February 24, 2026

It is a great challenge to be a good person in these difficult times. The culture today seldom supports it. Instead, the political, business, and media worlds often support the opposite — encouraging everyone to get as much wealth and power as they can, while anger, scorn, or outrage are becoming all too common as the first response for dealing with anyone who has a different point of view.

Concern for the feelings of others? How naïve!

Why, then, make an effort to be a good person in such times as these?

The best answer I know is that countless wise men and women through the ages have insisted that wealth and power lead, not to fulfillment, but to disillusionment and dissatisfaction, to a continual quest to get more and more and more of the things that do not provide true satisfaction. The wisest among us have repeatedly advised that making an effort to be considerate and kind, to respect the feelings and beliefs of others, and to help those who are in need are the essential ingredients for a fulfilling life. Continue reading “Why Try To Be A Good Person Today” →

November 3, 2025

I have come to feel the universe is friendly, but each person must reach their own conclusion. After making your choice, what you choose will be your truth as you go through life. As you consider this critically important issue, let me offer a few of the reasons for my personal decision.

One realization is central to my understanding, although part of me still does not like it: The universe is not particularly interested in my ego images of how I would like things to be. The longer I live, however, the more obvious it becomes that numerous urges I have felt are not destined to be fulfilled. Many things my ego wished for have not happened, while others that I did not wish to happen did anyway. This seems to be true for all of us; it is part of being human.

Even harder to accept, we will each experience deep pain and serious loss. The inevitable conclusion is that the world can only be friendly if pain, loss, and unfulfilled expectations are part of the pattern of a friendly world. I have come to believe that is true.

My Reasons the Universe Is Friendly

Continue reading “Why the Universe Seems Friendly” →

September 22, 2025

Albert Einstein was asked what he considered the most important question facing humanity. His surprising answer: “Is the universe a friendly place?” He went on to explain why this question is crucial: Because those who think the universe is not friendly are forced into the belief that “our lives have no real purpose or meaning.” He felt this would be a tragedy for anyone who adopted such a belief.

The reason this question is central becomes clear when you realize it is one of the primary issues all the great spiritual teachers spoke about: Do our human lives have meaning or not? And if they do, what is it?

The answer influential spiritual teachers have given through history is unanimous: Yes, our lives have meaning. After giving this answer, they went on to explain why they had come to this belief, and to describe what they believed that meaning to be. They also pointed toward the Source from which meaning comes.

The world’s wisdom traditions grew out of their teachings, and the vast majority of human beings through history have followed their guidance and answered yes. Most scientists, philosophers, and wise men and women in every field of endeavor have done the same.

Concluding that life has meaning does not suggest, however, that we are destined to get everything we want. Our basic urges and desires are the source of most of our wantings, and no wise person ever said that all our urges and desires would be met. In fact, the wisest teachers have said repeatedly that we cannot have a fulfilling life if we focus primarily on getting what we personally want.

Why not? First, because every living thing dies. From bacteria to human beings to whales, all physical things that are alive have a limited lifespan. Even solar systems and galaxies seem to have a limited lifespan. So, along with every other living thing, our physical bodies are going to die. At the same time, we humans are quite imaginative, so we can always come up with more things to desire than we will ever have time to achieve, no matter how long we live.

Further, every one of us will get sick, be injured, suffer losses and defeats. So will our loved ones and friends. Suffering defeat, loss, and getting injured and sick are very seldom what we want, yet these events keep happening for all of us, whether we are good people or not, whether we like it or not. This is part of the nature of having a human life.

Does this suggest the world is meaningless? Or, instead, is there something worth living for, working toward, struggling for — perhaps even suffering or dying for — that life is about, something that can ultimately give our lives meaning in spite of unwanted difficulties? If so, where does this meaning come from? What is the source of meaning? And how do we find it? Continue reading “The Source of Values and Meanings” →

August 10, 2025

In every culture there are embedded values, virtues, and meanings. Attempts have been to trace this aspect of cultures back to our basic drives, but there are fatal flaws in this approach. To begin with, countless human beings have intentionally chosen to give up the fulfillment of one or more basic drives to be true to a value they held dear, to uphold a strongly held virtue, or to fulfill a sense of meaning.

So where did these aspects of our cultures come from? They came from the wisdom traditions of the world. These foundational belief systems have been handed down from generation to generation for a long time, with each tracing its lineage back to revered teachers — Jesus, the Buddha, Socrates, Plato, Cicero, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Moses, Muhammed, Hindu sages whose names have been lost, and unknown wise men and women all over the world who guided the early tribal peoples.

In science we look to the experts for guidance about the workings of the material world. In the same way, the best approach for those of us who wish to develop our own understanding of the best way to live is to turn to experts for guidance. And the experts for these aspects of our lives are the wise men and women through history who made their life’s work an attempt to understand what is truly important for a fulfilling life.

These founders of the main wisdom traditions left their guidance in the form of stories and sacred writings, and these have been passed down through the ages and used successfully by millions of people to guide their lives. Fortunately, in this modern age we have access to much information about each of these individuals, what they taught, and how their messages developed over time within the traditions to which they gave rise.

Although there are differences in the specific messages they left, one common thread in all is that there is an “Unseen Order” in the universe, and that a few core values, virtues, and meanings are embedded in it — are a part of the very structure of existence itself.

And all insisted that if an individual wishes to have a truly fulfilling life, the only way is to make a sincere effort to live by these core values, to practice virtue, and to live toward that which is truly meaningful.

They also taught that the only way a group of people can live together in relative peace, harmony, and freedom from oppression by others is when most leaders and individuals in a society have a shared set of values, virtues that are to be encouraged and taught, and a common understanding of the paths that will provide meaningful and fulfilling lives. Continue reading “The Wisdom Traditions for Today” →

July 17, 2025

The breakdown of a shared view about the values we will organize our country around has become a great crisis. There have always been significant differences in views and opinions in the United States, of course. The remarkable achievement of our founders was to put together a set of moral ideals that people with so many differences could embrace. Some of the most important:

1) an understanding that all of us were created equal, and therefore should have an equal opportunity to find fulfillment and even happiness in this new country;

2) respect for our fellow citizens, even those with vastly different backgrounds, beliefs, and ways of life;

3) a commitment by all to support this country, abide by its laws, and when it was needed, give their time and money for its future through taxes and military service;

4) a core belief that our institutions, however imperfect, would (at least most of the time) do the right thing for the good of both the whole and for the individuals who lived here;

5) a belief that our leaders would abide by certain moral standards, especially when acting in their institutional roles, and that they would be called to account when they did not;

6) that elected leaders would not use their official positions for personal profit;

7) that each of the three branches of government would serve as a check to the power of the other two, creating a balance so that no branch of government could become overly powerful or corrupt, thus preventing arbitrary rule by one person or a small faction;

8) that all the courts in the legal system, at every level of government, would be committed to justice for each person equally before the law.

These core ideas were the outcome of numerous compromises among the founders and the constituencies they represented, but the result created something new in the world, offering the promise of a new start for people from many different countries. Continue reading “Rebirth of a Healthy Society” →

January 1, 2025

A group of people suddenly find themselves in a totally dark room. At first there is shock and silence, with each person lost in their own reactions and thoughts. Then someone strikes a match. And another. By that light, someone finds a piece of an old candle in their handbag and holds it out to the match. Now there is enough light for another to find an old box of candles in a drawer, and candles are handed around. As the light spreads, everyone begins to talk to their neighbor about what can be done.

A good morning to you on this New Year’s Eve,

In honor of many New Year’s Day gatherings I have held through the years, as well as your own serious reflections about your life as previous new years were about to begin, I wanted to share with you some thoughts, poems, quotes, and inspirational videos to help kick off 2025. And hopefully to share a spark of light.

As 2025 begins, the need for positive ways to move forward has never been greater. There are so many problems in our world — deep divisions in our own country, devastating wars in numerous lands (and the threat of even larger conflicts), the peril of climate change, decreasing faith in and commitment to democracy, the rise of autocratic leaders all over the world, a decreasing commitment to values of any kind except pure self-interest, and many young people feeling alienated, lonely, depressed, and even despairing. We could be in for some dark times.

Reading history does give me some solace, for there have been many dark times in every locale one can name, yet people in each place have survived and then flourished again — although sometimes it took decades, even centuries. I hope that is not what is in store for us now.

Dealing with Difficult Times

Whatever is in store, each one of us has a choice about how we will respond. And the place to begin is given by William James:

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”

But to be able to choose, one must develop a certain amount of consciousness about who they are and what the world is really like. In fact, consciousness is often spoken of as an inner light, and those who have awakened to the truth are often called illumined or enlightened.

Throughout history, by choosing wisely how they would focus their attention and use their consciousness to make good choices, some people have been able to rise above the most difficult outer circumstance and find their way to a life of meaning and fulfillment. You can be one of those people today.

Carl Jung said that by increasing your conscious awareness you will “kindle a light in the darkness.” If you keep at it, you might even join those who found their way to peace, love, and even joy in the most challenging of circumstances. Then you will be able to share those gifts with others.

This is what the greatest souls in every age, even in the darkest of times, have done. While dealing with the problems they faced, they found a way to uplift the people around them, bringing light into the darkness of their age. Continue reading “A Spark of Light” →

May 22, 2024

This Essay considers the relation of math to science, the reliance of both on consciousness, and what this means for understanding the true reality within which we live.

Many people think of math as the way we use numbers every day from an early age — adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. At a more advanced level, however, mathematics is a highly sophisticated discipline.

One great mystery — which has perplexed illustrious mathematicians for centuries — is why anyone has an interest in higher math at all. Human beings could get along just fine fulfilling their basic physical needs — finding food, shelter, and sex — without higher math.

Why Did Advanced Mathematics Happen?

Why is it that some people feel a powerful urge to understand and create complex mathematical formulas, sometimes even sacrificing material pleasures and practical opportunities to wrestle with a complex equation. Math can be as compelling for some as music, creating art, or playing a sport.

An equally perplexing mystery is why abstract mathematical formulas can precisely describe the material world. Higher math functions through complex formulas that are ideas, images, understandings that arise solely in consciousness, in the imagination of a gifted individual. These ideas are shared from one mind to another by symbols — markings on a piece of paper or a screen that often do not represent physical things, but ideas in consciousness.

So why do these abstract ideas that arise from a stroke of insight in consciousness, like E=mc², correspond to the material world? This simple formula came to Einstein in a flash of insight, yet it precisely described a previously hidden dimension of the material world. And there are many, many other examples, some of which have arisen in dreams and in other altered states of consciousness.

These immaterial ideas often do not start from a desire to build a shelter, cook food, or win a mate. Much of early science began as a process for studying the material world — trying to understand it in order to solve practical problems and improve daily life. Simple math was one of its helpers. But higher mathematics usually does not start from trying to solve any practical problem in the material world. It often involves an attempt to resolve a highly sophisticated mathematical question that has little or no practical application. Continue reading “Math, Consciousness, Reality” →

March 3, 2024

Continuing the series of Essays dealing with the choice between worldviews we each must make, it is important to consider how science might impact this choice.

Science is central to the modern world, so it is critical to examine how, or if, it might help us decide if we live in a moral world, and whether we should choose to live by the worldview of Materialism or that of the wisdom traditions.

The fascinating answer is that science does not have a position on either of these questions, and does not even provide much guidance on them. Since the dawn of modern science over 400 years ago, however, most scientists have overwhelmingly chosen for their own lives the belief that we live in a moral world, and that the worldview of the wisdom traditions is more likely to be true than that of Materialism.

The reason is simple: Although science is the cornerstone of everything we know about the material world, many of the most important things in life are outside the realm of the material. Since they cannot be measured or calculated, they cannot be dealt with using any scientific methods.

What Science Can and Cannot Do

We have learned many important things through science. In cooperation with its close ally, technology, wonderful inventions, marvelous tools, and useful objects have been developed — including medicines, airplanes, lasers, computers, agricultural innovations, magnificent buildings, rockets that travel into space, and so much more.

Science has incredible tools for accomplishing plans, goals, and ambitions. If you decide to go to the moon, science is indispensable. But it is not much help in deciding what is important in your personal life. In the public domain, when making decisions, science has little to say about which priorities should be funded among all those that require funds: Should the available money be used for going to the moon, improving highways, providing increased support for the military, or feeding those who are hungry? Continue reading “Science and a Moral World” →

February 3, 2024

Our country, and our world, are in a time of great turmoil — including wars, intense political conflict within many countries, and mounting climate problems all over the globe. These in turn are causing vast migrations of people seeking safety and a better life — but there is nowhere for all these people to go without causing disruption, division, and sometimes outright hostility.

Added to this array of problems is the impact of living in an age of instant communication, which is too often used to spread fear, anger, resentment, and blame. One result is an increasing level of polarization, causing communities to break apart and increasing numbers of individuals to feel alone, adrift on a turbulent sea. Loneliness, frustration, and despair are rising rapidly, and it is hard to envision what the future will bring.

The Perennial Message of the Wise

We humans have both good and bad tendencies within us. Throughout history, those seeking wealth and power have exploited our dark sides for their own gain, feeding our fears, stoking our anger and greed, urging us to blame others and look out for ourselves only.

On the opposite side, brave men and women have arisen in every age who have encouraged us to act from the “better angels of our nature.” They have taught the message of compassion, love, kindness, and concern for others. They have counseled that the only way we will have fulfilling lives ourselves, and the only way our communities will be peaceful and nurturing for all members is if we make an effort to live by shared values. Continue reading “Compassion, Love, Wisdom, Service” →

In order to give direction to your life and have a framework for how to spend your time, it is essential to have core intentions concerning where you would like to go. Here are some of the Ultimate Goals or Intentions around which many people have organized their lives. Which ones resonate most with you?

Accomplishments (feeling that you are affecting the world positively/using your talents wisely)
Duty (fulfilling the responsibilities you were given or you chose to take on)
Creativity (to manifest, in some field, your own unique expression into life)
Relationships (finding and nourishing meaningful connections with others)
Service (helping people, making the world a better place for others)
Harmony (feeling aligned with that which is most important)
Meaning (a feeling that your life is worthwhile)
Happiness
Authenticity (feeling true to yourself and to your understanding of life)
Inner Peace (serenity, tranquility, equanimity)
Becoming Wise
Awakening, or Becoming Enlightened
Salvation (feeling accepted and embraced by the Divine)
Developing Compassion
Love (being centered in and radiating out an energy of acceptance, warmth, and appreciation)
Divine Union (feeling at one with the highest reality, with all that is)
Joy/Bliss (to be filled with an all-encompassing positive energy that seems to transcend normal pleasure and happiness