Spiritual Odyssey

Empty space seems to be a vast continuum of energy, and that energy is Wisdom. Energy appears in many forms, including matter, and it’s always there for us to use in recharging ourselves – hence, [...]

The Buddha was asked: “Are you a God?” “No,” was his answer. “Are you a super man?” “No.” “Then what are you?” “I am awake!” was the surprising answer. Buddha meant this literally. Most of [...]

The best advice I can give to anyone who wants to be happy is, “Just remember that this life is temporary, transient. So don’t take it too seriously, and certainly don’t become attached to it.” [...]

To live a family life and be non-attached is very difficult and, at first glance, would seem to be unnatural. What father or mother would not be grief-stricken at the serious illness of a child? [...]

We develop habit energies during our lifetime (called vasanas in Sanskrit), and these not only motivate us in our lives but also make our karma for the future. We believe we are perfectly free in [...]

Few people think about the deeper aspects of their lives, marvelous though they may be (healing, nourishing, and functioning). Nothing, of course, is more important than Breath. My inner experience is that breath is fire. [...]

Most people use the word spiritual (as opposed to physical) without having any idea of the meaning of the word; they just think of something ephemeral. Even if you explain that it means identification with [...]

When I was at the Yasodhara Ashram on Kootenay Bay in Canada, everywhere I turned there were signs saying, “Above all try to find God.” When it was my turn to head the nightly satsang, [...]

Softness and continuity are the essence of T’ai Chi Chih. It is the soft water that wears away the hard rock; the tongue outlasts the teeth. Hardness and confrontation are brittle and destructive; softness and [...]

There are two histories of mankind: one is cultural, which is lasting, and the other is the study of aggression and violence, which is fleeting. As an example, there are no remnants of the work [...]

My first day and night in the Himalayas were quite hectic. Contact with a Yogi, who was a friend of mine, led to my agreeing to meet him in Hardwar at noon on such-and-such a [...]

Two important terms in Japanese Zen are muga and mushin. The latter means “no mind,” but not in the usual sense. It means the kind of mind that does not react, like a mirror that [...]