“If you stick with the definition of spirituality as a peaceful internal state (a.k.a. deep, dreamless sleep while awake), then you will ignore some of the hallucinatory experiences that are bound to happen when you sit in silence (studies have shown that, in such circumstances, the mind often creates elaborate experiences and stories that are reminiscent of dreams) and refrain from interpreting them as something otherworldly.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“When a person has developed an ongoing relationship with the peaceful internal state, then he or she will likely begin to display certain characteristics such as empathy, forgiveness, magnanimity, altruism, compassion, and benevolence. And when someone displays any of the above, we generally start speaking about that person as spiritual, even though he or she may not represent a religion of any kind.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“A trans-rational definition of spirituality therefore encompasses these two elements. First, uncovering our peaceful internal center, and then, allowing that peace to guide our actions in the world.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“Walk into any mosque, temple, church, or synagogue and you will find differing examples, different ways of interpreting God. The One True God is hard to find when a mishmash of human traits is constantly being projected.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“The trans-rational spiritual approach is a simple concept with wide-ranging practical implications. There are three major components involved: (1) not denying rationality, (2) pursuing the experience of a peaceful internal state, and (3) allowing that inner peace to guide behavior.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“I say we make our voices heard. For us, for our kids, I say that it is time to figure out a new approach to spirituality, one that honors rationality.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“What is it about spirituality that doesn’t resonate with our core value of being rational? What makes it so difficult for us to maintain our level-headed (and slightly jaded) mindset while being spiritual at the same time?”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“...no matter how liberal a church may seem, Christian dogma still revolves around an ancient, paternalistic image of God the Father, who quite frankly isn’t much more believable than the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“Is our rational and self-reliant generation really supposed to accept the idea that God the Almighty not only created the universe but, interestingly enough, also has a stake in our lives?”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“The idea of a personal God who protects us, loves us, and then punishes us by not allowing us into Heaven, but instead casts us into Hell for eternity if we haven’t met his standards of living, is so outlandish that it can only be taught to children who don’t know any better—which, by the way, is how it’s done. If a person hasn’t been introduced to this mythical idea about God in early childhood, he or she becomes increasingly hard to preach to.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“It cannot be denied that as institutions, churches do good work. They operate schools and hospitals. Their charity outreaches, which take care of the homeless, sick, and hungry, have real impacts on communities. And while there are certainly hellfire-and-brimstone preachers around, there is counterweight in Presbyterian and Methodist ministers, who are grounded in a modicum of rationality, using Biblical stories as fables to teach psychological and ethical principles.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“And yet there is something there. People of faith share a camaraderie that is hard to reproduce in other social circumstances, and they often display a cheerful, albeit oddly naïve, attitude.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“The irony of having had such a secular upbringing is that I now live in Texas. Oh, the irony. Here in Texas, it is not only acceptable to go to church and have the mythic belief structure of an eleven-year-old—no, we are considered the odd ones out because we don’t go to church... at least that was how it seemed to us in the beginning.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“For a number of people, church attendance seems to be primarily a social affair, the act of meeting other people outside of the pressures of work. For others it is pure business/politics. I get it. It’s important to have access to a community like the one a church provides.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“Obviously, not everyone in Texas attends church for purely social or nostalgic reasons. There are still plenty of people here who feel the need to advertise their allegiance to God by telling me that they are good Christians, by continuously posting prayer pictures of Jesus on Facebook, or by telling me that no matter how ethically I live, I will surely go to Hell if I don’t accept Jesus Christ into my heart.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“Our generation may be able to listen to sermons in a Joseph Campbellish way, treating Bible stories as instructional myths pointing to a deeper communal reality—that is, if we haven’t replaced them with Star Wars myths or their equivalent—but don’t ask us to believe with our heart and soul.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“Growth seems to evolve from a narrow-minded, constricted worldview (selfish) to an ever-more-encompassing worldview (multiperspective caring). To put it simply, the more self-centered you are, the lower you tend to land on these scales, while the more perspectives you can entertain—the more empathy you can show and the better your ability to see things from a variety of viewpoints—the higher you land on these scales.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“Breaking away from old psychological memes requires a Herculean effort in many cases. In essence, we are outgrowing a worldview while maintaining a relation-ship of sorts. Transcending an ideology can feel like going through a divorce and having to stay friends because of the kids.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“Being spiritual-but-nonreligious sounds good in theory—at least it’s better than attending antiquated religious institutions. We can do that. And we have. A growing number of us identify as spiritual-but-nonreligious.”
Source: More Likely to Quote Star Wars than the Bible: Generation X and Our Frustrating Search for Rational Spirituality
“Authors, such as William Zinsser, Steven Pinker, Natalie Goldberg, and Stephen King, who have all written exquisite books on the art and craft of writing, have reminded me that it is the commitment to the craft that matters the most; the longing to get better and the countless hours of work that go into writing and rewriting. To them I am eternally grateful.”
“I believe that myths about spiritual masters as perfect human beings have done more harm than good in our society. While looking for what you may perceive as a spiritual master (and in many cases the search is a mere reflection of your own likes and dislikes) you may overlook a simple and profound teacher that could easily guide you along the spiritual path. When the student is ready the teacher will appear.”
Source: The Seven Human Needs: A practical guide to finding harmony and balance in everyday life
“There is not a single person I have met in my lifetime who is comfortable talking about death. It’s the biggest downside to our youth-centric culture. Death is a bummer, so let’s not talk about it. Let’s hide it away and hope it never strikes close to home.”
Source: The Meditating Psychiatrist Who Tried to Kill Himself
“That’s the problem, isn’t it? Our youth enamored society hides death from us, makes us believe that we will live forever," Jack asserted, rather forcefully. "We don’t want to see death. We even hide old people so that we don’t have to be reminded of our own mortality. In other cultures, old age is celebrated, embraced even. Death is a part of life.”
Source: The Meditating Psychiatrist Who Tried to Kill Himself
“Teaching should not be confused with personal practice.”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“Speaking softly and slowly, and breathing through the vocal chords in a low voice, has become the mythical ideal voice for a yoga teacher.”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“Clear, direct and vibrant instructions will inject energy into the class, and create a feeling of safety for the students.”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“Self-confidence is built from the inside out and has little or nothing to do with outside circumstances.”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“If you want to increase your self-confidence as a yoga teacher very fast – go out there, face your fears, and teach as much as you possibly can!”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“I have seen yoga teachers, almost in frenzy, looking for something new; new postures, breathing exercises, styles of yoga, teachers and so on. But what are they really searching for? Escape from boredom.”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“The yogic scriptures paint a picture of perfection, and perfection can be your aim, but I can tell you sad stories about myself and others who have entered into a state of premature holiness with unpleasant consequences.”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“My rule in relation to time management and teaching is simple: “If you’re on time, you’re late!” That means that if you arrive just on time to teach, you have no flexibility. In essence nothing can go wrong, and in addition to that, your mind probably won’t settle until halfway through the class.”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“Yoga teachers must be willing to step down from this imagined pedestal and utter the words “I don’t know” on a regular basis.”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“It’s a really simple formula: Your experience + Yoga = New Students.”
Source: Create a Safe Space: An Inspirational Guidebook for Yoga Teachers Who want to Further Serve their Students
“For years I tried to help people with simple things, such as tension relief through breathing and relaxation, but all they wanted were the drugs. They wanted to numb themselves. They did not want to face their fears or feel better through their own efforts—and they certainly did not want to be illuminated.”
Source: The Meditating Psychiatrist Who Tried to Kill Himself
“Dialogue still reigns supreme as a method for connection and conflict resolution.”
Source: Co-Human Harmony: Using Our Shared Humanity to Bridge Divides
“Instead of using therapy to try and reduce their fear and anger, people now celebrated these destructive emotions, labeling themselves as politically active rather than emotionally dysfunctional.”
Source: The Meditating Psychiatrist Who Tried to Kill Himself
“No one can quit smoking for you, or make you want to change your life. No one can make you do anything that you don’t want to do.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“Tobacco is the enemy, disguised as a friend, and if you are to win the war you must get to know your enemy.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“I don’t know why tobacco producers are exempt when it comes to listing ingredients, but that’s just the way it is (it’s all covered within the one word – tar).”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“If knowing about the dangers of smoking were enough, almost no one would smoke.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“Would you ever buy chocolate with DDT? How about Cheerios with arsenic? Not very likely!”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“The worst part is when cells feel so threatened by their chemically marinated surroundings, that they decide to mutate as a defensive mechanism, and start to reproduce without taking their immediate surroundings into account. This mutation is called cancer.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“Nicotine is a fast acting drug with short lived effects, which you can assume by the fact that you need to smoke often.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“Here is my theory: If smoking is really good, you should be able to smoke and do nothing else at the same time, really focusing all your attention on smoking and how it makes you feel.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“I also urge you not to wash your hands, face or mouth in between cigarettes. Let the taste and smell stay with you, in your hair, your clothes, hands and face.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“Imagine willpower as a closed fist and longing as an open hand. Try closing your fist. How long do you think you can hold that pose? A closed fist requires a lot of attention and energy, and so does willpower. Longing is effortless; it’s just there, like an open hand.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“Contrary to popular belief, positive affirmations cannot change everything and they are not likely to attract wealth and prosperity to you without considerable talent or action; but positive affirmations will help you to change your underlying beliefs and longings - they will help you to quit smoking.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“Restlessness is the number one enemy of people who have just quit smoking.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“When you first start chanting or repeating your positive affirmations, they don’t make much sense. You don’t feel great about them because they strongly oppose your current reality. That’s the point. The affirmations should oppose your current reality. That’s how change happens. Everyone feels strange about using affirmations to begin with. But if you stick to the program, the power of positive affirmations will take effect.”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life
“Positive affirmations are powerful, but they can be overrun by complaining and negativity if you allow your mind to focus in that direction. As soon as you start complaining about how difficult this process is, you have begun using negative affirmations, and that will in turn give power to your prior longing to smoke (as if that needs empowerment).”
Source: Quit Smoking and Be Free: 7 Steps to a Smoke Free Life