When we’re cracked open, we’re shown the tender fact that we’re all in this together. In that naked moment, we’re humbled and awed by the forces of grace that are always present, waiting to heal our heart.

Mark Nepo

In This Together

Topic: Overcoming Adversity

When we’re broken open, we’re forced to face what we’ve refused to look at. When we’re undone by the whirlwind of our own or another’s pain, we bear witness to the truth that life is far beyond our control. And when we’re cracked open, we’re shown the tender fact that we’re all in this together. In that naked moment, we’re humbled and awed by the forces of grace that are always present, waiting to heal our heart. And in that terrifying instant, we’re given a taste of eternity, where separation has no meaning… In being cracked open, we’re also shown our kinship with all beings who have ever suffered.

Mark Nepo

Mark Nepo was born on February 23, 1951, in Brooklyn, New York, and has dedicated over four decades to intertwining poetry and spirituality. With a PhD in English, he embarked on a teaching career at the State University of New York at Albany that spanned twenty years. His upbringing in New York infused his work with a blend of urban wisdom and a quest for deeper truths, setting the stage for his contributions to literature and spiritual thought.

The turning point in Nepo’s life came with his battle against lymphoma in his thirties, profoundly shaping his worldview and creative output. This experience led to significant works like "The Book of Awakening," offering meditations on the essence of life. His writings, including "Seven Thousand Ways to Listen," "Reduced to Joy," and "Inhabiting Wonder," delve into the complexities of human experience, advocating for a life lived with depth and mindfulness.

Now residing in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Nepo continues to influence through his books, workshops, and lectures. His journey reflects a commitment to resilience, deep listening, and openness, guiding others to navigate life’s challenges with grace. Nepo’s work serves as a beacon for those seeking to engage more fully with the world and their inner selves, embodying the journey towards authenticity and understanding.

Emergent Spirituality
The Book of Awakening

Nepo, Mark. The Book of Awakening. Conari Press, 2011.

Mark Nepo

Theme: Adversity

About This Mark Nepo Quotation [Commentary]

Mark Nepo’s reflection on adversity reveals a profound truth about the human condition and our interconnectedness. When Nepo speaks of being “cracked open,” he is referring to those moments of deep suffering that force us to confront the realities we have long ignored. In the passage, he illustrates how adversity strips away our illusions of control and separateness. When we are broken open by pain, whether our own or another’s, we are faced with the stark truth that life is beyond our control. This experience compels us to witness the interconnectedness of all beings, uniting us in our shared vulnerability and humanity.

In the naked moment of being “cracked open,” Nepo describes a humbling and awe-inspiring revelation of grace. He suggests that there is a profound, ever-present force ready to heal our hearts if we allow ourselves to be open to it. This moment of vulnerability, where we feel the full weight of our suffering, also offers a glimpse of eternity—an experience where the concept of separation loses its meaning. Nepo emphasizes that this state of being, terrifying as it may be, is filled with grace that can mend and unite us. It is in these moments of deepest pain that we are reminded that we are all in this together, sharing a common bond through our struggles.

Ultimately, Nepo’s insights into adversity highlight a transformative potential within suffering. By being “cracked open,” we not only face our own pain but also recognize our kinship with all who have ever suffered. This recognition fosters a deep sense of empathy and connection, dissolving the barriers that often keep us isolated from one another. Nepo’s words invite us to see adversity not merely as a source of pain but as an opportunity for spiritual and emotional growth, bringing us closer to a sense of wholeness through our shared experiences of suffering and grace.

Additional Mark Nepo Quotations

Mark Nepo has written extensively about illness, adversity, and the transformative power of love and connection through his personal experiences with cancer and life’s challenges.

“The closer we get to truth and beauty, the more truthful and beautiful we become. In the same way, the closer we get to that sacred meadow called death, the more and more alive we grow. And the more we live in the sanctity that life and death reveal in each other, the more loving we grow.”

—Nepo, Mark. “Finding Inner Courage.” MarkNepo.com, 2006, marknepo.com/books/finding_inner_courage/.
From the interview “Mark Nepo: Holding Nothing Back” (2016).

This passage highlights how facing adversity like illness can deepen our appreciation for life and love. Nepo suggests that confronting mortality paradoxically makes us more alive and loving.

“We trip on the garbage. It’s all for a reason, the stones and the garbage. Maybe the point is to learn from everything. And if that is the point, it’s all for a reason.”

—Nepo, Mark. “Mark Nepo: Holding Nothing Back.” Interview by Tami Simon. DailyGood, 10 Dec. 2016, www.dailygood.org/story/1458/mark-nepo-holding-nothing-back-tami-simon/. [From “How to Get Back Up” podcast (2022)

In this quote, Nepo acknowledges that even after profound realizations, we still face mundane struggles and setbacks (“tripping on the garbage”). However, he suggests these challenges are opportunities for growth and learning to be embraced.

“And this is also the work of compassion… And we distribute the weight. And this is also the work of compassion.”

—Nepo, Mark. “How to Get Back Up | Mark Nepo.” Interview by Jonathan Fields. Good Life Project, 2022, www.goodlifeproject.com/podcast/how-to-get-back-up-mark-nepo/.

Here, Nepo discusses the “art of netting” – how in times of adversity, we can distribute the weight through compassionate connections with others. This exemplifies his belief in the transformative power of love and support.

In This Together

Related Quotes