From Jiddu Krishnamurti, The First and Last Freedom “For most of us, life is based on effort, on various expressions of will. We cannot imagine action without the exercise of will, without effort. Our life is grounded in them. Our social, economic, and so-called spiritual life consists of a series of efforts that always aim […]
From Noel Button, The Path of Extraordinary Success and Self-Belief: “The only thing that can be said with certainty about life is that every time we set out to pursue a goal or a dream, there will be people who will tell us that it is impossible. In order to succeed in any direction, we […]
“Buddha was walking through the forest with his disciples. They were very thirsty and came upon a small spring. The disciples rushed to drink, jostled one another, and muddied the water. Then they began to wonder what to do. Buddha, however, insisted that they continue on their way. The disciples were very thirsty; they pleaded […]
This story from the book “The Five Stages of the Soul” by Harry Moody and David Carroll illustrates the profound difference between intellectual ego, lack of faith, and the power of persistent, humble practice. “Once upon a time, three men, in search of knowledge, set out with a caravan toward the middle of the desert. […]
M. Scott Peck: “The tendency to avoid problems, as well as the emotional suffering with which they are charged, is the basis of all mental illness. Since this is characteristic of most of us, we are all mentally ill to a greater or lesser degree, and some go too far in their effort to escape […]
If you have ever asked yourself why things sometimes feel so difficult for you, here is one possible answer. It comes from a story told by Harry Moody and David Carroll in their book The Five Stages of the Soul: Charting the Spiritual Passages That Shape Our Lives. “Long, long ago, a hermit received a […]
“Inner Nature, when relied on, cannot be fooled. But many people do not look at it or listen to it, and consequently do not understand themselves very much. Having little understanding of themselves, they have little respect for themselves, and are therefore easily influenced by others… One of the most convenient things about this Sensitivity […]
A very alchemical tale with a commentary from Benjamin Hoff’s The Tao of Pooh “In the state of Chu, a thief became a soldier under General Wu Tzu-fa, a man renowned for his remarkable ability to make use of other people’s capacities. After some time, Chu was attacked by the army of Qi. In response, […]
“When you desire something, your joy depends on that thing. If the thing is not there, you are unhappy; if it is given, you are happy – but only for a moment! This also has to be understood. Whenever your desire is fulfilled, it is only for that moment that you feel joy. It is […]
“There grew in a forest many beautiful and tall trees, and among them one crooked, low, knotty, and ugly tree. All the trees mocked this one, and it was very unhappy. One day woodcutters came into the forest and began to cut down the trees. All the trees were felled; only the small and crooked […]
I do not know the author of the text below, but I am grateful that it was written and that I can share it with you. “I asked God to take away my pride,and He said, ‘No.’He told me that pride is not taken away;it is something one must let go of. I asked God […]
The text below was written by Virginia Satir (a family psychotherapist) in response to a 15-year-old girl’s question, “How can I prepare for a fulfilling life?” “I am me. In the whole world there is no one exactly like me. There are people who share some parts of my body or some traits of my […]
