Instructions to Students
In the 9th Anuvaaka of the Taittiriiya Upanishad, truthfulness and self-control have a priority, behind recitation of the Veda. In study, they consider recitation in Sanskrit the most important as it entrains you to the …
Category: History
Vedanta Books
Vedanta means the end of the Veda or the final knowledge, although the texts cover the full range. It is the last of the 6 systems of Indian philosophy aka the darshanas. They generally consider …
The Shankaracharya Seats
Adi Shankara was a famous sage who revived the monastic path and the non-dual approach to Vedanta. He had his 4 primary disciples found 4 maths or seats of learning in the four directions of …
The Vedic Perspective
Dr. Jack Purcell, a philosophy professor at Middle Tennessee State University, invited me to speak to his eastern philosophy class. I’m introduced by his son, Rishi. I offer a little history and a broad overview …
End Times
Some are talking like we’re in end times: climate change with crazy weather, floods and fires, a global pandemic, unrest, exaggerated political polarities, growing financial inequality, and more. Such events have marked the end of …
On Creation
I’ve had a few questions on what I mean by “creation.” This is the term I use for the subtle space created by globally self-aware consciousness (Atman). In this space arises fundamental structures that then …
Philosophy
Readers of the blog know I’ve studied world philosophies, particularly Vedic. If you study to higher degrees, you usually end up with a Doctor of Philosophy in your field. The roots of “philosophy” are interesting. …
Many Paths Home
On this blog, I recommend a specific approach and practices. I’ve seen this as very effective for quality of life, smooth awakening, and a full process including the refined stages. Each of us uniquely combines …
Saoirse
No, not the actress. What she’s named for. “Of all the treasures a person can possess, she says, the most valuable is saoirse [pronounced sear-sha “like inertia”], the Gaelic word for freedom.” Andrew Nikiforuk, interviewing …
The Nature of Our Times
I originally began this article as a longer piece for a university journal but ran out of time. In the last few years, we’ve seen a major shift in world news. Perception has become truth …
The 10 Bulls
There is a famous series of 10 panels (below) portraying the stages of enlightenment from a Zen Buddhist perspective. They are known as the 10 Bulls or Oxen. I’ve touched on these before but it’s …
The Association of Professional Spiritual Teachers (now ASI)
Through the cycle of descending ages, most spiritual traditions came to overemphasize the masculine – both in approach and in domination by men. This has led to drier, more austere forms of spirituality and issues …