On Being with Krista Tippett
[Unedited] David Whyte with Krista Tippett
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The conversational nature of reality is a dynamic interplay between loss and celebration.
- Identity is shaped by attention to realities beyond oneself and the frontier between self and non-self.
- Embracing vulnerability is essential for deeper engagement with existence and compassion.
- Human genius is a unique convergence of experiences, landscapes, and inherited traits shaping identity and growth.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Identity and Imaginations
Growing up with Irish and Yorkshire influences, David describes the interplay between his imaginative Irish roots and the grounded Yorkshire upbringing. Reflecting on the dual nature of Yorkshire as workaday yet surreal, he highlights how his identity bridges both backgrounds. This integration of contrasting influences shapes his philosophical work on the conversational nature of reality.
Attention and Identity in Deeply Attentive States
After immersing himself in attentive states in the Galápagos, David realized the deepening of identity beyond inherited or manufactured beliefs. His experiences led to the understanding that identity is shaped by attention to realities beyond oneself. Emphasizing the realness found at the frontier between self and non-self, he explores the transformative power of presence amidst attention.
Navigating Loss, Vulnerability, and Conversations
David delves into themes of loss, vulnerability, and the evolving conversation with existence. Reflecting on mortality and embracing vulnerability as inherent components of being human, he discusses the challenges of facing loss and the necessity of engaging with life's uncertainties. By highlighting vulnerability as central to human identity, David prompts a contemplation on how embracing vulnerability can lead to richer, more courageous journeys.
Poetry as Unfiltered Communication
Discussing the impact of poetry in human interactions, David views poetry as a form of unfiltered communication that bypasses defenses. He notes poetry's ability to evoke vulnerability and honesty, akin to conveying profound truths or news with intimacy and care. Drawing parallels between poetry and essential human conversations, David emphasizes the authenticity demanded in both personal and professional dialogues.
Revealing Vulnerability and the Essence of Humanity
Embracing vulnerability as integral to human nature, David distinguishes it from weakness, emphasizing vulnerability's role in understanding oneself and others. Encouraging acceptance of vulnerability as a natural state, he challenges the misconception of invulnerability as a human privilege. David advocates for inhabiting vulnerability courageously, viewing it as a gateway to compassion, resilience, and a deeper engagement with existence.
Aloneness and Belonging
The podcast delves into the concept of aloneness and belonging, highlighting the dual forms of belonging individuals experience. The first form involves a deep connection to an intuited world beyond the current realm, evoking a sense of origin from another place. The second form pertains to belonging in the outer world, where true freedom in connection arises when one embraces their inner sense of aloneness. By understanding and accepting this foundational aloneness, individuals can foster meaningful relationships and experience genuine freedom in their interactions with others.
Human Genius and Self-Reflection
The discussion shifts towards the idea of human genius being intricately linked to individual geography and the interplay between inherited traits and future possibilities. Human genius, akin to the ancient concept of 'genius loci,' extends beyond personal excellence to encompass the unique convergence of experiences, landscapes, and inherited characteristics within individuals. Embracing one's genius involves recognizing the diverse elements that contribute to one's essence, such as familial heritage, cultural upbringing, and environmental influences, ultimately shaping one's identity and potential for growth.
It has ever and always been true, David Whyte reminds us, that so much of human experience is a conversation between loss and celebration. This conversational nature of reality — indeed, this drama of vitality — is something we have all been shown, willing or unwilling, in these years. Many have turned to David Whyte for his gorgeous, life-giving poetry and his wisdom at the interplay of theology, psychology, and leadership — his insistence on the power of a beautiful question and of everyday words amidst the drama of work as well as the drama of life. The notion of “frontier” — inner frontiers, outer frontiers — weaves through this hour. We surface this as a companion for the frontiers we are all on just by virtue of being alive in this time.
David Whyte is the author of many books of poetry and prose. He grew up with a strong, imaginative influence from his Irish mother among the hills and valleys of his father’s Yorkshire. He now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. He holds a degree in Marine Zoology and has worked as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands. His books include The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America, Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words, and The Bell and the Blackbird. His latest collections are David Whyte: Essentials and Still Possible.
This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode "David Whyte — Seeking Language Large Enough." Find the transcript for that show at onbeing.org.
This show originally aired in April, 2016.
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