Ep 188: Three Jewels with Hector Marcel
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Ep 188: Three Jewels with Hector Marcel
In this week’s episode, we journey through the life of Hector Marcel, a man whose story embodies resilience, transformation, and the pursuit of inner peace. Born in politically turbulent Argentina, Hector's migration to Australia marks the beginning of an extraordinary life journey, reflecting the universal themes of displacement and belonging.
From his early dreams of architecture, influenced by a childhood friend, to a career in high-pressure fashion photography, Hector's path is a testament to the fluidity and unpredictability of life's ambitions. His narrative is not just a personal history but a mirror reflecting our own shifting dreams and aspirations.
The episode takes a profound turn as Hector shares his transition from skepticism to embracing Tibetan Buddhism. This change was not just philosophical but deeply personal, reshaping his understanding of anger, reactions, and the self. Hector's insights into Buddhism offer listeners practical wisdom on personal growth and inner peace, highlighting his transformation from a practitioner to a teacher in the tradition.
Particularly enlightening is Hector's discussion on meditation, which he likens to a flight simulator for the mind. He eloquently explains how meditation can be a tool for mastering emotional responses and reshaping reality.
As the episode draws to a close, Hector delves into the awakening process and the challenge of transforming habits. He outlines the phases of awakening and the importance of imprinting positive karma through conscious actions. His personal anecdotes not only bring these teachings to life but also make them relatable and applicable, providing listeners with a framework for their own journey towards self-discovery and inner peace.
Key Points From This Episode:
Hector's early life in Argentina amidst political chaos shapes his resilient character.
Adapting to a new culture, Hector's move to Australia marks a significant life shift.
Hector's evolving ambitions, from architecture to photography, reflect the unpredictable nature of life's journey.
A skeptical Hector discovers and embraces Tibetan Buddhism, transforming his worldview.
Hector learns to understand and control anger through Buddhist teachings about internal experiences.
Meditation becomes Hector's tool for mastering emotions and reshaping reality.
Hector's journey from learning to teaching Buddhism, overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
Hector navigates the complex phases of personal awakening and transformation.
Hector focuses on creating positive karma through intentional, conscious actions.
Practical insights from Hector's journey, offering relatable guidance for personal peace and self-discovery.
Quotes:
“There's nothing external that will force you to have any particular experience. The experiences we have are completely internal, independent of the things outside. They all can be fodder for your internal experience.” — Hector Marcel [0:26:19]
“You are definitely not all the stories you tell about yourself. That's what you currently are as a dependent arising thing. You're not fixed that way. You can transform. How do you transform? That's the big question. What do I do to transform? You've got to plan different courses to experience yourself or the world in a different way.” — Hector Marcel [0:31:00]
“People are hyper-alert to all the problems. But the reality is that it's equally true for all the blissful, wonderful, loving, expansive things we live. The first time we ever fall in love, that's possible again and again and again if you know how to do it. You can walk around Manhattan and be in love with absolutely everybody.” — Hector Marcel [0:38:56]
“Death can be this powerful, wonderful thing. It's going to happen and you decide whether it's going to be a piece of sh*t, or it's going to be an awesome encounter with something magical.” — Hector Marcel [0:40:57]
“The only way you get more for you is giving it away to others. The more I gave [knowledge] away to others, the more I'm feeling fulfilled. And the more I'm feeling I know these things way better than I knew it on my own.” — Hector Marcel [0:48:40]
“This [Buddhist] philosophy says if you don't want to be harmed, stop wanting anyone to be harmed even the person that harmed you.” — Hector Marcel [0:55:07]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: