Spirituality That Works

Q: Many of us find ourselves reflecting on the meaning of life. Many of us develop our own theories and beliefs. Many get the meaning supplied by religious and spiritual traditions. From your perspective, what is this time here as humans really about?

It is about wonderment.

Wonderment that any of this exists. That you exist. That you have the ability to create, to manifest, or to destroy. That you live on a planet that is unparalleled in beauty, yet … Read More

I’ve always been drawn to older spiritual texts. There is something about their language that feels settling, especially when compared with much of what we read today.

That’s because language does more than pass along information. It shapes attention. It affects the nervous system of the listener.

This got me thinking about the differences between modern language and older spiritual language.

Modern Language and the Need to Win

Much of modern language is structured around assertion and opposition. It assumes … Read More

Q: There’s something that’s been on my mind, that I struggle with. The apparent random creation and destruction, and the violence that is experienced in the destructive stage. We’re sometimes told that we need to change our perspective on troubled times. We need to see the flow of creation, existence, destruction, creation. Have no attachment to the moment. Have no personal liking or disliking. Let it be. It’s all part of the grander way of things. But the cycle of … Read More

Q: Many people have the discipline to run marathons and do all kinds of things that seem like very difficult practices. And yet, for many, meditation seems so impossible. Why is it?

Because people want results they can measure. They think, if I meditate, I’ll get something from it, like peace, calm, enlightenment. And then I’ll know when it’s working. What’s unspoken is that I’ll get those results in this time frame. They set expectations, and those expectations set them … Read More

Q: Is psychoanalysis the way to go for somebody to resolve mental health issues?

The answer is a qualified no, not in its classic form. Freud’s great contribution was his recognition that for deep change to occur, a person needs more than advice or willpower; they need a profound, felt insight like an “aha experience.” His idea was that by talking until unconscious patterns were made conscious, healing would naturally follow.

But, there are more efficient and direct ways to … Read More

Q: If somebody asked you, what’s one change I can make right now that will change my life the fastest, what can I do? What would you say?

At the top of the list of changes that can impact your life immediately is to have no contact with media of any kind. Outside of work, use no technology. That means no TV. No Internet. No computers, tablets, or cell phones. No emails. No texts. Put a stop to all of … Read More

Q: Does prayer actually work?

That depends on what you mean by work. If by “work” you mean that you get what you ask for, sometimes yes, sometimes no. If by “work” you mean that it changes something in you, then the answer is always yes.

The problem is that most people approach prayer like a cosmic vending machine. We put in a request (Code A23: Healing for a family member) and expect to get the exact result we … Read More

From the Hands of Many to the Hands of a Few 

At the beginning of human existence, back when we were on a level playing field with all other animals, our instinct for survival was extremely heightened and developed. This instinct was as necessary as any other sense. And because it was employed on a nearly constant basis, it was a dependably reliable means of acquiring information.

The survival instinct was used in much the same way any pack or … Read More