Skip to main content

Search TrendsNew Ads Appearances Podcasts API

We value your privacy

We use cookies to understand how you use our platform and to improve your experience. Click “Accept All” to consent, or “Decline non-essential” to opt out of non-essential cookies. Read our Privacy Policy.

The House of Inner Tranquillity Podcast

The House of Inner Tranquillity Podcast

S10 Ep7: S10 Ep7 "Dismaland" by Paul harris

Sep 25, 2026 · 38 min · 8 segments

An exhibition by contemporary conceptual artists reflects the Buddha’s First Noble Truth: that suffering is an inescapable part of life. Yet, while the world appears to be undergoing profound…

An exhibition by contemporary conceptual artists reflects the Buddha’s First Noble Truth: that suffering is an inescapable part of life. Yet, while the world appears to be undergoing profound change, enlightened beings tell us that life is already perfect as it is. In this talk, Paul explores whether the world as conceptualised by the mind is truly as it appears, and how our experience of reality is being constructed moment by moment. Within each of us lies the capacity to understand how life works and the Buddha’s teaching offers a practical path towards that understanding. Paul Harris is the Spiritual head and principal meditation teacher at the House of Inner Tranquillity. This talk was given in September 2015.

An exhibition by contemporary conceptual artists reflects the Buddha’s First Noble Truth: that suffering is an inescapable part of life. Yet, while the world appears to be undergoing profound…

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Website

Show signals: Audience≈1k followers

Speakers: Paul HarrisHost

Top entities: The Buddha×16 Damien Hirst×2 Duḥkha Buddhism×12 Death×3

Dismaland and the Noble Truths1:40 – 6:22

Paul HarrisHost

1:40

But it was, it was interesting 'cause right there you had, you know ...

Paul HarrisHost

1:44

There was a lot of ironic juxtapositioning going on.

Paul HarrisHost

1:47

I think a bit too much, personally.

Paul HarrisHost

1:49

After a while, you think, "Oh, another ironic gesture."

U

UnknownUnknown

1:51

[laughs]

Paul HarrisHost

1:53

But, but it was.

Paul HarrisHost

1:53

It was very Buddhist.

Paul HarrisHost

1:56

It was ...

Paul HarrisHost

1:56

I mean, that was completely first noble truth, isn't it? I mean, don't forget you're gonna die.

Paul HarrisHost

1:59

You're having all this fun amusing yourself.

Paul HarrisHost

2:02

Don't forget your, you know, the Grim Reaper is, you know, in charge of your dodgem car ultimately.

Paul HarrisHost

2:08

Um, so very Buddhist, I thought.

Paul HarrisHost

2:09

Very first noble truth.

Paul HarrisHost

2:11

And there was a lot of second noble truth there as well.

Paul HarrisHost

2:14

There was lots of stuff on, you know, the hatred in the world, and the, and all the warfare, and the terrorism, and ...

Paul HarrisHost

2:23

I mean, it's suffering.

Paul HarrisHost

2:24

I, you know.

Paul HarrisHost

2:26

There is a lot of suffering undoubtedly, and they were, you know, pointing that out, you know, and not wanting people just to ignore it.

Paul HarrisHost

2:33

Um, there was a very nice, uh, Damien Hirst, um, who had created the ...

Paul HarrisHost

2:42

I don't know if you've seen it, but he created this, uh, installation where you've got this, uh, big beach ball, plastic beach ball, and there's a jet of air coming up keeping it up in the air.

Paul HarrisHost

2:56

And underneath it there's a whole series of sharp knives.

U

UnknownUnknown

2:59

[laughs]

Paul HarrisHost

3:00

And that's very, that's very first noble truth, isn't it?

U

UnknownUnknown

3:04

Mm-hmm.

Paul HarrisHost

3:04

And I did think to myself, "You know, that reminds me of me between the ages of 14 and 34." [laughs]

The BuddhaPersonTeacher
96%16 mentions
Damien HirstPersonArtist and art collector
89%2 mentions
DuḥkhaEntity
82%1 mention
BuddhismEntityReligion
75%12 mentions
DeathEntityMythological character
68%3 mentions
Stayin' AliveEntitySong by Bee Gees
61%2 mentions
DismalandTourist Attraction
54%13 mentions
Weston-super-MareCityTown in England
46%4 mentions
IgnoranceEntity
39%1 mention
Bee GeesMusic GroupMusical group
32%2 mentions
Lord ByronPersonBritish poet
25%2 mentions
René DescartesPersonFrench philosopher and mathematician
18%2 mentions
Nepali languageEntitySpoken language
11%1 mention
FacebookSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
4%1 mention

Conceptual ArtArts > Contemporary Art
Contemporary ArtArts
Society
Damien HirstArts > Contemporary Art > Conceptual Art > Art Installations
AwarenessPsychology > Personal Development > Meditation > Mindfulness Practices
GenerositySociety > Culture > Social Issues > Refugees
BuddhismReligion
CultureSociety
Personal DevelopmentPsychology
MeditationPsychology > Personal Development
SufferingReligion > Buddhism > Philosophy
Art InstallationsArts > Contemporary Art > Conceptual Art
PhilosophyReligion > Buddhism
Social IssuesSociety > Culture
RefugeesSociety > Culture > Social Issues
Religion
Psychology
Mindfulness PracticesPsychology > Personal Development > Meditation
Arts
MindfulnessReligion > Buddhism > Philosophy > Suffering

Dismaland and the Noble Truths1:40 – 6:22

Paul HarrisHost

1:40

But it was, it was interesting 'cause right there you had, you know ...

Paul HarrisHost

1:44

There was a lot of ironic juxtapositioning going on.

Paul HarrisHost

1:47

I think a bit too much, personally.

Paul HarrisHost

1:49

After a while, you think, "Oh, another ironic gesture."

U

UnknownUnknown

1:51

[laughs]

Paul HarrisHost

1:53

But, but it was.

Paul HarrisHost

1:53

It was very Buddhist.

Paul HarrisHost

1:56

It was ...

Paul HarrisHost

1:56

I mean, that was completely first noble truth, isn't it? I mean, don't forget you're gonna die.

Paul HarrisHost

1:59

You're having all this fun amusing yourself.

Paul HarrisHost

2:02

Don't forget your, you know, the Grim Reaper is, you know, in charge of your dodgem car ultimately.

Paul HarrisHost

2:08

Um, so very Buddhist, I thought.

Paul HarrisHost

2:09

Very first noble truth.

Paul HarrisHost

2:11

And there was a lot of second noble truth there as well.

Paul HarrisHost

2:14

There was lots of stuff on, you know, the hatred in the world, and the, and all the warfare, and the terrorism, and ...

Paul HarrisHost

2:23

I mean, it's suffering.

Paul HarrisHost

2:24

I, you know.

Paul HarrisHost

2:26

There is a lot of suffering undoubtedly, and they were, you know, pointing that out, you know, and not wanting people just to ignore it.

Paul HarrisHost

2:33

Um, there was a very nice, uh, Damien Hirst, um, who had created the ...

Paul HarrisHost

2:42

I don't know if you've seen it, but he created this, uh, installation where you've got this, uh, big beach ball, plastic beach ball, and there's a jet of air coming up keeping it up in the air.

Paul HarrisHost

2:56

And underneath it there's a whole series of sharp knives.

U

UnknownUnknown

2:59

[laughs]

Paul HarrisHost

3:00

And that's very, that's very first noble truth, isn't it?

U

UnknownUnknown

3:04

Mm-hmm.

Paul HarrisHost

3:04

And I did think to myself, "You know, that reminds me of me between the ages of 14 and 34." [laughs]

Sign up to see more

The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode

Create an account Already have an account? Log in

No account is needed to search Radar.