Q: How does gratefulness help in these terrible times when one religion is pitted against another? — Peter M., Lincoln, Nebraska

A: + One weighty aspect of gratitude which is often overlooked is its universality – the universal appeal of gratefulness across cultural, social, and religious boundaries. Every religion extols and promotes gratitude, and many who have given up on religions altogether will say, “My religion is gratitude.” In our time of disintegration, gratefulness has a unique power to integrate, to hold us together. This makes the current upsurge in gratitude-awareness a highly significant phenomenon.

We need a spiritual practice that unites all members of this Earth Household. Gratefulness is the top candidate.

– Your Brother David


Br. David Steindl-Rast Peace
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Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB

Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB

About the author

Brother David Steindl-Rast — author, scholar, and Benedictine monk — is beloved the world over for his enduring message about gratefulness as the true source of lasting happiness. Known to many as the “grandfather of gratitude,” Br. David has been a source of inspiration and spiritual friendship to countless leaders and luminaries around the world including Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton, and more. He has been one of the most important figures in the modern interfaith dialogue movement, and has taught with thought-leaders such as Eckhart Tolle, Jack Kornfield, and Roshi Joan Halifax. His wisdom has been featured in recent interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Krista Tippett, and Tami Simon and his TED talk has been viewed almost 10,000,000 times. Learn more about Br. David here.

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