💭Spirituality & Philosophy

Instead, I simply want to posit one idea for your consideration: Enchantment is just the measure of the quality of our attention.1

In other words, what if we experience the world as disenchanted because, in part, enchantment is an effect of a certain kind of attention we bring to bear on the world and we are now generally habituated against this req... See more

L. M. Sacasas • If Your World Is Not Enchanted, You're Not Paying Attention

When anything difficult arises—any kind of conflict, any notion of unworthiness, anything that feels distasteful, embarrassing, or painful—instead of trying to get rid of it, we breathe it in. The three poisons are passion (this includes craving or addiction), aggression, and ignorance (which includes denial or the tendency to shut down and close o... See more

Pema Chödrön’s Three Methods for Working with Chaos

Is Life Predetermined or Are We Free to Choose?

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Is life predetermined, or are we free to choose the path we take? What is the best attitude to have in relation to that? And if we make a choice to live a life of service, how do we know that is not just an egoic pursuit?

Rupert says: ‘If God was a man, our destiny probably would have been written right from the very beginning. But as we now know, God is a woman, and she’s always changing her mind. And thank God for that – that we have no idea what we’re destined for, that there is freedom and creativity.

‘The best attitude to take in relation to that is openness and surrender, not just for the good things that happen, but also the painful and challenging things – because they have no inherent power over us. Say yes to everything, even if you don’t understand why it’s happening.

‘And don’t curtail your work in the world by considering it egoic. If you have this love and understanding, and you have a vision of somehow wanting to bring it to humanity, that’s not an egoic impulse. Follow it. Be passionate about it. Do whatever is required to bring your vision to humanity.’

If you find yourself a bit “grim about the mouth” like Ishmael, you don’t necessarily need to risk your life chasing an enraged sperm whale around the world. But you don’t have to accommodate your melancholy, either. I can suggest two approaches that you can employ right away to take on your hypos.

The first strategy is to use that narrative device ... See more

Why You Might Need an Adventure

Prince Shōtoku reminds us of the fundamental truth of how our very existence lies within our relationship with others. When we deeply reflect on who and what we are, we come to realize our profound connection and mutual dependence on all things. This is Shakyamuni Buddha’s teaching of interdependence and what he viewed as the proper relationship be... See more

Rev. Blayne Higa • The Song of the Two-Headed Bird

As I see it then, the formula runs something like this: a man must choose a path which will let his ABILITIES function at maximum efficiency toward the gratification of his DESIRES. In doing this, he is fulfilling a need (giving himself identity by functioning in a set pattern toward a set goal), he avoids frustrating his potential (choosing a path... See more

Farnam Street • Hunter S. Thompson’s Letter on Finding Your Purpose and Living a Meaningful Life

Without prejudice toward either philosopher, what we can say with confidence is that you will have a better chance of realizing happiness if you can see yourself as a dynamic agent of your own progress. If you’d like to become more Aristotelian in your self-understanding, here are three steps to get you started.

1. Find the person you want to be.

To ... See more

Arthur Brooks • Are You a Platonist or an Aristotelian?

AYP Lesson 13 - Meditation - Awakening the Silent Seed

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How to Be a Good Citizen in Troubled Times