around us. In eastern philosophy, and described in the Geeta, your Second Mountain is what they call the withdrawal from ego, desire and attachment. In this last phase of life, some even go on to renounce everything and take on a Sanyasi path. Many kings and noble people of wealth and great repute used to do that in olden times. Sanyasi is a person with no personal possession. ... All of this to achieve that spiritual bliss or joyful living you have described in your book as an ultimate goal in life or what the purpose of that Second Mountain is. In any case, what you describe as a Second Mounrain is a more practical version and something I can relate to. I am at that stage of life where I think I am at that pinnacle of the First Mountain with successful career achievement and descent comfort and security. I am now in search of that second mountain. Your talk is very helpful.

[@rapisode1]

Good luck on your journey. Perhaps Abhinavagupta's work on Kashmir Shaivism can be of interest? There's a great talk by an Indian neuroscientist on it on KZbin

[@rhondacosta160]

God it helps to hear this. I've taken the same turn now as this guy and it really is the most lovely way to move forwards. As always, thanks David.

[@aaronmanier9383]

A wonderful expression of wisdom! Thanks to David and the Aspen Institute for this.

[@rmathai123]

Wonderful Speech. Can Totally relate to this excellent exposition about the 2nd Mountain.

[@houshangacademy4211]

David Brooks at his best. Thank you.

[@edwinliu3722]

houshang nour t

[@aprilmccormack652]

@@edwinliu3722 6:05 6:08 ❤

[@marytwohey989]

What a brilliant man. I wish he had been my dad.

For Me walking into the unknown has become an art form. If you do something good for 20 odd yrs your called a Master. If, you continue the same 30 yrs or more, spiritual career, now for me 50 yrs working with people, it becomes instinct, your lifestyle becomes your example and wisdom becomes contagious, in the end , we all live for others. When you have something to give, the world makes room for You, and Me.

[@jeremiahstephan6292]

Beautifully done. Thank you David.

[@roniquebreauxjordan1302]

....I've read your column in the Washington Post...this talk is expanding my views...

[@barrypultz1811]

Mr brooks is always so insightful and possesses practical intelligence

[@jaybennett315]

I think there are a huge number of people who never reach the second mountain who become disenfranchised and bitter as mountain one’s ‘accumulation’ becomes less and less satisfying as self focus drags on and on.

[@stangoodman4021]

'Trust the process.' (That's exactly how it goes.) i.e. a little sisiphean displeasure is kind of the key to realizing your root problem might / is not entirely the mountain.

[@judithbentley965]

Outstanding!

[@agma19]

"...and the tree said to me: I am here, I am here. I am eternal life." While David Brooks is quoting a woman in a Nazi camp sick, to me this is what we all seek to hear from our Creator and His Son. In our valleys and suffering, we are reminded by His creation that He is here with us always. "... and be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

[@az55544]

In a New Scientist interview published on January 21, 2015, however, Wilson said that religious faith is "dragging us down", and I would say that for the sake of human progress, the best thing we could possibly do would be to diminish, to the point of eliminating, religious faiths. But certainly not eliminating the natural yearnings of our species or the asking of these great questions.

[@NoFlyZone01]

Terrific insight.

[@elizabethmitchell1882]

Moving and Inspiring

[@icdat44]

Big fan of David Brooks

[@Dan-qp1el]

How do I achieve the "high degree of unity" he describes ? I hear what he's saying.....but I don't know how.

[@denise2169]

Now that you have this question, I think you will eventually find the answer! Best wishes to you!

[@Alex-gk6wl]

I’m wondering why I don’t see Durkheim discussed in the book or referenced in its index. It’s such a strong influence on this book and Brooks encourages tackling challenging books and deep contemplation but doesn’t acknowledge Durkheim’s four archetypes types of Suicide even as he borrows from them heavily for his four crises?

[@diegonayalazo]

Thanks

[@fercis9070]

David speaking with Hear warm and intelectual inquiry.

[@TheTheDauterive]

"Freedom from to freedom to"

[@raydmurphy]

This is exceptional.

[@GaryHayes360]

E.O Wilson

[@stdev.]

Did he say "working on your shit in public"?

[@timothylawrence707]

Why, yes he did! I had to rewind to verify.

[@BuceGar]

He's not messing around.

[@MAXKENT-mh7lu]

David, please tell us something we don't know already. Don't waste our time.

[@gatorgityergranny]

wtf. there is nothing here to suggest that there is a Part One, yet Brooks launches into a story about "Wilson". WHO THE FUCK IS WILSON? crappy editing/production. amateurish.

[@maryannnapravnik8766]

4.you tube cshould word

[@mahlstadt]

How has Donald Trump been on the first mountain for so long?

[@stangoodman4021]

He was born near the top of 'it', And the product of parents whose entire identity/relationship seemed to have been fashioned by 'it'.

[@LouisDolci]

David, David, David....There I was, thinking that you are one of a handful of people who have managed to hang onto your intellectual integrity only to find that you are now hawking a Pop-Psychology book that you wrote. Oh well, all I can say is that I miss Christopher Hitchens...

[@stangoodman4021]

Go get yourself a couple cases of Marlborough Reds and you can probably catch right up to him. ( ... Not likely your 'intellect' will be widely missed around these parts.) 🕶️

[@mattko]

Take a photo of the hole you live in; that will never change

[@marywigmore3629]

TRUMP 2020!

[@stangoodman4021]

💩