Blog

Why Can’t I Be Happy?

Many people feel that happiness somehow eludes them. Whatever they do, whichever new directions they take they cannot reach that most fundamental goal of human existence. Is happiness a gift granted only to some? Or is it within everyone’s grasp, if only they knew how to find it.

Happiness isn’t a place, time or certain configuration of external circumstances. It isn’t a destination reached after a long and arduous journey. Happiness is a state whose potential is always there, here and now included, but one which too often we fail to realize. This article examines why, in the hope that more people may be happy more often. (more…)
Darwin, Evolution & Spirituality

2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, author of On the Origin of Species and creator of the theory of evolution by natural selection. Although the scientific theories of relativity and quantum physics suggest the underlying nature of reality is very different than what we perceive through our senses, and thus have immense philosophical significance, they actually have virtually no impact upon our daily lives. In contrast, Darwin’s widely accepted, but highly controversial, theory of evolution by natural selection has far reaching implications upon human society. (more…)
The Universe in a Single Atom

How Science and Spirituality Can Serve Our World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

First published in 2005 this fascinating account of Buddhism (or more generally Spirituality) meets science has particular relevance in 2009 as we commemorate Darwin’s 200th birthday and are reminded of the vigorous scientific vs. Spiritual debate prompted by the theory of evolution.

As anyone who’s ever taken the trouble to truly contemplate the basic tenets of the world’s major faiths will testify, at root all religions describe the same basic truths. However, over the centuries, science has often appeared to be in conflict with scripture. (more…)
The Importance of Saying No

One of the hardest words in the language to say is “no”. Why should these two letters be so difficult to utter?

Perhaps it’s the conditioning of our youth when we were told to always be nice to others? Maybe it’s fear of making an “enemy” of the scorned individual, or inviting the adverse judgment of our peers or creator? Or could it be the deep knowledge that at essence we are all one and to reject another’s need is to ultimately harm ourselves? (more…)
Switch Off for Mother Earth

Vote Earth For Earth Hour

In December 2009 world leaders meet in Copenhagen to agree on a post-Kyoto policy for tackling climate change. One billion people voting with their light switch during Earth Hour on March 28 will create a powerful mandate for our leaders to take strong and decisive action on climate change in Copenhagen. (more…)
Serendipity, inviting the Fortunate Accident

How organized are you? Does your life run like clockwork, adhering rigidly to some pre-determined optimal schedule? Or is it relatively chaotic, following whim rather than plan? The former is usually considered more virtuous, but there may be advantages in allowing a little randomness into your lifestyle. (more…)
Does Soul Exist?

On Feb 23rd 2009 the UK Daily Mail carried an article by Michael Hanlon stating that Simon Cowell, an abrasive British talent show judge and music executive, is planning to have his body frozen, with a view to being revived when medical science has advanced sufficiently to cure whatever it was that killed him.

If/when such a procedure becomes possible it raises a number of Spiritual and philosophical questions about whether a resurrected body would necessarily contain the memories, personality and soul that originally occupied it? (more…)
Entangled Minds

Dean Radin’s Entangled Minds provides a comprehensive review of the current evidence supporting the existence of various forms of psychic functioning, or psi. Finding there to be overwhelming evidence that something mysterious is going on it proceeds to examine a range of theories that might offer some explanation. Drawing close parallels between psi and the universe described by quantum physics, Radin proposes the latter may hold the key to understanding the former. Entangled Minds concludes by predicting the universal acceptance of psi in the not too distant future, and speculating how this may impact humanity. (more…)
The Miracle of the Seed

Inside every tiny seed, perfectly encoded, is a detailed blueprint of the adult plant. At the time of the big bang, some 14 billion years ago so the scientists say, the entire universe was contained within a single, infinitesimally small, point. And, like the seed, that tiny point held the master plan of everything we experience and witness, and the very much more that escapes our attention. (more…)
The Pursuit for Happiness

A Guide to Happiness

Why are we born into this world of many problems, that also offers many potential pleasures? Is it merely to collect as many fleeting moments of happiness as we can amass during our equally fleeting lifetime? Or is there some deeper purpose we ought to be pursuing to make the most of our incarnate time? Looking across the varied spectrum of humankind the answers to these questions are many and varied. (more…)