The Boy in the Magic Shop, by Immanual Joseph
recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. James Doty who is the founder and the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at the Stanford University School of Medicine of which the Dalai Lama is the founding benefactor. He also happens to be a professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Stanford and the New York Times bestselling author of “Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart” that has been translated into 22 languages. Dr. Doty also is an inventor with multiple patents and is a well-known entrepreneur who at one-time was the CEO of Accuray, a company... posted on Feb 1 2017 (12,118 reads)

Reimagining the Cosmos, by On Being
follows is the transcript of an On Being interview with Krista Tippett in conversation with Brian Greene. June 1, 2017 Mr. Brian Greene: To me, the question of whether there are three dimensions or 10 dimensions is so captivating that it does impact my desire to live. And again, I don’t mean that in some melodramatic sense. If tomorrow we established that there are three dimensions of space, I’m not going to sort of jump off the Empire State Building. But what I mean is that these questions about the rock bottom structure of reality do inform my life. They are not esoteric scientific issues that I leave in the office when I go home at night. Krista Tippett, ho... posted on Dec 3 2018 (5,931 reads)

Humanity's Most Urgent Challenge, by Duane Elgin
sun in the Andes, Chile | photography ©Yuri Beletsky For at least 50,000 years, humanity has been on a journey of separation—pulling back from nature and becoming ever more differentiated, individuated, and empowered. In recent decades, we have become so dominant as a species that we are producing Earth-changing trends—global warming, species extinction, unsustainable population, massive famines, waves of migration, and more—that threaten humanity’s future. Now, with stunning abruptness, humanity is being challenged to turn from the familiar path of progressive separation to an unfamiliar path of global caring and cooperation. The transition from self-... posted on Apr 30 2018 (15,467 reads)

How Gratitude Can Transform Your Workplace, by Kira M. Newman
consultant Stephanie Pollack was brought in to work with the state chapter of a national nonprofit, morale was low. The organization was in the middle of a transformation that brought in new leadership, a new culture, new rules—and lots of tension and uncertainty. Her task? To teach appreciation and gratitude. Over the course of a three-day retreat, she taught a small group of reluctant employees about the benefits of recognizing the good things in their lives and saying thank you. And something shifted. After one person wrote a genuine note of thanks on an “appreciation wall,” soon everyone was participating. But what really surprised Pollack was th... posted on Jul 4 2018 (10,387 reads)

Embracing JOMO: The Joy of Missing Out, by Emily Rose Barr
Friday night, and after a long week, you can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief that the weekend has at last arrived. While many of your friends may celebrate by going to the movies or checking out a restaurant that’s just opened, you’ve decided to honor this highly cherished night of the week with a solo evening in. Whether it means popping open a bottle of wine, going for a neighborhood stroll, cooking yourself a nice meal, or ordering in, the night is yours to savor. If you think this sounds relaxing, you’re not alone. At least for a little while, until you start wondering if you made the right choice after all. A creeping doubt begins sinking in as ... posted on Aug 30 2018 (33,067 reads)

John Lewis: Love in Action, by On Being
Being Studios · John Lewis — Love In Action What follows is the transcript of an On Being interview, between Krista Tippett and John Lewis. Tippett:I’m Krista Tippett. This is On Being. [music: “Precious Lord/Oh Freedom” by Betty Mae Fikes and the Congressional Delegation] Tippett:I spoke with congressman John Lewis in Montgomery, Alabama in 2013. Tippett:I’d like to start by talking about faith, which is a bedrock of your life. It’s one of the bedrocks that you name prominently in your most recent book. And I’d like to just hear a little bit about how you would describe the foundation of faith, the spiritual bac... posted on Feb 1 2021 (6,097 reads)

Conversation with Reverend Heng Sure, by Bela Shah and Audrey Lin
interview was first published on September 16, 2014.] Beginning in the summer of 1977, two American monks in the Chinese Mahayana Buddhist tradition committed to taking three steps and one bow for 800 miles along California’s Highway 1. A pilgrimage to bring peace within and without, their journey took them through some of the most beautiful and also some of the most dangerous parts of California. Two and a half years later, they completed their pilgrimage at the steps of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, in Ukiah, California. One of these monks was bestowed the name Rev. Heng Sure, or “Constantly Real.” Born into a Christian family in the midwestern city of Toledo,... posted on Jul 5 2024 (2,111 reads)

Emotional Lives of Animals, by Marc Bekoff
research shows that many animals are very intelligent and have sensory and motor abilities that dwarf ours. Dogs are able to detect diseases such as cancer and diabetes and warn humans of impending heart attacks and strokes. Elephants, whales, hippopotamuses, giraffes, and alligators use low-frequency sounds to communicate over long distances, often miles; and bats, dolphins, whales, frogs, and various rodents use high-frequency sounds to find food, communicate with others, and navigate. Many animals also display wide-ranging emotions, including joy, happiness, empathy, compassion, grief, and even resentment and embarrassment. It&rsquo... posted on May 17 2011 (34,757 reads)

The Limitations of Positive Thinking, by Prof. Srikumar Rao
thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie. Many persons swear by positive thinking and quite a few have been helped by it. Nevertheless, it is not a very effective tool and can be downright harmful in some cases. There are much better ways to get the benefits that positive thinking allegedly provides.   Perhaps the statement that best exemplifies positive thinking is "When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade." It seems so self-evident that this is a good thing that we never question the wisdom of the adage. But it does not take a whole lot of digging to unearth the flaws in this reasoning. &... posted on Oct 24 2011 (45,022 reads)

Reflections from a Five Day Walk, by Nachya
I young enough to believe in revolution Am I strong enough to get on my knees and pray Am I high enough on the chain of evolution To respect myself and my brothers and my sisters And perfect myself in my own peculiar way. ~Kris Kristoferson, from Pilgrim’s Progress       I recently walked about 60 miles over 5 days, from Oakland to Santa Clara. This certainly isn’t anything unique. In a way, I was imitating many inspirations that came before, and probably many iterations will come after. Still, “we love to make music of this puzzle” of our artful work of lives. :) For me, the wa... posted on Oct 28 2011 (8,779 reads)

Money can buy anything, except meaning, by Jurriaan Kamp with Jacob Needleman
philosopher Jacob Needleman has written about ethics, religion and leadership, but he is perhaps best known for his book Money and the Meaning of Life. The book links our relationship with money to the ways in which we find out what matters most in our lives. When it comes to personal finance, Needleman argues, we come to a greater understanding of ourselves by understanding the true meaning of money. When Money and the Meaning of Life came out in 1994, it was regarded as a warning: If we continue to treat money in such an unbalanced way, we’re doomed. What’s happened since then? “If that book was a warning, the warning was not heeded. We&rs... posted on Feb 7 2012 (27,893 reads)

The Power of Self-Compassion, by Jason Marsh
you your own worst critic? It’s common to beat ourselves up for faults big and small. But according to psychologist Kristin Neff, that self-criticism comes at a price: It makes us anxious, dissatisfied with our life, and even depressed. Kristin Neff For the last decade, Neff has been a pioneer in the study of “self-compassion,” the revolutionary idea that you can actually be kind to yourself, accept your own faults—and enjoy deep emotional benefits as a result. Last year, she distilled the results of her research in the popular book Self-Compassion.  Neff, an associate professor in human development and culture at the University of Tex... posted on Apr 7 2012 (75,262 reads)

Staying Sober through Service, by Jill Suttie
M. was only 13 years old when his troubles with alcohol began. He stole bottles of hard liquor from his neighbor’s garage, enjoying how alcohol made him feel. Soon, he was drinking every day and using drugs, too. Shortly after turning 21, he crashed a car during an alcohol-induced blackout. A judge ordered him to attend Alcohol Anonymous (AA) meetings, where recovering alcoholics encourage each other to become (and stay) sober by sharing personal stories and following AA’s famous 12-step model. When Victor attended his first AA meeting, he was terrified. "I didn't say anything," he says. "I just stared at the floor the whole time and left as soon ... posted on May 16 2012 (11,545 reads)

Global Warming: A Case for Inner Change, by Deepak Chopra
data and warnings about climate change have been with us for twenty years. The issue has morphed into something like a low-level toothache. The public is numbed by all the bad news, and in place of sensible solutions, we witness the folly of political polarization. You can't believe in climate change and be a good conservative. This departure from fact-based reality is only part of the problem. China and the U.S., who produce 40% of the world's harmful emissions, block measures to reverse the trend toward global warming for purely selfish reasons - two rich economies want to preserve the status quo. One can react to this situation in various ways, leading to a choice... posted on Aug 17 2012 (18,118 reads)

Untrack: Letting Go of the Stress of Measuring, by Leo Babauta
are a few old management adages that seem to run like a current through our society, powering our work and personal lives: “You can’t manage what you don’t measure” and “You are what you measure” and “You get what you measure”. And I’ve fallen for it myself. At various times, I’ve tracked workouts, miles run, everything I’ve eaten, every single work task I complete, progress towards goals, my weight, my body fat percentage, how many days I’ve done a habit in a month, words written each day, books I’ve read, expenses, earnings, debt, website visitors, ad clicks, tweets, followers, and on and on. Sometim... posted on Nov 20 2012 (17,313 reads)

What Will Be Your Legacy?, by Robin Scott
are you going to be remembered for? Will people talk about the relationships you had with friends and family? The once-a-year dish everyone looked forward to? The impact you made on a company and its employees? How is a legacy created and cultivated, and what can you do to build your own legacy? These are all huge questions with small and critical answers. Here's the story of my legacy, and a few pointers on how to build yours. *The beginning will have twists and turns.* I started college wanting to be a doctor. I wanted to help people. After taking a few courses in molecular and cellular biology, I became interested in research. ... posted on Jan 16 2013 (37,269 reads)

5 Delightful Ways To Live What You Already Know, by Gail Brenner
let’s get serious. I know that you know, even if you don’t admit it to yourself. How could you not? In your heart of hearts, in the deepest place within yourself, you know the truth. The truth of living from love, of being free of whatever holds you back, of fullness, well-being, and contentment. Why pretend you don’t know any longer? You might be afraid to acknowledge and live this knowing. You might be diverted by thinking your life doesn’t measure up or you’ve been dealt a bad hand or you’re a prisoner to your to-do list. But if you go within and tell the truth, you will find this seed of possibility and turn it into the living flesh-... posted on Apr 14 2013 (24,409 reads)

Seven Paths to a Meaningful Life, by Philip Zimbardo
Paths to a Meaningful Life The following is adapted from a commencement address Philip G. Zimbardo delivered at the University of Puget Sound earlier this month. Dr. Zimbardo, a giant in the field of social psychology, is now a professor at Palo Alto University, a professor emeritus at Stanford University, and the president of the Heroic Imagination Project. In the text of his talk below, we have embedded links to research supporting his advice to graduates. As I now complete my 55th year of teaching psychology, I am ever more grateful for the unique opportunity we teachers each have to learn from and share in the youthful exuberance of our students. Teachers who inspire their... posted on Jul 25 2013 (120,495 reads)

Five Ways to Ease Your Envy, by Juliana Breines
is full of reminders of what we lack. There is always someone who is more successful, more talented, more attractive, or more advanced in meeting milestones than we are. We encounter these people every day—in fact, they are often our friends, family members, and colleagues. Sometimes these encounters can leave us with a bitter taste in our mouths and a green glow in our eyes. Envy is a state of desiring something that someone else possesses. It’s a vicious emotion that can crush self-esteem, inspire efforts to undermine others’ successes, or even cause people to lash out violently. It also just feels horrible. So what can we do to disarm th... posted on Oct 13 2013 (28,760 reads)

What Is Empathy?, by http://greatergood.berkeley.edu
term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. Contemporary researchers often differentiate between two types of empathy: “Affective empathy” refers to the sensations and feelings we get in response to others’ emotions; this can include mirroring what that person is feeling, or just feeling stressed when we detect another’s fear or anxiety. “Cognitive empathy,” sometimes called “perspective taking,” refers to our ability to iden... posted on Feb 5 2014 (58,802 reads)