Cyrus Habib, former Lieutenant Governor of Washington State, shares his remarkable journey from politics to spiritual life as a Jesuit novice. He discusses the transformative power of taking a vow of silence, exploring how it fosters inner peace amidst chaos. The conversation also touches on the experiences of Jarvis Masters, a death row inmate who finds solace through meditation and literature. Together, they illustrate the profound impact of silence in a noisy world, emphasizing personal growth and mindfulness.
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Career Shift
Cyrus Habib, Washington's Lieutenant Governor, abandoned politics to become a Jesuit novice.
This surprised many, as he was a successful politician with a promising future.
insights INSIGHT
Emptiness of Success
Cyrus Habib felt a growing emptiness despite achieving political success.
He realized his desires didn't align with his achievements, seeking a life of service.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Jesuit Inspiration
Inspired by a book, Cyrus Habib visited a Jesuit ministry and experienced their structured, service-oriented life.
This visit solidified his decision to leave politics and join the Jesuits.
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The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything offers a comprehensive introduction to Jesuit spirituality, emphasizing core values like finding God in all things, discernment, and service. James Martin provides practical advice on integrating spirituality into daily life, including practices such as the Examen and Ignatian meditation. The book is accessible to a wide audience, encouraging readers to cultivate a sense of joy and balance in their lives.
Golden
The Power of Silence in a World of Noise
Leigh Marz
Justin Zorn
Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise explores the meaning of silence and its importance in today's noisy world. Drawing on lessons from neuroscience, business, spirituality, politics, and the arts, the authors argue that silence is essential for physical health, mental clarity, ecological sustainability, and vibrant community. The book offers practical ideas for finding silence in everyday life and its benefits for individuals and societies.
The podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz is a show about the world's most interesting and recognizable sounds. I think of it as almost a sibling of 99% Invisible: lovingly produced and reported deep dives into everyday things that make you see the world differently. In case of Twenty Thousand Hertz, hear the world differently.
We’ve collaborated a number of times, but we’re featuring them today because our sibling podcast produced an episode with my actual sibling Leigh Marz, co-author of the book Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.
Leigh showed up on a mini-story episode 99pi a few months talking about the ever increasing loudness of sirens as a way of measuring just how loud our world has become. But the story Twenty Thousand Hertz produced tackles the main thesis of Golden more head on. I love how this episode turned out and I’m so proud of everyone involved, that I want to share it with you as a bonus episode.
In a noisy, tumultuous world, how can we find inner peace? This episode features two stories about the transformative power of silence. In the first, the Lieutenant Governor of Washington State abandons politics to become a Jesuit novice, and takes a temporary vow of silence. In the second, a death row inmate at San Quentin discovers Buddhist practices that help to calm his mind, and embrace compassion.
99% Invisible 
