Know What's Happening in Spirituality
Know What's Happening in Spirituality
Buddhist monastic shares path to present‑moment joy
In a newly translated dialogue, journalist Irmgard Kirchner talks with Santacitta Bhikkhuni, a former avant‑garde dancer now a Theravada monastic. Santacitta describes Buddhism as a healing path that dissolves delusion and attachment, using the four vipallasa to show how misperceptions create stress. She says true joy arises from present‑moment awareness.
Margaret Cullen’s forthcoming book Quiet Strength delves into equanimity as a distinct, teachable virtue, filling a gap in the crowded mindfulness market. After rejecting a workbook proposal, she pursued a deep‑dive manuscript that positions equanimity alongside mindfulness, compassion, and love. The work draws parallels across Buddhism, Stoicism, Sufism, and Judaism, offering practical cognitive hacks for everyday resilience. Cullen also hints at emerging neuroscience interest, suggesting future bridges between contemplative practice and measurable outcomes.
All of these can be TRUE at the same time. Which hits home for you the most right now?
Amanda’s experience of being pressured by a biblical counselor to apologize to her abusive father highlights how some faith‑based counseling programs prioritize doctrinal conformity over survivor safety. Researchers document that coercive forgiveness often arises from unequal power dynamics within churches,...
The post marks Day 14 of a devotional series that spotlights God’s limitless mercy as a spiritual gift that makes believers richer than any material wealth. It invites readers to pause, reflect on divine compassion, and re‑evaluate success through relational...
The essay explores how incessant internal dialogue functions as a form of noise pollution, clouding clarity and driving dualistic thinking. It presents chanting the name of Kanzeon—or any pure, intention‑free sound—as a pathway to a pre‑conceptual awareness that transcends mental...
The author describes how conventional seated meditation felt hostile, prompting a shift to spontaneous, nature‑based attention. A simple pause by a tree, observing a leaf without intent, softened her tension and revealed a gentler path to presence. Repeated micro‑moments of...
After spiritual awakening, you don’t just gain awareness. You gain sensitivity to energy that drains you. And yes, sometimes that energy belongs to the people who raised you. Here’s why that happens:
How to be an instrument of kindness in a harsh world – George Saunders on unthinking the mind, unstorying the self, and the 3 antidotes to your suffering https://t.co/DUCgC3JHbu
In this episode the host explores the distinction between being "responsible for" something—trying to control outcomes—and being "responsible to" someone—showing up with integrity while honoring their agency. They discuss how this shift impacts parenting, relationships, and personal well‑being, emphasizing self‑reflection...
This week oasis of small sanities, in one place – Pablo Neruda on how to hold time; the figments of love and the hallucinations of reason; the aurora borealis and the polar expedition saved by wonder: https://t.co/lvthiGXFPS https://t.co/SGPhzPIJb2
The March 8–14 post “Returning Home” uses tarot symbols to describe a paradox where family fulfillment coexists with a deep sense of not belonging, urging readers toward a spiritual break. It frames the inner quest as surrendering identity, embracing emptiness,...
How do we stay grounded in the heart when the world feels more divided than ever? Join the globalcompassioncoalition for a profound conversation between teacher Tara Brach and scholar Paul Gilbert, chaired by Rick Hanson. Together, they explore the biology...
The episode with neuroscientist Gül Dölen explores how psychedelic‑assisted therapies are delivering dramatic results for complex PTSD, addiction and treatment‑resistant depression. Clinical trials across universities show rapid symptom relief and measurable neuroplastic changes. Dölen highlights the science behind these outcomes,...
Superb read on the endless tug-of-war between human nature and the nature of reality, from Zeno's paradox to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle to Borges's mirror https://t.co/jNaaCY1w60
Many people expect closure from others—an apology, explanation, or conversation—yet life rarely provides neat endings. The article explains that the mind craves complete narratives, causing endless replay until acceptance replaces the need for answers. True closure is a personal decision...
The article explains how purpose evolves from a loud, achievement‑focused drive in early career stages to a quieter, personally aligned motivation later in life. Initially, purpose is tied to proving oneself, gaining recognition, and rapid growth. Over time, experiences such...
The post explores how unmet expectations create a heavy emotional load, often manifesting as guilt and resentment. It argues that embracing forgiveness can dissolve that weight and restore mental clarity. By shifting perspective from blame to understanding, readers can transform...
The summer calendar across the Balkans and Central Europe is packed with niche wellness gatherings that blend movement, music, and mindful community. Crete’s Cocoon Retreat offers a five‑day program focused on conscious intimacy, while Montenegro’s Pachamama Play Festival centers on...
The Good Trade article argues that finding personal purpose begins with the act of letting go—releasing rigid expectations and external validation. It encourages readers to seek moments of presence, whether through nature, meditation, or low‑stimulation TV shows that calm the...
The blog reflects on unearned grace as spontaneous, non‑transactional kindness that arrives without merit. It cites Sarah Perry’s description of grace as a favor that doesn’t keep score, highlighting its indiscriminate nature. The author notes how many people internalize a...
Maria Popova’s seventh annual Universe in Verse series debuted an animated poem titled “But We Had Music,” a collaboration with Australian musician Nick Cave and Brazilian visual artist Daniel Bruson. The piece blends poetry, astrophysics and music to confront humanity’s fleeting...
This week's talk is available now at www.tarabrach.com! 💕 How can the simple act of asking a sincere question awaken us from the trance of our habitual thinking? In this talk, Tara explores the transformative power of spiritual inquiry—a practice that...
Gül Dölen, a leading neuroscientist at UC Berkeley and Johns Hopkins, discussed the transformative potential of psychedelic‑assisted therapy during the 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival. Her research demonstrates that compounds such as psilocybin and MDMA can rapidly alleviate treatment‑resistant depression, complex PTSD,...
‘The Pathless Path is the apparent journey you take from the person you seem to be to that which you truly are. In fact, there is no distance between the person you seem to be and that which you truly...
Former Harper’s editor and novelist recounts his shift from Catholic altar boy to atheist and now a “skeptical believer,” arguing that belief is unavoidable because science cannot prescribe how to live. He illustrates how personal decisions—from career choices to marriage—are...
Day 12 of the "Holiness" devotional series, titled "Set Apart by the Sacrifice," underscores that believers should not merely admire God’s holiness but actively receive it. The post highlights the Cross as more than a symbol of forgiveness, portraying it...
In this episode, host Sarah Wilson talks with climate activist‑turned‑coach Jessica Serrante about her journey through grief after the death of Joanna Macy, the visionary behind The Great Turning. Jessica shares how she navigated anticipatory and post‑loss grief, using Joanna’s...
The post revisits Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, drawing a parallel between the ancient shadows on the wall and today’s algorithm‑driven media bubbles. It outlines the painful journey from ignorance to enlightenment, emphasizing the philosopher’s role in guiding others toward...
Stephen Grosz’s new book *Love’s Labor* reframes love as an ongoing, demanding practice rather than a sentimental refuge. He argues that confronting confusion, pain, and inevitable loss is essential to building authentic connections. The work draws on decades of psychoanalytic...
The post argues that a cultural reawakening is driving renewed interest in esoteric practices such as Edgar Cayce’s readings and astrology. It suggests that more individuals are seeking self‑knowledge beyond conventional science, positioning the “blueprint of the soul” as a...
The Day 11 entry of the "Praying the Promises of the Cross" series, titled "Set on Fire for Good," frames the Cross as a catalyst for active zeal rather than merely a symbol of forgiveness. The author urges readers to...
Negative emotions are not evidence that something is broken in you. They are part of being alive. And the goal is not to eliminate them, but to manage them so they do not manage you.
The post announces a new guide that bundles five systematic out‑of‑body experience (OBE) techniques into a single training program. It merges methods from the Monroe Institute with Tibetan yogic dream‑portal practices, promising at least one approach will work for any...
Emil Cioran distinguishes two forms of loneliness: the personal, felt even amid beauty, and the cosmic, arising from an awareness of the universe’s isolation. The essay argues that individual loneliness is a self‑contained drama, while cosmic loneliness reflects an objective...
In this episode of "Let's Have the Conversation," host Desiree B. Stevens explores the concept of "staying"—maintaining presence and regulation within community work and difficult dialogues. She outlines three core practices: staying in your body to avoid dissociation, staying without...
Join me live on Zoom starting at 9 a.m. Pacific Time every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Bring your questions, filled-in Judge-Your-Neighbor Worksheets, and an open mind. xoxo bk Register: athomewithbyronkatie.com theworkofbyronkatie #byronkatie #mindset #mindsetshift #selfhelp #relationshiphelp #selfinquiry #selfwork #healingjourney #selflovejourney #mindfulness...
Rob Argent reflects on how personal music preferences—Blur, Oasis, Radiohead—became proxies for identity and group affiliation. He observes that people often cling to external symbols rather than shedding them, leading to polarized debates that echo childhood arguments. Argent champions the...
In a midnight watch aboard the yacht Lorraine Marie, the author recounts two vivid visions: a herd of spectral bison running alongside the vessel and a luminous infant-like being cradled in his arms. The bison episode evokes ancestral memory, a...
‘You are not called to like everyone; liking depends on temperament and conditioning. You are called to love everyone, because you already share your being with everyone.’ In this video dialogue with Jeronimo at his first retreat, we explore what...
Joy Harjo and Tracy K. Smith, former U.S. Poet Laureates, held a vibrant conversation at Symphony Space in New York celebrating their new books, *Girl Warrior* and *Fear Less*. The dialogue framed poetry as a technology for navigating grief, mystery,...
If you know what your suffering means, and how to use it, it will become a precious source of knowledge about the meaning of your life. Accepting this means fighting your every survival instinct. Source: Chapter 9, “Don’t Waste Your Suffering,”...
