Benjamin Jones
Rainn Wilson, best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on “The Office,” is using his personal experiences to highlight spirituality, saying we all need a “soul revolution.”
“I went through many mental health crises when I was younger and found that turning to spiritual tools to help me on my path was incredibly valuable,” Wilson said on “CBS Mornings.”
Your new podcast, called “Soul Flower,” is based on his New York Times bestselling book of the same name. In it he talks to experts, comedians and authors about creativity, spirituality and psychology.
“That’s the big question: ‘Why is this strange comedy actor writing about spirituality, the soul, death and the meaning of life?’” Wilson joked. “It really was because I was at death’s door.”
Wilson further explained that he asked himself, “why am I here?” and “why should I be here?”
“Sometimes when you’re at that point, the biggest, most profound revelations can come to you, so I decided to delve deeper into these big questions,” he said.
These issues included Wilson making decisions about faith, conscience, and the meaning of being a human being.
“Diving into these great sacred texts of Buddhism and the Bahá’í Faith – I’m a member of the Bahá’í Faith – has really brought me a lot of solace and a kind of direction in life that I’m very grateful for.”
The award-winning actor said our best attributes as humans are compassion, kindness, community and collaboration, but they are not always the main focus of society.
“All of our systems are based on the worst aspects of humanity,” Wilson said. “Mountain, betrayal, every man for himself, competition, competition – these are our worst attributes, not our best attributes. Our best attributes are compassion, kindness, community and collaboration.”
Wilson believes that changing our mind and spirit is fundamental.
“If we consider our innate spirituality, whether we are in Gaza or Israel, whether we are in Russia or Ukraine, whether we are Democrats or Republicans, we are all souls living a human experience. greatly increase our compassion and then if we really feel compassion, you will act accordingly,” he said. “It’s not just a feeling in the chest. You put it into action. Our systems need to be recalibrated. Not for profit and competition.”
Along with his podcast, Wilson discussed whether he would ever reprise his role in a new “The Office” spinoff.
“I’m always open to another Dwight appearance,” Wilson said.
