Relationships
The Four Seals and Buddhism in a Nutshell
A while ago I wrote an article about the lyrics to a song I loved, Ott’s Jack’s Cheese and Bread Snack. I didn’t know it at the time, but the lyrics are known as the “Four Seals of Buddhism”, or “The Four Dharma Seals”. I’m not a Buddhist, not a Christian, not an Advaitan, I’m…
Read MoreThis Side of Paradise and the Unexamined Self
Last night I watched an old Star Trek original series episode that had come to mind: “This Side of Paradise“. The story in it always intrigued me: artificial happiness and the cult-like dramatic conflict when the agricultural lifestyle colonists encounter the Star Trek crew, as well as the entertainment value of what happens with the…
Read MoreOn Beyond Life and Career Advice (for Teens and Adults)
Reflecting on Life and Career Advice (for teens or adults): Last night I watched some old videos of a famous comic, brilliant, creative, very “successful”, but who eventually committed suicide. And so many of the celebrities have been in and out of drug rehab, or commit suicide, or become recluses, or go through strings of…
Read More3P Brainwashing? A Response to Someone Distressed About a Family Member
I recently received this note from someone wanting some advice (“pick my brains”) about the Three Principles Psychology (3P), which I have written about in a number of articles. I emailed her back but her address bounced (probably misspelled). I’ll call her “A”. I thought my response would be of possible interest to other people…
Read MoreWhat is Self Love
I’ve often heard it said, for example, that in order to love another, or to find love, you have to “love yourself first” (including from prideful people that are not really loving). It’s always been puzzling because it sounds like there are two entities: someone to love (your self) and the one doing the loving…
Read MoreConsider The Lilies Of The Goddamn Field: Notes on Paying for Spiritual Teachings
“I am secure, for I know who I am: a richly endowed child of God. I am secure in all I do, for I know my oneness with the divine process. I am secure in all I have, for I know my treasure is in my mind, not in my things. I live my life…
Read MoreSuicide and The Cosmic Simulacrum
Simulacrum 1. An image or representation of someone or something. ‘a small-scale simulacrum of a skyscraper’ 1.1 An unsatisfactory imitation or substitute. ‘a bland simulacrum of American soul music’ – Oxford English Dictionary Last night I learned of the 4th friend or acquaintance to commit suicide. Not to mention the list of celebrities. This can…
Read MoreLove and Freedom Cannot Be Separated
Freedom and love can’t be separated. By “freedom” is meant true inner freedom, and by “love” is meant impersonal love, the nondual living truth, not human love. A lack of love and freedom is experienced as darkness, pain and suffering. But if love and freedom is who are, then how can there be a…
Read MoreWhat is Spirituality?
“It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere” – Agnes Repplier It’s interesting to see how much misunderstanding of the word “spirituality” there is in Western culture. And, I believe that same reasons that people are not truly happy are the same reasons that…
Read MoreNotes on Psychological “Boundaries”
Boundaries are often talked about in behavioral terms: don’t cross this boundary, or I feel like my boundaries have been violated, or the respect for boundaries must be enforced or known for oneself so as to stop or remove oneself from a situation. But there is another dimension, an inner or psychological dynamic that I’ve…
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