Almost 20 years ago I participated in a climb on Mt. Whitney in the winter. Mt. Whitney is the highest point in the lower 48 of the United States, at 14,505 feet, and it is a pretty straightforward climb in the summer. But when you climb it in the winter and add the snow, the inaccessibility of the roads to the higher parking lots, and … Continue reading The Case for Not Slogging it Out
One friend of mine told me about Albert Einstein‘s philosophy on questions. You surely know that he is often celebrated for his brilliant mind and revolutionary contributions to science, but his true genius might lie in something far simpler: his insistence on the power of asking questions. I didn’t know about it. More than once, Einstein hinted that the process of inquiry mattered more than … Continue reading Why the Right Questions Matter More Than the Right Answers
In this post I’d like to … return to the idea and the phenomenon of the toxic inner critic. … The ‘inner’ in ‘inner critic’ can be understood in two ways, hence the title of this article. On the one hand, “the critic” is a mental phenomenon, although… Continue reading Describing the Critic: The Inner Critic Is More Than Just the Inner Critic
Here in North America, it’s Labour Day (or Labor Day for my American friends). The unofficial end of summer also means it’s back to school time for students across Canada and in some US states. But heading back to school isn’t just for kids. There are many good reasons for people of all ages to set some learning goals. A few years ago, I attended … Continue reading Back to School … Not Just for Kids
…Thus the question we continue to try to answer is: How to prevent negative or unwholesome, i.e. unskillful, states from arising in the first place?
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, in Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness, answers thus: “By maintaining unremitting mindfulness. Just that.”
One’s ability to do this, however, is limited by how developed one’s faculty of mindfulness is, and by how habituated to its exercise the mind is…. Continue reading Mindfulness as Method for the First Great Effort, Part 3: Gunaratana’s Guidance, Part A
Are you familiar with the term, and the notion, of sensory diet? Are you familiar with the term, and the notion, of sensory diet? I had never heard the term before, but was delighted with it. Intuitively, it made sense. … Continue reading Sensory Diet: A Brilliant Concept
Vices Presenting as Virtues In his 2022 The Myth of Normal, thinker and physician Gabor Mate observes that vices often masquerade as virtues, not only in the behaviors of individuals but in societally widespread beliefs and perceptions. Roughly 2400 years earlier, philosopher and physician’s son Aristotle wrote of similar phenomena in his then-unpublished notes concerning ethics, character, and happiness. A display of rashness or foolhardiness … Continue reading A Meditation Concerning Anger, Compassion, False Compassion, Root Nature, and Misperceptions of Vices and Virtues
On the occasion of the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics, I would like to share with you the interest I have always had in how some high-level athletes keep themselves motivated when it takes months to achieve a better result. I read their books, listened to podcasts, and watched video interviews. Initially, I was impressed by their strength, ability to perform so well, and … Continue reading Trusting the Process Over Results, A Universal Lesson for the 2024 Summer Olympics
In a previous post, I explored how the First Great Effort — to prevent unskillful states from arising — is not an all-or-nothing operation, but instead a progressive exercise in relative prevention. In this post, I’ll start to explore actual practice methods for making the first great effort. First to quickly contextualize this: The First Great Effort is one of Four Great Efforts, which belong … Continue reading Mindfulness as Method for the First Great Effort, Part 2: Five Specific Practices
In this post, I want to return to the First Great Effort, and consider awareness as a primary method for making this type of effort. Somewhat recently, I posted a more general description and consideration of the first great effort, which forms part of the path-factor of Skillful Effort. In that post (link below), it was said that “the most basic and general practical method … Continue reading Mindfulness as Method for the First Great Effort, Part 1: Considering Preventing and Arising
Do you ever notice formal patterns that seem to occur in quite different material domains? I occasionally do, and it’s always an intriguing type of thing to notice. Lately, I’ve been observing a sort of principle of praxis which occurs both in financial investing and in philosophy, and perhaps in medicine as well. In Financial Investing In financial investing or trading, this is essentially the … Continue reading Simply Seeking Not to Screw Up: A Formal Foundation in Finance and Philosophy
“Practice makes perfect.” You probably heard that expression hundreds of times growing up. It sounds like an admirable goal, but the pressure to be perfect creates stress and anxiety, with little payback. Today, I challenge you to say no to perfectionism and embrace a new expression: “Done is better than perfect!” My Journey Toward Imperfection Let me tell you a little secret: I am a … Continue reading Done is Better Than Perfect
We often think about the future like it’s a far-away land we haven’t reached yet, right? Think again! The future isn’t just some distant dreamland; it’s being cooked up right here, right now, in the present moment. Yep, you heard that correctly! It’s all about what we’re thinking, feeling, and how we take on the big wide world around us and respond to it right … Continue reading Curiosity killed the cat
Using the breath as an anchor is a classic example. However, the breath can be too subtle a sensation for many of us. One tactic I’ve tried is to set a repeating, silent vibrate alarm on a Fitbit device, which has not been especially successful. Another tactic I’ve heard of (but haven’t tried) is to wear a non-medicated “intra-nasal” menthol inhaler. The idea is that … Continue reading Question of the Day: What’s one “hack” for maintaining continual mindful awareness in daily life?
Have you ever found yourself yearning for a fresh start, a chance to redefine who you are and what you stand for? Reinventing oneself can be a daunting yet exhilarating endeavor, fraught with challenges and opportunities alike. If you’ve ever felt the pull towards a new beginning, join me as we explore the six steps to successful reinvention. Step One: Ignite Your Passion Embarking on … Continue reading Embracing Change: Your Journey to Reinvention
In my previous two posts, I tried to outline the first and second Great Efforts, which form part of the Right Effort path-factor. The first and second great effort are both about dealing with unskillful or “unwholesome” states. They are also both rather active. In this post I’ll talk about more receptive aspects of using skillful effort to deal with unwholesome states. Sayadaw U Tejaniya, … Continue reading Skillful Effort: Receptive Aspects of Dealing with Unskillful States
Why dwelling on the past? It’s natural to cherish fond memories and learn from past experiences, but clinging to the weight of the past can hinder your present happiness. Many of us carry the baggage of past mistakes, heartbreaks, and disappointments, draining our energy and robbing us of the joy of living in the moment. I once read that happiness is not just about a … Continue reading The Power of Letting Go: Finding Happiness in the Present
In the heat of anger or hurt, seeking revenge often feels like the most satisfying option. However, the truth is far from that impulse. Emotionally intelligent individuals understand that true satisfaction and closure come from letting karma take its course. In a world where the adage “you reap what you sow” holds, there’s no need to stoop down to seek retribution. Here’s why it’s futile … Continue reading Why Emotionally Intelligent People Never Seek Revenge
In the previous post, I described and reflected on the first of the Four Great Efforts, which are a canonical rubric for understanding one dimension of the path-factor of Skillful Effort. In this current post, I’ll consider the Second Great Effort. Whereas the First Great Effort consists in preventing unskillful states from arising in the first place, the second great effort is an attempt to … Continue reading Skillful Effort: The Second Great Effort
This post is about the philosophical practice and topic of Skillful Effort. There are at least two major dimensions to Skillful Effort, one dealing with the manner in which we exert effort, the other with the immediate ends toward which we direct our exertions. Today I’ll approach this second dimension, using a canonical rubric known as the Four Great Efforts. These are four interrelated, immediate … Continue reading Skillful Effort: The First Great Effort
