Crossing the Master
Journalist Abdul-Rehman Malik explores the complex relationship between master and disciple with readings and music from the Hindu, Christian and Buddhist traditions.
Journalist Abdul-Rehman Malik explores the complex relationship between master and disciple. Acknowledging that truth lies in fiction, he describes how the relationship between Obi Wan Kenobi and his former disciple Darth Vader in the film Star Wars prompted this exploration.
A passage written by the former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams defines what a disciple is and a reading from the 19th century Buddhist master Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro helps the disciple discern a true leader. Hindu mystic Rama Krishna describes how Tapobana the Master, threatened by a disciple he thought of as foolish, goes on to make a fool of himself.
Conflicts between master and disciple arise in the secular world too. We hear the music of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis as Abdul-Rehman recounts the tale of the clash between young lion Wynton Marsalis and the legendary Davis. The death of Malcolm X in 1965 showed that crossing the master can have deadly consequences - we hear from his autobiography.
Abdul-Rehman concludes by examining how differences between the master and disciple can be reconciled.
Presenter: Abdul-Rehman Malik
Producer: Jonathan Mayo
A TBI Media production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4.
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Music Played
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The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
The Imperial March
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The London Symphony Orchestra
Ben Kenobi’s Death
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Wouter Van Belle
Hymn to John the Baptist
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Miles Davis
Speak
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Alban Berg
Wozzeck, Interlude to Act III
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Alban Berg
Wozzeck, Act II, Scene IV
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Leonard Bernstein
Make Our Garden Grow Finale
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John Williams
Star Wars Main Theme
Readings
Title: John 1:36-39 (The Bible NIV)
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
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Title: Being Disciples
Author: Rowan Williams
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
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Title: The Treasury of Knowledge
Author: Master Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro
Publisher: Snow Lion Publications
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Title: The Master-Disciple Relationship
Author: Huston Smith
Publisher: World Wisdom
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Title: Building Your Own Theology
Author: Richard S. Gilbert
Publisher: Unitarian Universalist Association
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Title: The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Author: Malcolm X
Publisher: Ballantine Books
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Title: Candide
Author: Voltaire
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Broadcasts
- Sun 2 Apr 2017 06:05Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Sun 2 Apr 2017 23:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Sun 23 Jul 2023 06:05Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4