In quantum mechanics, which is the study of the quantum realm, or subatomic particles, where our current laws of physics don't apply, gravity doesn't affect these tiny particles. And they seem to operate by a different set of laws. And this set of laws, which govern the particles that make up all of the matter in the universe, are showing us that life is crazier than anyone ever imagined. One…
It is true that we all have Buddha and Hitler potential within us. We all have these capacities for becoming good, awakened, peaceful, loving people. And we also have tyranny, hatred, cruelty, and violence within us. But here is the good news: it took a very specific set of circumstances to create Hitler. It took very specific causes and conditions that led to his life and the consequences and outcomes…
“Know thyself” is one of those ancient spiritual bits of wisdom that most of us have heard. And no one else can give you the answer to that question of who are you. That is something each of us has to do for ourselves — to close our eyes, turn inward, and spend a significant amount of time understanding who we are, ever-changing in this ever-changing moment. What is the…
It’s important to understand that we are all people, and there is no “them versus me.” Bad people think they’re good people, and good people can think they’re bad people. It depends on what day you see someone. People are both. We’re human beings, and there is no me versus them. That separation is part of the creation of conflict, an illusion of duality that makes us feel superior and…
There was a famous lama I once spoke with in a Buddhist monastery in northern India. He was one of those lamas with the last name “Rinpoche.” I’ll butcher the first name, so I’ll just call him Mr. Rinpoche.He said:A bird needs two wings to fly, and humans need two wings to fly. One is wisdom, and one is experience.Wisdom is the intellectual understanding we develop about ourselves and spirituality…
It’s like watching a movie. It is a wonderful experience, unless we forget that it’s just a movie. But when we realize it is an illusion brought forth by the projector and the screen, then we can truly enjoy it, knowing we’re safe and knowing that nothing can hurt our true selves, that light of consciousness within us. If we look deeply into the nature of the universe, what we…
Some people feel immense suffering and think that life is too long. Then there are other people, who may be unhappy themselves, who want to live longer. And they haven’t really thought about it deeply, like: Why do I want to live longer? Do I want to live longer alone, with all my loved ones gone? The more we really look at that, the more we can see that the…
Like with any scientific model of our universe, we simplify reality so that we can understand it better. By looking at small ecosystems, we can understand how they coexist within larger ecosystems. Similarly, if we want to understand who we are, why we're here, what life is, and the nature of existence itself, there's no better place to turn than good old Pixar Animation Studios.Every single story, novel, film, and…
Our minds are not much more than universe simulators. It is truly a remarkable feat that our minds can create such a perfect, solid internal recreation of the outer world. The fact that our minds can project all of the details of our universe, all of the intricate architecture around us, all the complicated details of a flower, in such high resolution, with such clear sound, is truly astonishing. But the…
The more obsessed, committed, and certain we become, the further we get from peace, love, and truth. In reality, there are no sides to be taken. There is no good side and bad side. There are no good people and bad people. These are just our minds striving to create mental models of the world. They are illusions. These mental models can be helpful, like when they tell us that…
If this work has supported you, would you consider supporting this work?
Even the smallest bit can make a huge difference.
