You’ve probably noticed that you have never been busier. Do you need a break — a real break? The oft-asked question is “Was it always like this? Did we always live in such a hurried and frenetic way?” Actually no, the pace of life was far different in earlier centuries. Yes, as a society, we were more subject to the vagaries of life — the crippling maladies and strange diseases arrived without notice. And, for the lower classes, life was often short. But curiously, as a society, we were happier. Why? (1)
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Liberty and freedom
To be independent and not controlled by anything or anyone — this is what everyone espouses and hopes for. But, from what is it that I want to be free? Do I want to be free from pain and suffering? Do I want to be free to live a fulfilling life? And ultimately, do I want to be free from ending, do I want to be immortal? The latter questions are extremely private, but most certainly must be resolved as early as possible on one’s path in life.
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Can you commune with nature?
We hear a lot about the concept of Gaia, Mother Earth. (1) According to this theory or philosophy, we are all interconnected — the rocks, the birds, the bugs, the bees, and the animals — everything!
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Why am I my own teacher?
This is most certainly one of the more perplexing questions of our time. It is a perennial one having been with us, I would think, since time immemorial. Socrates (470-399 BC), for example, tells us (to paraphrase) that “to know your self is the beginning of all wisdom.” (1) We are shocked when we realize that we have consciousness and exist in the world.
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Are you a pilgrim?
Are you a pilgrim of the self? All thoughtful people are faced with a plethora of questions in life. Why am I here, what is my mission, and what will happen when I die are but a few of the more pressing ones. When I awaken into consciousness at 20 or so, I am immediately struck with the fact that I am alive — me! I have awareness.
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