A friend recently invited me to a symposium about “altered states of consciousness” where different specialists — sociologists, philosophers, historians, doctors of religious studies, etc. — would present an appraisal of our curr...

For some reason this phrase has had an abiding presence in my life lately. I don’t remember where I heard it but it keeps speaking to me. It has such a kindness. It has dignity, it has forgiveness. It’s a great reminder to myself but it...

Throughout history, inner-directed people on the so-called “spiritual path” have had a tendency to perceive the world as maya — the fancy Sanskrit name for “illusion.” I used to feel this way a lot. Back in the early days...

Memory may be about the past, but it’s also about the present. In Wired magazine, Jonah Lehrer writes, “Every time we recall an event, the structure of that memory in the brain is altered in light of the present moment, warped by o...

I spent my early childhood in a beautiful place, a land full of light filled with wonderful things to discover each day: the Côte d’Azur, the loveliest part of Provence for those who know it! Victor Hugo paid homage to the town of Antibes not far...

I was recently thinking about a common thing people say when it comes to pursuing personal peace: “But I don’t have time…” In response, Prem Rawat will often say something like, “We do no...

I think of Prem Rawat sometimes as an entertainer. He can sit on a stage and do a monologue for an hour without stopping or slowing down and wrap it all up at the end so you can take it home. Actually, he does stop, he does slow down, the pace changes,...

During the past two years, I've asked more than a thousand people what they see when they look at the FedEx logo. 80% say “letters“ or “colors“ or “shapes“ or “the word 'FedEx.'“ The other 20% tell me they...

Maharaji often implies that we should understand and accept our true nature as fully as the flower, the seed, the bee or the bird — who all have no difficulty responding, without hesitation or qualm, to theirs. He'll even make jokes, saying someth...

My mom, at age 87, has been struggling to transform herself into a caretaker for my 91-year-old dad. Though she has often said how much she loves her home, she announced a few months ago that she wanted to move into assisted living. Surprised by her re...