Fear involves the real or imagined loss of something we are attached to. The fear is real. Everyone is different, but we all have fears. Some people’s fears are abnormal, but they are very real for them. What our fears have in common is that the event in question always exists in the future. One additional factor is that you have little control over the outcome.
I was in pain. The reasons aren’t important, the pain was. I had asked for help, and the response came calmly, without emotion and with great compassion. Had these words come from a fellow shaman or even some guru, I might have paused, but this was not the time for that. This insight needed to be accepted with all theRead more
Lao Tsu wrote that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. If you think about the journey to enlightenment, the first few steps are fairly easy. First you peel away the surface issues that don’t mean that much. After that, you come to the issues that involve ego gratification. These are a bit more complex, butRead more
I once met a man who kept a pet skunk. He (understandably) didn’t have many friends. I said to him, “Why don’t you get rid of the skunk?” “I can’t,” he replied, “it’s the only friend I have!” Where do your problems come from? They come from your “bad” decisions. What is a “bad” decision? One that is based inRead more
Spiritual teachers have been urging people to, “Have faith! That is the way to salvation!” for years. And for years people have responded, “Thank you for the advice and encouragement, but I am not willing to take that risk and be that vulnerable. It’s just asking too much.” Their experience underlies their reluctance. When they come up against a limitation,Read more