Tag: Inquiry

• April 15, 2026

  The Witness Teaching In 5 Steps

  S1: All observation (regardless of kind) requires an observer. For example, a thought–one sort of observation–requires an observer in order for that thought to be registered, indeed in order for it to appear in the first place. S2: Necessarily, the observer is different or separate from the observed. For example, a bodily sensation is different from the observer. Or a visual perception…
• April 1, 2026

  The Spiritual Equivalent Of War

  Contesting Flabby Pacifism Imagine William James–now older and, it’ll turn out, just four years before death–delivering a public lecture at Stanford in which he’s telling fellow pacifists that their position isn’t philosophically defensible. In 1906, the feeling of war–with a long build-up to hostilities that will become WWI and the Boer War (1899-1901) not long…
• March 27, 2026

  Where Are We Going?

  When I see a homeless man walk by, I wonder where he’s going. “Hi,” he said. “Hi there,” I said. And this guy walked right past our house. Where did he come from? And where is he going? Where are any of us going? And where did any of us come from? I don’t understand…
• March 25, 2026

  Ramakrishna Cuts Through The Divine Mother

  The Sword Of Discrimination Reaching the end of his rope, Ramakrishna said to Totapuri, his Vedantic teacher: “It is hopeless. I cannot raise my mind to the unconditioned state and come face to face with Atman.” “What?” Totapuri replied. “You can’t do it? But you have to!” Searching about excitedly, he picked up shard of…
• March 12, 2026

  Rugged Spirituality

  Have you ever wanted to be pushed—I mean really pushed, pushed really hard? I have. But not to do more pushups or to climb harder. I wanted to be pushed inward, to be directed to keep going toward the truth. I meditated and philosophized for countless hours, but I never found that pusher, that mentor,…