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BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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Something Understood

Religion & Ethics

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life, taking a spiritual theme and exploring it through music, prose and poetry

BBC Radio 4 LW

Something Understood: Loneliness

Embracing the Classical

30/10/2016

Loneliness

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, Loneliness

Mark Tully asks if we can draw anything positive from that most human problem, loneliness.

In conversation with Buddhist writer Sarvananda, Mark Tully investigates the problem of loneliness and the philosophical concept of separation.

Mark Tully asks if we can draw anything positive from that most human problem, loneliness.

In Buddhist thought, the source of loneliness lies in 'dukkha', sometimes defined as 'separation'. Robert Frost called it 'an acquaintance with the night'. 

Mark discusses the causes of loneliness and the potential for finding something positive about it with the author and Buddhist writer Sarvananda. In a programme that takes us from remote wilderness to the terraces of Anfield football stadium, he explores both loneliness and solitude through the work of novelist Zoe Heller, psychologist Frieda Fromm-Reichmann and the poet Derek Walcott - and also through music by Pelham Humfrey, David Liebman and Polish composer Wittold Lutoslawski.

The readers are Paapa Essiedu and Emma Pallant.

Presenter: Mark Tully
Producer: Frank Stirling 
A Unique production for BBC Radio 4.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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