TRANSCRIPTFORJOHNO'DONOHUETHE

INNERLANDSCAPEOFBEAUTY
August6,2015
[music:SevenLeagueBootsbyZoeKeating]
JOHNO'DONOHUE:Beautyisn'tallaboutjustnice,loveliness
like.Beautyisaboutmoreroundedsubstantialbecoming.SoI
thinkbeautyinthatsenseisaboutanemergingfullness,a
greatersenseofgraceandelegance,adeepersenseofdepth,and
alsoakindofhomecomingfortheenrichedmemoryofyour
unfoldinglife.
KRISTATIPPETT,HOST:JohnO'DonohuewasanIrishpoet
andphilosopherbelovedforhisbooks,includingAnamara,
whichisGaelicfor"soulfriend,"andforhisinsistenceon
beautyasahumancallingandadefiningaspectofGod.Hedied
in2008,andthiswasoneofthelastinterviewshegave.John
O'DonohuehadaveryCelticlifelongfascinationwithwhathe
called"theinvisibleworld."Hisvoiceandwritingscontinueto
bringancientmysticalwisdomtomodernconfusionsand
longings.
ImKristaTippettandthisisOnBeing.
[music:SevenLeagueBootsbyZoeKeating]
MS.TIPPETT:Anamarawaspublishedin1997,andit
becameaninternationalbestseller.JohnODonohuesfinal
work,EchoesofMemory,acollectionofblessings,was
publishedposthumously.Hewasbornin1956inCountyClare
inwesternIreland.Historically,thispartoftheworldwasa
crucibleofCelticChristianity,mergingastrongsenseof
mysterywithapassionateembraceofnature,thebody,andthe
senses.Thedivineisunderstoodasmanifesteverywherein
everything.JohnODonohueenteredseminaryatayoungage
andwasaCatholicpriestfor19years.Butinthe1980s,hewent
toGermanytostudythephilosophyofHegel.Heeventuallyleft
thepriesthoodanddevotedhimselffulltimetomeditatingand
writingonbeauty,friendship,andhowthevisibleandthe
invisiblethematerialandthespiritualintertwineinhuman

experience.
MS.TIPPETT:Tellmealittlebitmoreaboutwhereyoucome
fromandwhatformedyou?Whatbegantoformyoutocometo
thisspiritualperspectiveandphilosophicalandpoetic
perspectivethatyouhavenow?
MR.O'DONOHUE:Well,IsupposeIwasblessedbybeing
bornintoanamazinglandscapeinthewestofIreland.
MS.TIPPETT:Yes.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Andit'stheBurrenregion,whichis
limestone.Andit'sabarelimestonelandscape.AndIoftenthink
thattheformsofthelimestonearesoabstractandaesthetic,and
itisasiftheywerealllaiddownbysomewildsurrealistickind
ofdeity.Sosoonbeingachildandcomingoutintothat,it
waswaitinglikeahugewildinvitationtoextendyour
imagination.Andthenit'srightontheedgeoftheoceanaswell,
andsoaconversationanancientconversationbetweenthe
oceanandthestonegoingon.
MS.TIPPETT:Iknowthat"landscape"isareallypivotalword
foryouthatyouuse,notjustindescribingthenaturalworldbut
animportantwordintalkingabouthowhumanbeingsknow
themselvesandmovethroughtheworld.Ihaven'tbeento
preciselytheplaceyouarefrom;butIthinkthewestcoastof
Scotland,thewestcoastofIreland,itisthiscompletelyunusual,
thiswildraw,bleakbeauty.Buttalktomeabouthowyouhave
cometounderstandlandscapeassomethingthatformseachof
us.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Well,Ithinkitmakesahugedifference
whenyouwakeinthemorningandcomeoutofyourhouse.
Whetheryoubelieveyouarewalkingintodeadgeographical
location,whichisusedtogettoadestination,orwhetheryou
areemergingoutintoalandscapethatisjustasmuch,ifnot
more,aliveasyoubutinatotallydifferentform.Andifyougo
towardsitwithanopenheartandarealwatchfulreverence,that
youwillbeabsolutelyamazedatwhatitwillrevealtoyou.And
IthinkthatthatwasoneoftherecognitionsoftheCeltic
imagination:thatlandscapewasn'tjustmatter,butthatitwas

actuallyalive.Whatamazesmeaboutlandscape,landscape
recallsyouintoamindfulmodeofstillness,solitude,andsilence
whereyoucantrulyreceivetime.
MS.TIPPETT:Areyoujusttalkingthoughaboutlandscapeas
thenaturalworldaroundus?I'lltellyou,IrememberasummerI
spentafewyearsafterIhadfirstgonetothisbeautiful,raw,
wildedgeofScotland,andIwasworkingwithchildrenina
veryimpoverishedinnercityneighborhood.AndIwouldoften
wishthatIcouldjusttransportthemforanhour,sothatwhat
theysawwhentheyopenedtheireyesandlookedaroundthem
wasthatkindofbeautythatopenssomuchpossibility.SoI
wonderhowthisCelticsensibilitywouldalsospeaktopeople
whodon'thavethatkindofbeautyathand.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Yeah,anawfullotofurbanplanning,
particularlyinpoorareas,hasdoublyimpoverishedthepoorby
theuglinesswhichsurroundsthem.Andit'sunderstandablethat
itissodifficulttoreachandsustaingentlenessthere.AndIdo
think,like,afriendofmine,justinthelastweek,whowas
absolutelyexhaustedinLondon,justcameawaydownto
southernEnglandandspenttheweekbytheslowoceanand
she'stotallyrecovered,comebacktoherself.
MS.TIPPETT:Right.Yes.
MR.O'DONOHUE:ButIdothink,though,thatit'snotjusta
matteroftheouterpresenceofthelandscape.Imean,thedawn
goesupandthetwilightcomeseveninthemostroughestinner
cityplace.AndIthinkthatconnectingtotheelementalcanbea
wayofcomingintorhythmwiththeuniverse.AndIdothink
thatthereisawayinwhichtheouterpresenceeventhrough
memoryorimaginationcanbebroughtinwardasa
sustainingthing.Imean,Ithinkthatandit'sthequestionof
beauty,Imean,you'reaskingessentiallyaswearespeaking,
thatthereareindividualsholdingoutonfrontlines,holdingthe
humanetissuealiveinareasofultimatebarbarity,wherethings
arevisiblethatthehumaneyeshouldneversee.
MS.TIPPETT:Right.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Andtheyareabletosustainit,because

thereisinthemsomekindofsenseofbeautythatknowsthe
horizonthatwearereallycalledtoinsomeway.IlovePascal's
phrase,thatyoushouldalways"keepsomethingbeautifulin
yourmind."AndIhaveoftenlikeintimeswhenit'sbeen
reallydifficultforme,ifyoucankeepsomekindoflittle
contourthatyoucanglimpsesidewaysatnowandagain,you
canenduregreatbleakness.
MS.TIPPETT:Youknow,I'vebeenlookingbackatthethought
ofthetheologianReinholdNiebuhr,andhehasthisstatementat
thebeginningofhisbookTheNatureandDestinyofMan,the
firstline,"Manishisownmostvexingproblem."OrIthinkofa
greatkindofpivotalworkinthiscultureofmodernpsychology,
M.ScottPeck'sbook,whichbegins,"Lifeisdifficult."Andthen
Ireadthisline,whichbeginsyourbook,Anamara,whichis
alsoadifferentwayofkindofanalyzingthehumancondition:
"It'sstrangetobehere.Themysteryneverleavesyou."Talkto
meaboutthatasawayofthinkingaboutwhatitmeanstobe
humanandhowyoucometothatandwhatyoumeanwhenyou
writethosewords.
MR.O'DONOHUE:OK.Imean,whenyouthinkabout
languageandyouthinkaboutconsciousness,it'sjustincredible
tothinkthatwecanmakeanysoundsthatcanreachoveracross
toeachotheratall.Because,Imean,Ithinkwe'reIthinkthe
beautyofbeinghumanisthatwe'reincredibly,intimatelynear
eachother.Weknowabouteachother,butyetwedonotknow
ornevercanknowwhatit'slikeinsideanotherperson.Andit's
amazing,hereamIsittinginfrontofyounow,lookingatyour
face,you'relookingatmineandyetneitherofushaveeverseen
ourownfaces.Andthatinsomeway,thoughtisthefacethatwe
putonthemeaningthatwefeelandthatwestrugglewithand
thattheworldisalwayslargerandmoreintenseandstranger
thanourbestthoughtwilleverreach.Andthat'sthemysteryof
poetryispoetrytriestodrawalongsidethemysteryasit's
emergingandsomehowbringitintopresenceandintobirth.
MS.TIPPETT:Whatdoyoumeanwhenyouwritethat
everyoneisanartist?

MR.O'DONOHUE:Imeanthateveryoneisinvolvedwhether
theylikeitornotintheconstructionoftheirworld.So,it's
neverasgivenasitactuallylooks;youarealwaysshapingitand
buildingit.AndIfeelthatfromthatperspective,thateachofus
isanartist.Secondly,Ibelievethateveryonehasimagination.
Thatnomatterhowmatureandadultandsophisticatedaperson
mightseem,thatpersonisstillessentiallyanexbaby.Andas
childrenwealllivedinanimaginalworld.Whenyou'vebeen
tolddon'tcrossthatwall,'causethere'smonstersoverthere,my
god,theworldyouwouldcreateontheothersideofthewall.
MS.TIPPETT:Right.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Andwhenyou'daskquestionslikewhyis
theskyblueorwheredoesGodliveoryouknowallthiskindof
stuff.Like,oneofthefirsttimesIwascomingtoAmerica,I
saidtomylittleniece,whowasseven,Isaid,"WhatwillIbring
youfromAmerica?"Shesaid,"Uhhhhh."Andherfathersaid,
"No,askhimoryouwon'tgetanything."AndKatyturnedtome
andsaid,"What'sinit?"[laughs]WhichIthoughtwasagreat
questionaboutAmerica.Sothatchildlikething.Andsecondly,
likethat,everynightwhenwesleep,wedream,andadreamisa
sophisticated,imaginativetext,fulloffiguresanddramathatwe
sendtoourselves.SoIbelievethatdeepintheheartofeachof
us,thereisthisimagining,imaginalcapacitythatwehave.So
thatwearealldoingit.
MS.TIPPETT:AndasIreadyou,Ithinkwhatyouarealso
sayingisthatjusttheactofliving,ofcreatingourlives,of
growing,movingforwardintimeisacreativeact.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Absolutely,itisacreativeact,because
MS.TIPPETT:Thatitisaworkofart
MR.O'DONOHUE:That'sright,because
MS.TIPPETT:toelevate,toennobletogiveennobling
wordstosomethingwearedoing.
MR.O'DONOHUE:That'sright,becausetheamazingthing
aboutus,Imean,wearesostrangeandwelosesightactuallyof
howstrangeweare.Imean,I'malwaysamazedthatyounever
meetahumanyoumeethumanslookingforallkindsof

things.Andyounevermeetahumanandyousaytothem,
"Whatareyoulookingforonthisday?""I'mlookingfor
yesterday.Wheredidyesterdaygoto?"Wejusttakeitthatit
goesintonothingness.Andthat'sononeside.Theotherthingof
courseisthatwehavenoideawhatwilllandontheshorelineof
morningtomorrow.Sothatwearealwaysactivelyinvolvedin
receivingandshaping,youknow?
MS.TIPPETT:Youwroteabouttime:"Possibilityisthesecret
heartoftime.Onitsouterservicetimeisvulnerableto
transience.Initsdeeperheart,timeistransfiguration."Iwonder
howyouareabletohaveIdon'tknow,Ithinkalargersense
oftime,becauseofasaninheritoroftheCeltictradition.I
havethis
MR.O'DONOHUE:Yeah,Ithinkthat'sabitofit,youknow?
ThatoldCelticthing,because,Imean,thereisinIreland,like,
stilleventhoughit'sgettingconsumerizedsofast.Thereisstill
inthewestofIreland,whereIlive,asenseoftime,youknow?
Thatthere'stimeforthings.
MS.TIPPETT:Right.
MR.O'DONOHUE:AndthatwhenGodmadetime,hemade
plentyofit,andalltherestofit.Andyousee,Ithinkthatoneof
thehugedifficultiesinmodernlifeisthewaytimehasbecome
theenemy.
MS.TIPPETT:Timeisabully.We'recaptivetoit.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Totally,andI'dsaysevenoutofeveryten
peoplewhoturnupinadoctor'ssurgeryaresufferingfrom
somethingstressrelated.Now,therearebigpsychological
tomeswrittenonstress.Butforme,philosophically,stressisa
pervertedrelationshiptotime.Sothatratherthanbeingasubject
ofyourowntime,youhavebecomeitstargetandvictim,and
timehasbecomeroutine.Soattheendoftheday,youprobably
haven'thadatruemomentforyourself.Andtorelaxinandto
justbe.MeisterEckhart,whomIlovesaidyouknowsomany
peoplecometomeaskinghowIshouldpray,howIshould
think,whatIshoulddo,andthewholetimetheyneglectthe
mostimportantquestion,whichishowshouldIbe?AndI

thinkwhenyouslowitdown,thenyoufindyourrhythm,and
whenyoucomeintorhythm,thenyoucomeintoadifferentkind
oftime.Because,youknowthewayinthiscountrythere'sall
thedifferentzones.Ithinktherearethesezoneswithinusas
well.There'ssurfacetime,whichisreallyarapidfireFerrari
time
MS.TIPPETT:Andoverstructured.
MR.O'DONOHUE:...yeah,overstructured,like,andstolen
fromyou,thievedallthetime.Andthenifyousitdown,like,
DanSiegel,myfriend,doesthislovelymeditation:youimagine
thesurfaceoftheoceanisallrestlessandthenyouslipdown
deepbelowthesurfacewhereit'sstillandwherethingsmove
slower.
MS.TIPPETT:So,Imassumingyouwouldsuggestthatmore
peopleneedtocreatemorespaceandstillnessbutIthinkwhat
yourealsosayingisthatsimplybythinkingdifferentlyabout
time,byapproachingitdifferentlybyputtingonanew
imagination,wecanhaveadifferentsenseofit.Isthatright?
MR.O'DONOHUE:ThatsabsolutelyrightbecauseIthinkif
youtaketimenotascalendarproduct,butasactuallytheparent
ormotherofpresence,thenyouseeintheworldofspirit,time
behavesdifferently.ImeanwhenIusedtobeapriestitwasan
amazingthing,youdseesomeonewhowouldbedyingovera
weekmaybeandhadlivedmaybeahardlifewheretheworld
hadknuckledintothemselves.Wheretheywerehardandtight
andunyieldingandeverythinghadtoairandassuagetotheir
center.Andsuddenly,then,youdseethatwithinthreeorfour
days,youdseethemloosenandyoudseeakindofburied
beautythattheydneverallowthemselvestoenjoyabout
themselvessurfaceandbringaradianceandspirittotheirface.
MS.TIPPETT:Andwhydiditsurfacethen?
MR.O'DONOHUE:Becausesuddenlytherewasarecognition
thatthetimewasoverandthattheirwayofbeingcouldno
longerhelpthemwiththis.Andthatanotherwayofbeingwas
beinginvitedfromthem,andwhentheyyieldedtoit,itwill
becometransformativeanditjustmeansthatactuallywhenyou

changetimelevels,thatsomethingcantransformincredibly
quickly.ImeanIalwaysthinkthatthatisthesecretofchange.
Thattherearehugegestationsandfermentationsgoingoninus
thatwerenotevenawareof.Andthensometimeswhenwe
cometoathreshold,crossingoverinwhichweneedtobecome
different,thatwellbeabletobedifferentbecausesecretwork
hasbeendoneinusofwhichwevehadnoinkling.
MS.TIPPETT:Andwheredidthatworkcomefrom,who
directedthatwork?Whatisthat?
MR.O'DONOHUE:MysuspicionwouldbeIcantsaywho
directedthatwork.Butmysuspicionisthatthesoul
choreographsonesbiographyandonesdestiny.Illputitthis
waytoyou,inIrelandtheresanindirectnessIthinkitwas
FreudorJungwhosaidtheIrishwereunpsychoanalyzable
[laughs]becauseofallthisindirectness.Italsocomesfromour
colonialbackgroundbecauseyouwouldntsaytoomuch
becauseyoucouldbecutout.Andifyousaytosomebodyhow
areyou?theyllsayoh,nottoobad.AndIwasalways
amazedwhenIcametothelandofthefreeandthehomeofthe
exceptionallybrave[laughs]thatifIputtoomuchsincerityinto
thequestionhowareyou?Icouldhaveunleashedabiography
inseconds,youknow?[laughs]Andthatyoudgetinformation
thatyoudneverdreamof.Anditoftenseemstomeherethata
personbelievesthatiftheytellyoutheirstory,thatswhothey
are.Andsometimesthesestoriesareconstructedwiththemost
banalsecondhandpsychologicalandspiritualcliche,andyou
lookatabeautifulinterestingfacetellingastorythatyouknow
doesntholdacandletothelifethatssecretlyinthere.Sowhat
Ithinkhappenshereabitisthattheresareductionofidentityto
biography.Andtheyrenotthesamething.Ithinkbiography
unfoldsidentityandmakesitvisibleandputsthemirrorofitout
there,butIthinkidentityisamorecomplexthing.AndwhatI
loveinthisregardismyoldfriendMasterEckhart,the14th
Centurymystic...
MS.TIPPETT:Right.Germanmystic.
MR.O'DONOHUE:...Germanmystic.AndonedayIreadin

himandhesaid,"Thereisaplaceinthesoultheresaplace
inthesoulthatneithertime,norspace,nornocreatedthingcan
touch."AndIreallythoughtthatwasamazing,andifyoucashit
outwhatitmeansisthatyouridentityisnotequivalenttoyour
biography.Andthatthereisaplaceinyouwhereyouhave
neverbeenwounded,wherethere'sstillasurenessinyou,where
there'saseamlessnessinyou,andwherethereisaconfidence
andtranquilityinyou.AndIthinktheintentionofprayerand
spiritualityandloveisnowandagaintovisitthatinnerkindof
sanctuary.
[music:TheBrightLadybyDavySpillaneandDeclan
Masterson]
MS.TIPPETT:I'mKristaTippettandthisisOnBeing.Today:
theinnerlandscapeofbeauty,withthelateIrishpoetand
philosopherJohnO'Donohue.
[music:TheBrightLadybyDavySpillaneandDeclan
Masterson]
MS.TIPPETT:IthinkalotabouthowinWesternculture,and
intheUnitedStatesculture,reallyimportantwordsgetwatered
downandalmostruinedandyetwestillneedthem.And"love"
isoneofthosewords.And"friendship"Ithink,mayalsobea
wordinwhichwehaven'twestruggletonotletourdefinition
ofthatbecomeimpoverished.Andjusttobringthistoavery
practicallevel,someofthethingswewringourhandsaboutin
ourpubliclife,likethedisintegrationofmarriages,thecrisisof
relationship.Andthentheimplicationsofthat,likehowdowe
raiseourchildrentoknowwhatcommitmentis?AndIactually
thinkanimpoverishedsenseofloveandoffriendship
complicatesthat.I'maskingyouthisasaphilosopherandIthink
asawiseperson.Imean,arewelesscapableofloveand
commitmentandrelationshipinamaturesense,inourtimethan
previousgenerationswere?Oristhisjustahumandilemmathat
hasdifferentdetailsinourtime?
MR.O'DONOHUE:Thatsaveryinterestingquestion.Idon't
thinkwe'relesscapableatall.Ithinkwe'remoreunpracticedat
itandthereforemoredesperateforit.AndIthinkit'samatterof

attentionreally,justattention.Thatifyourealizehowvitalto
yourwholespiritandbeingandcharacterandmindand
healthfriendshipactuallyis,youwilltaketimeforit,you
know?Andthetroubleisthoughforsomanyofusthatwehave
tobeintroublebeforewerememberwhat'sessential.And
sometimesit'soneofthelonelinessesofhumansisthatyouhold
ondesperatelytothingsthatmakeyoumiserableandthat
sometimesyouonlyrealizewhatyouhavewhenyou'realmost
abouttoloseit.
So,Ithinkthatitwouldbegreattostepbackalittlefromone's
lifeandseearoundonewhoarethosethatholdmedear,that
trulyseeme,andthosethatIneed,andtobeabletogotothem
inadifferentway.Becausetheamazingthingabouthumansis
wehaveimmensecapacitytoreawakenineachotherthe
profoundabilitytobewitheachotherandtobeintimate.That's
oneofthethingsI'vealwaysthoughthereisthatthereis
lonelinessherethatiscoveredoverbythisfakelanguageof
intimacythatyoumeeteverywhere.
MS.TIPPETT:Right.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Andthatdoesn'thaveyouknow,
everybodywillsay,"Haveaniceday"toyouand,youknow,
youcanimagineifyouwentturnedbacktothemandsaid,
"God,IreallywonderifI'llhaveanicedayorwhatthedaywill
belike,"thingscouldgetcomplicatedverysuddenly,youknow?
AndIthinkthisisoneofthekeythingsinparentingandthe
difficultyofraisingchildreninavery,veryfastmovingculture
thatagainit'sthedifficultyofcreatingaspacewherechildren
canactuallyunfoldandwheretheycanbetrulyaccompaniedin
theirjourney.BecauseIthinkyoungkidsnowinadolescence
aregoingthroughhuge,hugequestionzonesthatwhenwewere
youngwedidn'tgothrough.Andsometimesit'sverylonesome
towatchhowdistantparentsfeelfromthem,becauseoftheir
incapacitytosomehowholdconversationswiththemthatreally
needtohappen.
MS.TIPPETT:Ithinksomethingelsethat'sconnectedtoallof
thisthatwe'renotveryselfawareaboutinthiscultureisthe

connectionbetweenourinteriorlivesandourexterior
appearance,notjustphysicalappearance,buthowweconduct
ourlivesinthelightofexpectations,andIthinkthatis
somethingthatyouwriteaboutagainthatwejustaren'tattentive
towards.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Yeah,IfeellikeinthebookIwroteon
beauty,Iwastryingtosaythatoneofthehugeconfusionsinour
timesistomistakeglamourforbeauty.
MS.TIPPETT:Yes.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Andwedoliveinaculturewhichisvery
addictedtotheimage,andIthinkthatthereisalwaysan
uncannysymmetrybetweenthewayyouareinwardwith
yourselfandthewayyouareoutward.AndIfeelthatthereisan
evacuationofinterioritygoingoninourtimes.Andthatwe
needtodrawbackinsideourselvesandthatwe'llfindimmense
resourcesthere.
MS.TIPPETT:Whenyousaysymmetry,Idon'tthinkyoumean
thatthatthere'sanequality,butthattheyareintimately
connected.
MR.O'DONOHUE:They'reintimatelyyeahthat'sprecisely,
yep.
MS.TIPPETT:We'reputtingourenergyoutward;it'staking
somethingfrominsideus.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Right.It'stakingsomethingexactly
that'sexactlywhatImean.Thatit'stakingsomethingfrom
insideandwe'resecretlydebilitatingourselves.Andit's
understandabletoo.Becauseifyoulookattheeducational
systemandyoulookatmostofthepublicforainourculture,
thereisverylittletimeorattentiongiventowhatyoucould
almostcalllearningtheartofinwardnessorapedagogyof
interiority.
MS.TIPPETT:Right.
MR.O'DONOHUE:That'swhyIfindtheaestheticthingslike
poetry,fiction,goodfilm,theater,drama,dance,andmusic
actuallyawakenthatinsideyou.Andremindyouthatthereisa
hugeinterioritywithinyou.Like,forinstancewhenIcameinto

NewYorklastThursdayeveningandcheckedintothehotel,I
foundoutthattherewasaTchaikovskyconcertoninthe
Lincolncenter.AndIwentoverthereandIgotaticket,likeone
ofthelasttickets,whichwastworowsinthefront,andI'dnever
beensonearanorchestra.AndIsaid,"Mygod,I'mtoonear."
ThenIwatchedthem,andalltherestofit.ButIknew,whyI
wasgiventheticketthen,attheend,becauseitwas
Tchaikovsky'sViolinConcertoinD,andLorinMaazelcameout
toconductit.Andthenthisbeautifulviolinist,JanineJansen,a
Dutchviolinist,itwasherdebutinNewYork.Andsheplayed
this,itwasjustunbelievable.Icried.Like,afterthefirst
movement,peoplespontaneouslystoodupandwenttogiveher
astandingovation,andshejustheldit.Andweallwentback
againintoourseats.Andthenattheend,peoplewerejustblown
away,becauseanevent,anaestheticeventhadhappened.
Thisisacomplicatedpieceofmusiceverywhereshewas
playingaStradivariusfrom1727.Everywhereshewentonthis
violinshegotexactlywhatshewaslookingfor,shehelditand
Maazelwassosovereignandsoyouknowlikeahuge
patriarch.AndthreeorfourtimesIwasupcloseenoughto
seethemhelookedatherwithawistful,proudgentlenessof
agrandfather.Andtherewasthiswoman,thisbeautifulslim
body,andyoucouldalmostseethemusichurtingherevenwhen
shewasn'tplaying.Soitwasahuge,andlikeeverybodyand
therewerehardenedNewYorkcriticstherebuteverybody
wassotouched.AndIthinkthatisthemagnificenceofbeauty,
isthateveninlandscapesofcontrolled,corrugatedcategories,
youcanbesweptoffyourfeetbyjustbeauty.
[music:"DanseRusse"from"SwanLakebyPeterIllych
Tchaikovsky,performedbyJanineJansen]
MS.TIPPETT:ThelateIrishpoetandphilosopherJohn
O'Donohue.ThisistheDutchviolinisthejustmentioned,Janine
Jansen,playinganotherpiecebyTchaikovsky,SwanLake.
[music:"DanseRusse"from"SwanLakebyPeterIllych
Tchaikovsky,performedbyJanineJansen]
MS.TIPPETT:Comingup:wheresoulandbeautymightfitinto

modernworkandtheunusualemotionalpowerofCeltic
music."Music,"JohnO'Donohuesaid,"iswhatlanguagewould
lovetobeifitcould."
ImKristaTippett.OnBeingcontinuesinamoment.
[music:JigandReel:ThePipeOntheHob/TheColliers
ReelbyDennisCahill]
MS.TIPPETT:I'mKristaTippettandthisisOnBeing.Today
wereexploringtheinnerlandscapeofbeauty,anotionofthe
lateIrishpoetandphilosopherJohnODonohue.Iinterviewed
himjustbeforehisdeathin2008.JohnODonohueoftenwrote
aboutbeauty.Hebelievedthatthehumansouldoesnotmerely
hungerforbeauty,butthatwefeelmostaliveinthepresenceof
whatisbeautiful.Itreturnsusofteninfleetingbutsustaining
moments,hesaid,toourhighestselves.
MS.TIPPETT:Youalsosuggestinyourbookaboutbeautythat
beautycanbeakindofantidoteeventoourmostpressing
globalcrises.Howdoyouthinkofbeautyasrelevantinthat
sense?
MR.O'DONOHUE:Yeah,IthinkitsnotjustrelevantlikebutI
thinkitsactuallynecessarybecauseIthinkthatbeautyisnota
luxury,butIthinkthatitennoblestheheartandremindsusof
theinfinitythatiswithinus.IalwayslovedwhatMandelasaid
whenhecameout,andIwasactuallyinhiscellinRobben
Island,onetimeIwasinSouthAfrica.Evenafter27yearsin
confinementforwrongyounevercommitted,heturnedhimself
intoahugepriestandcomeoutwiththissentencewherehe
said,"Youknowthatwhatweareafraidofisnotsomuchour
limitationsbuttheinfinitewithinus."AndIthinkthatthatisin
everybody.AndIsupposethequestionthat'sattheheartofall
we'vebeendiscussingreally,whichisabeautifulquestion,is
thequestionofGod,youknow?
AndIthinkthatoneofthereasonsthatsomanypeopleturn
awayfromreligioninourtimesisthattheGodquestionhas
diedforthem,becausethequestionhasbeenframedinsuch
repetitivedeadlanguage.AndIthinkit'stheexcitingquestion,
onceyouawakentothepresenceofGod.

MS.TIPPETT:Well,youhavesaid,youwrite,"GodisBeauty."
MR.O'DONOHUE:Yeah,Ihave,yeah.
MS.TIPPETT:Didyoualwaysfeelthis?Isthatsomethingis
thatasensethathasgrowninyouorsomethingthatyouname
now?
MR.O'DONOHUE:It'sasensethathasgrowninme.Isuppose,
thatI'vealwayskindofhadtheintuitionaboutit,becauseIfeel
thattherearetwowaysthatyoumustalwayskeeptogetherin
approachingtheGodthing.Oneis,andthisiswhatIlikeabout
theChristiantraditionandthisiswhereIdivergealittlefrom
theBuddhisttraditioneventhoughIloveBuddhismasa
methodologytocleanupthemindandgetyouintopurityof
presence.WhatIloveisthatattheheartofChristianity,you
havethisideaofintimacy,whichistruebelonging,beingseen,
theultimatehomeofindividuation,theultimatesourceofitand
thehomecoming.
That'swhatIcallspirituality,theartofhomecoming.Soit'sSt.
Augustine'sphrase,"Deusintimiorintimomeo""Godis
moreintimatetomethanIamtomyself."Thenyougoto
MeisterEckhart,andyougettheothersideofit,whichyou
mustalwayskeeptogetherwithit,whereinMiddleHigh
German,hesays,"GottwirtundGottentwirt"thatmeans,
"GodbecomesandGodunbecomes,"ortranslateditmeansthat
Godisonlyournameforit,andthecloserwegettoitthemore
itceasestobeGod.Sothenyouareonarealsafari
MS.TIPPETT:[laughs]Right.
MR.O'DONOHUE:...withthewildnessanddangerand
othernessofGod.AndIthinkwhenyoubegintogetasenseof
thedepththatisthere,thenyourwholeheartwakensup.Imean,
IloveIrenaeus'thingfromthesecondcentury,whichsaid,the
Gloryofthehumanbeing"ThegloryofGodisthehuman
beingfullyalive."AndIthinkinourculturethatoneofthe
thingsthatwearemissingisthatthesethresholdswherewecan
encounterthis,andwherewemoveintonewchangeinour
lives,therearenoritualstohelpustorecognizethemortocross
themworthily.

MS.TIPPETT:Andyouknowthresholdisawordyouusea
greatdealinyourbookonbeautyaswell.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Itis,yeah.
MS.TIPPETT:Andwhatisthatrelationshipbetweenbeauty
andthresholds?
MR.O'DONOHUE:Well,Ithinkthatthethreshold,ifyougo
backtotheetymologyoftheword"threshold,"itcomesfrom
"threshing,"whichistoseparatethegrainfromthehusk.Sothe
threshold,inaway,isaplacewhereyoumoveintomorecritical
andchallengingandworthyfullness.AndIthinktherearehuge
thresholdsineverylife.Imean,Ithink,youknowthat,for
instance,I'dliketogiveaverysimpleexampleofitis,thatif
youareinthemiddleofyourlifeinabusyevening,50thingsto
doandyougetaphonecallthatsomebodyyouloveissuddenly
dying.Takestensecondstocommunicatethatinformation,but
whenyouputthephonedown,youarealreadystandingina
differentworld.'Causesuddenlyeverythingthatseemsso
importantbeforeisallgoneandnowyouarethinkingofthis.So
thegivenworldthatwethinkisthereandthesolidgroundwe
areonissotentative.AndIthinkathresholdisalinewhich
separatestwoterritoriesofspirit,andIthinkthatveryoftenhow
wecrossisthekeything.
MS.TIPPETT:Andwhereisbeautyinthat?
MR.O'DONOHUE:WherebeautyisIthinkisbeauty
beautyisn'tallaboutjustnice,lovelinesslike.Beautyisabout
moreroundedsubstantialbecoming.AndIthinkwhenwecross
anewthresholdthatifwecrossworthily,whatwedoisweheal
thepatternsofrepetitionthatwereinusthathaduscaught
somewhere.Andinourcrossingthenwecrossontonewground
wherewejustdon'trepeatwhatwe'vebeenthroughinthelast
placewewere.SoIthinkbeautyinthatsenseisaboutan
emergingfullness,agreatersenseofgraceandelegance,a
deepersenseofdepth,andalsoakindofhomecomingforthe
enrichedmemoryofyourunfoldinglife.
MS.TIPPETT:Iwanttoaskyou,Ithinkrightwhenwebegan
totalkaboutbeauty,yourightlysaidthatinthisculturewetend

toassociatebeautywithglamour.AndIthinkifyoujust
mentiontheword,ifyoujustthrewitintoacommonplace
conversation,someonemightjustthinkofabeautifulface,ofa
famousbeautifulface,right?Iwanttoaskyou,whenyouthink
oftheword"beauty,"whatpicturescomeintoyourmind?
MR.O'DONOHUE:WhenIthinkoftheword"beauty,"some
ofthefacesofthosethatIlovecomeintomymind.WhenI
thinkofbeautyIalsothinkofbeautifullandscapesthatIknow.
ThenIthinkofactsofsuchlovelykindnessthathavebeendone
tome,bypeoplethatcaredforme,inbleakunshelteredtimesor
whenIneededtobelovedandminded.Ialsothinkofthose
unknownpeoplewhoaretherealheroesforme,whoyounever
hearabout,whoholdoutonlinesonfrontiersofawfulwant
andawfulsituationsandmanagesomehowtogobeyondthe
givenimpoverishmentandoffergiftsofpossibilityand
imaginationandseeing.IalsothinkalwayswhenIthinkof
beauty'causeit'ssobeautifulformeisIthinkofmusic.I
lovemusic.Ithinkmusicisjustit.Imean,Ithinkthat'sI
lovepoetryaswell,ofcourse,andIthinkofbeautyinpoetry.
ButIalwaysthinkthatmusiciswhatlanguagewouldlovetobe
ifitcould,youknow?And
MS.TIPPETT:Right.IhavetosaythatIdiscoveredCeltic
music,youknow,aftergoingtothatpartoftheworld,Scotland
especially.AndCelticmusicformehasthiscompletely,you
cansaythisaboutBeethovenaswell,butinaveryparticular
way,itseemstoexpressthegreatestjoyandalsothedeepest
sorrow,almostindistinguishablefromeachotherandyetboth
withakindofhealingforce.Ican'tevenputwordsaround
whatI
MR.O'DONOHUE:That'sbeautifulwhatyou'vesaidthough,
becauseIthinkthereisthat.OneofthethingsI'malways
amazedaboutIrishmusic,forinstance,ishowinsomewaythe
linesofthelandscapefindtheirwayintothemusic,thememory
ofthelandscapealmost,thememoryofthepeopletoo.Andthat
insomesensedespitethesorrowthatwe'veendured,andImean
Irelandit'snotfashionabletosayitnow,Irelandhas

hundredsofyearsofanawfulhistoryofsuffering.
MS.TIPPETT:AndIfeelthatyouhearthatinthemusicof
Ireland.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Youhearitinthemusic,youdo.
MS.TIPPETT:Evenin
MR.O'DONOHUE:Eveninthefastmusicandthelight,gay
music.
MS.TIPPETT:thecelebratoryYes.Yes.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Yeah,youdo.Yeah,youdo.Youhearit
there,youheartheundertonesandthequietspaceswherethe
echoofthishauntednesscomesthrough.
MS.TIPPETT:Andyetitisabsolutelylinkedwithseejoy
doesn'tevendoiteitherwiththis.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Itdoesn't.
MS.TIPPETT:Exuberance.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Yeah,there'sanexuberanceoravitality.
MS.TIPPETT:Yes.
MR.O'DONOHUE:There'ssomekindofvitality.AndIknow
friendsofmine,whoplayyouknow,andwhentheyplaythey're
unreachable,youcan'tfindthem,youknow?They'retotally
they'reservingthemusic.They'rejustinanotherplace.
[music:Samhradh,SamhradhbyTheChieftains]
MS.TIPPETT:I'mKristaTippettandthisisOnBeing.Today
revisitingmyconversationwiththelateIrishpoetand
philosopherJohnO'Donohue.Inthelastyearsofhislife,he
becameawellknownspeakeronleadershipandcreativityinthe
corporatesector.Heconsultedwithexecutivesonintegratinga
senseofsoulandofbeautyintotheirleadershipandtheir
imaginationaboutthepeoplewithwhomtheywork.
[music:Samhradh,SamhradhbyTheChieftains]
MS.TIPPETT:Iwouldliketohearabouttheworkyoudoin
corporationsandworkplaces.Itseemstome,inastrangeway
someofthemostthegreatestintimacyandcommunitywe
haveorfailtohaveiswithourcolleaguesatwork.Andbecause
wespendsomuchtimeatworkanditsodefinesus,oursouls,
thelightanddarknessofoursouls,isondisplayatwork.And

yetthere'sarealquestionabouthowdowehonorthatsortofin
ourselvesandinothersandremainprofessional.Idon'tknowif
that'swhatyougetatinyourworkwithcorporations,butthat's
kindofonmymind.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Ithinkyouareright,Imean,wespendover
onethirdofourlivesactuallyintheworkplace,andoneofthe
loneliestthingsyoucanfindissomebodywhoisinthewrong
kindofwork,whoshouldn'tbedoingwhattheyaredoingbut
shouldbedoingsomethingelseandhaven'tthecouragetoget
upandleaveitandmakeanewpossibilityforthemselves.But
it'slovelywhenyoufindsomeoneatworkwho'sdoingexactly
whattheydreamedtheyshouldbedoingandwhoseworkisan
expressionoftheirinnergift.Andinwitnessingtothatgiftand
bringingitouttheyactuallyprovideanincredibleservicetous
all.AndIthinkyouseethatthegiftsthataregiventousas
individualsarenotforusalone,orforourownself
improvement,buttheyareactuallyforthecommunityandtobe
offered.AndIthinkthisiswhereleadershipcomesinatwork.
Andthat'swhyIthinkgood,wiseleadershipwillbeattunedto
thevitalityofatrueethosandhelpingtoestablishit.
MS.TIPPETT:Andareyoufindingthatthereisgreatinterest
andcuriosityandwillingnesstohavethisnewkindof
imaginationinworkplaces.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Ireallythinkyeah,Ireallythinkthere
is,becauseIthinkinmostworkplacesthereishugeimagination
anywaybutit'susuallypracticalimagination.There'sdedication
toproductivityandlookingatthebottomline.AndIthinkthen
whentheystandbackalittleandseethatthespiritandsoul
dimensionsarenotkindofluxuryitemsbutareactuallythevery
originsandsourceswhichwillenableeverythingtoflowand
unfoldinanewway,thatthentheyrealizethattheinvisible
worldisasecrethiddenresourcethatcanbereleasedand
excavatedforthehugeresourcesofspirit,guidance,forareasof
ourselvesthatwe'veforgotten.
MS.TIPPETT:Youknow,inmanyculturesintheWest,in
EuropeandintheUnitedStates,therearecontroversiesabout

wherearetheboundariesbetweenreligionandpoliticsand
thatsacomplicateddiscussionthatisquitestressfilled.But
whatIsenseandwhat,youknow,Imtalkingaboutonmy
program,manyweeksindifferentformsisthatthereisparallel
discussionhappeningthatthereisaspiritualaspecttohuman
lifeandthatthatisessential.Iwonderhowyouwouldspeakto
addresssomeofthefearthatarises.BecauseintheAmerican
imagination,forexample,thosethingsgetconfused.And
someonemightlistentoyoutalkingaboutbeinginaboard
roomandtalkingaboutthesoulwhyisthatnotsomething
thatweshouldbeafraidof?Orthatreallyevenhasanythingto
dowithourrulesaboutchurchandstate,orabouttheline
betweenpoliticsandreligion?
MR.O'DONOHUE:Ithinkyourquestionisabsolutely,
perfectlypoised.Becausefirstofall,toresponddirectly,Ithink
thereshouldbeafearofmixingupreligionandpoliticsand
money.IlovethatGreekphrase,eternalvigilanceistheprice
ofliberty.Nowthesecondthingisthat,ofcourse,itsahuge
naivetyforanyorganization,oranygrouporculturetoand
itsactuallyunscholarlytobelievethatareligion,asthe
locusofthewisdom,andthelivedspiritexperienceofapeople,
isanaiveemptymass.Itsahugeresource.Andthebestminds
andthemostcriticalmindsknowthat.Likethewordsoul
comesfromthereligioustraditionandthephilosophictradition,
andoneofthesadthingshereoftenisthatitsusedasabland
receptacleforthetiredenergiesofpsychology.Butifyougo
backatsoulandyoulookatthedepthandthefirethatsinit,
itsadangerousthingtohaveasoul.And,Ithinkforparenting,
forrelationships,andforallthedomainsofourendeavorand
work,tohaveaccesstoareligioustraditionisahuge
strengthening,criticalresource,whichkeepsyouwideawake
andmakesyouaskyourselfthehardquestions.Like,Ive
alwaysthoughtthattraditionistothecommunitywhatmemory
istotheindividual.Andifyouloseyourmemory,youwakeup
inthemorning,youdontknowwhereyouare,whoyouare,
whatgroundyourstandingon.Andifyouloseyourtradition,

itsthesamething.AndImean
MS.TIPPETT:Andtradition,likememory,hasdarkpassages
and
MR.O'DONOHUE:Oh,ithashugedarkpassages,andImean,
IwouldsaythatwithintheChristiantraditiontherearedark
zonesofcompletehorror.
MS.TIPPETT:Buttheweightofitis
MR.O'DONOHUE:...buttheweightofitandtherearealso
zonesofgreatlightandimmensewellsofrefreshmentand
healing.AndIthinkitsacriticalquestioninallofus,for
somebodythatwantstohaveamatureadult,openended,good
heartedcriticalfaith,toconductthemostvigorousandrelentless
conversationthatyoucanwithyourowntradition.
[music:UnseenbyHelenJaneLong]
MS.TIPPETT:ItwasactuallyinyourbookthatIfirstrealized,
andIhadneverthoughtaboutthis,thattheroottheGreek
rootfortheword"beauty"isrelatedtothewordforcalling.
MR.O'DONOHUE:That'sright.
MS.TIPPETT:Kalon,kalein.
MR.O'DONOHUE:That'sitexactly.
MS.TIPPETT:That'sfascinating.
MR.O'DONOHUE:Itisactually.Anditmeansthatactuallyin
thepresenceofbeauty.It'snotaneutralthing,butit'sactually
callingyou,youknow?AndIfeelthatonecouldwritea
wonderfulpsychologyjustbasedonthenotionofbeingcalled,
youknow,beingcalledtobeyourselfandcalledtotransfigure
whathashardenedorgotwoundedwithinyou.Andit'salso,of
course,theheartofcreativitythiscallingforthallthetime,
becauselikeintheworkthatIdotryingtowriteafewpoems,
youneverwritethesamepoemtwice.Youknow,youare
alwaysatanewplace.Andthenyou'reyou'resuddenly
surprisedbywhereyougettakento,youknow?
MS.TIPPETT:Butifwethink,asyou'vesuggested,asbeauty
asrelevanttosomeofthemosttroublingproblemsinourworld
andinourselves,howdowepursuethatcalling,giventhe
limitations,giventhatalotofwhatisaroundusisnotvisibly,

objectivelybeautifulandmaynotbe?
MR.O'DONOHUE:Absolutely,andthat'saveryfairquestion.
Andyouknowit'slikeinoldnotionsofgrowthand
developmenttherewasalwaysthisidea,asNoelHanlon,apoet
friendofminesays,youknow,inapoemaboutherdaughter,
"Likemeyouneededsomethingtopushagainst"that
somehowweneededsomethingtopushagainstinorderto
grow.Nowthereisalmostafeelinglikeasthatgrowthshould
bedeliveredtous.AndIthinkthatfromthewayyoustateitis
thatit'sarecognition.Thatthereisthisdialecticthere,that
aroundustheforcesarenotkindintermsofeitherrecognizing,
awakening,orencouragingbeauty,butthatactually,theyshould
betheimpetusandthespurtodoit.Nowhowdowedoit?
Oneway,andIthinkthisisareallylovelyway,andIthinkit's
aninterestingquestiontoaskoneselftoo.Andthequestionis:
whenisthelasttimethatyouhadagreatconversation,a
conversationwhichwasn'tjusttwointersectingmonologues,
whichiswhatpassesforconversationalotinthisculture.But
whenhadyoulastagreatconversation,inwhichyouoverheard
yourselfsayingthingsthatyouneverknewyouknew?Thatyou
heardyourselfreceivingfromsomebodywordsthatabsolutely
foundplaceswithinyouthatyouthoughtyouhadlostanda
senseofaneventofaconversationthatbroughtthetwoofyou
ontoadifferentplane.Andthenfourthly,aconversationthat
continuedtosinginyourmindforweeksafterwards.AndI've
hadsomeofthemrecently,andit'sjustabsolutelyamazing,as
wewouldsayathome,theyarefoodanddrinkforthesoul.
Secondthing,Ithinkaquestiontoalways,askoneself,whoare
youreading?Whoareyoureading?Andwhereareyou
stretchingyourownboundaries?Areyourepetitiveinthat?And
oneofthefirstbooksIreadasachildwehadnobooksat
home,butaneighborofourshadallthesebooksandhebrought
loadsofbooks,that'showIruinedmyeyesandIhavetowear
glasses.ButoneofthefirstbooksIreadwasabookbyWillie
Sutton,thebankrobber,whowasdoing30yearsforrobbing
banks.AndinthebooksomebodyaskedWillie,andtheysaid,

"Williewhydoyourobbanks?"AndWilliesaid,"'Causethat's
wherethemoneyis."And,whydowereadbooks?Causethat's
wherethewisdomis.
Solike,myprofessorsincollegesalwaysusetosay,ifyouwere
doinganessayordoingathesis,youknow,thefirstthingyou
havetodoisreadtheprimarysourcesandtrustyourown
encounterwiththembeforeyougotothesecondaryliterature.
AndI'dsaytoanybodywhoislisteningtous,whoisinterested
inspiritualityandwhoismaybebeingcoaxedalittleawayfrom
believingit'sallanaive,doomed,illusionriddenthing,pickup
somethinglikeMeisterEckhartorsomeoneofthemysticsand
justhavealookatit,andyoucanbesurprisedwhatanexciting
adventureandhomecomingitcouldbecome.
[music:DavidsGuitarbyDaithiSproule]
MS.TIPPETT:JohnO'DonohuediedinhissleeponJanuary
3rd,2008,attheageof52.Thiswasoneofthelastinterviews
hegave.HisbooksincludeAnamaraandBeauty.Hisfinal
work,whichwaspublishedposthumously,iscalled,ToBless
theSpaceBetweenUs:ABookofBlessings.
Andhereinclosing,isoneofhiswellknownpoemsof
blessing,whichhewroteforhismotheratthetimeofhis
father'sdeath.Hereaditaloudtomewhenwesattogether.
MR.O'DONOHUE:ThisisapoemIwroteseveralyearsago,
andit'scalled,"Beannacht,"whichistheGaelicwordfor
blessing:
Onthedaywhen
Theweightdeadens
Onyourshoulders
Andyoustumble,
Maytheclaydance
Tobalanceyou.
Andwhenyoureyes
Freezebehind
Thegraywindow
Andtheghostofloss
Getsintoyou,

Mayaflockofcolors,
Indigo,red,green,
Andazureblue,
Cometoawakeninyou
Ameadowofdelight.
Whenthecanvasfrays
Inthecurraghofthought
Andastainofocean
Blackensbeneathyou,
Maytherecomeacrossthewaters
Apathofyellowmoonlight
Tobringyousafelyhome.
Maythenourishmentoftheearthbeyours,
Maytheclarityoflightbeyours,
Maythefluencyoftheoceanbeyours,
Maytheprotectionoftheancestorsbeyours.
Andsomayaslow
Windworkthesewords
Oflovearoundyou,
Aninvisiblecloak
Tomindyourlife.
[music:CamYeByAthoilbyCelticFiddleFestival]
MS.TIPPETT:Youcanlistenagainandsharethisepisodeat
OnBeing.org.TherewevewovenJohnO'Donohue'sreadingof
Beannachttogetherwithhisfriends'photographsofthe
Connemaralandscapesheloved.Ourconversationunfolded
overtwohours.Andherecitedsevenotherpoemsthatwe
weren'tabletoincludeinthisfinalbroadcast.Theyinclude,A
BlessingforaFriendontheArrivalofIllnessandABlessing
forOneWhoHoldsPower.Youcanautomaticallygetthese
poemsasfreemp3sbysubscribingtoourpodcastoniTunesor
downloadingourmobileoriPadapps.Learnmoreonour
websiteagain,thatsOnBeing.org
[music:KingofthePipersbyAltan]
MS.TIPPETT:OnBeingisTrentGilliss,ChrisHeagle,Lily
Percy,MariahHelgeson,NickiOster,MichelleKeeley,Maia

Tarrell,AnnieParsons,TonyBirleffi,andHaleemaShah.
SpecialthanksthisweektoLindaAlvarez.
[music:TaimseImChodladhbyIarlaOLionaird]
MS.TIPPETT:Ourmajorfundingpartnersare:
TheFordFoundation,workingwithvisionariesonthefront
linesofsocialchangeworldwide,atFordfoundation.org.
TheFetzerInstitute,fosteringawarenessofthepoweroflove
andforgivenesstotransformourworld.Findthematfetzer.org.
KalliopeiaFoundation,contributingtoorganizationsthatweave
reverence,reciprocity,andresilienceintothefabricofmodern
life.
TheHenryLuceFoundation,insupportofanewinitiative:
PublicTheologyReimagined.
And,theOspreyFoundationacatalystforempowered,
healthy,andfulfilledlives.
OurcorporatesponsorisMutualofAmerica.
Since1945,AmericanshaveturnedtoMutualofAmericato
helpplanfortheirretirementandmeettheirlongtermfinancial
objectives.MutualofAmericaiscommittedtoprovidingquality
productsandservicestohelpyoubuildandpreserveassetsfora
financiallysecurefuture.

JohnO'Donohue
Quotes
Twitter
Facebook
Link
Print

OurHungertoBelong

Thishungertobelongistheechoandreverberationofyour
invisibleandeternalheritage.Youarefromsomewhereelse,

whereyouwereknown,embraced,andsheltered.Thisis
alsothesecretrootfromwhichalllonginggrows.
Somethinginyouknows,perhapsremembers,thateternal
belongingliberateslongingintoitssurestandmostpotent
creativity."
EternalEchoes:ExploringOurYearningtoBelong

WeAllEntertheWorldasStrangers

Thereisalwaysdangerinthestranger.Becausewesense
this,itusuallytakesawhilebeforeweopentoletthe
strangerin.Strangerscircleeachotherforagoodwhile
beforefamiliaritybeginstobuild.Eachoneofusentersthe
worldasatotalstranger.Noonehadeverseenyoubefore.
Youcamewithoutanameandyetyouenteredfullyintothe
belongingofyourlife."
EternalEchoes:ExploringOurYearningtoBelong

PracticeEncouragement

Therearepeoplewhosepresenceisencouraging.Oneofthe
mostbeautifulgiftsintheworldisthegiftof
encouragement.Whensomeoneencouragesyou,thatperson
helpsyouoverathresholdyoumightotherwiseneverhave
crossedonyourown."
EternalEchoes:ExploringOurYearningtoBelong

Dignity

Nooneelsecanconferdignityonyou;itissomethingthat
comesfromwithin.Youcannotfakeitoracquireitasyou
wouldanaccent.Youcanonlyreceivethegiftofdignity
fromyourownheart.Whenyoulearntoembraceyourself
withasenseofappreciationandaffection,youbeginto
glimpsethegoodnessandlightthatisinyou,andgradually
youwillrealizethatyouareworthyofrespectfromyourself.
Whenyourecognizeyourlimits,butstillembraceyourlife
withaffectionandgraciousness,thesenseofinnerdignity
beginstogrow.Youbecomefreerandlessdependentonthe

affirmationsofoutervoicesandlesstroubledbythe
negativityofothers.Nowyouknowthatnoonehastheright
totarnishtheimagethatyouhaveofyourselfEvenin
compromisinganddemeaningsituations,youcanstillhold
yoursenseofdignity.Atsuchtimesyoursenseofdignity
willkeepaspaceoftranquilityaboutyou.IntheThird
World,oneisoftenstruckbytheimmensedignityofthe
poor.Evenhungerandoppressioncannotrobthemofthis
graceofspirit.Ifyoudonotgiveitaway,noevent,
situation,orpersoncantakeyourdignityawayfromyou.
Thedifferentstylesofpresencerevealhowwebelongto
ourselves."
EternalEchoes:ExploringOurYearningtoBelong

BeautyCannotBeForced

Beautyenjoysaprofoundandancientautonomy.True
beautyisfromelsewhere,apuregift.Itcannotbe
programmednoritsarrivalforeseen.Itneverfallssimply
intotheoldpatternsofwhatisalreadytherenorisit
frivolousorburdenedwithleadensolemnity.Frequently,
beautyisplayfullikedancingsunlight,itcannotbe
predicted,andinthemostunlikelysceneorsituationcan
suddenlyemerge.Thisspontaneityandplayfulnessoften
subvertsourselfimportanceandthrowsourplansand
intentionsintodisarray.Withoutintendingit,wefind
ourselvescomingaliveinasenseofcelebrationanddelight.
Thepedestriansequenceofaworkingdaybreaks,anew
dooropensandtheheartrecognizesthesilentmajestyofthe
ordinary.Thethingswenevernotice,likehealth,friendsand
love,emergefromtheirsubduedpresenceandstandoutin
theirtrueradianceasgiftswecouldneverhaveearnedor
achieved.''
Beauty:TheInvisibleEmbrace

Grace:APermanentClimateofDivineKindness

Graceisoneofthemostmajesticwordsintheology.It
suggeststhesublimespontaneityofthedivinewhichno
theoryorcategorycouldevercapture.Gracehasitsown
elegance.Itisabovethemechanicsofagendaoroperation.
Noonecansetlimitstotheflowofgrace.Itspresenceand
forceremainunmeasurableandunpredictable.Gracealso
suggestshowfluentandseamlessthedivinepresenceis.
Therearenocompartments,cornersorbreakages
imaginableintheflowofgrace.Graceisthepermanent
climateofdivinekindness.Itsuggestsacompassionand
understandingforalltheambivalentandcontradictory
dimensionsofthehumanexperienceandpain.Thisclimate
ofkindnessnurturesthesorelandscapeofthehumanheart
andurgestorngroundtohealandbecomefecund.Graceis
theperennialinfusionofspringtimeintothewinterof
bleakness."
Beauty:TheInvisibleEmbrace

SendOutLove

Prayeristheactandpresenceofsendingthislightfromthe
bountifulnessofyourlovetootherpeopletoheal,free,and
blessthem.Wherethereisloveinyourlife,youshould
shareitspirituallywiththosewhoarepushedtothevery
edgeoflife.ThereisaverylovelyideaintheCeltic
traditionthatifyousendgoodnessoutfromyourself,itwill
comebacktoyoumultipliedtenthousandtimes.Inthe
kingdomoflovethereisnocompetition;thereisno
possessivenessorcontrol.Themoreloveyougiveaway,the
moreloveyouwillhave."
AnamCara:ABookofCelticWisdom

AFriendshipBlessing

Mayyoubeblessedwithgoodfriends.
Mayyoulearntobeagoodfriendtoyourself.
Mayyoubeabletojourneytothatplaceinyoursoulwhere

thereisgreatlove,
warmth,feeling,andforgiveness.
Maythischangeyou.
Mayittransfigurethatwhichisnegative,distant,orcoldin
you.
Mayyoubebroughtintotherealpassion,kinship.and
affinityofbelonging.
Mayyoutreasureyourfriends.
Mayyoubegoodtothemandmayyoubethereforthem;
Maytheybringyoualltheblessings,challenges,truth,
andlightthatyouneedforyourjourney.
Mayyouneverbeisolated.
Mayyoualwaysbeinthegentlenestofbelongingwithyour
anamcara.
AnamCara:ABookofCelticWisdom

A Blessing for One Who is Exhausted

When the rhythm of the heart becomes hectic,
Time takes on the strain until it breaks;
Then all the unattended stress falls in
On the mind like an endless, increasing weight,
The light in the mind becomes dim.
Things you could take in your stride before
Now become laborsome events of will.
Weariness invades your spirit.
Gravity begins falling inside you,
Dragging down every bone.
The tide you never valued has gone out.
And you are marooned on unsure ground.
Something within you has closed down;
And you cannot push yourself back to life.

You have been forced to enter empty time.

The desire that drove you has relinquished.
There is nothing else to do now but rest
And patiently learn to receive the self
You have forsaken for the race of days.
At first your thinking will darken
And sadness take over like listless weather.
The flow of unwept tears will frighten you.
You have traveled too fast over false ground;
Now your soul has come to take you back.
Take refuge in your senses, open up
To all the small miracles you rushed through.
Become inclined to watch the way of rain
When it falls slow and free.
Imitate the habit of twilight,
Taking time to open the well of color
That fostered the brightness of day.
Draw alongside the silence of stone
Until its calmness can claim you.
Be excessively gentle with yourself.
Stay clear of those vexed in spirit.
Learn to linger around someone of ease
Who feels they have all the time in the world.
Gradually, you will return to yourself,
Having learned a new respect for your heart
And the joy that dwells far within slow time.
--John O'Donohue, from "Blessings"