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 …
Category: History
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 …
How Far, How Fast
On a recent post, questions came up about why some seem to move quickly and some slowly on the spiritual path. Also, why some seem to go further than others. The biggest thing to note …
Troublesome Themes
Many people I know on a spiritual path have discovered a recurring theme in their life. They may even discover it goes back thousands of years. They find ongoing reason to feel angry or abandoned …
The Pace of Change
Many people experience the world speeding up. This is partly an effect of our perception of time. As we shift through the decades, our metabolism gradually slows and time seems to go by faster*. This …
Perspective
A worthwhile read in the New York Times Sunday Review: Why 2017 Was the Best Year in Human History. I’d change that to “known history” but he touches on some important points. Things are, for …
Pilgrimage
Recently, I was asked about the role of pilgrimage. Generally, I’d place pilgrimage as a practice related to faith or devotion. However, some pilgrimages are more about an odyssey, perhaps having a therapeutic purpose. Sometimes …
The Ramayana
The Ramayana is an epic story of the life of Rama, a prince in a kingdom of ancient India and an avatar of Vishnu (god in form, sent to restore balance). There are many versions …
Power
In the mists of ancient time, group consciousness was in a downward cycle and took a somewhat distinct fall. There was a great deal of confusion and discord as cultures collapsed. Some entities took control over …
The Long Time Sun
May the long time sun shine upon you all love surround you and the pure light within you guide your way home In writing another article, I thought of this verse and it seemed appropriate. …
Amount of Practice
I’ve been getting quite a few queries about “technique time” from readers. I recommend an effortless meditation like TM, normally done 2 x 20 minutes a day. Other things would of course be on top of …
Cosmically Conscious
This is a throwback song Paul McCartney wrote in an ashram in Rishikesh, India in 1968. Interestingly, 5 of the performers where also there, including Ringo Starr (briefly), Donovan, Mike Love (of the Beach Boys), …