Review by DT Strain for the Spiritual Naturalist Society Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris To be released September 2014 ISBN 978-1-4516-3601-7 Simon & Schuster   Sam Harris is a neuroscientist and author who is often referred to as a major voice in atheism (though having little use for the word). For many who know of him, perhaps the last thing they might expect to read would be his description of a peace that came... Read more

We’ve all been in frustrating situations such as standing in a long line in a crowded store, caught in highway traffic, and so on. I was in a crowded coffee shop recently. The teller at the register was stressed. The woman making the coffee was clearly upset that she was having to be so busy for so long, perhaps because they were overstaffed. When she called out the drinks that were ready, you could hear the annoyance in her voice.... Read more

The Tao Te Chingis a book about leadership and governance.  Many of its chapters are addressed to an ideal emperor or king.  Since most of us are not in line to be emperors or kings, we may wonder how such instructions are relevant to us.  To understand this, it helps to recognize an idea that is quite common in ancient spiritual philosophy: the microcosm reflects the macrocosm.  In terms of leadership, this idea suggests that there is a clear link... Read more

Were there Spiritual Naturalists in the ancient world? This is the central question of this series of essays exploring the historical roots of naturalistic ways. Many may assume that Spiritual Naturalists are an exclusively modern phenomenon.  This series questions that assumption, probing various historical spiritual traditions for something resembling naturalism. The significance of this project goes beyond naturalism.  Indeed, it calls into question the historical consciousness of spirituality in general.  If there were naturalists among ancient religionists, how might that... Read more

The following is a description of a ritual I have designed to precede and follow a meditation session, which I plan to use in my practice and would like to share. It can be conducted alone or in a group. Given it contains more elaborate steps than simple meditation, it may be suitable to perform once per week rather than with each meditation. Or, if a less frequent practice is preferred, it can be helpful to tie a ritual to... Read more

Our Education Director, B.T. Newberg, has published an article for us discussing the role of science in helping us find a Way of Life. So, I thought it would be fitting to cover the role of philosophy in our practice, as philosophy is something we discuss and write on a lot at the Society. Just the other day, I overheard a philosophy student at a local coffee shop conveying doubts to a friend about continuing to get a doctorate in... Read more

Editor’s note: What we pay attention to is important, and Thomas suggests paying attention the commonplace can be very interesting and entertaining, and there is something spiritual in that. The commonplace includes those odd and funny moments too…   I am a birder.I have never been competitive about it like the guys in the book and movie “The Big Year,” but I pay attention to birds.Because I pay attention to them, I’ve had several odd encounters with birds over the... Read more

The Blues and Abstract Truth is the title of a jazz album by Oliver Nelson recorded in 1961. The title might also be a formula for all great art, including the art of living. Feeling and thought, substance and form, passion and detachment, yin and yang, Bacchus and Apollo, the blues and abstract truth – each a critical part of our experience; thus the integration of the two is required to be present to or to represent the wholeness of... Read more

Acknowledgement: This article is based on Science and the Sage which is written by myself and Christopher Mastropeitro, as well as work on the nature of wisdom by myself and Leo Ferraro.   When people discuss spirituality they often refer to how spiritual practices contribute to making their lives more meaningful in a way that is very important, even vital to them and their happiness. They also often indicate that there is something problematic about many of these spiritual practices... Read more