Oneness seems to be a goal of modern society. On the one hand, 'oneness' can signify the 'individuality,' 'particularity,' or 'singularity' of someone's character or a situation. On the other hand, 'oneness' can be the achievement of harmony among many. In other words, we seek some harmony of harmony and individuality.
In the New Testament, it is written that "the love of money is the root of all evil." In America at least, this passage is widely understood to mean that love for money is either morally wrong or the cause of great suffering. Today, there is concern around the globe that the "profit motive" has come in conflict with the...
Music plays an enormous role in our daily lives. Even when it is not at the center of our attention, it is in the background of movies, advertisements, shopping malls, and train stations. Given that we absorb so much musical information every day, we should closely question the nature of music.
These days, few people would deny that there is deep continuity between human beings and the other animals. Yet, many people also think that human beings are also very different from the other animals. We are like the other animals, but also completely unlike the other animals.
Authenticity, "being true to oneself," is a quality valued in modern society. Of course, authenticity is important in my relationship to myself, but it is also valued in our relationships with others. We enjoy the company of honest people who have stable relationships with themselves. This inner stability seems to express itself as outer stability....
In Japanese there is the proverb, uso mo hōben 嘘も方便, 'even lying can be necessary.' In political and social life, transparency and truth are highly valued. Yet in our personal lives, we are familiar with such "necessary lies." Lying turns out to be a very complicated part of human life.
The modern world seems to favor the competitive. The successes and failures of many aspects of our lives is determined by how well we measure up to others. Many people are realizing that this model has its weaknesses.
A border both limits and gives definition to something. For example, our choices create borders in our lives. By choosing one path, I close a different path. Through the choices I make, my options become more and more limited. Yet, at the same time, my options become more and more defined. My choices give me new skills and opportunities to...
The word "vibes" appears in 1960s American slang but today it is a central concept for several spirituality movements. For some, "vibes" are the emotional lens through which we see the world. For others, "vibes" are an energy that we find and gather, or produce and leave behind. For many, "vibes" are key for "spiritual awakening."
"Uplifting" does not only mean "stimulating." For example, if I am tired, I can listen to music or watch a video and change my mood. But "uplifting" is not only the change of a mood. "Uplifting" is the complete change of attitude. There is a change from pessimism to optimism, from despair to hope.
In English, 'passion' is both a powerful emotion and the object of such an emotion. Our understanding of our own passions are complex. On the one hand, we often need to control or subdue our passions. On the other hand, a life without passion seems to be dissatisfying.
