At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel. ~Maya Angelou I start most mornings with some spirituality-based reading and over the past several years this has included the works of the late-John Templeton. Better known for the investment fund that bears his name, after his retirement Templeton wrote several philosophy and religion books overflowing with spiritual wisdom. What’s compelling about Templeton’s work is that his spiritual… Read more
The Case Against Gurus
May 9, 2018 By Tom Rapsas
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Why do you need a guru? If you fall down, then pick yourself up and continue to walk. ~Krishnamurti I first published a version of this story titled “Guru? You Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Guru.” in early-2013 while writing for Elephant Journal. Recently, a reader at that publication stumbled upon the original piece and wrote a long opposition piece that he shared with me, as he has a guru who has done wonders for him. It was well written—but it… Read more
The cure for loneliness. (It’s not what you think)
May 1, 2018 By Tom Rapsas
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You might think the cure for loneliness is a simple one: just get out of the house and spend time with other people. But there’s a contrary point-of-view, and it comes from the man who may know more about our collective inner world than anyone around today: Thomas Moore. Moore has made his name by writing over a dozen books that deal with the deepest, most complex part of our selves, the soul. In his most recent book, Ageless Soul,… Read more
7 nuggets of wisdom from one of the last Renaissance men
April 25, 2018 By Tom Rapsas
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Professional photographer. Museum curator. Author. Composer and musician. College professor. Brian H. Peterson may be one of the last creative Renaissance men, a person seen as having vast talents and knowledge or, as the Urban Dictionary defines it, “a man who does everything, and does it well.” In his new book I Give My Eyes, Stories + Conversations + Dreams, Peterson has brought together a sprawling compendium of art, essays, photography, conversations, letters, and even a sermon or two, that… Read more
Napoleon Hill on why you should spend less time at work
April 18, 2018 By Tom Rapsas
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Do you like your job? If you’re like me, this question gives you pause to think. Because as much as you may enjoy what you do, for most of us work is ultimately a means to an end—the end being the weekly or biweekly deposit that appears in our checking account. Given the choice, you’d probably prefer to spend your time in more leisurely or rewarding pursuits. But since most of us don’t have the option of devoting our lives… Read more
A guy did ayahuasca 4 days straight. Here’s what he learned
April 11, 2018 By Tom Rapsas
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If you looked into the world’s most honest mirror, what would you see? The question above comes from the writer Sean Illing. In a recent issue of the online publication Vox, he wrote a story titled “What the psychedelic drug ayahuasca showed me about my life,” after taking ayahuasca for 4 consecutive days. The “honest mirror” he talks about is a byproduct of the drug. Are you familiar with ayahuasca? It’s a tropical vine grown in the Amazon and through… Read more
Do affirmations work like magic? Or are they nonsense?
April 4, 2018 By Tom Rapsas
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Do you remember the fictional character Stuart Smalley on Saturday Night Live? Back in the early-90s, he had a mock self-help show called “Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley.” Played by Al Franken, Stuart would begin each episode with an affirmation he used to say out loud while facing a mirror: I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me. While Franken did it for humor, the fact is many people believe that affirmations—repeating the same motivational mantra… Read more
7 Quotes that Make You Stop and Think
March 31, 2018 By Tom Rapsas
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I’ve long collected quotes related to spirituality and life philosophy and am always looking for new ones. When it comes to quotes, I get very picky. Not any old quote will do. I like quotes that get me thinking, where the words hint at something greater and more meaningful. Over the past year or two, I’ve been pairing quotes with images on my Wake Up Call Facebook page and post a new one about 5 times a week. (Like… Read more
3 good reasons not to kill yourself
March 24, 2018 By Tom Rapsas
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You may be wondering why there’s a story about committing suicide on the pages of Patheos Spirituality. Read on and you’ll find out why. I’ve written before about the blues. I get them each winter and they can last for days on end. But I am fortunate. They don’t fall into the category of clinical depression, nor have I ever once thought about killing myself. But I do see how… Some people fall into a deep depression they see no… Read more
9 Life Tips from Steve Jobs’ Guru
March 18, 2018 By Tom Rapsas
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He is the wisest who seeks God. He is the most successful who has found God. ~Yogananda, The Law of Success Before Apple founder Steve Jobs died a few years ago, he carefully pre-planned his memorial service. Among the special requests he made: that everyone who attended his service receive a copy of the book Autobiography of a Yogi by an Indian guru named Paramahansa Yogananda, whose ideas about self-realization had greatly influenced Jobs. Story here. I too have a book by… Read more
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