Category: philosophical counseling

• February 21, 2013

  Eros before abandon

  Awake and ask, ‘Am I open to eros?’ Openness is an outward sweep of the hand, a moment held in infinity, then an inward-welcoming retrieval. The ears as kind as the eyes, the mouth as gentle as the warbler. Do you hear keenly with the eyes, see sharply with the ears, with the heart? Listen.…
• February 20, 2013

  Philosophical Improv no. 10: Inquiring is no Longer a Luxury

  Since Episode 9 on self-surrender, we’ve been making the slow turn to Part III: the path of radiant living. In this episode, I provide a brief sketch of the art of philosophical inquiry. This subject is discussed at greater length in my book, The Art of Inquiry, a copy of which can be ordered here.…
• February 19, 2013

  Philosophical Improv no. 9: Self-surrender

  In this episode, I describe the moment in which one is awakened to the idea of self-transformation. That awakening I call ‘self-surrender.’ So far, the series of episodes is divided into 3 sets: the nature of radiant living (Episodes 1-6), the relevance of radiance for our time (Episodes 7 and 8), and the path of radiant…
• February 18, 2013

  The danger of solipsism and New Age occultism

  During morning meditation, I said silently, ‘I am seeking that place of quiet calm. A voice replied,  ‘You must have other reasons for seeking the place of quiet calm apart from that of ‘simply feeling good.” The self, ostensibly fleeing itself, finds itself again. Solipsism is indeed a grave danger for anyone engaged in the practice…
• February 15, 2013

  Philosophical Improv no. 8: Why Radiance Matters

  In Episodes 1-6, I spoke about the nature of radiance. In the last episode, I suggested that we are living in unsettled time. In this one, I seek to provide clues for why radiance may turn out to be the most excellent way of being for our time. These episodes are attempts to think aloud.…