The Fluidity of the True Self
The idea that we have some sort of “true” self that we can discover is in some ways a new phenomenon. The philosopher Charles Taylor (1931 – ) traced the development of this sense of a deep inner self in his book Sources of the Self (1989). Though thinkers such as St. Augustine pointed to a sort of unique interior world that we each have, it wasn’t until the Protestant
The Stages of Collective Grief
Even as June begins and our long, cool spring transitions to summer, it can be hard to move out of life’s gloom and into joy. Grief is as inescapable in our lives as death and taxes. In fact, death is commonly the greatest cause of grief in our lives. However, it can come to us through myriad paths: a job loss, a break-up, an injury or illness, or a move
Existentialism and a Good Life
Existentialism as a philosophy offers an incredible wellspring of wisdom for living the good life. I found great solace in it in my late teens and early twenties and still return to it with great joy whenever I can. A recent article in The Marginalia (formerly Brain Pickings) has brought me back to the brilliance of existentialism by way of the great Albert Camus (1913 – 1960), one of the
Three Questions for Happiness
The other day, while strolling through Missoula, MT, I came across this quote, which has been attributed to my favorite Western philosopher, Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804): “Rules for happiness: something to do, someone to love, something to hope for.” Apparently, the quote is not found in any known work of Kant. It has been found, however, in a book by President Joe Biden. There it is attributed to Immanuel
Many Paths to Mindfulness
While focusing on the breath is the most commonly taught form of mindfulness practice today, there are a number of ways we can develop a mindfulness practice. In fact, there are countless ways to develop mindfulness. It’s just that breath meditation tends to be the one that is easiest to understand and learn for beginners. Other practices will generally only work on smaller groups of people or take a bit
Three Thoughts for Happiness
The Korean Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim has become something of a popular sensation. His book, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down (Penguin 2012), has become a global hit. After just a few years, the book had been translated into countless languages and sold millions of copies around the world. His advice draws from Buddhist wisdom, but distills it into small, approachable bites. Every section is written