Of all the incredible emotions in the world, there is probably none that so easily turns us upside down and inside out — none so commanding and fascinating, all at once — as the power of love. Who doesn’t want to be overwhelmed by love and feel that incomparable excitement? Or enjoy the sense of belonging and purpose that only […]

Just as a storm in the atmosphere of the earth is born of conflicting fronts of different temperatures colliding with one another, so too must there be conflicting forces within us in order to form a mental or emotional storm. Our task is to become conscious of these unseen forces that dwell in the unenlightened parts of us. As we […]

There is a great intelligence in this universe that we are within, and that is within us. The other day I saw a segment on the popular television program 60 Minutes that showed some of the amazing images of our universe recently taken by the Hubble telescope. They show billions of stars and galaxies, in numbers beyond our comprehension. But […]

While the wounds of a loss are still fresh, it may seem impossible to see any good in it. But the loss can open our hearts to new understanding. As we can see every day, loss is a significant part of life. We all suffer losses, big and small. The question is, what is their meaning for us as individuals? […]

We can’t imagine there could be understanding and wisdom without thinking… and yet the true answers we seek can only be found in a realm above thought that’s connected to higher wisdom. Thinking, thinking, thinking. It’s what we do, day in and day out. We think about the past. We think about the future. We think about our problems and […]

Being alone holds beautiful possibilities for the person who is open to them. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s hard not to these days: it seems like everyone is running everywhere, going places they’re ready to leave the moment they get there, spending time with people they may not even like that much, and constantly “hooking up” online […]

Everything we are is a reflection of greater powers than we can know, and our true strength comes in aligning ourselves with them. Pain is a universal condition. I’m talking about inner pain: depression, guilt, regret, anger — any of a thousand different negative emotions that tear us apart. Pain begins when life goes against our expectations and desires. Distress […]

By and large, at least for most of us, it seems very important that we appear strong in the eyes of others. That no one can push us around. That should we wish it… we have the power to pretty much take what we want. So we try to gather to ourselves the symbols of this “strength” that we imagine: […]

As we enter the holiday season, we celebrate the miracle of transformation as darkness begins to give way to the light. It’s a great turning, a change in direction, physically represented by the winter solstice, when (in the northern hemisphere) days stop growing shorter, and the hours of sunshine begin to increase. Every major religion acknowledges this celestial change, and […]

Cultures around the world set aside a day each year to express gratitude. Depending on the culture, the date varies, but it’s usually held around harvest time, when people have reaped the bounties of the earth, and pause to reflect on the goodness of life. Thanksgiving celebrations are held throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. I’m thinking about this […]