Chinese philosopher Mencius' core conviction was that human nature is fundamentally good and pure and only sullied by societal living.
Tag: Advice
The Ecstasy of Paying Attention
When we are looking, says Anne Lamott, really actively observing, then we are overriding our tendency towards interpreting and distorting the objects of our perception.
Words of Advice from Ruth Bader Ginsburg
In tribute, and with gratitude to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, here is a selection of some of her finest pieces of wisdom.
The Only Kind of Courage That is Required of Us
"Only someone who is ready for everything, who doesn’t exclude any experience, even the most incomprehensible, will live the relationship with another person as something alive and will himself sound the depths of his own being." - Rainer Maria Rilke This passage from a letter is the source of one of the poet Rainer Maria… Continue reading The Only Kind of Courage That is Required of Us
Running After Loves – Ray Bradbury on Fostering Hunger in Writing
'How long has it been since you wrote a story where your real love or your real hatred somehow got onto the paper?' Finding the truth of our authentic passions is the key to forming the foundations of a writing practice, according to science fiction author Ray Bradbury.
E.E. Cummings – A Poet’s Advice to Students
E.E. Cummings' short missive to young poets in which he urges confidence in oneself and authentic expression. We must distinguish between thinking, believing, knowing and feeling, the latter being the territory of real art and poetry.
When One Can Know What is the Truth of the Heart
The most effective religious or philosophical texts are the ones that transcend time and culture and get to the core of the human situation which is timeless, no matter where and when in the world we live. Daikaku Zenji (Chinese name - Lanxi Daolong) was a monk and master who traveled from his birthplace in Western China… Continue reading When One Can Know What is the Truth of the Heart
Centreing – The 112 Ways to Open the Invisible Door of Consciousness (Part 8: 99-112)
This conversation between Shiva and his partner Devi is a teaching about self-knowledge that could be up to 5,000 years old. It features in a number of ancient Indian texts and has been rewritten countless times up until today. This version, taken from the collection, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, is a more recent English translation… Continue reading Centreing – The 112 Ways to Open the Invisible Door of Consciousness (Part 8: 99-112)
Centreing – The 112 Ways to Open the Invisible Door of Consciousness (Part 7: 85-98)
This conversation between Shiva and his partner Devi is a teaching about self-knowledge that could be up to 5,000 years old. It features in a number of ancient Indian texts and has been rewritten countless times up until today. This version, taken from the collection, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, is a more recent English translation… Continue reading Centreing – The 112 Ways to Open the Invisible Door of Consciousness (Part 7: 85-98)
Centreing – The 112 Ways to Open the Invisible Door of Consciousness (Part 6: 71-84)
This conversation between Shiva and his partner Devi is a teaching about self-knowledge that could be up to 5,000 years old. It features in a number of ancient Indian texts and has been rewritten countless times up until today. This version, taken from the collection, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, is a more recent English translation… Continue reading Centreing – The 112 Ways to Open the Invisible Door of Consciousness (Part 6: 71-84)