Sometimes real meaning can be found in the small events of life, when a seemingly innocuous incident reveals a bigger truth. Such is the case with the story of Brother John and the purpose of life. Author August Turak has been telling the story for years and recently put it in book form in the aptly titled Brother John. Through illustrations and words, the author tells the story of his regular visits to a Trappist monastery named Mepkin Abbey near... Read more
Have you ever felt lonely—even though you’re surrounded by people? Today, it’s easier than ever to become disconnected from those around you. One reason: There are so many potential diversions in our lives, the leading culprit being the smartphone you may be holding right now. Too often, our online connections supersede the relationships we have with the people sitting right next to us. The result can be an emotional vacuum or empty feeling inside, because our online relationships just can’t... Read more
Is there a direct connection between angels, including guardian angels, and the other mysterious entities that people encounter, like aliens, ghosts and fairies? Possibly. All of these unearthly beings often appear out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly. They defy rationale or scientific explanation. Yet, to the people who witness them, they are as real as you and me, and seem to represent first-hand proof that there is more to this world than meets the eye. You may have seen a... Read more
If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying? ~Shantideva How often do you find yourself worrying about something, big or small? Once a week? Once a day? Hourly? A recent Gallup Poll showed that 55% of Americans feel stressed or worried on any given day. (Compare that to the global average of 35%.) That’s not a good thing. Why do we worry so... Read more
There’s a dude named Aubrey Marcus who has a regular podcast—what might be better termed a bro’cast—and I tune in every few episodes. Marcus may put some people off with his sometimes off-color, occasionally self-absorbed banter, but this guy frequently delivers valuable insights and wisdom on how we can become better, more complete human beings. Marcus leads what might best be described as an unconventional life and freely admits that many of the lessons he has learned have come via... Read more
What’s the best spirituality book of our time? If you asked most spiritually-minded readers to come up with a short list, The Power of Now, A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle would probably be on it. First published in 1997, The Power of Now has sold over 3 million copies, helped by a big push from Oprah Winfrey who has promoted the book in online webinars, on her TV show and most recently in a series of podcasts in which each... Read more
Did you ever hear the story about John Lennon and the promise he made about his death? He told his son Julian that after he left this world, he would communicate with him by appearing in the form of a white feather to let him know he was okay. Julian told no one about the promise and for many years there was no sign from his father. Then one day, while on tour in Australia, Julian was presented with a... Read more
At some point in time, have you wondered if God really exists? You may have asked God to show you a sign, any sign, that he or she is real. You want to know your prayers aren’t going out into an empty void, that your faith isn’t a sign of some deeply ingrained ignorance, that there truly is someone or something looking over our lives and world. The mystics say they know God exists because they have experienced God firsthand. There... Read more
Have you ever become aware of a voice talking in the back of your head—you know, the one that critiques and analyzes your every move—and it…just…won’t…shut…up? You’re not alone, this voice is a constant companion for many of us. Eckhart Tolle identifies this narrator in our heads as “the egoic self.” The ego is a voice you might falsely identify as yourself, “a mind-made me” in the words of Tolle, as opposed to other voice that lives within you—the deep... Read more
Do you remember the book The Shack? It was the story of a man’s journey from personal tragedy to spiritual rebirth, with a key component being his conversations with God, who appeared to him as a black woman. It sold more than 10 million copies after its release in 2007 and was later made into a movie—but it was not without its detractors. While the book was based loosely on Biblical scripture and was a huge hit with the Christian... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In