Spirituality News and Headlines
Spirituality News and Headlines
The essay interrogates whether genuine duties to oneself exist, contrasting Kantian claims of rational autonomy with sceptical views that self‑obligations merely serve personal happiness. It introduces African philosophical concepts—harmony (ubuntu) and vitality—as alternative foundations that treat self‑respect as a form of internal friendliness and life‑force. By mapping a diverse list of self‑duties onto these values, the author argues that moral obligations to oneself extend beyond pleasure, encompassing health, agency, and communal coherence. The piece calls for an intercultural dialogue that blends Western and Global South ethics to enrich contemporary moral theory.
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh’s "How to Fight" teaches that anger stems from entrenched neural pathways that can be reshaped through mindfulness. By pausing, breathing, and observing the emotion, individuals create new pathways toward compassion and forgiveness. The practice emphasizes...
At a recent InsightLA gathering, participant Pablo Das explained how mindfulness can temper rumination and hyper‑vigilance that often follow trauma. He described mindfulness as an objective, non‑reactive awareness that lets individuals pause before reacting, creating space to evaluate thoughts, speech,...
Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, former Apple engineers, apply design‑thinking principles to personal purpose in their new book *How to Live a Meaningful Life*. They argue that the current meaning crisis—exacerbated by the pandemic, AI‑driven job fears, and economic slowdown—can...
Michael Pollan’s latest book tackles the age‑old puzzle of consciousness, arguing that psychedelic experiences offer a practical window into the mind’s workings. The journalist, famed for his food‑focused writing, pivots to explore how substances like psilocybin, caffeine and opium reshape...
Christopher Beha, former atheist and Harper's editor, recounts in *Why I Am Not an Atheist* how falling in love with his future wife sparked a return to Catholicism. He argues that secular philosophies—from scientific reductionism to Nietzschean romanticism—cannot account for...
Eleanor Gordon‑Smith reflects on how her recent depression amplified her creative output, delivering vivid poetry, painting, and a darker artistic lens. She now feels better but fears losing the intensity and clarity that the depressive state provided. The essay argues...
The article explains the inner‑child metaphor as a psychodynamic tool for uncovering early emotional imprints that drive adult reactions such as anger, fear of abandonment, and self‑criticism. It outlines three phases—recognition, in‑the‑moment management, and long‑term healing—using concrete techniques like naming...
The essay asks whether an artist remains an artist when unseen, weaving personal experience with meditation practice. It argues that true artistic worth stems from internal recognition rather than clicks, likes, or external validation. The author describes how the tension...
The article explains that equanimity, while appearing as calm concentration, can conceal subtle attachment and delusion. It warns that staying absorbed in a state of equanimity without probing can prevent genuine insight. Practitioners are urged to use equanimity as a...
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....
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 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...
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...
