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.