The Contortionist: Science, Morality and Extreme Relativism
A debate has raged since the publication of Sam Harris’ book, The Moral Landscape, as to whether or not moral questions can be approached using the scientific method. Even among Harris’ readers there has been a lot of skepticism, and the academic philosophy community has widely criticized his contention that science has a role to play in evaluating moral claims. The issues... Read More
Excerpt Mine Eyes: Contemplating the Roots of Spiritual Escapism
When Socrates first closed his eyes in contemplation his awareness did not go dark. He saw inner visions. One can imagine that his dream of an ideal reality (of true form) was initialized in this moment. The fury of rebirth for the mythical (or textual) Buddha was realized with the eyes closed, concentration turned inward, the world shut out from his reverie. The yogin, climbing... Read More
Charting a New Course in Miracles
In a study conducted on kindergarten and elementary school children, researchers told students that a brown mouse was eaten by an alligator. Most conceded that the mouse’s body was, indeed, dead. When questioned about the mouse’s soul, however, the consensus swung in the other direction: the now-deceased rodent could still think and desire, and he was still hungry. The younger... Read More
Metaphysical Mayhem: The 4 Kinds of Dualism
In spiritual circles, it is common to use the words “dualist” and “non-dual.” Often the actual meaning implied is quite vague because these terms have multiple reference points. Unfortunately, under the popularity of extreme relativism, when someone says you are being a “dualist” it is often an indication of nothing more than perhaps having... Read More
Patanjali 2.0: Purity? It’s All A Remix Anyway!
Matthew Remski “Good composers borrow, great composers steal.” Igor Stravinski I love that Matthew Remski chose to call his new book “a remix of patanjali’s yoga sutras.” At least, that’s the subtitle. The title (and the lower case is in the original) is threads of yoga. Like Remski, I am captivated by the felt sense of yoga as being a living... Read More
Spirituality, Science & Psychology: The Problem of Evil
It is undeniable: we live in a world in which man’s inhumanity to man is self-evident. Evil really does exist, in the sense that there are ongoing atrocities being committed every day. How we think about this fact is central to our spiritual worldview. The problem of the existence of evil has always presented a challenge to religious metaphysics, and I would argue it delivers... Read More
Devil In The Details: 3 Keys To Thinking More Clearly About Spirituality
I confess, I can’t help it. The central questions of human existence fascinate me. They have led me down the roads of yoga, meditation, literature, poetry, psychology, philosophy and science. One of the key areas of focus for me is how to reconcile the meaningful experiences of spirituality with a worldview informed by science and psychology. More often than not what we think... Read More
Where the New Age Meets Religious Conservatism
Nothing could seem more at odds than hardcore religious conservatives and faithful proponents of New Age philosophy. Yet peeking at some core principles, believers at both camps share much in common. Through the work of thinkers like Joseph Campbell and Mircea Eliade, I recognized that the underlying structures of belief were more relevant than how that belief manifested itself—what... Read More
The Future of Yoga: A Response
Last week Ian Mackenzie, the maker of this mini-film shot at Wanderlust Whistler, passed along his video to Yoga Brains. We decided to bounce it around our brains to see how it resonated. Below are our responses to the messages transmitted in the video. Thanks for provoking our thoughts, Ian.—Yoga Brains crew JULIAN WALKER I like that this video begins from a place of curiosity... Read More
Ganesha: A Ritual of Love & Loss
Arguably the most famous elephant in the world, Ganesha has traveled from his Indian birthplace in the fourth century CE to yoga studios and new age boutiques across America. Lauded as the Remover of Obstacles, no Indian god has found his way into the heart of yogis as this slightly awkward and extremely lovable vegetarian mammal. Stuffed with pre-Vedic symbolism, like any god... Read More
