December 6th, 2011 → 10:25 am @ Tom
By Tom Russell
In our digital age, information overload presents a serious challenge. Less is often more. Let’s slow down and focus on seven key ideas, from seven different sources: Taoism, Gurdjieff, Vernon Howard, Zen, Buddhism, J. Krishnmaurti, and the Bible. Read More
August 4th, 2011 → 7:43 am @ Tom
By Tom Russell
(Please feel free to circulate the highly unpopular and rarely discussed ideas, featured in this article.)
We all have to start somewhere, and the spiritual seeker identity gets us up and going. We collect knowledge, attend meetings, and do all kinds of activities to honor the impulse inside for a more meaningful and connected existence.
However, this identity serves as a bridge that is meant to be crossed. The aim is not to be a super student who is continually getting more spiritual, but to abide in the fresh air flowing through the high garden windows, open on both sides of the room.
How often have “spiritual seekers” become bogged down in their pursuits and studies? They seem to reach a wall, and experience deep frustration for not being able to pass beyond that wall. Even more tragically, they’ll take on the identity of a group, reinforcing each others’ decision to lock themselves inside the limited identity. Read More
June 30th, 2011 → 11:30 am @ Tom
Penetrating challenge from Anne Wilson Schaef, an insightful organizational consultant:
“The society in which we live needs addictions, and its very essence fosters addictions. It fosters addictions because the best-adjusted person in the society is the person who is not dead and not alive, just numb, a zombie. When you are dead you are not able to do the work of the society. When you are fully alive, you are constantly saying no to many of the processes of the society: the racism, the polluted environment, the nuclear threat, the arms race, drinking unsafe water, and eating carcinogenic foods.
“Thus, it is in the interests of the society to promote those things that “take the edge off,” get us busy with our “fixes,” and keep us slightly “numbed out” and zombielike. Consequently, the society itself not only encouraged addictions, it functions as an addict.”
May 4th, 2011 → 9:09 pm @ Tom
The Modern Spell of Speed and the Spiritual Path
By Tom Russell
Today, we face not only the same immense challenges of those who walked before us on the spiritual path, but the SPEED of our modern world makes our task even more difficult. The speed trap, like an ominous looking fog, now permeates even the spiritual landscape. Seekers want results! And they want them fast. Read More
March 2nd, 2011 → 8:00 pm @ Tom
The Bible teaches lofty lessons housed in allegory and names. For example, ”No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.” Read More
December 2nd, 2010 → 7:02 pm @ Tom
By Tom Russell
Despite marketing claims and shameless promises to the contrary, your life puzzle can never be provided to you ready made. Your puzzle comes together only through research and experimentation. Consider the depth of these two words!