transcript of super soul sunday, october 29, 2017 · transcript of super soul sunday, october 29,...
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TranscriptofSuperSoulSunday,October29,2017
OprahWinfrey: Howareyou?
BrotherDavid: Thankyou.
OprahWinfrey: It'ssogreat.I'vebeenlookingforwardtobeingwithyou.
BrotherDavid: Thankyou.
OprahWinfrey: Oh,thankyousomuch.
Heisbelovedtheworldoverforhisenduringmessageaboutgratefulness.It'sthetruesourceoflastingjoy.
BrotherDavid: Gratefullivingistobegratefulatalltimesnomatterwhathappens,alsointhemidstofsuffering.
OprahWinfrey: 91yearoldauthor,scholar,andBenedictinemonk,BrotherDavidSteindl-Rast,hasinspiredgenerations.
BrotherDavid: Wehavetheopportunitytostretchevenfurtherthatpeoplehadtostretchthemselvesbeforetounderstandoneanother,tolistentooneanother.
OprahWinfrey: AndhisTEDtalkhasoversixmillionviews.Today,BrotherSteindl-Rastinvitesustoembracethespiritualpracticeofgratefulliving.
Whatyoujustsaidisthekeythatunlocksthepathtoasuccessfullife.Andthatistrustlife.
BrotherDavid: Thatisthebeginning.
OprahWinfrey: Thatisthebeginning,right?Isn'tthatthefoundation-
BrotherDavid: That'sthefoundationofeverything.
OprahWinfrey: Iknowthestudyofgratitudehasbeenyourlife'sworkandaswenowintheworldaresearchingforwaysto
findcommonground,youbelievethatallhumanssharethesameyearning.Whatisthatyearning?
BrotherDavid: Theyearningisbasically,Ithink,allhumansarelookingtobehappy.
OprahWinfrey: Mm-hmm(affirmative).
BrotherDavid: Tobehappy,tobejoyful.AndImakealittledistinctionbetweenhappyandjoyfulbecausewesaywewanttobehappy,butwewanttobehappywithahappinessthatlasts.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Andwearewellawarethathappinessjustdoesn'tlast.
OprahWinfrey: Right.
BrotherDavid: Happinesscannotlast.
OprahWinfrey: Cannotlast.
BrotherDavid: SowehavetofindthehappinessthatlastsandthathappinessIcalljoy.Andwecanfindthatbecausewecanfindthatjoyeveninthemidstofunhappiness.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.Soforyouisgratefulnessapractice?
BrotherDavid: Yes.
OprahWinfrey: Orjustawayofbeing?Awayofbeing.
BrotherDavid: It'sawayofbeing.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: Butthepracticeisawayofbeing.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: It'sawayofliving.That'swhylatelyItalklessaboutgratitude,butmoreaboutgratefulliving.Becausewhenyouspeakaboutgratitudepeopleoftenthink,"Oh,yeah.Whensomethingnicehappens,ofcourseI'mgrateful."Butgratefullivingistobegratefulatalltimes.Atalltimesnomatterwhathappens.Andthatmeansreapingthejoythatcomesfromgratefulnessatalltimes.Alsointhemidstofsuffering.
OprahWinfrey: Andsowhatdoyouthinktheessenceofgratefullivingis?IfIwanttolivemoregratefullyinmylife,whichI'mtellingyou-
BrotherDavid: Firstyouhavetoaskwhatareyoureallygratefulfor?Andthereit'simportanttorealizeyou'renotgratefulforwhathappensatthismomentnecessarilybecauseitmaybesomethingforwhichyoucannotbegrateful.Ifyougetnewsthatyourdearestfriendhasjustdied-
OprahWinfrey: Right.Right.
BrotherDavid: Orifyoujustfacedonthenewswithoppression,withexploitation,andmisery,andviolence,youcan'tbegratefulforthat.Butateverymomentlifegiveyoutheopportunitytodosomethingwithwhatlifegivesyou.Therefore,gratefullivingmeanslearningtoavailyourselfmomentbymomentofthatopportunity.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Andthatmostofthetimeit'stheopportunitytoenjoy.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Andreallyhelppeoplerealizethat.There's99%ofthetimewecouldenjoyandwecanbreathe.Wecanenjoythatwehaveeyesandearstohear.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: Everything,everything.
OprahWinfrey: Andnotwaituntilyouhavetoloseyoursightorhavetobreathethroughamachine,orhavesomekindofdisease,beforeyoucanappreciatethefactthatyouhaveallofthesethings.
BrotherDavid: Exactly.Thatyouhavelegs.Youknowthiswhenyoubreakalegorwhenyouhavesomedifficult...No,thehardtimes.Butthatisenjoyment.Thatistheopportunitytoenjoy.
OprahWinfrey: Soyoucanimaginethatinourcountry,aswellasallovertheworldactually,disruptionisoccurringataratethatwehaveneverseen.IwassohappytoreadinGratefulness:TheHeartofPrayerhowyouseeeverythingasanopportunity,becauseI'vebeenthinkingdeeplyaboutoursituation.AndIthinkthismomentinourculture,inourworld,inoursociety,isamomentthatcallsforeachofustostepintothisopportunity.
BrotherDavid: Absolutely.Thatisquiteadifferentopportunityfromenjoyingthings.
OprahWinfrey: Yes,yes.
BrotherDavid: Butitisalsoagift,andagreatgift,thatinatimeandaplace,thewholeworldtoday,whereeverythingistornand-
OprahWinfrey: Tornandbroken.
BrotherDavid: ...broken.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.Dissension.
BrotherDavid: Wehavetheopportunitytostretchevenfurtherthanpeoplehadtostretchthemselvesbeforetounderstandoneanother,tolistentooneanother.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.Tocometoacommonhope.AndIlovehowyoudefinehope.Wouldyousharethiswithourviewers.
BrotherDavid: Ithinkhopeissomethingverydifferentfromourhopes.
OprahWinfrey: Ithinkthat'ssoimportant.
BrotherDavid: Becausethehopesarealwayssomethingthatwecanimagine.
OprahWinfrey: Right.
BrotherDavid: Youcan'thopeforitunlessyoucanimagineit.Buthopeinthistrulyspiritualsenseisopennessforsurprise.Forthatwhichyoucannotimagine.
OprahWinfrey: Realhope.WithacapitalH.
BrotherDavid: That'sright.
OprahWinfrey: Isbeingopentosurprise.
BrotherDavid: Forsurprise.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Andtoopenyourhearttothatsurprise-
OprahWinfrey: Asopposedtothehopeforthethingthatyouimagineoryouantoryou'rewishingfor?
BrotherDavid: Exactly.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Andifyoutrustlifeitsurpriseyouanditwillalwaysgiveyougoodthings.
OprahWinfrey: Okay.Solet'sstartrighthere.BecauseIthinkthatwhatyoujustsaidisthekeythatunlocksthepathtoasuccessfullife.Andthatistrustlife.
BrotherDavid: Thatisthebeginning.
OprahWinfrey: Thatisthebeginning.Right?Isn'tthatthefoundation?
BrotherDavid: That'sthefoundationofeverything.
OprahWinfrey: Andthat'swhatultimatelyfaithis,isitnot?
BrotherDavid: Wecanwithholdthattrustorwecangiveit.Andifwewithholdit,wecantryforalittlewhile,buteverythinggoeswrong.
OprahWinfrey: Howcanpeoplelearntonotwithholditwhenyoufeellikelifehasgivenyouanunfairshot?Howcanyoudevelopfaith,maintain,sustainfaith,whenyoureallythinklifehasbeenreallyunfair?
BrotherDavid: Yeah.Andtooquicklysay,"Well,yes,youshouldtrustinlifeand..."Iwouldbeverycareful.Butit'stheonlythingthatyoucansay.Andyouask,"HowcanIprovethatlifeisworthtrusting?"Ifyouknowthepersonwellenoughandcanbereallyspeakfromhearttoheart,that'salsonecessary,butyoucanmakethemlookbackontheirlife.Andtheywillseethateventheworstthingsthathappenedtothemturnedouttobelifegiving.Ifyoulookbackonyourlife,youseesituationsandtimeswheneverythingseemedtobejustterrible,terrible-
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: ...catastrophe.
OprahWinfrey: Mm-hmm(affirmative).
BrotherDavid: Andnowoutofthiscatastrophe,notinspiteofit,itisbecauseofit,yougotwhereyouare.Andthatissoencouraging.Butyouseemostlywhenyoulookintherearmirror,sotosay,youseelookingback.Andwhenyoulookforward,youcan'tseeit.Otherwiseyouwouldn'tbeinthedifficultsituations.
OprahWinfrey: Correct.ButIthinkalsodevelopingatrustinlife,evenwhentheheardtimescome,youknowyou'llgetthroughit.
BrotherDavid: Thatisthepoint.Becauseyouhaveexperienceinthepast,andyoucanseewhenyoulookatthepast,butwhenyoulookatthefuture,youcan'tseeit.That'swhatmakesitsodifficult.Andthenyouneedthattrust.EventhoughIdon'tseeatrustthatlifewillgivemegoodthings.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
Sohowdoyoucometobeahumanbeingwholivesmorealive?
BrotherDavid: Thosearethethreenecessarystepsthathavetoberepeatedoverandovertoreallycomealive.
OprahWinfrey: Sohowdoyoucometobeahumanbeingwholivesmorealive?
BrotherDavid: Well,firstyouhavetostop,becauseweareinsuchafastlaneinlife,mostofus.Whetherwewantitornot,lifeissofastthesedays.Sowearereallyrushedalongandwedon'tseetheopportunity.See?Lifeoffersusmomentbymomentopportunity.Sohavetostopandgetintothepresentmoment.Oursharedfriend,EckhartTolle,
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Hehasreallytaughtpeoplethat.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Youhavetostoplongenoughtobepresent.Andthenyoucanlisten,look,smellifnecessary,whatever.
OprahWinfrey: Mm-hmm(affirmative).
BrotherDavid: Whatisnowtheopportunitythatlifeoffersmeatthismoment?AndthenthatistheLook,andthenGoandgrabit.Dosomethingwithit.Whenitcomestoenjoyment,enjoythemomentreally.Don'tjustsay,"Niceflowers."
OprahWinfrey: Mm-hmm(affirmative).
BrotherDavid: Andgoontosomethingelse.Butlookattheflowers,letthemimpressyou.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: Sostop,look,go.
OprahWinfrey: Mm-hmm(affirmative).
BrotherDavid: Thosearethethreenecessarystepsthathavetoberepeatedoverandovertoreallycomealive.Thatisreallythehappinessthatwealllongfor.Tobealiveonalllevels.Onaphysicallevel,onmentallevel-
OprahWinfrey: Right.
BrotherDavid: ...emotionallevel,andonthespirituallevel.
OprahWinfrey: Right.Iknowyoubelievethatgratitudecaninspirearevolution,becauseduringyourTEDtalkyousaid,"Gratitudecanchangeourworldinimmenselyimportantways,becauseifyou'regratefulyou'renotfearful,andifyou'renotfearfulyou'renotviolent.If
you'regratefulyouactoutofasenseofenoughandnotofasenseofscarcityandyouarewillingtoshare."Sincewe'velivedunderthePowerPyramidforsomanyhundredsofyears,candoyouthinkbeinggratefulinspirerevolution?
BrotherDavid: ThereasonwhythePowerPyramidissodestructive-
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.AndtelluswhatyoumeanbythePowerPyramid.
BrotherDavid: Yes.Itisthesociallife,theformthatwegiveoursociallife,ifwearefearful.Andthosearethetwopossibilitiestolife.Eithertotrustlifeortobefearfuloflife.Fearfulnessmakesyouviolentandtherootofviolenceisfearfulness.
OprahWinfrey: Yes,absolutely.
BrotherDavid: Andthenthisfearbuildsthispyramidbecausetheoneisalittlehighupandtheothersisfearfulthatsomebodyelsemightgetthere,andsousedviolencetooppresstheothers.There'salreadyoppression.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.Sowhenweseetheterroriststhroughouttheworld,theviolencebeingenacteduponpeoplethroughouttheworld,allthosepeoplearedoingthatbecausethey'reafraid.
BrotherDavid: Exactly.Andtheyareafraidofoneanotherthattheotheronewouldgetahead.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: Soyougetcompetition-
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: ...andrivalry.
OprahWinfrey: Right.
BrotherDavid: Andthenyougetkillingbecausepeoplethink,"Oh,that'snotenough."Again,fear.Fearthatthat'snotenough.Andifyoufearthatthat'snotenough,youwanttogetasmuchaspossibleforyourself.
OprahWinfrey: Correct.
BrotherDavid: Exactlytheoppositeiswhenyoutrustlifebecausethenyouarenotfearful.Insteadofviolence,noviolence,peace.Thatisexactlytheworldorderwewant.Aworldofpeace,ofcooperation,andofsharing.
OprahWinfrey: SomethingIreadthatstruckmewhereyouweresayingthistimethatwe'realllivinginnow,whereeverybodyfeelssodividedandcan'tagree,thatthistimemaybeofferingustheopportunitytoloveourenemies.
BrotherDavid: Exactly.
OprahWinfrey: Whataconcept.
BrotherDavid: That'swhatwehavetolearntoday.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: AndIputanemphasisonthefactthatitremainstheenemybecauseifsuddenlytheybecameyourfriends,youwouldloveyourfriends,butnotyourenemies.Theyremainyourenemies,butyoulovethem.
OprahWinfrey: Howisthatpossible?
BrotherDavid: Well,firstofallyouhavetosaywhatdoyoumeanbylove.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Andtheonedefinitionifyouwant,it'saworkingdefinition,ofanykindoflove.Therearesomanykindsoflove.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: Loveofyourspouse,loveofyourfriends,loveofyouranimals,loveofyourcountry.Whatallofthemhavetogetheris,Isayyeswebelongtogether.Yestobelonging.Loveisayestobelongingthatisnotonlysaidwithyourmouth,butwithyourwholebeingandlivedyestobelonging.Existentialyestobelonging.
OprahWinfrey: That'sagreatdefinition.Loveisalivedyestobelonging.SowhatIhearyousayingisthatyoucanloveyourenemies,lovethembyunderstandingtheyhaveasmuchrighttobelong-
BrotherDavid: Webelongtogether.Webelongtogether.
OprahWinfrey: ...belongasyoudo.
BrotherDavid: Yes.
OprahWinfrey: Itdoesn'tmeanyouhavetoagreewiththem-
BrotherDavid: No.
OprahWinfrey: ...becauseifyou'regoingtoloveyourenemies,theyhavetoremainyourenemies,right?
BrotherDavid: Yes.Oneoftheaspectsoflovingyourenemiesisthatyoulistentothem,youlistenwhataretheysaying.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Andthenyousay,"Maybetheyareright."Foramomentyoumaythink,"Maybethey'rerightandnotI."Soyoucheckwhatyouropinionisagainsttheiropinion.
OprahWinfrey: Right.
BrotherDavid: That'salreadyastepforward.Thenyoulookattheissue.Thatwouldbetherealthing.Let'stogetherlookat
theissueandnotatourpreconceivednotions.Soyou'retryingtogetyourenemiestolookattheissues,notattheirposition.
OprahWinfrey: Andwherecanwefindsomecommonground?
BrotherDavid: Wherewecanfindcommonground.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: Butitalsomeansthatinthoseaspectsinwhichyourenemies...Isayitwithquotationmarksbecauseusuallywhenyousayenemies,youthinkyouhatethem.No,theenemieswhomyoulove.Insomecases,youhavetodoeverythingtothwarttheirpurpose.Ifsomebodystandsfordestructionoftheenvironment,cutsdonetherainforests,theyaremyenemies.Ican'thelpit.Theyaremyenemies.AndIwilleverythingpossibletoprotecttheanimals.
OprahWinfrey: Butwillyoustilllovethem?
BrotherDavid: Iwillstilllovethembecausewebelongtogether.
OprahWinfrey: Doyoubelievethateverypersonwhocomesintotheworldhasacalling?
BrotherDavid: Thatwouldevenbeanentrancetolivingalifeofgratefulliving,byaskingyourselfwhatdoIhatetodo?
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Ifyoustartwiththat.
OprahWinfrey: Doyoubelievethateverypersonwhocomesintotheworldhasacalling?
BrotherDavid: Absolutely.Butit'sdifficulttobecomeawareofit.Ithinkeverybodyhasacalling.IspeakofLife;it'sthatgreatmysterythatweconfrontashumanbeings.
OprahWinfrey: Mm-hmm(affirmative).
BrotherDavid: Life-
OprahWinfrey: AndgreatmysteryisanotherwordyouuseforGod.
BrotherDavid: Forthat,forlife.Life,amystery.AndifyouaresurethatyouareusingthewordGodcorrectly,youcouldevencallitGod,buttherearesomanymisunderstandings.SoIcallitLife.Everybodyknowwhatyoumeanbythat.It'sverymysterious.Youcannotanalyzeit,youcannotgraspit,butyoucanunderstanditifyougiveyourselftoit,ifyouletittakeholdofyou.
OprahWinfrey: Mm-hmm(affirmative).
BrotherDavid: Andlifeoffersyouthings.Verydifferentfromanyotherperson.There'sneverbeenanotherpersonthathadexactlyyourfingerprintsorthesameanswerstothesame...Bornatthistimeinhistorythatmakesagreatdifference.Andallthesethingsmakeyouvery,veryunique.Andthisuniquenessisyourcallingtoliveittothefull.Thatuniqueness,it'slikearolethatyouaregiven,yousee.WhenIsayweallbelongtogether,thatisourself.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.Sotherealcallingforallofusisthiscallingthateachofusasanindividualhastocomealive-
BrotherDavid: Exactly.
OprahWinfrey: ...asahumanbeing,thenexpresswhateverthatis.
BrotherDavid: Exactly.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.Peoplewanttocomealiveintheiruniquenessandtobeabletoexpresswhatthatis.
BrotherDavid: Yeah.
OprahWinfrey: Whichisthemystery,themystery,expressingitselfthroughthem.
BrotherDavid: Inthatuniqueform.
OprahWinfrey: Inthatuniqueform.
BrotherDavid: Thatwasneverbefore.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: ThereisabeautifulstoryfromthemysterytraditioninJudaismwhereonegreatmasterprays,"Oh,God,makemelikeAbraham."
AndthevoicecomesfromHeavenandsays,"I'vealreadygotoneAbraham.Iwantyouandyouruniqueness."
OprahWinfrey: That'sright.That'sright.Iappreciateyousayingthat,"ThetermspirithasbeensomisusedthatIwouldperfectlyhappytodropitcompletely,declareamoratoriumonthewordspirit,andusealwaysthetermcommonsense.Becauseincontemporaryparlancethatsaysitmuchbetter.Itmakessense.It'sconnectedwiththebodythroughthesenses."IthoughtthatwasbrilliantwhenIreadthat.
BrotherDavid: I'mgladyoulikethat.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.BecauseIthinkthewordspiritissoconfusingforpeople.Thatifwestartusingthecommon...
BrotherDavid: Sense.Commonsense.
OprahWinfrey: Itthecommonsense.
BrotherDavid: Itmakessense.Ithastodowiththesenses,withalloursenses,anditiscommontoallanditleadstoawarenessthatweareallone.
OprahWinfrey: Sothisiswhat'ssofascinatingtomeaboutyourlifestory,isthatyourownpathtogratefulnessactuallystartedasateenagergrowingupinNazioccupiedAustria,whereyouwitnessedthehorrorsofHitler'spower.Soyouhavebeeninthatspacewhereitisasbadasyoucanget.Howdidyoucultivateapracticeofgratitudeinthemidstofwar?
BrotherDavid: Wheneverythingissouncertainandwhenthebombsarefallingleftandrightandyoudon'tevenknowwhetheryourhouseis...Bunomeansweretheyhousesbecause-
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.Thereweremanytimeswherethebombswouldgoandyouweresurprisedthatyouwerestillalive.
BrotherDavid: Yes,many,manytimes.Whenyouliveinthatway-
OprahWinfrey: Sowereyouallowedtostayinyourhome?Youwerenevertakenofftoacamp.
BrotherDavid: Iwasinthearmy,intheGermanarmy.Butwewerenotincamps.Wehadtoliveinthepresentmoment,in“Tolle”moment,andwhenyouliveinthepresentmoment,youareallthere.That'swherethestopbringsyou.Thenyoucanlookandyoucando.Gofromthatmoment.
OprahWinfrey: Icanimaginethattheonlythingyoucandoisfocusonrightnow,becauseit'stoomuchtotrytoworryaboutwhat'sgoingtohappenanhourfromnow.
BrotherDavid: Youhavenottheslightestidea.
OprahWinfrey: Andnottheslightestidea.
BrotherDavid: Irememberasituationinwhichoneofourteachersgaveushomeworkandhesaid,"ThisisfornextThursday."
Andthewholeclassburstoutlaughing,"NextThursday?Whoknowswhat'snextThursday?"
OprahWinfrey: Wow.Iknow.Ireadthatyoudidn'tevenknow...Youneverexpectedtoliveto20.
BrotherDavid: Absolutelynot.
OprahWinfrey: Youdidn'texpecttomakeitto20andhereyouare91.
BrotherDavid: Yeah.
OprahWinfrey: Wow.Willyousharethelessoningratitudeyoulearnedfromkeepingdeathbeforeyoureyesandwhereyougotthatatalltimes?
BrotherDavid: WhatIjustdescribed,thissituationinwhichyouhavetoliveinthepresentmoment,becausethebombsaregoingleftandright,andineveryotherwayofyourlifeisindanger.Thislivinginthepresentmoment,thatiswhatgivesyoujoyinlife.AsIreadthissentenceinalittlebookcalledTheRuleofSt.Benedict,accordingtowhichtheBenedictinemonkslivefor1,500yearsnow.WereaditonlybecausewewantedtodosomethingspitefulagainstourNaziteachersandweknewtheydidn'twantustoreadthatsortofthing.Thatsentence,"Tohavedeathatalltimesbeforeyou,"thatstoppedmedeeply.Andthenwhenthewarwasover,itcamebacktomymindandIthought,"Well,that'swhyweweresojoyful."Youknow?Becausewehaddeathbeforeoureyes.Wehadtoliveinthepresentmoment.Wehadawonderfulyouth.Iwouldn'twanttotradeitagainstanythingwithallthehardship.
ThatbecauseIhadreadthatinTheRuleofSt.Benedict,Ithought,"Well,probablyIshouldbecomeaBenedictinemonk."ButIdidn'tliketheideaatall.Iwasrunningawayfromitformanyyears.
OprahWinfrey: Really?
BrotherDavid: Yeah,yeah.
OprahWinfrey: SohowdidyoufinallybecomeaBenedictinemonk?
BrotherDavid: Well,firstofall,Istartedstudyinganything,findinganyalibithatIcouldfind.Sostudyingthisandhowtofinishthat.StudiedartandthenIstudiedpsychology.ThenIevenwenttotheUnitedStatesfromEurope.
OprahWinfrey: Mm-hmm(affirmative).
BrotherDavid: Youdon'tgototheUnitedStatesinordertobecomeamonk.
OprahWinfrey: No,youdon't.
BrotherDavid: Iwasrunningawayfromit.AndthenItoldafriend,"IfIhadlivedintheMiddleAgesIwouldhavejoinedtheBenedictines,butIwantthatoriginalspirit."
Itoldthistoafriendandhesaid,"Oh,that'sfunny.IjustreadthattheystartedamonasteryinElmira,NewYork,andit'ssupposedtobeareformoftheBenedictinelife,andtheywanttocomebacktotheoriginalfervoroftherule."
Andthatwasit.IwentthereandIknewthatwasit.Loveatfirstsight.AndIwoulddoitagain.
OprahWinfrey: Sohowoldwereyouwhenyoufirstjoined?
BrotherDavid: Iwas26.
OprahWinfrey: Sowhat'sthelifeofaBenedictinemonklike?
BrotherDavid: Wellwedobasicallythreeactivities,kindsofactivities.Theoneiswehaveachoir.Weprayinchoirandweprayseventimesaday.Sometimesthat'sadjusted,sowe're
basicallyatsunrise,atnoon,atsunset,andinbetweenthosehours.Sowehavewhatwecallthehoursoftheday.Wecometogether,wechant.Manypeoplenowadayslikethischant.
OprahWinfrey: Likethechanting.Yes,yes.
BrotherDavid: Theyfeelthat.Sowechant.Wepraytogether,wechant.Thatisoneofouractivities.Theotheroneisthatwestudyormeditateonscripture,butalsoonallsortsofotherthings.Andthethirdactivityisworkingwithyourhands.Soeverybodyworkswiththeirhandspartofthetime,forpartoftheday.Itkeepsyoudowntoearth,aswesay.That'stypicallyBenedictine.Andmyfavoritework,andnowatmyagethereisn'tmuchelseIcando,iswashingthedishes.
OprahWinfrey: Withyourhands.
BrotherDavid: Doingthedishes.Thatisalsoawonderfulwayofstop,look,go.Youfeelthedishcloth;youfeelthewarmwater,andthecoldrinsingwater.Youareawareofit.Youbecomeawareofit.Thatisthejoy.Mostpeopledon'tlikewashingdishes,butitcanbearealcommunicationwithlife.Thatwouldevenbeanentrancetolivingalifeofgratefullivingbyaskingyourself,"WhatdoIhatetodo?"
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: Ifyoustartwiththatandthenfindtheopportunityinit.Andthatthingthatupuntilnowyouhatedit,nowyoufind,"Whatopportunitydoesitgiveme?"
OprahWinfrey: Ithinksomanypeoplearefeelingoverwhelmedbytheirangertoday.Howcanwetransformthatangerintosomethingmorepositive?
BrotherDavid: Anger,Iactuallyhavearatherpositiveviewofanger.
OprahWinfrey: Doyou?
BrotherDavid: Angergivesyoualotofenergy.Sotheangerinitself-thatburstofenergy-issomethingverypositive.Sopatyourselfontheshoulderifyouarealiveenough-
OprahWinfrey: Ifyou'regoingtoletitmotivateyoutodosomething.
BrotherDavid: Butnowcomesthepoint,howshoulditmotivateyou?
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: Anditshouldmotivateyoubylookingattheothersasyourequals.Webelongtogether.Buttheangeritself,thatburstofenergy,let'suseit.Let'suseitpositively.Andpositivelymeansbyrememberingwebelongtogether.Thisisourworld.Thisoneworld.
OprahWinfrey: Iknow.Thefaultythinkingispeoplebelievingthatcertaingroupshavearighttobehereandothersdonot.That'swherewe'vegonewrong.AndyoubelievethatonewaytowardabetterworldtorememberoneofthemostpopularcommandsintheBible,whichis...
BrotherDavid: Fearnot.
OprahWinfrey: Fearnot.
BrotherDavid: Thatisthemainthing.Fearnot.
OprahWinfrey: Iknow.Andyousaidthatit'sintheBible365times.
BrotherDavid: Oneforeverydayoftheyear.
OprahWinfrey: Idon'tthinkthat'sanaccident.Right?
BrotherDavid: Ididn'tcountitbutIreadit,soIbelieveit.It'sverygood.Foreverydayoftheyear,fearnot,fearnot.Thatisthemainthingbecauseit'stheoppositeofthePowerPyramid.Allthefear,violence,allthefear,greed,allthe
fear...Whywerewe...Allthesebadthingsandoutoftrustinlifecomescooperation,peace,sharing.
OprahWinfrey: Yes.
BrotherDavid: That'swhatweneedtoday.
OprahWinfrey: Yeah.
BrotherDavid: Whatwehavetodecide-
OprahWinfrey: Andultimatelythatlove.Thatlovethatsays,"Yes."
BrotherDavid: Tobelonging.
OprahWinfrey: Tobelonging.
BrotherDavid: Weallbelongtogether.Andweliveonalimitedplanetandwecannothaveunlimitedgrowthonalimitedplanet.
OprahWinfrey: Soat90yearsold,91,whatstillsurprisesyou?
BrotherDavid: Whatstillsurpriseme?Everythingeveryday.Everything.Iwouldhavetolisteverything.ThatIcansithereandhavethisconversationwithyou.Whatagiftthatisandwhatasurprise.
OprahWinfrey: Undertheoaks,yeah.
BrotherDavid: Ineverexpectedit.Wonderful.Verygratefulforit.Buteverything'ssurprising.
OprahWinfrey: SoIwanttoendwithapassagefromyourforthcomingbook,IAmThroughYouSoI.Youwrite,"Dailyitbecomesclearertome.Gratitudeisacelebrationoflove,justasloveisthelived,'Yes,'ofjoyfulmutualbelonging.Gratitudecelebrateslifewithajoyful,'Yes,'ateveryknotofthegreatnetworkinwhicheverythingisconnectedtoeverything.Aswelivethis'Yes'withever
moreconviction,loveripensevermoreabundantlyintheautumnsunoflife.Inowseeitasmymaintasktosimplyallowthistohappen,sincewedonotdiefromdeath,butfromfullyripenedlove."
Wow.Iguessyou’vegottobeaBenedictinemonktocomeupwiththat.
BrotherDavid: Thankyou.
OprahWinfrey: Thankyousomuch.Thankyouforthisopportunity.Thankyouforthisopportunity.
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