Some reflections
Many years ago, I attended a yoga conference in India. This was an exotic and interesting experience. It is difficult to relate how the pure chaos and franticness of the country overwhelm you. That said, if you can find your inner calm, it is a wonderful and inviting journey. Upon arriving at the Isha ashram, (1) I was ushered into my very normal hotel room. The gathering began the next morning at 6:00 AM and lasted for a week. What I learned from the meeting was that if I spend more time focusing on the activities of life itself, I would “get on the path” of awareness, of self-knowledge.
Continue reading Some reflectionsPodcast Episode 133: Miracles are inexplicable gifts from the God, Gaia, or the Universe. They are potentially present in everyone’s life, but they must be identified and appreciated. Your first miracle was that you awoke this morning.
Podcast Episode 132: We should embrace our life because of all my choices, both good and not so good, have brought me to today. Knowing that I truly know nothing, as Socrates tells us, makes me capable of learning at any age.
Finding peace
In our youth, we are encouraged to find peace. It is suggested that this state of harmony is easily acquired and will produce the ultimate effects of joy and happiness in life. Mature people know, unfortunately, that this is not reality — peace is not so easily obtained. Life is mostly pain and suffering. Furthermore, the advent of the Internet has enabled us to realize that angst is even more widespread than we initially believed. Violence assails us in all its forms: physical, mental, and spiritual.
Continue reading Finding peacePodcast Episode 131: We are all burdened with anxiety. It is a part of any journey. But, the intensity of this emotion can be lessened through education, meditation, and practice. Happiness is hard to achieve, but unhappiness comes to us effortlessly. We must simply put in the work.
Podcast Episode 130: All of us can learn to “grasp hold” of time and become more thoughtful and sensitive. In this way, we will come to the door of wisdom. Then I can ask, how it can be opened.
Perception and perspective
I recently sat beside two men who were negotiating the sale of interactive Ray-Ban (1) glasses. The man selling the device extolled its virtues and how useful it had been. He was now attempting to sell it — and he stated some very rational reasons why. The other man was at first very patient and receptive, but slowly, over time, he began to voice some objections. There was a scratch here, a nick there. And then the inevitable: it was difficult to interface with his device. This eventually led to the seller objecting rather strongly that he had “babied” the item and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. The net result was that the potential purchaser simply got up and walked away. It was a sad end to a budding sale.
Continue reading Perception and perspective