Modern Slavery: Credit Card and Loan Debts
I can think of no better term for it than modern slavery. Over the past few years I have come to believe that the modern banking system is really modern slavery in disguise. Technically the bank doesn’t “own” you to the point of physically beating or abusing you, but just short of that, they definitely can “compel” you to work very long and hard hours to pay your bank debts. It was not so long ago that...
Yin Yang and the Middle Way
Buddhism and other Eastern religions teach following the middle way in most aspects of our lives. This teaching is said to have been taught by the Buddha himself in one of his earlier Sutras called Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta where he outlines the Middle Way and first describes the Four Noble Truths. Eastern philosophers are not big on extreme views of all or none: The practice of non-extremism: a path of moderation away from the...
Joy and Happiness
Thousands of books, millions of blog articles and countless TV talk shows have devoted their time and attention to the subject of happiness (or sometimes approaching it from the opposite direction, dealing with avoiding depression and suffering). I’m not sure that I really have anything new to add to the volumes of writing and discussion on the topic. I do, however, believe there some basic common elements we can find in almost...
Gratitude
All my life I’ve been fairly good about saying “thank you” and verbally expressing appreciation for things others do for me. However, I think my verbal expression is mostly a sub conscience trained response that just happens because I’m deeply rooted in the formalities of social protocol in western culture. In other words, I’m very polite and good with manners. However, until recently, I don’t think...
Slow Living
Slow is the new buzz word in a variety of trendy areas of self-improvement among which diet seems most prominent. The term “slow food” or “slow carbs” are among the recent trends. However, I’d like to expand the idea and theme on a larger scale and apply it to our lifestyle. I love the idea of slow living in contrast to those who live in the “fast lane” dashing from one project to the next and...