The world is awash in prophets and guides, gurus and gods, masters and mentors who would - usually for a fee, always for your idolatry and worship - lead you to some imaginary promised land. For a time I had one of these false prophets, until his phoniness, hypocrisy, and inner confusion became so obvious [...]

I suspect that most of the world's problems could be solved - or even prevented - if each of us started from a place of 'I don't know' and moved forward from there. Consider how often you've argued with someone over a topic about which you were certain you were correct, only to later discover [...]

I'm starting to think the so-called midlife crisis - along with the habit of older folks to become increasingly conservative and crotchety with age - has more to do with a general sense of resignation than advancing age. At some point, we reach an age where we've been around the block enough times to know that all the [...]

It is said that life gives us what we need, not what we want. I like it that way, because, frankly, I don't know nearly enough to be put in charge of so great a responsibility. I'd just make a mess of things. Letting go and letting life deliver is of course easier said than [...]

Studies and polls tell us a huge percentage of kids are anxious, depressed, or just downright miserable - that millions struggle just to make it through the day. The adult world's answer to managing these gaping psychic wounds? To apply more of the same cultural and parental teachings that are creating the mess in the first place. A [...]

So, you say that you are despondent over the election of Donald Trump? Or, you are depressed over the many who supported Hillary Clinton (or who now oppose Trump and your vote for him)? In short, you are unhappy with the state of things and cannot grasp the thinking of those opposed to you. You [...]

If there's one particularly difficult barrier to knowing our true nature, it's the hard-coded belief that we already know the answer to the question. No need to look, already have a pretty good feel for who I am, but thanks anyway. We envy those who are said to be "comfortable in their own skin," who are [...]

If you're suffering. If you're unhappy about the presidential election. If you're unhappy with your mate or your kids or your job - there's really only one thing you need to do: look within. After all, who or what is unhappy? This is the key to the whole thing, the lone pointer that is the [...]

Not so long ago, walking the dog along a wooded path on a cool foggy morning, deep in contemplation, quietly asking god for help in seeing the truth, came the thunderstruck realization that my entreaties to god were, in fact, god calling out to itself. For the briefest of moments, the idea of a me [...]

When I was a kid my older sister was tasked with teaching me and my brother how to pray to god before bed. So each night she'd come in and help us recite the prayer, and at the end of the prayer we were allowed to append a few beneficiaries to our spiritual largesse. The prayer, [...]