How, Then, Might We Live? with Azita Ardakani and Krista Tippett
Nov 8, 2024
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Krista Tippett, host of "On Being" and a pioneer in exploring the moral dimensions of life, joins Azita Ardakani, a passionate activist at the crossroads of law and storytelling. The conversation covers the transformative power of spiritual practices during social crises and the importance of embracing silence and place in dialogue. They delve into identity and history, critiquing the commercialization of mindfulness while advocating for authentic connection. The duo emphasizes healing through nature and community, encouraging a thoughtful engagement with life’s complexities.
Deep, intelligent discussions on spiritual and moral aspects are crucial for confronting today's social crises and fostering connections.
Recognizing personal history and engaging with one's ancestry can provide insights into identity, trauma, and societal challenges for collective healing.
Deep dives
The Need for Deep Conversations
There is a significant gap in the media landscape regarding deep, intelligent discussions on the spiritual and moral aspects of life. The conversation emphasizes the importance of having these dialogues in order to understand and confront the social crises of our time. By facilitating deeper engagement, such conversations can foster connections among individuals, helping to bridge the cultural and political divides that often separate us. This emphasis on meaningful interactions is essential for collective healing and evolving thought in society.
The Role of History in Personal Identity
Personal history greatly shapes one's identity and perspective on life. Individuals like Azita Artikani reflect on how their backgrounds, including cultural myths and familial narratives, contribute to their understanding of trauma and healing. The conversation illustrates how recognizing one's ancestry can provide a profound context for understanding present challenges and future possibilities. By engaging with history and personal experiences, individuals can gain insights into their identities and the ways in which societal structures affect their lives.
Contemplative Practice as a Birthright
Contemplative practice is presented as a fundamental human right rather than a privilege, emphasizing that everyone deserves access to practices that nourish the spirit. The discussion highlights the mysterious nature of spirituality and the need for inner peace amidst chaos in the world. Engaging in contemplative practices can foster resilience, allowing individuals to navigate challenges without losing sight of their inner vitality. The conversation suggests that understanding this interconnectedness is essential for confronting the overwhelming issues faced in the modern world.
Community and Connection in Times of Crisis
The necessity for building meaningful communities is underscored, especially in times of greater urgency and overwhelm. The dialogue emphasizes that finding kinship and support within a community can be life-giving, particularly when personal hope is hard to sustain. The importance of collective action and mutual care emerges as essential elements in addressing societal challenges and nurturing well-being. Recognizing that individuals cannot bear the weight of their struggles alone promotes a vision of cohort solidarity necessary for the profound challenges facing humanity.
After accomplished stints as a journalist, author and diplomat, and studying theology at Yale Divinity School, Krista Tippett was struck by a significant gap in the media landscape—a lack of deep, intelligent conversations to explore the spiritual, ethical and moral aspects of human life. What began as a national public radio show in 2003 evolved into the multiple award-winning podcast “On Being” (“wisdom to replenish and orient in a tender, tumultuous time to be alive.”) Gifted with insatiable curiosity, profound relational intelligence, a poetic sensibility, and an ability to unearth revelatory ideas to live by, Krista creates spaces where wisdom can emerge. With her interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral whole systems overview, she’s hosted luminaries as disparate as Mary Oliver, Thich Nhat Hahn, Isabel Wilkerson and Desmond Tutu, among many more. Listen to this rare intimate, live interview with her friend, insightful strategist, philanthropist and activist Azita Ardakani.
This is an episode of the Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature series. Visit the radio and podcast homepage to learn more.
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